Sermons on Sermon In The Plain:

Sermon On Gracious Acceptance

Contributed by William Meakin on Dec 1, 2022

Gracious Acceptance is said to receive something in a polite or kind manner.

Alexander “Sandy” McCall Smith, a British writer once remarked: “Gracious acceptance is an art – an art which most never bother to cultivate. We think that we have to learn how to give, but we forget about accepting things, which can be much harder than giving…. Accepting another person’s gift is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10, Colossians 3:15-20, Romans 11:29, Hebrews 12:28

Sermon On The Ingredients Of Life

Contributed by William Meakin on Dec 7, 2022

Life consists of many different recipes. Each recipe is usually made up of many elements and each ingredient performs its own individualistic and distinctive purpose.

Ron Ben-Israel, an Israeli-American pastry chef once remarked: “Pastry is different from cooking because you have to consider the chemistry, beauty and flavor. It's not just sugar and eggs thrown together. I tell my pastry chefs to be in tune for all of this. You have to be challenged by using ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:2, Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 6:33, Genesis 9:3

Sermon On Life Is A Circus

Contributed by William Meakin on Apr 19, 2023

A circus has misleadingly been attributed as a “metaphor for life.”

Laura Vanderkam, an American author once remarked: “The more times I attend the circus, the more I am struck how inaccurate the life-is-a-circus metaphor is. When people say that life is a circus, they mean chaos. Too much going on, things flying everywhere. The circus is nothing like that. The ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2, Psalm 40:4, Isaiah 26:3, Mark 11:22-24

Sermon On Self-Sacrifice

Contributed by William Meakin on Mar 13, 2024

Self-Sacrifice is defined as the relinquishment of one’s own interests or wishes in order to help others or advance a cause.

John Burroughs, an American naturalist and essayist once remarked: “For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice – no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service.” Romans 12:1-2 confirms: “I appeal to you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Galatians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 7:5, 1 Corinthians 9:25

On Trial (2023 Sermon) Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Jan 1, 2023

The apostle Payl on trial at Caesarea - Acts chapter 24 verses 1-27 - sermon by Gordon Curley (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

On Trial (2023 Sermon) SERMON OUTLINE: (A). Tertullus: False Accusations (vs 1-9) (B). Paul: Faithful Answers (vs 10-21) (C). Felix: Fo0lish Attitude (vs 22-27) SERMON BODY: Ill: • In one of Charles Schultz’s Peanuts comic strip, • He shows a conversation between Lucy and Charlie ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:1-27

Denomination: Brethren

Sermon "Is There No Balm?”

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Sep 22, 2025

In a nation wounded by lies, greed, and division, we gather today to remember that Christ is still the healing balm our broken land desperately needs.

Sermon “Is There No Balm?” 📖 Jeremiah 8:18–9:1 📅 September 21, 2025 – Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost [Opening] Jeremiah cries out: “My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick. … For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me. Is there ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Sermon On The Flysheets Of Life

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 24, 2025

One of the definitions of a flysheet pertains to an additional outer covering of a tent that provides extra protection against bad weather.

Marilyn Monroe, a former American actress and model once remarked: “I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1, Isaiah 54:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Deuteronomy 31:6

Sermon On The Gifts Of Life

Contributed by William Meakin on Jun 10, 2025

One of the definitions of the gifts of life is advocated to be a notable capacity, talent or endowment.

Marie Curie, a French physicist and chemist once remarked: "We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained." Romans 12:6-8 reminds us: “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 6:23, 1 Timothy 6:12, Ephesians 2:10

Sermon On A Voyage Of Discovery

Contributed by William Meakin on Jun 13, 2025

A voyage of discovery in metaphorical terminology may describe a journey of individual growth, learning, or self-awareness.

Marcel Proust, a French novelist and literary critic once remarked: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes". 1 Corinthians 13:10-12 reminds us: “But when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6, James 1:5, Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 16:9

Sermon On Calmness Or Fear?

Contributed by William Meakin on Jun 17, 2025

Calmness is an ataraxia of serenity that aids freedom from worry or agitation.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States of America once remarked: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Peter 5:7, John 14:27, Proverbs 12:25

Sermon On Cognitive Development

Contributed by William Meakin on Jun 27, 2025

Cognitive development is regarded as an integral factor of life, primarily referring to the growth of a child's ability to think, reason, and understand.

Morihei Ueshiba, a Japanese martial artist once remarked: “Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also learn from holy books and wise people. Everything - even mountains, rivers, plants and trees - should be your teacher.” Isaiah 1:18 reminds us: “Come now, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:7, 2 Peter 3:18, Proverbs 18:15, Hosea 4:6

Sermon On A Free Spirit

Contributed by William Meakin on Jul 1, 2025

Ethics have been defined as fundamental beliefs and values that guide individuals' decisions and actions regarding what is considered right or wrong.

Martin Luther King Jr, an American minister of religion and activist once remarked: “Moral principles have lost their distinctiveness. For modern man, absolute right and absolute wrong are a matter of what the majority is doing.” Romans 13:1-7 reminds us: “Let every person be subject to the ...read more

Scripture: John 14:26, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 13:8-10, Proverbs 11:1

Sermon On Hidden Rivers

Contributed by William Meakin on Jul 8, 2025

A river is defined as a natural stream of water that flows through land, typically travelling downhill due to gravity, and emerging into another body of water like an ocean, sea, lake, or another river.

Hermann Hesse, a German-Swiss poet and novelist once remarked: “Have you also learned that secret from the river; that there is no such thing as time?" That the river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the current, in the ocean ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 47:9, Isaiah 43:19, Revelation 22:1, John 7:38

Sermon On Clouded Skies

Contributed by William Meakin on Jul 11, 2025

Cloud is defined as a visible mass of condensed watery vapor floating in the atmosphere at varying heights above the surface of the terrain or sea.

Rabindranath Tagore, an Indian poet once remarked: “Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 reminds us: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 30:3, Matthew 24:29, Ezekiel 32:7, Psalm 104:3

Sermon On An Assay Of Tenacity

Contributed by William Meakin on Dec 27, 2024

Tenacity is defined as the quality or fact of being very determined. Its assay is the critical analysis of the inherent outcome.

Amelia Earhart, the female American aviator once remarked: “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.” ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13, Ephesians 4:1, 2 Peter 1:21, 1 Corinthians 2:10-11