Sermons on unlikely:

Spiritual Heartburn

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Apr 10, 2009

Spiritual Heartburn--when your heart burns within you because of the presence of the Risen Christ! Unlike physical heartburn which brings misery, spiritual heartburn brings unspeakable joy!

If you’ve ever had heartburn, let me see your hand? Not pleasant, is it? The serious kind is “acid reflux.” It feels like you’re having a heart attack. But praise God, there is relief available through medication. I want to speak to you today for a few moments about spiritual heartburn—when ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-32

Denomination: Wesleyan

God Is Seeking Worshipers Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 20, 2015

What an amazing passage. Jesus uses the most unlikely of persons to teach us and His disciples true worship. Come and learn what worship is and that God is seeking those that will bow and serve.

Intro: We come to John four and we find Jesus exhausted. The word translated worn out means to work until totally spent or exhausted. Jesus came in His worn out state to the woman at the well to teach us all what worship really is. A good question to ask ourselves is why this woman? Why this ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

Father God: Knowing Him And Living In His Love Matthew 6:9 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Dec 4, 2024

For some, the word “father” evokes love, protection, and care. For others, it may carry pain or distance. But Scripture presents Father God as the perfect, loving parent—unlike any earthly father.

Father God: Knowing Him and Living in His Love Theme: God reveals Himself as Father, inviting us into a loving, personal relationship through Jesus Christ. Key Verse: Matthew 6:9 – “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.” Introduction Today, we are exploring one of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9, Romans 8:15-17, John 14:6, Deuteronomy 32:6, Hebrews 1:3, Ephesians 2:18, John 3:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Five Smooth Stones - The Challenger Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 9, 2023

This sermon introduction explores the biblical story of David and Goliath, focusing on the character of Goliath as a representation of fear, doubt, and condemnation, and emphasizing God's power to deliver His people through unlikely heroes.

Good morning, church! I am excited to be with you this morning. You have chosen an awesome Sunday to be with us. We are kicking off a brand new sermon series, all about a very well-known story in scripture. It’s a story about an unlikely hero named David, defeating a mighty giant and enemy named ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1-11, 1 Peter 5:8

Topics: David And Goliath, Overcoming Fear, God's Deliverance

Sermon Series: Five Smooth Stones

Fear This!

Contributed by Keith Manry on Mar 29, 2007

Part IV in the series - 24. This is a first person narrative account from the perspective of Pilate. The preaching idea: Jesus’ faith, unlike the religious people of his day, was genuine. How about yours?

Introductory Remarks… Over the past three weeks we’ve met three characters who were present during the final hours in the life of Jesus Christ. We began this unique series of sermons with a visit from a man who purportedly owned the house in which the Last Supper took place. Two weeks ago we met ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Exodus 19 - Fear God But Draw Near With Holy Boldness! How Does That Work? Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 28, 2009

What I love is that we are not told to stand back from God. We are not told not to go too close. Unlike the people of Israel, we are told to be like Moses and to draw near to God.

Exodus 19 - Holy Boldness! I can’t say I have ever felt afraid of God, but I have felt the awe of His presence, and I have been overcome by a sense of His majesty. I remember standing out on a mound of earth out on a property and looking up at the stars. Away from the city, the stars seem so much ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:1-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Day Superman Died Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 28, 2013

Unlike Superman, Jesus came to earth... to die. But there are people who reject Jesus' mission. They refuse to accept the idea that Jesus came to die, to be buried and rise again. Why would they do that?

OPEN: (We showed a picture on the screen of George Reeves as Superman with a flowing cape) Who is this? (Superman) Of course it’s Superman. This was THE superman. He was the strange visitor from another planet with powers and abilities beyond those of Superman. This was the hero that I ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:9-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christmas - A Hijacked Holiday Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Dec 3, 2013

CHRISTMAS has been hijacked in America. And unlike the latest Tim Allen movie, it’s not Santa who needs to be rescued. It’s the very meaning of Christmas itself.

This week, we begin a new series titled, "Christmas Through the Ages." Beginning with the current celebration of Christmas, we will travel back in time, looking at Christmas celebrations, until we arrive at the very first Christmas. Today we begin with Christmas 2013 - A Hijacked Holiday." What ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 18:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Investing For The Long Term

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Mar 25, 2018

Unlike the crowds on Palm Sunday, who hailed Jesus as king but only days later demanded that he be crucified, we need to hold on to our faith and hope in Christ. Here's why and how.

I’d like to begin this morning with a story. It involves these men [photo of Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs]. You probably recognize them: Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. The two men who founded Apple Computer. Right? Well, no, actually that’s not accurate. Here is a photo of the original partnership ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

Go! And Know The Beginning And The Word Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Apr 17, 2025

Every story has a beginning. But unlike our stories, the story of God—the story of the Gospel—does not begin with uncertainty or guesswork. It begins with the certainty of God's eternal presence and power.

Go! And Know the Beginning and the Word Genesis 1:1 (NLT): “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” John 1:1 (NLT): “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Introduction: A Question of Beginnings Every journey starts somewhere. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, John 1:14, Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Mark 1:15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

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

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

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

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