Sermons on Life Metaphors:

What Do The Magi's Gifts Mean Today?

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 2, 2021

The gifts that the magi presented to the baby Jesus have metaphorical meaning. What do they mean today?

The story about the three magi visiting the baby Yeshua is a problematic story. If such an event took place, why is it only found in Matthew's Gospel? The idea of three magi traveling from Persia to Judea is fascinating. The narrative says that they followed the Bethlehem star. Many people ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

Life's Ultimate Question

Contributed by Lloyd John Ogilvie on Aug 9, 2011

Help your listeners answer the ultimate question: "Who do you say Jesus is?"

What are your deepest hopes and hurts? Fondest dreams and desires? Frustrations and fears? Worries and anxieties? Will being here make any difference? Yes! The Living Christ is here! What do you really expect He can and will do for you? Spurgeon was right, " We have great needs, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Inheriting Eternal Life Series

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Jun 22, 2016

Jesus answers the question - How can we inherit eternal life? 1. By having the right Vertical Relationship - Loving God with ALL YOUR HEART, SOUL AND MIGHT. 2. Having the right Horizontal Relationship - LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF

Scripture: Luke 10: 25-37; Psalm 82 and Amos 7:7-17 (Proper 10) Title: Inheriting Eternal Life Proposition: In this passage Jesus answers the question - How can we inherit eternal life. 1. By having the right Vertical Relationship - Loving God with all your heart, mind and strength 2. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Nazarene

Confession & A Transparent Life Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jan 31, 2016

True believers are 1) Cleansed from sin (1 John 1:7); yet, 2) Confessing sin (1 John 1:9); and even 3) Conquering sin (1 John 2;1a).

On April 29, 2009 Pope Benedict XVI met with a delegation of aboriginal Canadians he had invited to the Vatican at the request of the bishops of Canada. On the topic of residential schools, Benedict expressed “his sorrow at the anguish caused by the deplorable conduct of some members of the ...read more

Denomination: Other

Is Your Church A Cruise-Ship Or A Battleship?

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jan 5, 2011

Which image better describes a church? Your church? I know, it’s a metaphor. All metaphors break down at some point. When making a choice, our natural inclination is to choose the cruise ship over the battleship any day.

Opening illustration: watch an illustrative audio-video clip Introduction: On the surface we would believe that the early church in Acts was blessed with outstanding growth due to the anointed preaching of the apostles; their balanced practices that would evolve into much of our church programming ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walking Through The Valley Of Death With The Good Shepherd

Contributed by Revd Dr Ruwan Palapathwala on Dec 14, 2024

The Valley of Death is a real place and also metaphoric for describing life's trials and daring challenges. Fearlessly, we can walk through any Valley of Death with Jesus, the Good Shephard

The readings you/we have just read are among my most loved passages from God's Word. I know that you love them the most, too. Psalm 23, which we love so much, is, without any doubt, the song of our souls as we live this life as Christians. Even if only we were made to recite and memorise ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:19-25

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Amazing Grace!

Contributed by John Sloat on Apr 3, 2001

A 5-year-old with a broken foot in a wheelchair at DisneyWorld among caring people is a metaphor for grace.

AMAZING GRACE Text: Ephesians 1:6,7b,8a I want to think with you this morning about the grace of God. The text is from Ephesians, the first chapter, verses 6, 7, and 8: "Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear son. How great is the grace of God which he ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:6-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus, Gateway To Meaningful Life Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 16, 2022

Jesus is like a gate or a door to a sheep pen; He protects His flock and regulates them so they can thrive.

Jesus, Gateway to Meaningful Life John 10:7-10, Psalm 118:19-26, Jeremiah 23:1-6 1 Jesus often referred to symbols that teach something about him, The 7 I Am statements from John’s Gospel are metaphors, saying Jesus is something, meaning that, in some way, He is like something. 2. Two of these ...read more

Scripture: John 10:7-10, Psalm 118:19-26, Jeremiah 23:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Lamb, The Lion, The Eagle, And The Hen

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Apr 16, 2008

Four metaphors that depict various aspects of our Lord’s relationship to all who believe in Him.

THE LAMB, THE LION, THE EAGLE, AND THE HEN "They conquered him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.” Revelation 12:11 (HCSB) The title of today’s sermon gives us four metaphors that depict various aspects of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:11

Denomination: Baptist

The Work Of Wisdom

Contributed by Daren Mitchell on May 25, 2012

Is it a shock that the writer of Proverbs 31 used the metaphor of a wife and a mom to explain wisdom? It's not a shock to me.

The Work of Wisdom In honor of mothers day we’re going to talk about wisdom; which is appropriate considering how wisdom plays an active daily part in the life of a mom. We'll start with what the Bible says about wisdom with a Scripture you may wonder about at first. Why are we reading this ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Suit Up PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Mar 6, 2024

This sermon explores the metaphor of the Christian as a warrior, equipped with the armor of God, actively engaging in spiritual battles with faith.

Welcome, beloved family in Christ. It is always a joy to gather together in the house of the Lord, to share in fellowship, to lift our voices in praise, and to open our hearts to the wisdom of His Word. Today, we stand on the cusp of a powerful revelation, a divine message that has the potential to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:14

Topics: God's Armor

A Light In The Darkness Series

Contributed by Guy Caley on Jan 28, 2002

Jesus is the promised light to the people who walked in darkness. Examines the metaphor of "light" and what it actually describes.

A Light in the Darkness Text: Matthew 4:12-25 Introduction When I was in 4th Grade my class took a field trip to the Cave of the Winds. At one point in the tour they turned the lights off and we experienced total darkness. Then in the distance someone lit a single match. It was amazing the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-25, Isaiah 9:1-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Caution - Church Under Construction

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Oct 2, 2023

Based on 1 Corinthians 3. A message about building a healthy church - using the extended metaphor of construction.

Title: Build The Church – Be The Church Text: 1 Cor 3:5-17 Homiletical subject: What does it take to build a healthy and growing church? Homiletical complement: it takes all of us, using all of our gifts, with all of our heart, in the power and partnership of Jesus Christ, who is Lord of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

Steal, Kill, Destroy

Contributed by Pedro Trinidad on Oct 14, 2019

Jesus, the Great Shepherd, wants to give you true life

Steal Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Steal 1: to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as a habitual or regular practice 2: to come or go secretly, unobtrusively, gradually, or unexpectedly Have you ever been stolen from? How did you ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Brought To Life; Brought Together

Contributed by David Taylor on Sep 10, 2024

Living out what God has done has been described in a number of ways, walking worthy, walking in love, walking in light, and now walking in wisdom.

We are continuing our series in Ephesians, Brought to Life; Brought Together. As we have said, Ephesians can be divided into two sections, chapters one through three describe what God has done in us through Christ while chapters four through six call us to live out what God has done in us. Living ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational