Sermons on Closed Their Eyes:

El Roi: Making Sense Of God Seeing Us

Contributed by Jessica Linde on Jul 21, 2025

By looking at the story of Hagar and how she gives God the name El Roi ("God who sees"), this sermon’s ultimate goal is to highlight that God being able to see us is not an indication of Him wanting to surveil us; rather, it's an indication of His boundless compassion and mercy on us.

Who here has ever read George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984? Or maybe seen the movie version of it with John Hurt…? Right, so for those of you who may not know (or need a refresher), Orwell published his work 1984 in the year 1949, and it’s really a speculation (perhaps a warning) of what the year ...read more

How The End Begins

Contributed by Monte Brown on Oct 25, 2009

There is a danger when we get to close to sin. It all starts when we pitch our tents toward Sodom.

Introduction How does a person end up with their lives in a mess. They feel that they have failed. Their marriage is ruined. Their finances are in trouble. They have lost their job. They feel all alone. If you throw a ball straight up in the air when does it start to come down? ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 13:5-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Error Of Balaam – Making Profit From The Work Of The Lord – Part 1 Jude 1:10-11b Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 13, 2022

A donkey in the hands of the Lord, is superior to a donkey of a man. Balaam was the real donkey. If it was not for an obedient donkey, Balaam would have died as a disobedient donkey, and the obedient donkey would have lived. Jude continues the message on false teachers

THE ERROR OF BALAAM – MAKING PROFIT FROM THE WORK OF THE LORD – PART 1 Jude 1:10-11b {{Jude 1:10 “These men revile the things which they do not understand, and like unreasoning animals, they are destroyed by these things which they know by instinct. Jude 1:11 Woe to them for they have gone the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:8, Numbers 22:1-13, Numbers 22:17-41, Numbers 23:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don’t Lose Your Mind Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Dec 10, 2009

Keeping a salvation mindset will protect us from distraction, disorientation, and discouragement as we keep our eyes on the prize.

Don’t Lose Your Mind Ephesians 6:13-17 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:13-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Extending Love

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 24, 2009

Most people love only when it benefits them or meets their needs. Even though it is forbidden by God to hate another person, to nurse a grudge or to seek vengance, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” was the rule of the day, Jesus calls us to love

Extending Love John 13:34-35

 In our Scripture today, Jesus is sharing His last evening with His disciples before He is crucified. They’re together in the Upper Room and Jesus began the evening with washing the disciple’s feet, teaching them humility and servanthood. While they were ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Denomination: Methodist

Nehemiah's Wild Ride Series

Contributed by John Braland on Sep 27, 2006

Have you ever felt like the walls were crumbling down around you? News so eye opening and devastating that it altered your thinking? Maybe the problem is taking place in a distant land or on the other side of the country and its affecting people you hav

Have you ever felt like the walls were crumbling down around you? News so eye opening and devastating that it altered your thinking? Maybe the problem is taking place in a distant land or on the other side of the country and its affecting people you have never met. But for some reason their ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:4-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Innkeeper

Contributed by James Buchanan on Dec 1, 2003

The third in a series on The Three People Missed at Christmas. This focuses on a personage of the innkeeper, who was so close to the Savior, but missed the boat.

Have you ever missed the boat? Have you ever gotten so wrapped up in things that you have missed out on the main reason for doing what you do? The rich industrialist from the North was horrified to find the southern fisherman lying lazily beside his boat, smoking a pipe. "Why aren’t you out ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jephthah - Zero To Hero

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on Sep 28, 2007

An inspiring look at a believer in God who went from being a zero to a hero in the eyes of his family and neighbors.

Hebrews 11 is called the “Faith Chapter” because its primary subject is the importance of faith. Its also called the “Faith’s Hall of Fame” chapter because it talks about men and women of the Old Testament who became spiritual heros and heroines because they trusted God and obeyed Him…they ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Cup Of Salvation

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Apr 20, 2016

What causes the psalmist to break out in his expression of love? The salvation of the Lord. Close to death, the Lord delivered him.

Psalm 116:1-19 The Cup of Salvation 4/20/00 Introduction Some of you may have picked up in the order of service that we are going through the six psalms of ascent sung by pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem for the Passover. As would have been traditional, Jesus and his disciples most likely ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 116:1-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Judas Series

Contributed by Rick Boyne on May 12, 2020

Third message in a 7 sermon series. Judas shows us just how close a person can get to Jesus and not be a Christian.

Journey to the Resurrection Judas March 15, 2020 Morning Service Easter 2020 Series Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: Judas shows us just how close a person can get to Jesus and not be a Christian. Focus Passage: Matt 26:14-16, 21-25, 47-50 Supplemental Passage: And ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:14-50

Denomination: Baptist

Trees In The Park

Contributed by James May on May 4, 2008

We will always see "men as trees walking" until we get close enough to Jesus to have a clear vision of others.

Trees in the Park By Pastor Jim May Don’t you just love to have the time to take a walk in the park and see all of God’s creation in a peaceful setting? There’s just something about it that calms the spirit and helps us to realize just how big and loving our God truly is. One of the things that ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:23-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Shepherds Message Of Hope Series

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Jan 17, 2012

This message looks at the birth of Jesus through the eyes of the shepherds, and we must not leave Jesus out of our lives.

The Shepherd’s message of Hope Luke chapter 2:8-20 This message has some thoughts and illustrations from contributors of sermoncentral. Introduction- We have been in a series called Holding onto Christmas. We can get so busy that we could miss Christmas if we are not careful. Last week, we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Nazarene

A Good Cry Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jan 12, 2012

Go ahead, have a good cry if you need to. Then let your tears draw you close to others and to God.

There is a new trend in China’s changing culture, which I find very interesting. The trend is a Cry Bar and it’s spreading to several major Chinese cities. The first Cry Bar opened eight or nine years ago (2003) in the city of Nanjing with only a sofa, a few tables, and tissues – a lot of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:1-26

Denomination: Evangelical Free

“thomas: Believing The Risen King” Series

Contributed by Ron Tuit on Aug 7, 2016

Jesus' meeting with Thomas reveals the problem of a unbelieving heart and the persistence of a loving Savior to draw close to Him and believe and be blessed!

8 7 2016 “Thomas: Believing the Risen King” John 20:24-31 “Inquiring minds want to know?” was the caption on a supermarket tabloid for years. Most people are innately curious. People are also generally skeptical: they want proof or evidence in order to be convinced. We ...read more

Scripture: John 20:24-31

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Walk Away From An Answered Prayer

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jul 12, 2022

We tend to pray for the salvation of someone we know, or for a job, or for the return of the LORD, or some other issue, and He answers it in a way that either we don't expect or like. Let's not forget that God is in charge. His will overrides our ideals.

I want to share with you an insight that the LORD impressed upon me pertaining to prayer and how the LORD graciously answers our petitions and requests presented before Him. You are probably familiar with the saying that He answers our prayers three ways: Either "Yes", "No", ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:4, Psalm 91:15, Isaiah 65:24, Jeremiah 33:3, Luke 11:9, John 14:14, 1 John 3:22  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist