Sermons on unexpected ways:

The Unexpected Cross

Contributed by Ken Crow on Oct 2, 2010

Life circumstances may be so that not only do we not ask for a cross but also we may not have a choice in whether we bear it or not.

The Unexpected Cross Pastor Ken Crow Matthew 27:32 (King James Version) 32And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. In our Christian life there are many crosses. There is our cross that Jesus says we must bear if we are to be his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:32

Denomination: Church Of God

Unexpected Defeat

Contributed by Ian Humphrey on Nov 6, 2015

Unexpected Defeat

Ecclesiastes 9 v 11 & 12 Unexpected Defeat v.11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:11-12

Denomination: Holiness

The Tale Of The Unexpected Series

Contributed by Grant Adams on Jan 21, 2022

Naomi and Ruth return to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. Naomi came back bitter, but Ruth turned the negative into positive with trusting in the God of Naomi.

I. The Return to Bethlehem Ruth 1:6-9 1. Naomi has had good news from back home. a. The Lord had visited His people in giving them bread. 2. Three elements are revealed in the initial moments of the return. a. Naomi tells the girls to go back to Moab and return to their Moabites families. b. The ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:6-22

Denomination: Baptist

An Unexpected Friday Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Apr 1, 2018

Of all the things that were expected to happen the Friday after the triumphant entry, nobody expected these things.

An Unexpected Friday Nobody had expected this. It was only five days ago that the people of Jerusalem had welcomed Jesus as their Messiah. For three years Jesus had travelled throughout Israel. Preaching, teaching, healing the sick and feeding the hungry. He had quieted storms and cast out ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:21-32

Denomination: Wesleyan

Expect The Unexpected

Contributed by Marcos Suazo on Oct 25, 2004

God is not limited by anything other than the faith of the believer......

Expect the Unexpected Acts 3: 1-12 1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Unexpected Jesus

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Mar 25, 2013

What do you expect from Jesus? The people, disciples, and the religious leaders had some very specific expectations of Jesus on Palm Sunday. He shattered all of them, just as He shatters our expectations as well. And that's a good thing!

John 12:1-2, 9-19 Jesus performed an incredible miracle in raising Lazarus. It made huge waves. It wasn’t the first person Jesus raised, but it was the first who had been raised after the Jewish belief that the soul had left the body. According to the Talmud (Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-44

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The God Of The Unexpected Series

Contributed by David Ward on Oct 3, 2009

An expository message from Acts 12 on how God "shows up" in response to his people’s faith, and lack of faith.

INTRODUCTION: Arthur Burns was chair of the Federal Reserve in the 1970s, and a Jewish economist of great influence in Washington during the tenure of several Presidents. Burns was once asked to pray at a gathering of evangelical politicians. Stunning his hosts, he prayed thus: "Lord, I pray that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Unexpected Guests

Contributed by Eric Keller on Nov 24, 2010

Are you prepared for Christ when he returns?

UNEXPECTED GUESTS Matthew 24:36-44 I. VIDEO A. Video of people disappearing in the rapture. B. Not required for sermon II. INTRODUCTION: UNEXPECTED GUESTS A. Ever have an unexpected guest? B. You’re sitting down to dinner and you hear a doorbell (ring the office doorbell) C. What do you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Expect The Unexpected

Contributed by Nathan Bounds on Dec 15, 2005

Learn to expect God to do that which is extraordinary. The Unexpected!

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED John 11:1-8; 14-17; 20-46 Expect - To look forward to, to anticipate, to look forward to the occurance of. Unexpected - That which is not expected What do you expect to happen when you come to God’s house? When was the last time you came to God’s ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-46

Denomination: Pentecostal

An Unexpected Hero

Contributed by Bret Bone on Sep 13, 2011

Ten years ago today I think we would all agree that the events that happened on Sept. 11 marked us as a nation and individuals for a lifetime.

An Unexpected Hero Slide Watch movie trailer…U-tube World Trade Towers (Nicholas Cage 2min…) Ten years ago today I think we would all agree that the events that happened on Sept. 11 marked us as a nation and individuals for a lifetime. Every American alive that day will forever ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-13

Unexpected And Expecting Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Dec 26, 2018

The Holy Spirit works quietly within us, bringing new things into being

Unexpected and Expecting Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. I had the good fortune of attending a baby shower a week ago. Baby showers are joyous occasions. Everyone celebrates the advent of this little one soon to enter our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:39-45

Denomination: Lutheran

An Unexpected Gift Series

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Sep 10, 2014

What is the real significance of the healing of the cripple at the Beautiful Gate?

An Unexpected Gift Acts 3:1-10 Another day had dawned. The man’s friends arrive early to pick him up and take him to the Temple. They brought the man to the Temple door. But he does not enter in. you see, he is a crippled man, and crippled men were not allowed in the Temple. He could come to the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Unexpected Visitor

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jan 30, 2023

A Sermon for the 4th Sunday of Epiphany, Year A

January 29, 2023 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12 The Unexpected Visitor Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus opens up his Sermon on the Mount with a real show-stopper. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, 1 Corinthians 1:18-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Unexpected Hero Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Apr 3, 2025

We are in dire need of integrity in our society, and it begins and ends with Jesus Christ and the foundation of Scripture.

Paul the Ringleader Text: Acts 24:1-9 Introduction 1. “Integrity, the choice between what is convenient and what is right” (Tony Dungy). 2. “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching” (C.S. Lewis). 3. “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:1-9

Denomination: Methodist

Attempts To Bury The Truth

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jan 21, 2010

The history of our world has demonstrated that earthly kings tend to be very vulnerable people who sit upon uneasy thrones that are subject to topple in the most unexpected ways.

Attempts to Bury the Truth Matthew 2:6- 18 NIV This past week in Canada we have seen our National Government decide to prorogue parliament. That's like the U.S. Senate closing shop for a 3 month unscheduled break. Many people are upset about this decision and see it as a blatant disregard to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:6-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed