Plan to Be Surprised | Paul Daugherty | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Plan to Be Surprised

Victory Church • Apr 27, 2025 • 57 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this encouraging sermon, Pastor Paul Daugherty reminds believers that Jesus is the master of surprise who delights in bringing unexpected hope into our darkest seasons. Drawing from Mary Magdalene's encounter at the resurrection tomb and the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the message highlights how lingering in God's presence—rather than rushing away in grief or disappointment—opens our eyes to His unseen work. When we release cynicism and relinquish our desire to control every detail of our lives, we make room for God to transform our hearts, families, and futures in ways far beyond what we could plan.

Themes

God's SurprisesLingering in God's PresenceOvercoming CynicismExpectant FaithDivine Restoration

Key Points

1.
Linger in God's presence rather than rushing through grief or difficulty, because those who wait longer receive deeper spiritual insight and see what others miss.
2.
Negative surprises and deep heartbreaks can numb our expectations over time, making us guarded against believing that God has good things ahead.
3.
Jesus frequently approaches us in unexpected forms during seasons of sorrow, walking beside us even when we fail to recognize His presence immediately.
4.
A single personal word from Jesus calling us by name shatters grief, awakens faith, and restores clarity to our hearts.
5.
Cynical mindsets and boxed-in thinking restrict our ability to experience fresh moves of the Holy Spirit in our lives, families, and churches.
6.
God specializes in taking our worst mistakes, setbacks, and broken circumstances and turning them into remarkable testimonies of grace.
7.
Relinquishing the need to control every outcome and inviting God to "surprise me" positioning our hearts to receive His miraculous work.

Sermon Moments

“Mary Magdalene standing outside the tomb in tears, so consumed by grief that she initially mistook the resurrected Jesus for the local gardener.”

“Two disciples walking seven miles to Emmaus in deep disappointment, unaware that Jesus was walking right alongside them and explaining scripture to them.”

“Pastor Paul meeting a church member in a gym steam room who enthusiastically described Victory Church, unaware he was talking to his own pastor.”

“Discovering seven unexpected, beautiful waterfalls hidden behind cornfields in a region of Brazil that locals had labeled completely boring and empty.”

“Telling a restaurant waiter to let the chef "surprise me," serving as an illustration of surrendering control to a heavenly Father who never disappoints.”

“A 19-year-old Bible student at a church walk-through event attempting to aggressively witness to Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty in a hoodie, unaware of who he was speaking with.”

“Jesus speaking Mary's name in John 20:16—a single, personal word that instantly transformed her deep grief into overwhelming resurrection joy.”

This Week

Spend lingering, unhurried time in God's presence during your daily prayer rather than rushing through a list of requests.

Identify areas where past pain or negative surprises have made you cynical, and consciously surrender those hurt places to God.

Stop boxing your spouse, children, or friends into old versions of themselves, making space in your mind and prayers for God to transform them.

Pray a simple prayer of release: "Lord, surprise me," handing over control of your week's outcomes to His wisdom.

Refuse to run away from difficult emotional seasons, choosing instead to let God reveal truth to you while processing grief or loss.

Encourage someone who feels like their story or dream is finished by reminding them that God always has another chapter written.

Listen expectantly for the voice of Jesus in quiet moments, trusting that His personal word to you can instantly restore joy and faith.

Remember This

When we let go of cynicism and surrender our need to control every outcome, lingering in God's presence allows Jesus to surprise us with unexpected hope, healing, and restoration.

A Challenge for You

"Don't trust your assumptions in your mind about people, about yourself, about your story. Challenge those assumptions by saying, 'God, I believe you're up to something good, and I'm planning to be surprised in a good way by the story and the testimony that you're writing in my life.'"

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.