Why Sermons Should Be Full of Surprises

“When we understand life as the theater of God’s glory rather than merely the marketplace of human values, then we can begin to grasp why salvation is by grace. Grace is ultimately wondrous; it amazes us as nothing else. God’s power certainly impresses us, and his wisdom is impressive, too, as is his justice, but we expect all that from God. God’s grace is another matter” (Hughes Oliphant Old, The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures, Vol. 1, p. 214).