Sermons on Empty Praise:

Rapture Ready--Living With Authentic Faith Matthew 23 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Sep 14, 2025

To be rapture ready, we must move from empty religion to authentic relationship with CHRIST. JESUS condemns hypocrisy and calls us to authentic faith expressed in humility, obedience, and servant leadership. Outward show can’t replace inward surrender. Be watchful. Be faithful. Be ready.

2025.09.14 Sermon. RAPTURE READY_LIVING WITH AUTHENTIC FAITH_WOE TO HYPOCRISY, YES TO HUMILITY Matthew 23 William Akehurst, HSWC Scripture Readings Matthew 23:1-39, 2 Timothy 3:5, James 1:22, Philippians 2:3, Luke 12:1, John 10:9, 1 Timothy 6:5, Micah 6:8, Matthew 15:8, 1 Samuel 16:7, Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-39, 2 Timothy 3:5, James 1:22, Philippians 2:3, Luke 12:1, John 10:9, 1 Timothy 6:5, Micah 6:8, Matthew 15:8, 1 Samuel 16:7, Matthew 5:20, Matthew 7:21-23, Revelation 3:1-3, 2 Peter 3:9, John 14:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Matthew 24:44, Matthew 23:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, Matthew 23:39  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Redemption Value Series

Contributed by Jim Heidebrecht on Jul 2, 2007

Sermon 9 in the Galatians series. An empty bottle has a redemption value: its maker is willing to pay a price to redeem it, because it has value to the maker. Christ was willing to pay the highest price to Redeem us because we have value to our maker.

04/29/2007 (The Divisions of the passage for this sermon were based on G. Walter Hansen’s Commentary on Galatians from the IVP NT Commentary series) YOUR REDEMPTION VALUE (Gal 3:10-14) The empty bottle and the squirrel – the hook Has some markings on it Tells us who made it, where it was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:10-14

Denomination: Baptist

Radical Prayer Series

Contributed by Paul Green on Jul 13, 2009

Many prayers of God’s people are weak, empty, passion-less, and vision-less. If we are going to see God move, if we are going to see God at work, if we are going to see situations turned around and lives dramatically changed by the mighty hand of God the

Walnut Prayers There was once a man who was very faithful in his prayer life. Every morning when he got up he would kneel by his bed and he would pray, ‘God bless me, God bless my family, God bless this day’. And before every meal he would say a prayer ‘God bless this food’. And every night ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:21-32

Denomination: Baptist

Abundant Living

Contributed by Albert Corey on Jul 15, 2009

. As Christians, who have been born again by God’s Spirit, it is foolish to trust in the empty things of this life. In order to be truly satisfied in this life we must invest our lives in those things that have eternal value rather than those things tha

ABUNDANT LIVING Seven Vital Keys to Spiritual Fullness Ecclesiastes 6:3 3. If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 6:3-4

Denomination: Assembly Of God

My Fortress In The Night Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 24, 2025

In Psalm 59, David teaches us from a night of being surrounded by enemies how to find our security in God our fortress and wait for the morning that will bring a new song of praise.

Introduction: Surrounded Imagine the scene. You are in your own home, the one place on earth you should feel safe. But as evening falls, you look out the window and see that your house is surrounded. Soldiers, sent by a jealous and powerful king, are watching every door, every window. They are a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Let Your Balloons Sail Free

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Aug 26, 2002

Seeing how God has acted to give us all we have and how He has kept His promises we’re moved to offer Him thanks and praise.

Pentecost 14 A Exodus 6:2-8; Romans 11:33-36 Let Your Balloons Sail Free! Based on Joachim Neander’s Hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty 08/25/02 “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord.” These are not expressions that ordinarily used in the Lutheran Church. Not because there’s anything wrong with ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 6:2-8, Romans 11:33-36

Denomination: Lutheran

Seven Keys To Experiencing Continuous Happiness In Life

Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Feb 11, 2006

THIS SERMON IS ABOUT THE SEVEN KEYS TO EXPERIENCING CONTINUOUS HAPPINESS IN LIFE NAMELY 1.PRAYER 2.PRAISE 3.PEACE 4.POWER 5.PATIENCE 6.PRIZE 7.PURPOSE

