Sermons on Empty Religion:

Easter's Influences

Contributed by Oris Hubbard on Apr 14, 2001

Various influences that surrounded the first Easter concluding with the influences Christ has had on history, humanity and our own personal lives.

Introduction: If we were to take the time to count the number of things or people who have influenced us just today, no doubt we would be here for a while. We are influenced by everything from the weather, to our personal preferences, to the clock on the wall; we are influenced by how hard or soft ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:11-26

Denomination: Pentecostal

Resurrection Results

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Mar 10, 2002

Death does not end life

I. Christ Resurrection declares that death does not end life. A. A man was flying from Chicago to the city of Los Angeles. He engaged the woman sitting next to him in conversation. She was a little over 40, well dressed, and quite articulate. He asked, "Where are you from?" She said, "From Palm ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

Heart To God & Hand To Man Series

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Nov 29, 2007

Jesus called us to love God and love people

THE CHURCH JESUS BUILDS Part 2-Heart to God & Hand to Man Sunday, February 25, 2007 Pastor Brian Matherlee Introduction “I think that I shall never see A church that’s all it ought to be; A church that has no empty pews, Whose preacher never has the blues; A church whose deacons always “deke”, And ...read more

Scripture: John 17:18-19

Denomination: Wesleyan

Making Church More Interesting

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Mar 29, 2007

What if Jesus showed up where we live?

Making Church More Interesting Mark 1:21-28 (LA Times Article: "Religion abounds at YMCA) Many people today are not dinging church interesting or relevant. That’s strange, because when Jesus lived on earth, the most common reaction was amazement. Sometimes people were upset or angry, and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Renovation: It Takes Change Series

Contributed by Dan Cale on Jun 8, 2009

A 5 week series on the book of Philippians that parallels a renovation project in the church. This message deals with the kind of change that has to happen for us to be revived.

Renovations: Making it New Again Pt 4 – It Takes Change Philippians 3:1-16 We started last week talking about renovations. The definition of the word is simple: 1. To restore to an earlier condition, as by repairing or remodeling. 2. To impart new vigor; to revive. In Chapter 1 we looked at the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-18

Denomination: *other

Is The Lord Among Us Or Not?

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Jan 5, 2009

Without water we try to solve our needs our way — This is humanism - We turn to things — This is materialism - We try to please ourselves — This is hedonism — What we need is faith - This is called trust

- Ch 16 - Two and half months from Egypt - Saw Gods’s hand at the Red Sea- - v.2 - Murmured — Manna - Ch. 17 - traveled 40 miles — call it 2 weeks - Now there is no water - Last line in v. 7 - Is The Lord Among Us Or Not? - We need to answer this question - It has been asked since the beginning of ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Miracles Do Happen....

Contributed by Thomas Wilson on Jul 30, 2008

An alternative view on the feeding of the multitude.

Some of you may remember that many years ago I, asked the children of this church to go around the congregation and gather whatever sweets that were in your bags or pockets. The kids went around and some of you gave quite generously the sweets you had, they were placed in the offering plates. Of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Denomination: Congregational

Spiritual Entrepreneurs Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 22, 2013

God wants us to invest his Word; how can we do this?

Spiritual Entrepreneurs (Mark 4:21-34) 1. It is so easy to get wrapped up in our little worlds that we forget we are building an international Kingdom, the Kingdom of God. 2. Look how silly we act: FAIRBANKS, Alaska, July 19 (UPI) -- Police in Alaska said they arrested a man accused of punching ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:21-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Introducing The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached Series

Contributed by David Swanger on Dec 3, 2012

Jesus in the greatest sermon ever preached makes it clear that happiness is the result of holiness.

THE GREATEST SERMON EVER PREACHED Introduction In 1980 country music singer Johnny Lee landed a number one hit by singing about “looking for love in all the wrong places,” and without a doubt, our world and even some of us have done the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Are We Greatly Mistaken

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 25, 2018

What if we are greatly mistaken in our understanding of Christianity? If our ideas do not square with the Bible, will we change? As the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth, will we follow?

Preamble After preaching the lectionary through in these churches, I find myself drawn more and more to a year of preaching the texts the lectionary leaves out. My suspicions were aroused when I learned that Jude was eliminated, a letter which condemns many practices engaged in by the modern ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Paul Changes Bookkeepers

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 3, 2015

link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint

Paul Changes Bookkeepers Philippians 3:1-10 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/bookkeepers.html v. 7 is the key verse. It's a new kind of accounting. Ch. 1 was about having joy in spite of circumstances - the single mind. God works through it all for the furtherance of the gospel. Ch. 2 was about ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Why Did Jesus Say He’s Not A Judge?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 18, 2014

A look at two short verses where Jesus says He wasn't appointed a judge. Why did He say that? This leads us to a larger discussion of the dangers of coming to Jesus with a pre-existing agenda.

A CONFUSING STATEMENT: Why does Jesus say He’s not a judge? - Luke 12:13. - This is an odd statement by Jesus. Why does He say that He was not appointed a judge between them? - It’s important to read the full sentence. Jesus doesn’t say, “I am not a judge” or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

What Difference Does The Resurrection Make?

Contributed by David Dewitt on Apr 25, 2014

Easter morning message on the resurrection from 2014

What Difference Does the Resurrection Make? 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 April 20, 2014 Easter Morning Service On Friday On Friday, The disciples were running, Peter was denying and Judas was betraying. On Friday, Jesus heard the crowds that cried Hosanna scream crucify, crucify. On Friday, Pilate ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

Denomination: Church Of God

Paraphernalia

Contributed by Craig Benner on Apr 30, 2015

Gizmos, gadgets, trappings, add-ons, etc. are really optional, but so many of us have come to think that we cannot live without them. The problem is that it becomes like the proverbial "straw that broke the camels' back".

Paraphernalia--furnishings and apparatuses, (add-ons) to enhance or give more options to a thing. Synonyms-embellishments, accessories, trappings, adornments, gizmos, do-dads We are in the middle of a Personal Pampering Pandemic Heb. 12;1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1, Matthew 13:22

Denomination: Pentecostal

Romans, Part 3 Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jan 17, 2011

Paul writes to reveal to the believers in Rome the wrath of God, and to show us that all around we have evidence of God’s authority, if only we would look at creation and behold the Creator.

Romans, Part 3 Romans 1:18-25 Introduction - Continuing on our study of Romans, we see Paul’s writings to the church - This letter is to the church in Rome, consisting of Jews and Gentiles - It is an encouragement, a constitution of HOW to live for Christ - Today, in 2011, we would be wise to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational