Sermon Quotes: "God's Surprise"
October 11, 2022 by C.J. Mahaney
Category: Sunday Sermon Quotes | CJ Mahaney, Sunday Sermon, Quotes, Acts
“Even though Peter has been taught personally by Jesus, has received the Spirit, has powerfully preached the gospel, and has performed miraculous signs in the name of Jesus, taking this next step in the kingdom challenges him to the core of his being. To be Jewish meant to follow strictly the code of what to eat and what to avoid. An entire chapter of Leviticus spells these things out in detail (Leviticus 11). It has not occurred to Peter that following Jesus would mean a new way of looking at virtually everything he holds dear. As a boy, Peter would have heard the OT story of the exodus, sung the Psalms, and attended synagogue constantly. Only food authorized by the law ever touched his lips. Now the same God who set those rules tells him to eat everything. The reason for the reversal amounts to a radical change in the way God relates to his people. The old ways served their purpose, but everything they pointed to has been fulfilled.” Brian Vickers
“No preacher today could ask for a more attentive audience.” John Stott
“The sermon is prefaced by the words ‘opening his mouth, Peter said’. This was one way to introduce a weighty utterance. And in Luke’s eyes what Peter was about to say was indeed momentous in sweeping away centuries of racial prejudice.” Richard Longenecker
“The emphasis is that Cornelius’ Gentile nationality was acceptable so that he had no need to become a Jew, not that his own righteousness was adequate so that he had no need to become a Christian.” John Stott
More in From your Pastors
March 28, 2023
Sermon Overview & Discussion Questions: "Our Prowling Adversary"March 27, 2023
Sermon Quotes: "Three Unexpected Converts"March 27, 2023
Sermon Quotes: "Our Prowling Adversary"More by C.J. Mahaney
March 27, 2023
Sermon Quotes: "Three Unexpected Converts"March 7, 2023
Sermon Quotes: "A Dangerous Gospel"March 7, 2023
Sermon Quotes: "Open Doors and Open Hearts"February 22, 2023
Sermon Quotes: "Ordinary Evangelism"January 31, 2023
Sermon Quotes: "A Masterclass in Evangelism"January 25, 2023
Sermon Quotes: "A Gospel That Divides"January 4, 2023
Studying Your Bible in 2023January 3, 2023
Sermon Quotes: "A Sweet and Surprising Command for 2023"December 20, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "Bethlehem's Glory"December 13, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "Bethlehem's Promise"November 29, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "The Grateful Leper"November 15, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "I Wish Tomorrow Were Sunday"October 25, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "The First Christians"October 11, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "God's Surprise"October 4, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "Bridging the Impassible Gulf"September 28, 2022
Sermon Quotes: Christ's Continuing WorkSeptember 20, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "Persecutor Turned Preacher"September 13, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "The Most Unlikely Convert"September 6, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "A Song for a Special Occasion"August 23, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "One Story"August 16, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "The Gospel Reaches the Despised"July 26, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "First of Many"July 6, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "Goodness and Severity"June 13, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "More Than A Miracle"May 17, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "The Divine Exchange Rate"May 10, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "The Aftermath"April 18, 2022
Sermon Quotes: An Unexpected CompanionMarch 29, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "Behold Him There"March 15, 2022
Sunday Sermon Quotes: "The Last Song"March 7, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "Be Wise. Be Warned."February 15, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "When Everything Sad Becomes Untrue"January 24, 2022
Sermon Quotes: "Living This Day For That Day"December 29, 2021
Sermon Quotes: "The Aftermath of Christmas"August 3, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "What Moses Couldn't Do"July 28, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment"July 15, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "Worth Remembering Again"July 7, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "To the End of the Earth"July 1, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "Extending the Borders of Our Neighborhood"June 23, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "An End to Hostility"June 16, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "In His Image"June 12, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "Can This Be Fixed?"May 26, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "Ground That Doesn't Shift"May 18, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "What To Do When The Pandemic Turns Divisive"May 11, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "A Worrier's Guide to the Pandemic"May 4, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "Planning in a Pandemic"April 27, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "A Rare Jewel for a Pandemic"April 21, 2020
Sunday Sermon Quotes: "The Most Important Question in a Pandemic"April 14, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "Easter in a Pandemic"April 6, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "Persevering in the Pandemic"March 31, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "The Boys in the Boat"March 23, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "A Prophet for a Prolonged Pandemic"March 16, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "Peace in a Pandemic"March 11, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "Simply Spectacular"March 3, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "Solemn and Sublime"February 18, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "Rules, Rules, & More Rules"February 11, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "The Masterclass on Prayer"February 4, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "Death, the Evangelist"January 20, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "The Invocation of Prayer"January 7, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "The Prohibitions of Prayer"January 2, 2020
Sermon Quotes: "New Year, New Mercies"December 17, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "The Servant No One Saw Coming"December 10, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "No Ordinary King"December 3, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "To Us a Child Is Born"November 27, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "Thankfulness: Breathing Heavenly Air"November 18, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "A Band of Natural Enemies"October 28, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "Cheerful Generosity"October 21, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "From Riches to Rags"October 8, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "A Heart for the Harvest"September 23, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "Idols and Altars"September 16, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "A Fear To Be Desired"September 10, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "Coveting and Its Cure"August 13, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "The Commandment You Thought You Kept"July 29, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "The Commandment With A Promise"July 23, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "The Best Day of the Week"July 15, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "God's Name"June 17, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "Our Jealous God"June 11, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "What Is Your One Thing"May 28, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "The Ten Commandments | So Much More Than Commands"May 6, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "Preparing to Meet a Holy God"April 30, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "A Joyful Journey Together"April 23, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "Easter and Exodus"April 16, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "You Gotta Serve Somebody"April 2, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "The Ambush"March 19, 2019
Sermon Quotes: The Sabbath and MercyMarch 12, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "Manna and Mercy"March 5, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "The Bitter and the Sweet"February 26, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "The Song by the Sea"February 19, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "The Crossing"February 15, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "The Long Way Home"January 29, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "Amnesia and Deja Vu"January 24, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "A Night Like No Other"January 15, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "An Unforgettable Feast"January 9, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "The Passover: A Gospel Preview"January 1, 2019
Sermon Quotes: "An Echo of Exodus for the New Year"December 19, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "Impending Justice"December 10, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "Power to Strike and Save"December 3, 2018
Sermon Quotes | "Why the Prelude?"November 27, 2018
Sermon Quotes | "Divine Reassurance"November 13, 2018
Sermon Quotes | "What to Make of a Genealogy"October 23, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "A Strange and Eventful Journey"September 26, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "Convincing a Reluctant Leader"September 4, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "God Remembered"August 20, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "The Best and Worst of Times"August 14, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "The Adventure Begins"August 1, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "The Test of Prosperity"July 23, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "A Story to Tell"July 10, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "The Soundless Word and the Saving Word"July 3, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "The Presence of Wonder"June 26, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "Salvation Belongs to the Lord"June 12, 2018
Sermon Quotes | "Hope Realized"June 5, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "Hope Returns"May 29, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "Hope Deferred"May 22, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "Hope Appears"May 15, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "Dark Days"April 30, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "Paul's Closing Remarks"April 24, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "The Divisive Person"April 2, 2018
Sermon Quotes | "He Saved Us"March 26, 2018
Sermon Quotes | "A Timely Reminder"March 13, 2018
Sermon Quotes | "Look Both Ways"March 5, 2018
Sermon Quotes | "A Word to Young Men"February 20, 2018
Sermon Quotes & Book Recommendations | "Self-Control: An Unappreciated Virtue"February 12, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "The Difference Doctrine Makes"February 5, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "The Deadly Danger of False Teaching"January 29, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "Supporting Those We Send"January 22, 2018
Sermon Quotes | "A Healthy Church"January 16, 2018
Sermon Quotes | "Leaders Who Commend the Gospel"January 8, 2018
Sermon Quotes | "Zealous: Living to Commend the Gospel"January 3, 2018
Sermon Quotes: "Help to the End for 2018"December 28, 2017
Sermon Quotes | "The Angels' Song"December 19, 2017
Sermon Quotes | "Simeon's Song"December 14, 2017
Thursday Thoughts for Parents | "Zechariah's Song"December 12, 2017
Sermon Quotes | "Zechariah's Song"November 10, 2017
Sermon quotes: "The Joyful Journey"October 25, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "Sovereign Grace"October 19, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "Postscript"October 11, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "Unexpected Delight"September 27, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "Resist Your Adversary"September 19, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "Because He Cares For You"September 11, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "Shepherding God's Flock"September 5, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "A Theology of Suffering"August 22, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "The End of the World"August 16, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "Prepared to Suffer"August 8, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "A Perplexing But Glorious Passage"July 25, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "An Underappreciated Passage"July 20, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "In the Presence of Your Enemies"July 7, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "A Humble Husband"July 7, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "A Beautiful Wife"June 13, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "A Savior Like No Other"June 6, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "Honor the Emperor"June 1, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "The Church and the Outsider"May 9, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "A Good and Pleasant Experience"April 18, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "The Surprise of Their Lives"April 4, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "Cries from the Cross | Part 1"March 7, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "Your Unusual Story"February 14, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "Meet the Readers"January 24, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "Why Preaching?"January 10, 2017
Sermon Quotes: "A New Year's Expectation"December 20, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "Mary's Song"November 29, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "Forgiven Much"November 22, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "Now That the Election Is Over"November 8, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "A Flawless Election Prediction"October 18, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "A Scandalous Mercy"October 4, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "From Tears to Shouts of Joy"September 20, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "Sports"September 6, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "Laughter"August 30, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "Leisure"August 17, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "Sleep"August 10, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "A Rescue Mission"August 2, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "Prayer"July 26, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "Patience In Suffering"July 19, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "A Sobering Surprise"July 5, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "A Common Lie"June 14, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "He Gives More Grace"June 7, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "Quarrels and Fights"May 10, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "The Tongue and Turmoil"May 3, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "Got Faith?"March 31, 2016
Weekly Devotional | The Last WordMarch 28, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "The Last Word"March 15, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "The Solution to Self-Deception"March 8, 2016
Remembering Jerry Bridges | C.J. MahaneyMarch 3, 2016
Weekly Devotional | The Difference Meekness MakesMarch 1, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "The Difference Meekness Makes"February 9, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "A Generous God for a Difficult Trial"February 2, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "A Radical Proposal"January 12, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "Numbering Our Days in 2016"January 5, 2016
Sermon Quotes: "James' Take on Job"December 30, 2015
Sermon Quotes: "A Happy Ending"December 21, 2015
Sermon Quotes: " The Offense of Christmas"December 8, 2015
Sermon Quotes: "Out of the Whirlwind, God Speaks"November 23, 2015
Sermon Quotes: "Meet Elihu"November 10, 2015
Sermon Quotes: "When God Doesn't Answer Your Why Question"October 19, 2015
Sermon Quotes: "The Protest of Job"October 6, 2015
Sermon Quotes: "The Friends of Job"September 22, 2015
Sermon Quotes: "The Lament of Job"September 15, 2015
Sermon Quotes: "The Testing of Job"August 18, 2015
Sermon Quotes: "A Safe Journey"August 11, 2015
Sermon Quotes: "When Life Doesn't Make Sense"July 9, 2015
Biblical Productivity | In All Thy WaysJune 26, 2015
Biblical Productivity | Just Do ItJune 23, 2015
Sermon Quotes: "The Cup"June 16, 2015
Biblical Productivity | Confessions of a Busy ProcrastinatorJune 12, 2015
God, My Heart, and Clothes | Part 5June 12, 2015
God, My Heart, and Clothes | Part 4June 11, 2015
God, My Heart, and Clothes | Part 3June 10, 2015
God, My Heart, and Clothes | Part 2June 9, 2015
God, My Heart, and Clothes | Part 1May 28, 2015
Leadership + Family Vacations | Part 2May 28, 2015
Leadership + Family Vacations | Part 3May 26, 2015
Sermon Summary and Discussion Questions | "The Lord's Supper"May 26, 2015
Sunday Sermon Quotes: The Lord's SupperMay 26, 2015
Leadership + Family Vacations | Part 1May 12, 2015
Sunday Sermon Quotes: Slow MotionMay 5, 2015
Sunday Sermon Quotes: Extravagant DevotionApril 28, 2015
Sunday Sermon Quotes: What Attracts Jesus' AttentionApril 7, 2015
Sunday Sermon Quotes: The Empty Tomb and the Risen ChristMarch 31, 2015
Sermon Summary and Discussion Questions | "The Question of the Day"March 31, 2015
Sunday Sermon Quotes: The Question of the DayAugust 13, 2014
Eight Great Books About the GospelJuly 11, 2014
True Greatness in SportsJune 27, 2014
Resources for Studying MarkJune 18, 2014
Honoring Buddy SturgeonJune 17, 2014
Don’t Let Your Fathering Stop After Fathers DayJune 12, 2014
Jake Simmons' TestimonyMay 22, 2014
A statement from C.J. MahaneyApril 25, 2013
Reflections on South Africa