This past Palm Sunday, Pastor Shelly Foley brought a powerful and timely word to our congregation, reminding us of the transforming power of expectation. Even with her voice strained from a weekend filled with passionate worship and ministry, the fire in her message could not be missed.
A Day of Expectation
As the service opened and those preparing for baptism made their way to the back, Pastor Shelly declared the theme God had placed on her heart: “Today is a day of expectation.” Baptism Sunday. Palm Sunday. Two powerful reminders that God still moves—and He does so when we come expecting Him to.
Reflecting on a recent worship night, Pastor Shelly described how God’s presence met us immediately as we walked into the room. There was no warm-up, no lead-in—it was as if Heaven released a sound the moment we stepped in, simply because we expected Him to show up. That kind of faith-filled anticipation created an atmosphere where God moved powerfully.
What It Means to Expect
Digging into the meaning of the word expect, Pastor Shelly challenged us not to confuse it with passivity. “Waiting is not sitting,” she said. “If I’m waiting for something, I’m ready for it.” Just like an athlete ready for the ball, expectation means we’re positioned to receive—alert, aware, and anticipating what’s to come.
To expect means:
- To regard something as likely
- To anticipate and look forward to
- To wait in readiness
- To consider it certain
This is not a mindset of if God will move, but when. It’s a posture of faith that says, “I don’t know how, but I know He will.”
Palm Sunday: A Picture of Expectation
Pastor Shelly turned our attention to the first Palm Sunday, when crowds heard that Jesus—the one who raised Lazarus from the dead—was coming. They rushed to meet Him, waving palm branches, shouting “Hosanna!” Why? Because they expected the King to show up. They anticipated His arrival and celebrated before they even saw Him.
“Will we anticipate the coming of the King?” Pastor Shelly asked. Not just His future return, but His present power in our daily lives. Will we expect Him to move on Monday morning? In our homes, our workplaces, our marriages?
Baptism: An Act of Faith and Expectation
As we celebrated the baptism of 11 individuals, Pastor Shelly reminded us that baptism is more than a symbolic gesture—it’s a declaration of new life and spiritual power. It marks a cutting off of sin’s power and an entrance into the overcoming life we’ve been called to live.
“We live in a world that says we have to cope,” she said, “but the gospel says we can be free.”
Baptism is one of the keys that unlocks that freedom. While it doesn’t make us perfect, it positions us to walk in transformation. Whether God delivers us in a moment or through a process, both are valid. “It’s both God,” Pastor Shelly affirmed. “Some things He delivers us from instantly, others He walks us through for our growth.”
Faithful to Finish
She closed with Philippians 1:6—“He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Even when we feel unfinished or stuck, we can come to God with expectation, trusting that what He starts, He will finish.
Conclusion
Pastor Shelly’s message was more than encouragement—it was a charge. To live with anticipation. To believe that God still moves. To trust that He is not finished. On this Palm Sunday, she invited us to shift from passive belief to active expectation. And in doing so, to make room for miracles.
Let us live as people who expect. Because when we expect Him to move—He does.
Absolutely! Here’s a discussion guide based on Pastor Shelly Foley’s sermon, following the same format you’ve used previously:
Study Guide
- What’s something you’ve waited for with great expectation? How did it feel when it finally happened?
- Share about a time you walked into a worship service or event and immediately sensed God’s presence.
- If you had to choose one word to describe what “expectation” means in your walk with God, what would it be?
Sermon Summary
Pastor Shelly Foley delivered a powerful Palm Sunday message centered on expectation. Despite losing her voice from an incredible worship weekend, her message rang loud and clear: we are called to live with active, faith-filled expectation.
Drawing from the crowd’s anticipation on the original Palm Sunday, Pastor Shelly challenged us not to limit our expectancy to special services, but to bring that same posture into our everyday lives. She emphasized that expecting God isn’t passive—it’s about positioning ourselves to receive, just like an athlete ready for the ball.
As we celebrated baptisms, Pastor Shelly reminded us that baptism is an act of expectation—it symbolizes freedom, transformation, and the beginning of a life lived in resurrection power. Whether God delivers us instantly or through process, He is faithful to finish the work He begins.
Key Scriptures
- Mark 11:9–10 – “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
- Philippians 1:6 – “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
- Romans 8:11 – “The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.”
Discussion Question
- Pastor Shelly said, “Waiting is not sitting.” How does that reshape your understanding of what it means to “wait on the Lord”?
- What areas of your life have you stopped expecting God to move in? What would it look like to renew your expectation there?
- Reflect on the difference between coping and overcoming. Why is that distinction important in our faith journey?
- Pastor Shelly shared that God delivers in different ways—sometimes instantly, sometimes through process. Have you experienced either (or both)? What did God teach you through it?
- How does baptism demonstrate an expectation of new life and transformation?
- In what ways can we, as a group, cultivate a culture of expectation in our daily lives and church community?
Practical Application
- This Week: Start each day with a short prayer of expectation. Ask God to make you aware of where He’s moving around you.
- Community Step: Encourage someone who’s going through a process of transformation. Remind them that God finishes what He starts.
- Faith Challenge: Write down one area where you’re believing for breakthrough. Declare God’s promise over it every day this week.
Closing Prayer
Lord, thank You that You are a God who moves when we expect You. Help us to live with eyes wide open, hearts full of faith, and spirits ready to receive. May we not limit You to a Sunday experience, but carry expectation into every moment. Stir our faith again to believe that what You’ve started, You will finish. In Jesus’ name, amen.