Sermons on Dead Formalism:

Dead Flies In A Nation Series

Contributed by Charles Payne on Oct 18, 2025

America did not begin in perfection — but it began in fear of God. Our earliest laws quoted Scripture. But dead flies do not fall all at once. The jar spoils slowly.

🪰 DEAD FLIES IN A NATION (National Decay) SEEING THE BIG PICTURE TEXT Ecclesiastes 10:1 “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor…” PROLOGUE: A NATION ONCE FRAGRANT America did not begin in perfection — but it began in fear of God. Our earliest ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:1, Proverbs 14:34, Proverbs 28:15, Isaiah 1:23, Isaiah 59:14, Habakkuk 1:4, Ecclesiastes 9:18, Isaiah 3:9, Jeremiah 6:15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dead Flies In The Church Series

Contributed by Charles Payne on Oct 18, 2025

The Church was meant to be the fragrance of Christ. We were not put here to be popular. We were put here to be holy.

DEAD FLIES IN THE CHURCH (When the Fragrance of Christ is Replaced With the Stench of Compromise) SEEING THE BIG PICTURE TEXT Ecclesiastes 10:1 “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour…” PROLOGUE: THE CHURCH WAS MEANT TO BE THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST We ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:1, 2 Corinthians 2:15, 1 Peter 1:16, Jeremiah 6:14, 2 Timothy 3:5, Luke 13:3, James 2:26, 1 Peter 1:15, James 4:8, James 4:4, 2 Corinthians 6:17, 2 Corinthians 6:14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Back From The Dead

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

In Christ, we too are assured of our resurrection from the dead, and of our position with God in the heavenlies. All we must do is to agree with God concerning our condition ...

Opening illustration: Can a man be officially alive after being declared legally dead? That question became international news when a man from Ohio showed up in good health after being reported missing more than 25 years earlier. At the time of his disappearance he had been unemployed, addicted, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Day Of The Living Dead Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 28, 2022

What does being dead to sin actually mean?

Have you ever seen a zombie movie? I haven’t; I’m not into horror movies, I’ve never thought that fear was fun. But zombies are the monster du jour. Space invaders, werewolves and vampires are all old hat. What’s the fascination with graves opening and corpses in various stages of decomposition ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Walking Twice Dead

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 7, 2022

The church needs to be reminded of the need for continued vigilance, to remain strong in the faith and to defend itself against heresy.

Jude wrote this letter to warn believers of false teachers (Colossians 2:4) that were teaching the Christians that they could do what they wanted without fear of reprisal from God. Many believers in today's churches may still act in this manner. We need to heed the warning of these false ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Spiritually Dead Christian Series

Contributed by Jacob Burdette on Dec 4, 2023

A look at those who were once Christians but are now spiritually dead.

The Spiritually Dead Christian If you have your Bible, please open it to Revelation 3. We are going to look at a lot of scripture today, but that is where we will start. A kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew. She would occasionally walk around to see each ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Dead Church Wake Up! Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jan 23, 2022

When a church has a good reputation, much activity and past accomplishment it does not guarantee a spiritually alive church.

George Barna in his book Turnaround Churches, profiles thirty churches that were about to die and made a turnaround. He compares dying churches to the Sears Catalogue. For about 100 years Sears was the symbol of mail order catalogue business. They introduced their mail order catalogue in 1894. For ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Wanted: Dead And Alive! - Easter

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 11, 2009

The ones who wanted Him dead were afraid that He was alive, and the ones who wanted Him alive assumed He was dead! But no one was neutral about Jesus. ’Cross Examination’ style investigation of the facts of the case. Link to text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Wanted: Dead AND Alive John 20:31 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Wanted.html No one was neutral that day about Jesus. They either wanted Him to be dead or to be alive. Even after He arose, all that the leaders of the land had to do in order to squelch Christianity was to produce the dead body, ...read more

Scripture: John 20:31

Denomination: Baptist

Shipwrecked: Our Condition Before Christ Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Sep 27, 2025

Using the analogy of a shipwreck, this sermon on Ephesians 2:1-3 explores Paul's stark description of our condition without Christ: spiritually dead, helplessly swept along by the currents of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and destined for God's just wrath.

Introduction Imagine a person who has survived a terrible shipwreck. They are floating alone in the middle of a vast, dark ocean. Though they are breathing and their heart is beating, are they truly alive? They are cut off from land, from safety, from any source of help. They are completely at the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

To Be Or Not To Be Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on May 24, 2025

Paul tells the Colossians they were dead. But what did he mean by dead? And how do we know if we are spiritually dead?

The quality of mercy is not strain'd. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes. That, of course, was from the Merchant of Venice, which I studied in grade 11. Do they still teach Shakespear in High ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:13-23, Colossians 2:13

Denomination: Wesleyan

Todays Average Church’s Condittion

Contributed by Dr.w.samuel Legon on Mar 21, 2022

If all Churches were in shape to serve this world would be better off.

TODAYS AVERAGE CHURCH’S CONDITTION Revelation 2:1—7 They are dead,cold formal religious . Most are afraid they will disturb uncaring saints. Distress the sophisticated sinner Diligent in service Ver.1-2 Busy going to meetings Buying and selling materials ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Total Death

Contributed by Bob Ashcraft on Nov 19, 2001

One big problem with Christianity today - everyone wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die. True Christianity call for a total death to ourselves.

Total Death  One big problem with Christianity today…  Everyone wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.  Physically and Soulically Col 2:6 – 3:17 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Murder One Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 30, 2004

#4 in Romans 8 series. This explores how positionally Christians have already died, and how we are to live practically - putting to death the deeds of our sinful nature. Blatantly Wesleyan-Arminian.

Romans 8:12-14 – Murder One Several years ago, I watched a documentary on TV about sharks. I love sharks. I find them fascinating. They taste good as steak, too. Now, I learned an interesting characteristic about sharks that day that I’ve never forgotten. Most varieties of sharks never stop ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

Reconsidering Your Life Series

Contributed by Steven Dow on Jun 25, 2005

Part 1 in the series "What’s Holding You Back?" Three things every Christian needs to take into consideration in order to experience victory over sin and live a life pleasing to God.

RECONSIDERING YOUR LIFE What’s Holding You Back? – Part 1 June 26, 2005 This morning we will be starting a new series called “What’s Holding You Back?” What is holding you back spiritually? What is preventing you from becoming all that God wants you to be and all that you know you should become? ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11

Does God Want Us Better? Series

Contributed by Mike Fogerson on Jun 27, 2005

God is more concerned with us being deader than better.

Does God Want Us Better? (Galatians Series) Gal. 2.20 NASB June 26, 2005 Chester FBC, Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker INTRODUCTION: A Many people wear crosses around their necks or on their ears. We’re so used to seeing this that it doesn’t shock us. a If we say an electric ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Denomination: Baptist