Sermons on Unlikely Heroes:

The Long Road Rome Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 7, 2021

Paul used personal ingenuity and shrewd strategy to accomplish God’s ultimate will. We, too, can better serve God if we embrace the unlikely combination of being innocent but yet shrewd.

The Long Road Rome (Acts 23:1-35) 1. Over the next few chapters, we are going to meet some interesting characters. 2. Today, we will be introduced to Felix (show photo 1). 3. In a few weeks, we will meet Festus (show photo 2). 4. Last of all, we will meet Agrippa (show photo 3). 5. Paul was in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 23:1-25, Luke 16:1-13, Matthew 10:16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Obedience Better Than Sacrifice Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 14, 2022

Unlike any other nation, the Hebrews had a conviction, seared into their collective consciousness by the mighty deeds of God, that the one God, ruler of heaven and earth, had picked them out to be His special people.

Monday of 2nd Week in Course 1 Sam 15: 16-23; Mark 2: 18-22 One of my friends who can’t attend daily Mass but devoutly reads the lessons each day was commenting on “how boring” the recent readings from Samuel are. Well, it’s good to be candid about your understanding of Scripture, but it’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:16-23, Mark 2:18-22

Denomination: Catholic

Lying Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jun 24, 2022

This sermon is about the trait of "Honesty." The primary focus is how unlike the world, Christians should see themselves as not living in this world, but living in a kingdom reality that is characterized by honesty, rather than dishonesty.

I would like to start off with a few questions that require an honest answer. The first question is how many of you have told a lie in the last five years? I am not talking about the white lies when your wife asks you if her jeans make her butt look big. I am talking about honest to goodness ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:33-37

Denomination: Christian Church

The Calling Of Saul

Contributed by John Foster on Sep 8, 2002

Explores 3 aspects of Saul’s conversion. Flash of light, God choses the most unlikely people to do His work (he choses YOU), With Jesus adversity becomes opportunity and even Victory.

I have a question for you. Has anyone here ever had something go wrong but that going wrong was the very thing that made things work out in the end? What do I mean? Have you ever missed the bus and you go back home to find that you’d forgotten to lock the house or something? If you hadn’t ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-20

Denomination: Methodist

God's Anointing Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

God often chooses unlikely people, seeing beyond their outward appearance and focusing on their hearts. He does this to display His power through our lives as we walk in the anointing and gifting of the Holy Spirit.

God tells this prophet, Samuel, to go to Bethlehem and anoint one of Jesse's sons as the new king. Samuel sees the oldest son, Eliab, and thinks, "This guy looks like king material." But God's like, "Nope, I don't look at the outside; I look at the heart." So, none of Jesse's seven sons present ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

Topics: Divine Anointing, Spiritual Empowerment, Holy Spirit, Sacred Oils

Seven Happy People

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 24, 2006

Unlike joy, happiness is temporary...based on ’happenstance’. But God tells us 7 ’circumstances’ which will lead us to happiness more often. Link included to formatted text, handout, and PowerPoint Template.

SEVEN HAPPY PEOPLE John 13:17 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/7HappyPeople.html John 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. Which kind of Christian are you? Humbly grateful or grumbly hateful? Attitude determines altitude! God isn’t here just to keep you out of ...read more

Scripture: John 13:17

Denomination: Baptist

Deborah And Barak

Contributed by Tim Secrist on Oct 24, 2012

God is willing to use anybody that is willing to be used for His glory. This sermon is about God using an unlikely character to accomplish something big. If He can use this person, He can use anybody.

Deborah and Barak Judges 4 and 5 Intro: Some people never seem to learn. A man pulled into a gas station, walked over to a soda machine, and stared at the sign, which read, “Soda: $2.00.” “Two dollars for a soda – that’s incredible” the man said. ...read more

Scripture: Judges 4:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Abcs Of Spiritual Growth

Contributed by Daniel Austin on Feb 28, 2010

Growth is expected in our spiritual lives but unlike physical growth, our spiritual growth does not just happen, we need to give effort and consideration if we are to move from milk to solid food.

ABCS of Spiritual Growth 06/30/08 AM Text: Various, 2 Peter 3:18 Reading: Hebrews 10:19-25 Introduction It’s not uncommon to speak of the “ABC’s” of a topic when talking about the basics of that topic. When we see a book titled “The ABC’s of Child Development” we can pretty much guess that the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Parable Of Chutzpah

Contributed by Robert Leroe on May 3, 2015

We need to approach prayer with a sense of bold, unhesitating urgency--with chutzpah. We have no worries--unlike the grumpy, groggy neighbor, God never slumbers and is always happy to hear from us.

Jesus gave His disciples the Model Prayer, and followed with a story about someone in need of “daily bread,” a parable that conveys the attitude our prayers should have—we should approach God an unhesitating sense of urgency. The story was a common situation for our Lord’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

Denomination: Congregational

The Life Of Abraham, Part 8: Thirteen Years Later Series

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Feb 11, 2014

It had been thirteen years since the birth of Ishmael. God makes a sudden appearance with a startling announcement. We will also be introduced to a new covenant of circumcision which is a conditional covenant unlike that of Genesis 15

The Life of Abraham, Part 8: Thirteen Years Later Genesis 17:1-27 Introduction In the last lesson, it finally looked from Abram’s point of view that God had satisfied Abram’s long awaited promise of a son named Ishmael. At the age of eighty-six, Abram was a dad in his own right. Hagar had acted ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:1-27, Genesis 17:1-7, Genesis 17:15-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

In The End There Is Hope Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Mar 7, 2016

When we look at the last chapter of the book of kings we are taught that God does not leave his people without hope; he continues to bring renewal and repentance, even in places that are most unlikely.

You can listen to the full message here:- http://www.nec.org.au/listen-to-a-sermon-series/kings-series/ Message 2 Kings 25:1-30 “In The End There Is Hope” For some months now we have been making our way through the book of Kings and we have learnt so much. Today we get to the end of the book. So ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 25:1-30

Denomination: Baptist

Overcoming Our Reluctance Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Mar 12, 2017

Gideon was an unlikely candidate to lead Israel against the Midianites, but God often uses the weak and inadequate. Our service to Him is not dependent upon our wisdom or ability, but it must rely on the Lord through faith.

Overcoming our Reluctance Judges 6: 11-16 Living the Christian life isn’t always easy. In fact, we are often forced to deal with difficulties and struggles. At times we surrender to defeat and feel as if we lack the ability to overcome. I am sure we have all dealt with moments of insecurity, ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:11-16, Judges 7:7

Denomination: Baptist

Rehoboam Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Feb 19, 2009

Rehoboam was almost a hero. He stood at the threshold of greatness but chose poorly and destroyed everything his father and grandfather had built. Through his example we can perhaps learn to better follow the ways of Jesus.

Heroes Rehoboam 1 Kings 12:1-14 February 15, 2009 In 1997, Reeve Lindbergh, daughter of aviator Charles Lindbergh, was invited to give the annual Lindbergh Address at the Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Space Museum to commemorate the 70th anniversary of her father’s historic solo flight across ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 12:1-14

Denomination: Church Of God

This Is No Time To Be Quiet Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on Apr 25, 2002

When we practice Christ’s Presence, we delight in introducing Him to others.

THIS IS NO TIME TO BE QUIET! II Corinthians 5:16-6:2 S: Evangelism Th: Seeing the Unseen Christ: How His Presence Transforms Life Pr: WHEN WE PRACTICE CHRIST’S PRESENCE, WE DELIGHT IN INTRODUCING HIM TO OTHERS. ?: Why? KW: Convictions TS: We will find in our study of II Corinthians 5:16-6:2 three ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Way Of Endurance Series

Contributed by David Welch on Apr 11, 2018

8th in a sermons series on James dealing with the principles related to enduring trials.

“The Way of Endurance” Review Today, Christians all around the world suffer unspeakable suffering because of their faith in and commitment to Jesus. Many suffer death because of their refusal to renounce their faith in Jesus. Although persecution of our Christian faith grows by the day in America, ...read more

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance