Sermons on Deceptive Appearance:

The Preaching Jackass

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 10, 2007

Valuable lessons we can learn by looking at the appearance, nature, and attitude of the donkey.

The Preaching Jackass Luke 19:29-38 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:29-38

Denomination: Wesleyan

Pure In Heart Series

Contributed by Dan Brown on Dec 5, 2006

Christ placed a higher empahsis on the condition of our hearts than on external appearances.

Sermon-Blessed are the Pure In Heart-Matt. 5:8 Read Sermon on the Mount Pray Cleaning room as kid-outward cleanliness-stuff it in closet & under bed etc. (still do that), not really clean just hiding the junk That’s the point Christ is trying to make in the verse we are looking at ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8

Denomination: *other

A Cookout Brings Faith

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Apr 23, 2004

A sermon for the 3rd Sunday after Eater Jesus appears to the disciples on the shore

3rd Sunday after Easter John 21:1-19 " A Cookout Brings Faith"   "After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-19

Denomination: Lutheran

Holiness Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 12, 2003

Holiness is the gift of an identity, appearing to be too good to be true, but received by accepting forgiveness.

Today’s message is framed by incidents provided by two church members. I will not be naming the players, but they have given me both the beginning and the ending of this message on holiness. The beginning: a few days ago one of you told me that you came to worship each Sunday so that you could ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

Angels: Images Of God's Providence Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Jan 21, 2008

How the angelic appearances around Jesus’ birth demonstrates God’s providence

(adapted from a series from Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY) TEXT: SELECTED TITLE: “ANGELS: IMAGES OF GOD’S PROVIDENCE” OPEN: A. As human beings, we tend to associate certain images with certain concepts 1. For almost 2000 years, one of the main ways the church ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Tired Of Battling

Contributed by Jose R. Hernandez on Jul 10, 2007

How many of you are fighting a battle against things or circumstances that appear to be invincible?

I would like to begin today with a question. How many of you think that the more you try, the less territory you gain? In other words, how many of you are fighting a battle against things or circumstances that appear to be invincible? I ask these questions because many of us are confronted with ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:8-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Transformation Series

Contributed by Graeme Saunders on Oct 26, 2013

changing the focus from outward appearance to inward, allowing God to transform us.

1. Taking off the mask John 4:13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:21-22

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Unlimited Possibilities Of Your Life Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jan 19, 2011

God sees beyond your circumstances and appearances to the unlimited possibilities of your life.

“Xtreme Faith: The Unlimited Possibilities of Your Life” Gen. 12:1-5; 13:14-18; 2:1-5 A simple sheepherder, named Abram, becomes the father of many nations. A youngest son, named Joseph, despised by jealous brothers, becomes second in command of a great nation and protects God’s line of salvation. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

On The Shores Of Galilee

Contributed by Peter Johnstone on May 27, 2011

A Post Resurrection appearance of Jesus that mirrors the gospel and invites us to follow him

The 21st chapter of John’s Gospel is one of the strangest and most mysterious chapters in the gospel. It is such that, if this chapter didn’t exist at the end of John’s Gospel (and you only had chapters 1 to 20) there is no way under heaven that you guess that it existed! You ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

Brothers Together

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 25, 2020

Shades of opinion in the Christian church. We shall all appear before Christ.

BROTHERS TOGETHER. Romans 14:1-12. This passage has much to say about receiving one another in the Lord. Paul defines “the weak in the faith” (Romans 14:1) as those who have scruples about what they eat (Romans 14:2). Do not “despise” them, warns Paul; but he also warns the weak not to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Keep Awake"

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Nov 28, 2017

Before the day of The Lord appears there will be many disturbances so keep awake, be ready.

“Keep Awake” 1. The text comes from a response after the disciples Peter, James, John, and Andrew After learning that the temple will be destroyed, they ask, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?" (vv. 2-4). The ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:24-37

Denomination: Methodist

The Illusion That Jesus Failed! Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Apr 14, 2017

The death of Jesus gave the illusion that Jesus failed. Things are not always the way they appear!

INTRODUCTION • VIDEO CLIP • SLIDE #1 • If all one knew about the life of Jesus was what we saw in the video clip, one could easily conclude that Jesus failed miserably. • Here was a man who made bold claims about being the Son of God, about being the Messiah, as well as stating that when you looked ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:45-50

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sermon On The Fruits & Delights Of Summer

Contributed by William Meakin on May 26, 2024

As the welcome signs of spring transmogrify into summer, the flowers alter their appearance into a new delight.

Henry Theodore Tuckerman, an American writer and essayist once remarked: “To analyze the charms of flowers is like dissecting music; it is one of those things which it is far better to enjoy, than to attempt to fully understand.” Song of Solomon 2:12 reminds us: “The flowers appear on the earth, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 74:17, Genesis 8:22, Amos 8:1, Galatians 5:22-23

Jesus--Crazy Or Victorious?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 18, 2023

It appears here that the relatives of Jesus want to have Him committed to a mental ward.

Saturday of the 2nd week in Course 2023 Today’s Gospel is one of the shortest readings in the Lectionary. If you don’t pay attention, it’s over before you can grasp it. Why? Mark’s community of Rome was under almost constant persecution. So he took mostly Matthew’s Gospel and abridged it, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:2-14, Mark 3:20-21

Denomination: Catholic

Sermon On Differences

Contributed by William Meakin on Jul 4, 2025

Differences are defined as the quality or state of being dissimilar in appearance, nature, form, or character.

Virginia Satir, an American author once remarked: “Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.” 2 Corinthians ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:28, 1 Peter 3:8, Luke 21:1-4, Acts 17:11