Sermons on metaphors:

Living Out The Message Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Jul 14, 2023

True religion puts words into action.

Living Out The Message Jeffery Anselmi / General True Religion / Faith; Example / James 1:19–25 True religion puts words into action. INTRODUCTION • Have you been around a person who could talk a good game? • They would tell you how great they were at whatever they bragged about. • I have seen ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stumbing Along

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 19, 2023

Unexamined assumptions can cause us to stumble over things we don't even notice.

It’s a little disconcerting, sitting down to write a sermon on a passage that you’ve already preached on twice, to find that neither time did you say what you’d planned to say. Of course, only preachers have that problem... Maybe only 60-something preachers have that problem. But more generally, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:35-50

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You Are The Salt Of The Earth Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 23, 2022

Jesus calls us to be the salt - the preservative - of the earth. He warns us against losing our sense of mission. Or, considering the Greek, perhaps he is warning us against being pushed off course. But either way, his message is: stick with it.

Today, after a bit of a break, we’re returning to Jesus’ longest recorded sermon, the Sermon on the Mount. Can you remember how Jesus starts his sermon? What was his first WORD? Jesus’ first word is ‘blessed’. ‘Blessed’ means happy or fortunate. Jesus wants us to be blessed. He is going to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Denomination: Baptist

Travel Advisory

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 18, 2023

John contemplates the conversation over the Last Supper so long ago, especially the meaning of Jesus' advice to carry a sword.

What on earth was Jesus talking about now? There they were in Jerusalem, the culmination of the three years of traveling and teaching with the Master. They were in the city that was the center of their universe. Jesus had confounded all his questioners and accusers. The people had hailed him as a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:35-38, Ephesians 6:14-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Longing For The Food In Egypt

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Sep 30, 2023

When things get rough and disorienting, the predictability of the past starts looking pretty good. The story of the Exodus, with its powerful imagery of liberation from Egyptian slavery, holds a significant place in African American culture and history.

When things get rough and disorienting, the predictability of the past starts looking pretty good. The story of the Exodus, with its powerful imagery of liberation from Egyptian slavery, holds a significant place in African American culture and history. It has been a symbol of hope and resilience, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:2-15

Denomination: United Methodist

Shaking & Moving

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Apr 4, 2023

The whole world was shaken and changed because of what God did. Have you been shaken? Have you changed?

When I preach from the lectionary, which I do most of the time unless I'm working on a series, one of the first things I do is to try and find the common thread among the different passages. And on this glorious day when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, the central message is ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8, Acts 10:34-43, John 20:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Cross Gives Us Endurance Series

Contributed by Mike Lewis on Dec 27, 2022

How much would you endure when times are bleak? When the world around us is falling in, what does it take to keep going? What or who gives you endurance to keep going?

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION SURVIVAL STORIES – HAVE A NICE FALL In November 2019, Ryan Cairnes did a few things right and a few things wrong when he went rock climbing in Washington’s Cannon Mountains. His first mistake—even though he’s an experienced climber with sturdy gear—was going to the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Philippians 3:12-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Sinful, Human Nature

Contributed by Craig Condon on Jun 6, 2015

If we love God, we will truly love the things we ought to love and we'll find some other way of expressing our appreciation for the material things we have.

The passage from Hosea 11:1-10 is a story of God mourning over his people. He loved Israel like a parent loves a child, but Israel spurned him. Even though he was rejected, God still loved Israel and could not renounce his chosen people. It is a metaphor for what Jesus did. Jesus was rejected by ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 11:1-10

Denomination: Anglican

7 Stars And 7 Lampstands Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on May 12, 2012

As the Revelation opens John sees a vision of Jesus standing among the churches of Asia and the vision is of one who shows the glory of God shining from his face

Today we begin a series on the book of Revelation. You may be aware that this is not an easy book to follow so let me give you a short introduction. The first thing to understand is that this is not a work of history, though it is firmly rooted in the history of the Church since Jesus Christ. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-20

Denomination: Anglican

The Eternal Gospel Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on May 13, 2012

The eternal gospel is more about God than it is about us. And it isn't good news for everyone.

What is the gospel? Is it really good news, or is it something more? The answer to that question is important because if we get it wrong it’ll affect two things: the message we give people who don’t yet know Jesus, and more importantly whether we think it matters whether they hear about ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

"Living Water"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Mar 18, 2017

We are all broken sinners, and Jesus loves us anyway.

"Living Water" John 4:4-42 When I was entering the 6th grade my family moved to an entirely different part of the country and I, of course, entered an entirely different school. It was a horrifying experience. It was humiliating. It was dehumanizing. Why do I say that? Because, on the ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-42

Denomination: United Methodist

The Parable Of The Net

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Aug 14, 2020

God catches all kinds of people---people from all walks of life. God is not willing for anyone to perish (II Pet. 3:9) which is why God gives us the free gift of His grace. God chooses us but not everyone chooses to have a relationship with God. God also wants us to choose Him.

THE PARABLE OF THE NET Text: Matthew 13:47 - 50 Have any of you ever auditioned for a role or a part in a school play? How about applying for a job? How many of you have tried out for a sport, hoping that you would make the team? For those of you who auditioned for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:47-50

Denomination: United Methodist

38. Personhood Series

Contributed by Gary Regazzoli on Nov 6, 2018

Jesus Christ, sacrificed Himself to enable our unique “persons” to again have access to the life-sustaining source of immortality, God

[IN GOD’S IMAGE 38 - PERSONHOOD] This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:28, Romans 5:18-19, Luke 16:22-26, Genesis 2:16, Galatians 3:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

Jacob Wrestles With God, A Salvation Story. Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 6, 2024

Jacob had been at odds with pretty much everyone his entire life, He wrestles with God and surrenders. There is a new beginning. Why do we wrestle with God and not just surrender to him?

Read Genesis 32:22-32 Who here likes a bit of alone time, the family have gone off on a trip and here’s an opportunity, there’s that novel that you would like to finish reading, that project that you’ve been wanting to finish or in my case get started, the hobby that it would be good to lose ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32, Ephesians 2:4-6, Genesis 32:1-32, Jeremiah 29:11-14

Denomination: Salvation Army

Gining Grit Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Jan 16, 2025

To gain grit, the grit to persevere, we need to do some things

Gaining Grit Jeffery Anselmi / General Adult Core 52 / Perseverance / Hebrews 12:1–2 To gain grit, the grit to persevere, we need to do some things INTRODUCTION - How does a person persevere when it is not easy to do so? - How does an athlete push hard as their body is hurting and it does not ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