Sermons on Metaphors:

Matthew 13:36-43 - Hell, God’s Waste Management Centre - Part 11 Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Mar 1, 2011

It is a sickly, acrid, repulsive stench that makes you curl your face into an involuntary grimace and hold your nose. In the Valley of Hinnom, outside Jerusalem, refuse is burned continually day and night. Jesus uses it as a picture of Hell.

Matthew 13:36-43 - HELL, GOD’S WASTE MANAGEMENT CENTRE - Part 11 I watch as hell is washed inland with the momentum of an earthquake behind it, a wave of burning cars, buildings and debri. And in its wake the devastation of thousands lost. Earthquake, tsunami, nuclear explosion. In the Valley of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:36-43

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Historian Distorts Past In Pursuit Of Anti-Christian Animus

Contributed by Frederick Meekins on Oct 19, 2010

Historian Distorts Past In Pursuit Of Anti-Christian Animus

In the 4/19/10 edition of USA Today, religious antiquarian Phillip Jenkins, by comparing extremist Islam with assorted atrocities committed in the name of Christianity over the centuries, details from an historical perspective how any religion can be co-opted in the name of violence. Though his ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-33

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Who Inspires You?

Contributed by Rich Middleton on Mar 13, 2008

The Holy Spirit Wants To Inspire Us To Be The Best We Can Be.

Who Inspires You? There are a lot of things that inspire us. You probably have memories from your past that inspire you. I have a little video highlight clip for you, Michael Jordon has inspired millions of people with his basketball talent. So much so that they have made advertising campaigns ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:27

Denomination: Pentecostal

Warnings And Promises For Evil Days

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 7, 2016

Times and signs.

WARNINGS & PROMISES FOR EVIL DAYS. Luke 21:5-19. Every so often we are confronted with all the uncertainty that arises from the dawn of what seem to be evil days. One hundred years ago people wondered if the fierce battles of World War One represented the Apocalyptic Armageddon. Then came ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:5-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Incarnation In Ezekiel

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 30, 2018

“I the LORD their God with them" (Ezekiel 34:30).

THE INCARNATION IN EZEKIEL. Ezekiel 34:1-31. “I the LORD their God (am) with them” (Ezekiel 34:30). The word “am” is provided in italics in some of our English translations, to indicate that it is not in the original. ‘What is this but “God with us”?’ asked C. H. Spurgeon in his 19th ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:30, Ezekiel 34:1-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Response Of A Sheep To The Good Shepherd

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 8, 2015

Reassurances in the valley, celebrations on the plateau, and hope for the future.

A SHEEP’S RESPONSE TO THE GOOD SHEPHERD. Psalm 23:4-6. ‘All we like sheep have gone astray’ (Isaiah 53:6). Yet when we know Jesus as our Good Shepherd (John 10:14), we have full bragging rights (Psalm 23:1-3). One of the distinguishing marks of the Good Shepherd is His compassion towards an ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Call To Draw Near

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 3, 2015

The finished work of Jesus gives us confident access to God.

A CALL TO DRAW NEAR. Hebrews 10:11-25. Broadly speaking, this passage represents the end of the argument for the pre-eminence of Jesus’ priesthood, and the beginning of some practical applications. In expounding the sympathetic priesthood of Jesus (Hebrews 4:14-16), the writer has already ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Overview Of The Book Of Ruth

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 13, 2013

It all comes down to a moment at midnight on a particular threshing floor in the valley below Bethlehem.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF RUTH. Ruth 1-4. The structure of the Book of Ruth is interesting. It begins in the time of the Judges, and ends with a genealogy that runs on to King David, thus justifying the book’s canonical position between Judges and 1 Samuel. The whole story pivots on a time ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22, Ruth 2:1-23, Ruth 3:1-18, Ruth 4:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Give Ear, O Shepherd Of Israel.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 7, 2013

No matter what the world throws at us, we will persevere in the LORD.

GIVE EAR, O SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL. Psalm 80:1-7; Psalm 80:17-19. Belief in the God of Israel is not blind faith, but an informed trust. One expression of our confidence that the LORD is in control of all things is to make our complaints known to Him. In Psalm 80 the writer bemoans the plight of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 80:17-19, Psalm 80:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

1 Timothy 1 (Nasb)

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on Jan 3, 2021

Correcting false teaching / Paul's testimony

Correcting false teaching (v. 1-11) 1. true child (young new believer) 3. Macedonia (north of Greece) remain on at Ephesus (Turkey) 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies (a religion focuses on this), which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the ...read more

Denomination: Vineyard

A Leper Cleansed By Jesus.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 14, 2022

Leprosy is often used as a figure for sin.

A LEPER CLEANSED BY JESUS. Luke 5:12-16. The various skin diseases which fall under the Biblical heading of ‘leprosy’ have long stood as a metaphor for that worst of all human diseases: sin. However, this does not detract from the historicity of the incident which Luke now sets before us. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:12-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rending, An Encouragement To Repent.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Apr 30, 2021

Looking into the first two chapters of Joel

Rending Over the past few days, I have been drawn to the book of Joel again. This interesting little book brings focus to a number of things. Joel starts his book with a description of a plague, not a pandemic plague like we are now experiencing, but a plague of locusts. Locusts move like an ...read more

Scripture: Joel 1:1-20, Joel 2:12-20, Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Salvation Army

Find Joy In Service Series

Contributed by Michael Mays on Sep 11, 2021

We spend a lot of time in this life chasing things that we cannot take with us when we die. Paul recognizes the value of eternal rewards, and it’s a good problem to have to be conflicted between continuing to earn more, or being in heaven to enjoy what’s been won.

I. Intro A. Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” B. We spend a lot of time in this life chasing things that we cannot take with us when we die C. Paul recognizes the value of eternal rewards, and it’s a good problem to have to be conflicted ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:18-26

Revivals Of Hosea, Joel And Amos Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 13, 2021

Let's look at the revivals prophesied by Hosea, Joel and Amos.

Let's look at the revivals prophesied by Hosea, Joel and Amos. 1) Hoseah’s Revival How is repairing a broken marriage like a spiritual revival? How can God love an unfaithful nation and Jesus love such a sinful Church? Hosea’s story of adultery, divorce and remarriage is heartwarming. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Can We Image Heaven Here On Earth?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 13, 2024

A look back at the history of God’s relationship as husband to Israel’s as wife, and Jesus's view of divorce and marriage.

Friday of the 19th Sunday in course 2024 I looked up the first reading we just heard on a sermon website to which I frequently contribute, and discovered no sermons posted on the passage from the prophet Ezekiel. Frankly, I find the story pretty gruesome on first reading. But some Scripture can be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:3-12, Isaiah 12:2-6, Ezekiel 16:1-15, Ezekiel 16:60-63

Denomination: Catholic