Sermons on Empty Ritual:

Who You Gonna Call?

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 26, 2025

Today is God’s appointed moment to surrender to Christ, because sin’s essence is self and no second chance awaits after death.

A Familiar Question with Eternal Weight We all know the line from pop culture: Who you gonna call? It was written for a movie that made people laugh, but the question itself is deadly serious. When a crisis hits, when the next breath is uncertain, when eternity draws close—who you call on ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:15, Hebrews 9:27, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Ezekiel 18:20, Revelation 21:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Better Together

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 17, 2025

Faith alive through love turns duty into delight and fear into joy, showing the world what Jesus looks like.

Introduction — A Love That Moves You A few months ago, a young man named Daniel was driving home from work late one evening when he saw smoke billowing from a house on the corner of his street. Most people would have slowed down, maybe called 911, and waited for someone else to handle it. But ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:6, James 2:17, Matthew 5:41, John 15:13, Romans 5:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Thank You, God PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 5, 2023

Explores finding hope in desperate circumstances through faith, grace, and trials, transforming us into true disciples of Christ.

Good morning, family. It's a beautiful day, isn't it? We gather here, in this place of worship, with hearts full of hope and spirits yearning for wisdom. Let's begin with a quote from G.K. Chesterton, a man of great faith and insight, who once said, "Hope is the power of being cheerful in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-56

Topics: Thanking God, Difficult Times

Have Faith In God PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Jan 12, 2024

This sermon explores how to actively foster, fortify, and fuel faith through understanding God's promises and practicing forgiveness in a fallen world.

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters, to another blessed day in the Lord's presence. It is a joy to gather together, to lift our hearts in praise, and to seek wisdom from God's holy word. Today, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a profound truth, a truth that has the power to invigorate ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:20-26, 2 Corinthians 1:20

Topics: Faith Growth

A Time Of Testing PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Feb 18, 2024

This sermon encourages self-examination and reaffirmation of faith during the Lenten season, drawing strength and guidance from Jesus Christ's love and grace.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we gather here today, not as disparate souls, but as a unified body, bound by the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are here, not because we are compelled by ritual or tradition, but because we are drawn by the irresistible pull of His divine grace. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5

Topics: Lent

The Problem: Those From Syrian Antioch, Parts 1-4 Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 26, 2017

The letter brought from Jerusalem by the delegation caused quite a stir at Antioch. When Barnabas and Silas read the letter and confirmed it personally a great cloud was lifted from the minds and hearts of the believers in Antioch...

December 7, 2014 Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles By: Tom Lowe Topic #IV. The Church Advancing to the End of the Earth (Acts 13-28) Subtopic B: The Jerusalem Council (15:1-35) ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-35

Denomination: Baptist

"An Authentic Faith Community"

Contributed by Ron Newton on Sep 5, 2003

Real community is derived from a real faith in a real Savior.

Introduction 1. Webster defines authentic, (1) that which can be believed or accepted; trustworthy; reliable. (2) that is in fact as represented; genuine; real. 2. How does one determine an authentic community of faith? ...or genuine? ... or real? a. We normally refer to a Church as a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:37-47

Denomination: Holiness

Crossing The Sea Of Dismay

Contributed by Ronald Crandall on Jan 9, 2003

Many times we come to what seems like an uncrossable Sea. Yet, God always has an answer and a way across into what he has for us. Many times it is just realizing that he is the way. We sometimes wonder I am Normal? It sure seems like I am struggling and

Crossing the sea of dismay… By:Pastor Ron Crandall Mark 4:35-41 35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Pentecostal

Zombie Christianity

Contributed by Charles Newman on Mar 16, 2009

A church that is spiritually dead can still hold services, sing hymns, offer prayers, deliver sermons, and do works of ministry – they can go through the motions of “doing church” but they will never be the church without being alive in God’s Holy Spirit!

INTRODUCTION Modern Day Scene: A paramedic arrives on an accident scene with what seems like a lifeless body; no pulse, no breath – CPR begins and instead of taking the body to the morgue, they go to the ER. Jesus has pronounced the church at Sardis as dead. Yet there is hope. A church that is ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Methodist

What Are You Looking For? A Miracle? Series

Contributed by Jay Winters on Dec 24, 2007

This is the last in a series of Isaiah sermons in Advent all starting with the same question - "What are you looking for?" In this one, we consider the background story of the familiar passage found in Isaiah 7 and the sin of overwhelming "modesty" in bel

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Three In One who is Emmanuel. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The Lord spoke to Ahaz – “Ask a sign of the Lord your God, let it be as deep as Sheol or as high as the heavens.” It sounds like something that we would ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-16

Denomination: Lutheran

A Lot At Stake Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 28, 2011

Biblical truth is easily misunderstood, especially when people have pre-existing agendas. The early church had to grapple with controversy and theological confusion, just as we do today.The issue at hand was this: do gentiles have to first become Jews bef

A Lot At Stake (Acts 15:1-5) 1. This past week, the heating contractor came in to service the boiler that heats this auditorium. 2. My instructions. Turn off Wed. night. Best way: a single-fuse fuse box in boiler room. 3. But there were complications; the Security company called…11:30 and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Part 3 - Matthew 9:14-17 - Surprise! I'm Already Here! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Mar 21, 2010

Why are people still turning up to Jesus as John's disciples and wanting TO KEEP ON PREPARING THE WAY. Jesus has come. The Bridegroom has arrived. Get with the plan, people! He's here. All that is left is to celebrate the wedding!

Part 3 - Matthew 9:14-15 - SURPRISE! I'M ALREADY HERE! My youngest grandson had his first birthday recently. My daughter wanted to make it special for him and she invited all her friends with young children to come. SHE SPENT WEEKS PLANNING THIS PARTY. We spent a good week just setting it up. We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Art Thou?

Contributed by Akanji Solomon on Sep 15, 2018

YOUR POSITION WITH JESUS

SERMON:WHERE ARE THOU ? THEME SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 3:9 WHERE ART THOU? SO MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CHURCH BUT FEW ARE GOING TO THE CROSS. GOD IS SPEAKING TO SOMEBODY TODAY,ASK YOUR SELF EVERYDAY WHERE AM I? WHERE DO I DWELL? IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR STAND WITH GOD, OTHERWISE YOU ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:9, Revelation 12:9

In Christ Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Oct 29, 2013

as individuals and as a church, we must always be IN Christ

Last week we noted how effective the Missionaries Paul, Silas, and Timothy were to the Thessalonians. What can we note about this church in Thessalonica? Open your Bibles to the First Letter to the Thessalonians…. Look at Chapter 1 of 1 Thessalonians v7-8: Through the apostle Paul, God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:14-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Following Jesus Into Abundance Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Jan 27, 2021

Unexpected things happen at weddings. Some are fun and humorous, some are embarrassing and hurtful. As we continue to following Jesus as His disciples, we find ourselves at a wedding where a potentially embarrassing situation turns into an abundant blessing!

Following Jesus Into the Unexpected Intro: • [IMAGE] BIL’s wedding - outside by a lake. Fisherman in boat disrupts the wedding with his outboard motor. • Strange and unexpected things happen at weddings! • As we continue to follow Jesus, we join him at a wedding. o Beginning of his ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11, John 20:31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