Sermons on Empty Ritual:

Worship

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Nov 12, 2004

From the beginning, the secret to Israel’s blessing was when they had a good relationship with the Lord it was characterized by faith and obedience.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: A question to ask ourselves is, “Who Are You Worshiping?” During the tenure of the great orator Henry Ward Beecher, a visiting minister (Beecher’s brother) once substituted for the popular pastor. A large audience had already assembled to hear Beecher, and when the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 28:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

How Should We Pray?

Contributed by John Mccormack on Jan 26, 2011

FOCAL POINT: MODELING HOW WE PRAY

HOW SHOULD WE PRAY? LUKE 11: 1-4 FOCAL POINT: MODELING HOW WE PRAY INTRODUCTION: SHOULD SPIRITUAL ISSUES TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER PHYSICAL ISSUES AND OTHER ISSUES? INTRODUCTION: LUKE 11: 1-4 AND MATTHEW 6: 5-13 REFERENCES THE LORD’S PRAYER. ONE DISCIPLE ASKED JESUS HOW TO PRAY! ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Celebration

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Sep 27, 2006

Psalm 100 encourages not only to celebrate and worship God for what God has done, but also for who God is.

Psalm 100:1-5 “Celebrate” INTRODUCTION The writer of Ecclesiastes observes that there are times to grieve and times to celebrate. Today is a day to celebrate. We have a great deal to celebrate. • Today is our second anniversary of launching our worship service. • Hundreds of people have ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5

Denomination: Lutheran

Kindness And Peace Shall Kiss

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 18, 2008

Christ brings us together by bringing us to the foot of His cross and uniting us in his Body.

Tuesday of 29th Week in Course October 21, 2008 Kindness and Peace Shall Kiss This letter to the Ephesians is one of the great theological works of the New Testament, a product of Paul’s later ministry, probably written in his first Roman imprisonment. Paul has had over twenty years to reflect on ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:12-22

Denomination: Catholic

#5 Being Transformed By A Divine Encounter Series

Contributed by Ronald Thorington on Mar 8, 2015

This sermon shows the importance of encountering God if we have any hope of being transformed. Scriptures give many example of those whoes lives were changed by an encounter with God.

Being Transformed by Divine Encounter Introduction: This year’s theme: Be Transformed. We need to be transformed in our thinking (head), the passions of our heart, and our actions. Scripture: Acts 9:1-9, 20-22 I. We Cannot Transform Ourselves A. Pride keeps us from seeing that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"Religion Or Relationship" Part 2 Series

Contributed by Kyle Sullivan on Jun 16, 2011

A quick look at the lessons from Philippians.

Question: What is your Hope Built on? "The depravity of man is the only doctrine we have with thousands of years of evidence." Pastor Matt Chandler Where is your confidence? 1. In Religious Ritual? Vs. 3 "For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Our Daily Walk

Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on Jun 17, 2017

God is realigning our focus to a New Testament Mentality. Our mentality is weekly or monthly. Living for God as a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ is a “DAILY” practice.

Our Daily Walk Lakewood Church of God | Speaker: Pastor Jonathan | 6-18-2017 ¥ God is realigning our focus to a New Testament Mentality. Our mentality is weekly or monthly. Living for God as a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ is a “DAILY” practice. ¥ Why do we need to have a “Daily” walk ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:11, Matthew 26:55, Mark 14:49, Luke 19:47, Acts 2:46-47, Acts 5:42, Luke 11:1-13, Exodus 36:1-7, 2 Corinthians 4:8-12, 1 Peter 4:12-14, Hebrews 3:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Church Of God

The Sacrifice Of The Lord's Passover.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 17, 2025

“It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover” (Exodus 12:27).

THE SACRIFICE OF THE LORD’S PASSOVER. Exodus 12:21-28. EXODUS 12:21. Moses gave specific instructions to “the elders of Israel,” the heads of families, to “choose out a lamb” and “kill the Passover.” EXODUS 12:22. The “blood” of the lamb was to be placed in a “basin,” and “a bunch of hyssop” ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:21-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Matter Of Priorities.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 16, 2024

The unfaithfulness of God's people.

A MATTER OF PRIORITIES. Hosea 6:4-6. HOSEA 6:4. The two halves of this verse are two examples of parallelism. First, the LORD laments over the two kingdoms of Israel: “Ephraim” in the north, and “Judah” in the south. The loving Father asks each in turn, “What shall I do unto you?” And we can ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 6:4-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Make Me Clean Lord - Mark 1:36-45 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 1, 2023

What Jesus did for the leper is a picture of what he does for our hearts.

Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:36-45

Taking No Chances

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 24, 2023

Incomplete obedience is disobedience. And yet, many fellow Christians attempt to serve God while living for the world. We need to discover the will of the Lord and courageously do that will.

“In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 15:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

A New Beginning

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 20, 2007

A challenge contrasting the new life in Christ with the religious life that satisfy the most of mankind.

JOHN 3:1-16 A NEW BEGINNING “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.’ Jesus answered him, ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Detrimental Competition-3 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on May 17, 2017

3 of 8. John the Baptist pointed out the detriments of competitive ministry. But when is competition detrimental to Christian ministry? A competitive spirit is detrimental to Christian ministry when...

DETRIMENTAL COMPETITION-III—John 3:22-36 A DETRIMENTAL SPIRIT Attention: Humility in competition seems somewhat rare. A person who undoes their own success thru their prideful attitude! A little ‘healthy’ competition is always welcome! Christians & the Church indeed have ‘the market’ on truth. ...read more

Scripture: John 3:22-36

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Verses Self-Centered Religion

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 16, 2002

Jesus attacked self centered religion and warns us not to be apart of the traditions of men because their motives are self-centered not God-centered. Scripture

Jesus verses Self-centered Religion Thesis: Jesus attacked self centered religion and warns us not to be apart of the traditions of men because their motives are self-centered not God-centered. Scripture Texts: Matthew 9:2-17: 1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-17, Luke 19:41-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rasing The Bar

Contributed by Jess Bousa on Dec 8, 2005

As the world is on a steady pace of being demoralized by the hour, Christians are called to Raise the Bar!

THE AUDIENCE WAS A CHRISTIAN DRUG & ALOHOL PROGRAM. IT HELPS TO USE POWER POINT WITH THIS INTRODUCTION (PICTURES OF THE SHIP ARE ON GOOGLE IMAGES). Commissioned in 1936, the RMS Queen Mary was the most awe-inspiring ocean-going vessel in the world. She was over 1,000 feet long, and weighted over ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-11

Denomination: Pentecostal