SEVEN KEYS TO EXPERIENCING CONTINUOUS HAPPINESS IN LIFE ******************************************************* OUTLINE 1.PRAYER 2.PRAISE 3.PEACE 4.POWER 5.PATIENCE 6.PRIZE 7.PURPOSE INTRODUCTION ************ The Lord wants us to rejoice in Him at all times. The joy of the Lord will ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Power Of Being In The Center Of God's Will

Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on May 6, 2007

THIS SERMON IS ABOUT THE POWER OF BEING IN THE CENTER OF GOD’S WILL AND HIGHLIGHTS THE FOLLOWING 1.PURPOSE 2.PLAN 3.PROTECTION 4.PATRONAGE 5.PRAYER 6.PRAISE 7.POWER

THE POWER OF BEING IN THE CENTER OF GOD’S WILL ****************************************************** OUTLINE 1.PURPOSE 2.PLAN 3.PROTECTION 4.PATRONAGE 5.PRAYER 6.PRAISE 7.POWER THE MESSAGE THE POWER OF BEING IN THE CENTER OF GOD’S WILL ****************************************************** ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Dealing With Loss

Contributed by Bruce Landry on Jan 15, 2007

We all go through times of transition and difficulty, in doing so let us look at things through the eyes of Christ and give Him praise and honor in our every situation.

“Dealing with Loss?" Philippians 3:7-9 See Loss in Our view See Loss as Christ’s Gain See Loss in Christ’s View We find ourselves in an interesting time in our churches history again. We are losing for a season Sherrie, Becky and the kids, this after just losing David, Juliann and Wyatt, boy it ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-9

Denomination: Baptist

03 Liberated By Hope. Series

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Jul 14, 2008

Using HOPE in our lives ❶ Seize Unbelief ❷ Admit Fear ❸ Redirect Thoughts ❹ Attitude of Praise ❺ Confident Trust ❻ Resting in His Word

1 Sam 30:1-6 Someone has said that if you could convince a man there was no hope, he would curse the day he was born. Hope is an indispensable quality of life. Dusk was falling on the Saturday before Christmas in 1927 the S-4 submarine (S-class submarines, were the first class of submarines built ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Serve The Lord With Enthusiasm

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Aug 25, 2010

Through out his life Paul accentuated the positive. He practiced the praise principle. Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again, rejoice!”

Serve the Lord with Enthusiasm Romans 12:11 “Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, and serve the Lord with enthusiasm.” Jesus taught that we are to love the Lord with all our heart, our soul, our might and our neighbor as ourselves. In Romans 12:11 Apostle Paul admonishes us to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:11

Denomination: Free Methodist

Wargames And Dirty Kitchens Series

Contributed by David Wilson on Mar 3, 2011

God calls Ezekiel to play wargames and cook in unsanitary conditions in order to visually desmontrate the plight of the rebels in Jerusalem. Praise God we get to use Powerpoint for visual impact today!

In Ezekiel chapter 4, the prophet beings to prophesy to the people with visual aids! VERSES 1-8 Wargames in the Bible! Since I love to play boardgames based on military conflict, this passage is sort of fun. In this section, Ezekiel is commanded by God to create a visual representation of ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 4:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Peace In A Fearful Time Series

Contributed by Allan Kircher on Nov 17, 2011

We use the word AWESOME to describe ice cream cones while at the same time we sing it over and over again in praise choruses with the attitude of cheer leaders in a pep rally.

Pastor Allan Kircher Peace in a fearful time. Acts 18:9-10 9 - One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:"Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 - For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." Martin Luther made this ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

“battle Ready Series” Series

Contributed by James Lee on Dec 16, 2016

There is a battle raging in the spiritual realm and Paul tells us, in our text, to prepare for the battle. Stormie Omartian “The Prayer That Changes Everything, The hidden power of praising God”

“Battle ready Series” 2Chronicles 20: 21 There is a battle raging in the spiritual realm. It’s taking place all around you, whether you are a believer or not yet a believer in Jesus Christ. [Explain] Paul tells us, in our text, to prepare for the battle so I want us to begin a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:21

Denomination: Baptist

Nehemiah's Prayer: A Prayer For Revival Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 18, 2015

If we want to experience revival in our land, we must cry out to God, praise His name, confess our sins, claim His promises, and commit to serving Him.

Before the opening day of duck season, two hunters bought a bird dog. They had heard that such a dog would make their hunting experience much more enjoyable and profitable. So when the big day came, they were up bright and early. They hunted all day, but as the sun began to set, they hadn’t ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical Free