Sermons on Unexpected Return:

The Cross Blessing

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 22, 2010

Today we enjoy the CROSS blessing as we don’t have to make daily burnt offerings for our sins and have been given the Holy Spirit to stay permanently till Christ returns. Let us not hesitate to pass on the CROSS blessing to others who still haven’t receiv

Opening illustration: A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing that his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 48:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Persuading The Multitude

Contributed by Paul Hammons on Mar 13, 2007

A little boy was sick on Palm Sunday and stayed home from church with his mother. His father returned from church holding a palm branch. The little boy was curious and asked, “Why do you have that palm branch, dad?” “You see, when Jesus came into town, ev

Persuading The Multitude; Matthew 21:1-9, 27:15-25 A little boy was sick on Palm Sunday and stayed home from church with his mother. His father returned from church holding a palm branch. The little boy was curious and asked, “Why do you have that palm branch, dad?” “You see, when Jesus came into ...read more

Giving Up Lent For Lent

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Feb 23, 2015

I am giving up Lent for Lent this year, at least the way the Church typically does Lent. Lord is not interested in what I give up for just 40 days and return to it. He is interested in me giving up the sins in my life which will make Easter more joyous

TITLE: GIVING UP LENT FOR LENT SCRIPTURE: ST LUKE 9:22-24 / II CORINTHIANS 13:5-6 Although Easter is the most significant of the Christian holidays it does not enjoy the kind of enthusiastic fanfare afforded Christmas or even Thanksgiving. Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Arm Is Not Shortened

Contributed by John Gaston on Oct 12, 2015

Moses needed 13 trains of food, water, & wood. Then they want meat! Will God still work miracles? Yes, because the Blood hasn't lost its power, the Holy Spirit hasn't been withdrawn, Jesus conquered all, the Word can't return void & God is for you!

THE LORD’S ARM IS NOT SHORTENED Num. 11:23 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: THE AGGIE AND THE SHEEP 1. An Aggie was really tired of being made fun of, so he decided to take off his Texas A & M shirt and start wearing an SHSU shirt. 2. He drove ½ way to Huntsville and saw a farmer and a flock of sheep ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:1-23

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The God Who Runs

Contributed by Martin Ellgar on Dec 6, 2014

A perspective on Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32. The loving father does he wait for a lengthy and rehearsed apology from his returning son. He sees him coming in the distance and with joy runs out to greet him. In this way he brings honour again to his son.

Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32 The God Who Runs God loves to have a party. He has been known to host the best and biggest celebrations in heaven whenever a sinner turns around from following their own desires and decides to come home to God. Everyone is invited to celebrate. Our parable today is not so ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Lutheran

Sermon- We Cry, How Long, Lord.

Contributed by Damien Saylor on May 4, 2020

From generation to generation, suffering has been part of our lives. Situations mount to the point that we can’t keep on. We cry, how long must we wait, Lord. What are we waiting for? Is it a cure, remedy, or is it Jesus’ return? What are we asking for?

Sermon- We cry how long, Lord? - I know as we look around, a large scale of us can say that this Pandemic hasn’t affected me much. - Let’s think about the people it has affected this morning. - To date, over 60,000 people have died from covid19 in America. - I think of the families, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 143:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Shake It Off!

Contributed by Larry Grant on Jan 8, 2022

The people of Nazareth rejected Jesus and tried to kill Him, but the Bible says that He passed through their midst! Now, a year later He returns to the very place He was so cruelly rejected. He wants to give His family and neighbors another chance to receive Him and His message of Salvation.

Mark 6:2-11 (NKJV) "Shake It Off!" Our text finds Jesus returning to Nazareth. Our Lord’s return to His hometown does not go the way one might expect it to. Jesus has been going around the countryside preaching, teaching, healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:2-11

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Loves Sinners, Part 2 Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 9, 2021

The Returning Son doesn’t bring any gifts to his family from his time away. Instead, he comes asking for a small amount of mercy and a job. Does he consider his father's broken heart and the agony of rejected love that his father has endured?

