Since it was founded in 1995, more than 3 billion items have been sold through eBay. Some odd products have been sold on eBay, but occasionally something priceless finds its way onto the world's largest garage sale. For example …

In 1954, the great physicist Albert Einstein penned a personal letter to philosopher Erik Gutkind in which he defended his views on ethics, religion, and human nature. Nearly 60 years later, it caused a minor media sensation by selling on eBay for $3 million.

A piece of rock that was formed on Mars somehow managed to crash-land on Earth. As one can imagine, the odds against this happening are astronomical! A fragment from one of these rocks was auctioned away for $450.000.

In 2002 an eBay post advertized the sale of an entire "working town" that just needed the "proper development." For the highest bidder, the town—Bridgeville, California—even came with its own zip code: 95526. An anonymous businessman bid $1.77 million, but backed out of the deal after visiting some of Bridgeville's desolate shacks. But the town did find a new buyer that year, who resold it on eBay in 2006 for $1.25 million.

On eBay a man from North Carolina boasted, "I have discovered the reason for existence, and will be happy to share this information with the highest bidder." The starting bid was one cent. "The meaning for life" sold for $3.26. Neither the buyer nor seller have gone public with the contents of his revelation.

Possible Preaching Angles: (1) Meaning of Life—A humorous way to set up an illustration about the meaning of life and Christ's promise to give us true meaning and purpose. (2) Gift of Salvation—There are some things you just can't buy—like salvation, which is only offered for free.