Sermons on Empty Ritual:

Mopping Up Operation Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 29, 2011

People have to be clean before entering the presence of God, and only Jesus can do the job.

This is taking forever, isn’t it... preaching through the book of Revelation. It doesn’t have the familiar comfort of the gospel stories, or the practical theology of Paul’s letters, or the colorful stories of the Old Testament heroes. It’s just one clashing, disturbing ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 15:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Standing On The Rubbishes

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 30, 2010

Revised from an earlier message for a small church trying to affirm a new direction: Focus on what you have accomplished, know the heart of Christ for His church, confirm loving relationships.

Bethesda First Baptist Church, Bethesda, MD October 3, 2004 Some things end, but are not completed. Other things are completed, but do not end. There is a world of difference between the two. Some things end, but are not completed. Some things stop, unfinished. All these recent accidents ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Bowed Knees, Confessing Tongues And God Glorifying Lives

Contributed by Monty Newton on Dec 24, 2010

Our devotion to Christ glorifies God the Father.

Title: Bowed Knees, Confessing Tongues and God Glorifying Lives Text: Philippians 2:5-11 Thesis: Our devotion to Christ glorifies God the Father. Introduction Flash mobs have become popular ways for large groups of people to assemble suddenly in a public place to perform or protest for a brief ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Can‘t You Read The Sign!? Mark 3: 1-6

Contributed by James Lee on Nov 21, 2013

A number of times, the religionists had attacked Jesus, accusing Him of teaching a false religion. I guess they often wondered… “Hey Jesus! Can’t You read the sign!? We have rule against that kind of stuff!” In Mark chapter three we see yet another confrontation.

While thinking about this message I was reminded of a song from my hippy days… And the sign said "Long-haired freaky people need not apply" So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why He said "You look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you'll do" So I took off my ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Service Of God Done On First Room Of The Tabernacle

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Apr 11, 2014

To show that CHRIST performed everything as priesthood here on the Holy Place, the earth.

I. EXORDIUM: Did JESUS performed everything for us while here on earth? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that CHRIST performed everything as priesthood here on the Holy Place, the earth. IV. TEXT: Hebrews 9:6 (King James Version) 9:6 Now when these things were thus ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:6

Denomination: Pentecostal

Good Days And Bad Days

Contributed by Ricky Johnson on Feb 19, 2012

Some days everything is right and others everything is wrong; to get through them place our faith in the Christ. When we put our faith in Jesus christ, we are to be bold in proclaiming that faith.

Every day in our lives is not necessarily a good day. Once in awhile we experience bad days; maybe even some horrible days. Days which will make us question the possibility of another tomorrow or may even challenge our relationship with GOD. Hopefully, no one here is in the habit of placing ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45

Denomination: United Methodist

Our Fervor, Our Faith And Our Future

Contributed by Judith Hand on Aug 7, 2010

Attending church does not mean you have actually worshipped. What please God is not fervor but faith. Our faith is placed in God who promised us a future with Him.

Our FERVOR our FAITH and our FUTURE In our reading from Isaiah, we see that it was a time of great sin and rebellion. The people were still going through the motions of worshipping God, but their hearts were not in it and their behavior was no different from the ungodly folks around them. They ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-20

Denomination: Methodist

"a Call To Healing"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jun 8, 2023

A sermon about how, in God's eyes, everyone matters.

“A Call to Healing” Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 In a 2016 interview in The New York Times, award-winning actor Ben Affleck reflected on the pressure to hide our broken areas. When he watches other movies that strain to make their heroes entirely likable and valiant, Affleck said, “I find that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:13-26

Denomination: United Methodist

Generosity #3 Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Oct 16, 2019

Generosity is commitment to the Lord that represents your oath. It’s a heart issue, a trust issue, a love issue, a faith issue and a power issue.

It’s the story of God’s generosity as shared throughout the Bible. We have been calling this story 247365. A story of different types of generosity told through the widow’s mite (who gave out of her poverty), Zaccheaus (who gave all he and so called him “all in”) and today, we will talk about ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 14:18-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Atonement

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Mar 8, 2016

The Atonement for our sins provided by Jesus on the cross is a once and for all fulfillment of the Old Testament atonement which was temporary. Christ's atonement is pivotal in understanding salvation by grace and faith alone in Jesus Christ.

The cross is the logo of Christianity - the cross was the great intersection of God with humanity! One of the great provisions of the cross is the atonement. Let's read about atonement in Romans 3:21-26 (Please open your Bibles and follow along as I read from God's Holy Word) I was looking online ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-26

Denomination: Nazarene

Challenging Legalism Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Mar 29, 2025

This is the 17th Sermon from the Gospel of Luke Series, "Jesus- Son Of Man".

Series: Jesus- Son Of Man [#17] CHALLENGING LEGALISM Luke 6:1-11 Introduction: The Pharisees were an important religious group in ancient Judaism who followed many laws and rules. The Torah, which is the 1st 5 Books of the Bible, has 613 commandments. The Pharisees added even more rules and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:1-11, Matthew 12:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon # 3 - Going The Wrong Way Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Aug 28, 2024

What is God’s purpose for establishing the church? Are we fulfilling this purpose or running in the wrong direction like Jonah did? As a church may we realize our purpose and fulfill it at all cost.

We read in Jonah 1:3, “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.” (ESV) The word of the Lord we saw in the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:3, Luke 3:2, Luke 3:7, Luke 3:12, Luke 2:25-32, Luke 2:36-38, Matthew 24:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Beyond Silver Cages

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 12, 2025

God still speaks within every culture’s understanding, restoring forgotten truth and inviting each generation to move from knowledge to personal encounter.

(THE GOD WHO SPEAKS OUR LANGUAGE) Opening Scene — Susa, Iran The ruins of the ancient palace lay scattered across the valley floor at Susa — low mounds of sunbaked earth and broken brick, the faint tracing of walls and courtyards that once belonged to Darius’s royal residence. You could still ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 2:47, Daniel 6:26, Romans 1:19-20, Acts 17:23-28, John 1:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

God Speaks My Language

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 12, 2025

God continually reveals Himself within the cultural, intellectual, and spiritual framework of the people He seeks to redeem.

(A Reflective Message) --- Opening Scene — Susa, Iran The ruins of the ancient palace lay scattered across the valley floor at Susa — low mounds of sunbaked earth and broken brick, the faint tracing of walls and courtyards that once belonged to Darius’s royal residence. You could still see ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 2:47, Daniel 6:26, Romans 1:19-20, Acts 17:23-28, John 1:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 29, 2023

Explores the transformative power of baptism and belief, emphasizing baptism as a divine encounter with God's grace and a rebirth in the Spirit.

Good morning, beloved family of God. It's a joy to gather with you today, to stand shoulder to shoulder in this sacred space, united by our shared love for the Lord. It's in these moments, when we come together to seek His wisdom, that we truly feel the warmth of His love enveloping us, don't we? ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21, Numbers 21:4-8

Topics: Becoming, Born Again