Sermons on Ancient Traditions:

The Heart Matters Most - Lessons From Matthew 15 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jun 12, 2025

GOD cares more about the condition of your heart than the traditions you keep. GOD desires genuine inner purity and authentic faith, not religious performance. True righteousness comes from a transformed heart, not outward tradition.

2025.06.15.Sermon Notes. The Heart Matters Most – Lessons from Matthew 15 When Religion Misses the Point William Akehurst, HSWC Reminder: It’s Father’s Day Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalms 51:10, Psalms 139:23-24 INTRODUCTION: JESUS confronts the religious leaders for honoring ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalm 51:10, Psalm 139:23-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joseph And The Power Of The Spirit Of God

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 21, 2013

This Advent, take St. Joseph as your model and follow God's will without reserve.

Fourth Sunday of Advent 2013 Jesus, Mary & Joseph “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, be with me now and at the hour of my death.” Here in this first scene from the Gospel of Matthew, traditionally the oldest of the four Gospels, we hear a story that must have been passed down for at least forty ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-24

Denomination: Catholic

Who's Second In Your Life?

Contributed by Dennis Lawrence on Mar 31, 2003

Ancient Obadiah teaches us modern lessons that help us express love toward our neighbors.

Who is Second? Jesus declared that, after our devotion to God, as involved in the first and great commandment, that there is a second that is “like to it.” So, there’s a second commandment that is, also, of incredible importance and position in God’s scheme of things. We call it the second great ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:39, Obadiah 1:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Road Less Traveled Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 27, 2009

Although evangelism can be a group event, sharing the Gospel with one person at a time is as ancient as the early church.

The Road Less Traveled (Acts 8:26-40) The History of Judaism in Ethiopia is fascinating, but uncertain. Ethiopia is different from every other country in Africa. Ethiopian Jews, Beta Israel, aka Falasha Jews, lived in Ethiopia for centuries. Where did they come from? Nearly 85% of the Ethiopian ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Revelation 2

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 25, 2020

Let’s move into an exciting lesson about the churches that we attend, mirrored in seven ancient churches.

Let’s move into an exciting lesson about the churches that we attend, mirrored in seven ancient churches. Ephesus Revelation 2:1-3 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Conquest Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Aug 27, 2022

What was the secret to the successful conquest of ancient Canaan? God's Promises - Strength - Courage - Obedience

August 27, 2022 The book of Joshua begins where Deuteronomy left off – with the death of Moses: “Moses my servant is dead. Get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, just as I promised Moses. 4 Your ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:2-8, Genesis 15:18-21, Deuteronomy 6:1-3

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Sermon On An Odyssey Of Life

Contributed by William Meakin on Apr 25, 2024

“The Odyssey” is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer, a Greek poet.

Bettany Mary Hughes, a British-born historian, author and broadcaster once remarked: “To me that is what the Odyssey is all about, it's about being in the world and unexpected challenges and dangers are thrown at you.” Matthew 5:17 reminds us: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, 1 Corinthians 2:13, John 14:6, Luke 16:17

Behind The Scenes Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Jul 18, 2025

Esther tells the story of God working behind the scenes to raise a Jewish girl to be queen in ancient Persia.

INTRODUCTION OPENING SLIDE • Today we begin a new four-week series from the book of Esther. • This four-week series explores the story of Esther. Through understanding the book’s backstory and context, we can see that Esther is not a fairy tale but an understanding of how God can work behind the ...read more

Scripture: Esther 1:1-3, Esther 2:5-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Behind The Scenes Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Dec 24, 2012

Ancient spiritual disciplines, when incorporated in to our lives, prepare us for the coming of Jesus and enable us to prepare the world for the coming of Jesus.

Luke 4:16-30 "Behind the Scenes" INTRODUCTION There are times when pithy statements stick in my mind, and I keep reflecting on them. One such statement is "If you don't know where you're going, you'll always get there." I see the reality of this statement every day. Most of us, I believe, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:16-30

Denomination: Lutheran

The Walls Of Jerusalem Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Feb 15, 2016

In the Kingdom of God, the greatest accomplishments come from unity. We are supposed to have unity in the church; a love for God and others because when we have unity of purpose it really is amazing what can be done!

The Walls of Jerusalem Nehemiah 3:1-32 Introduction - Nehemiah is a great study of leadership, but also shows obedience to God - Last week we saw Nehemiah’s assessing of the project before him -- He also revealed the mission God had given him to those around him -- And also, we ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 3:1-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Creed

Contributed by Tony Grant on Nov 10, 2005

My creed is that which I love. The Apostle Peter tells us that our creed should affirm that God sent Jesus for our salvation.

Creed April 3, 2005 • Acts 2: 22-32 22 "You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know-- 23 this man, handed over to you according to the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:22-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Let Us Go To Bethlehem And Find The Faith Of Christmas Series

Contributed by Mark Roper on Dec 17, 2008

Today our Christmas traditions have evolved from the different ways Christmas is celebrated around the world. Immigrants have brought their customs with them, and as a result we have a great diversity of customs, traditions, and fantasy’s that obscures t

Let Us Go to Bethlehem and Find the Faith of Christmas Luke 2:15-20 It is hard to imagine not celebrating Christmas, yet during the infancy of America Christmas was banned and for a time, and even illegal. How did we get to where we are now? Christmas evolved out of the old Roman festival of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-15

Denomination: Church Of God

(Exodus 4:27-28) Aaron Is Sent To Meet Moses. Series

Contributed by John Lowe on May 23, 2022

According to the Abrahamic religions, Aaron was a prophet, high priest, and the elder brother of Moses. Knowledge of Aaron, along with his brother Moses, comes exclusively from religious texts, such as the Bible and Quran.

(Exodus 4:27-28) Aaron is sent to meet Moses. According to the Abrahamic religions, Aaron was a prophet, high priest, and the elder brother of Moses. Knowledge of Aaron, along with his brother Moses, comes exclusively from religious texts, such as the Bible and Quran. Aaron has a vital role as a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:14

Denomination: Baptist

Get Right, Church

Contributed by Riley Turner on Jan 25, 2001

We must break down the walls of racial, cultural, and traditional division in the Lord’s Church.

The following is an excerpt from a sermon preached by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1956, entitled: PAUL’S LETTER TO AMERICAN CHRISTIANS. In this sermon, Dr. King reads a fictitious letter written by himself, but he presents it as if it were a lost letter of the Apostle Paul to the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:13-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Do You Hear The Voices?

Contributed by Ricky Johnson on Sep 12, 2009

A Grandparents Day sermon calling us to listen to the voices of Wisdom, as she reveals experience and tradition.

Voices, soft, loud, sultry, or brash, they are all around us. Whose voices capture our attention? Do those strange little voices which roam around within our heads lure us? Or are we more captivated by the voices of those in positions of authority? Maybe the voices we really listen to are from ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:20-33

Denomination: United Methodist