In
the mid 1800s, 50,000 slaves were sold each year at Zanzibar on the coast of
Africa. A church now stands where the old slave market stood. The altar is where
the whipping post stood.
It
must be moving to visit such a church. But any church reminds us that we were
once slaves – slaves to sin. Any church reminds us that the cross was worse
than a whipping post, but we slaves did not go there. Christ went there, went
there because He loves us, and went there because He wanted to set us free.


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About The Author

A third generation preacher, Mike Shannon is Professor of Preaching at Cincinnati Bible Seminary of Cincinnati Christian University. He has served as a preaching minister, church planter, and college professor. His most recent preaching ministry was at the historic First Christian Church of Johnson City, Tennessee. In his nearly two decades at Cincinnati Christian University, Mike has served as both professor and Dean of the Seminary. He has also been an adjunct professor at Milligan College and Northern Kentucky University. Mike is the author or co-author of several books.

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Recently it was announced that Mt. Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, is
actually seven feet taller than was formerly thought. When you think that the
mountain is more than 29,000 feet above sea level, the fact that it is seven
feet higher is not very impressive.

Mount Calvary, on the other hand has always been higher than we thought. That
is not the case literally. Visitors to the Bible Lands are often disappointed
at Calvary. After songs like A Green Hill Far Away and I Believe in a Hill
Called Mt. Calvary, they expect to see a mountain. But it is no mountain. Two possible
sites are pointed out to the visitor. If you favor the one at the Tomb of Holy
Sepulchre it is not a hill at all. What elevation was once there was leveled by
the Romans. If you choose the alternate site, Gordon’s Calvary (near the Garden
Tomb) the elevation is equally unimpressive. But when you consider how tall
Calvary stands in our theology, how it towers above all other philosophies and
faiths, then it has always been taller than we thought.


View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

About The Author

A third generation preacher, Mike Shannon is Professor of Preaching at Cincinnati Bible Seminary of Cincinnati Christian University. He has served as a preaching minister, church planter, and college professor. His most recent preaching ministry was at the historic First Christian Church of Johnson City, Tennessee. In his nearly two decades at Cincinnati Christian University, Mike has served as both professor and Dean of the Seminary. He has also been an adjunct professor at Milligan College and Northern Kentucky University. Mike is the author or co-author of several books.

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