For those of you old enough to remember the years of the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. I was a young kid back then and my parents lived in northern Alabama. We welcomed my sister in those days as I remember waiting in long lines at the gas stations hoping they haven’t run out. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-24

Denomination: Baptist

To God Be The Glory Series

Contributed by Larry Grant on Jul 10, 2021

Power and glory belong only to God. He himself calls his Church, and rules, sanctifies and preserves it through his Word and his Spirit. Therefore, in return for the goodness bestowed upon us, we ought to thank and praise God, directing all our efforts to the recognition and glory of his name.

Our Prayers, Our Passions & Our Praise The position is that the end of all things is at hand. The miserable destruction of the nation foretold by our Saviour is now very near; consequently, the time of their persecution and our sufferings is but very short. The world itself will not continue ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Hour Is Closer Than We Think

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Jul 1, 2024

We all can agree that we are closer today for the return of Jesus than ever. Knowing this, the Apostle Paul gives us advice on what we need to be doing knowing that our time is limited. Join us in our study and find out how this applies to each of our lives.

The Hour is Closer Than We Think Ephesians 5:15-18 Watch live at 6 p.m. on YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-XSWLPmEz0 Every year it’s the same. Magazines and tabloids publish their year in review with pictures and stories recalling the people and events that made news over the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-18, Matthew 6:34, Psalm 39:4, Romans 12:2, Romans 13:11-12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Foursquare

God’s First Unconditional Covenant Series

Contributed by Brian Williams on Apr 23, 2024

Every time a person comes to faith, we remember the rainbow - God’s unconditional love, expressed through the new covenant. Every time someone returns to God after a season of being far from Him - we remember the rainbow: God’s unconditional mercy, His long suffering.

Do you remember as a kid ever making a promise by crossing your heart, a pinky swear, or swearing to God? By nature, we look for assurances and guarantees and we learn this early in life. As we grow older, however, we realize that we live in a world of broken promises and unfaithfulness. There’s ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Never Give Up, Never Surrender Series

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Sep 26, 2025

Paul shows how to return and keep moving—admitting we haven’t arrived, forgetting what holds us, and pressing on toward Christ (Philippians 3:12–16). The direction is the point: let go of past wins and wounds, lean forward, and run because Christ already holds you.

Last week, we kicked off our series "Back At It," and we talked about how Jesus meets us where we are, even when we've drifted back to our old ways. We looked at the story of Jesus cooking breakfast for His disciples on the shore, calling them back to their true purpose. Today, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Little Man Meets A Big God Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 15, 2003

This morning we’re focusing on a high-ranking IRS man named Zacchaeus who cheated not on his return, but on everyone else’s. He had figured out a way to skim some money off the top and squeeze the last drop from people’s wallets. Jesus not only changed h

A Little Man Meets a Big God There’s a story about a local fitness center, which was offering $1,000 to anyone who could demonstrate that they were stronger than the owner of the place. Here’s how it worked. This muscle man would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and then hand ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Man Who Missed His Cross

Contributed by Matthew Morine on Oct 24, 2006

He walks up on the hill with his son. He is old. He has traveled a long distance to see this hill. He wanted to return to show his son the spot where he was meant to die. He had to leave Jerusalem many years ago because of his reputation. He was a wa

THE MAN WHO MISSED HIS CROSS Text: Mark 15:6-15 Theme: Jesus replaces us on the cross so that we can take up the cross. He walks up on the hill with his son in toe. He is old. He has traveled a long distance to see this hill. He wanted to return to show his son the spot where he was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:6-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Revival

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 9, 2009

Revival means “to recover or return from a state of neglect.” Lord knows we were the city of neglect: Our streets have been neglected. Our sewer and water system had been neglected. Our educational system had been neglected. Our poor had been neglected. T

[re]vival Nehemiah 9:1-6 John Hyde went to India as a missionary a little over a 100 years ago. He felt a strong calling to the nation of India and began to spend hours learning the local language. In 1892 he boarded a steamer in New York bound for India. In route, John received a telegram from a ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 9:1-6

Denomination: Methodist