Sermons on Empty Ritual:

He Is A Friend Of Mine Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 24, 2006

Jesus established His church to be a place where we could develop friendships... and where we could become His friends.

OPEN: Some years ago Collier’s Magazine published a story about a little girl in an orphanage. She was quite unattractive and had many annoying habits, which resulted in her being shunned by the children and disliked by the staff. The director of the orphanage looked for a good excuse to ship her ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"What Makes The New Covenant Superior" Series

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Feb 13, 2009

Sermon 18 in a study in HEBREWS

“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.” NASB “But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 8:1-13

Denomination: Orthodox

Trouble In The Church

Contributed by Douglas Duvall on Dec 3, 2006

What if trouble arises in the Church? It is not what if, but more like when.

Trouble in the Church ACTS 15:1-12 I. Decision 15:1-4 A. Men 15:1 B. Method 15:2 C. Messages 15:3-4 II. Demand 15:5-6 A. Demands 15:5 B. Deliberations 15:6 III. Declaration 15:7-12 A. Choice 15:7 B. Comparison 15:8-9 C. Conversion 15:10-12 Introduction Peter had ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Who Do You Say I Am? Series

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Mar 9, 2014

The most important question is: "Who do you say Jesus Christ is?" Our answer determines everything else about the rest of our lives and about our eternity.

Today we launch into a 7 week series that looks at 7 essential questions that answer the bigger question of what it means to be a follower of Christ Jesus and WHY a person would want to be a follower of Jesus. There are good reasons that people come to faith in Christ, and there are good reasons ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Search Of Anna Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jan 6, 2013

This message looks at Anna's encounter with the Christ child at the templ

Anna Luke 2:36-40 In Luke Chapter 2, we see two people who encounter the Christ child as Mary comes to be ritually cleansed six weeks after childbirth, as Jewish law commanded. The first was an elderly man named Simeon. Writings in the second century said that he was 112 years old. Luke tells us ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:36-40

Denomination: Methodist

Grace Or Law

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Feb 9, 2015

Are you living under Grace or Law or maybe a form of Graw or Lace?

The argument over Grace versus Law or a mixture like Glaw or Lace has been going on for centuries. That is to be expected because there was such a radical change between the Old and New Covenant it was bound to bring about controversy. The Jews who had been under the Old for so many centuries ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-29

Denomination: Baptist

Worship Is A Verb!

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on Mar 31, 2017

Worship services are first and foremost to offer worship to God through Christ Jesus, rather than satisfy the attendee. Many have lost sight of the fact that Church services are more about the attendee giving than receiving.

“I used to attend congregational worship services but I quit because I got nothing from it.” “Church is boring.” “When I sit in the pew during church services, I think about how much more I could be accomplishing if I had stayed home.” Through the decades, I have heard a multitude of people ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Create In Me A Clean Heart O Lord Series

Contributed by Bill Walker on Aug 7, 2017

Be sure your sins will find you out. Whether it was a duck or David sin always has its consequences.

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART O LORD Psalm 51 A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot made by his grandfather. He practiced trying to hit a tin can, but he could never hit it. As he walked across the yard he saw Grandma’s pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let fly. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is Yours An Expectant Faith?

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Apr 23, 2024

Faith means maintaining our trust in God, even when He makes us wait.

Have you ever watched the surfing contests in Hawaii? From what I read, surfing is all about the timing. The environment for surfing is dynamic with the waves, wind, and conditions constantly changing. It doesn't matter how long you spend in the water if you don't have the right timing. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-56, 1 John 3:1

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon Haggai's Call From Gloom To Glory

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Feb 27, 2025

Greater glory is coming! The gloom of the people was brought on because they were disappointed in the appearance of the new temple. So much was lacking, yet God promises glory, greater glory.

Sermon – From Gloom to Glory (I Will Fill My House with Glory) Scripture Lesson – Haggai 2:1-9 “On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:1-9, Ezra 3:10-13, Ephesians 5:26-27, Ecclesiastes 7:10, Hebrews 12:25-29  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Jesus Makes The Seemingly Normal Abnormal

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Jan 31, 2020

Joseph and Mary go to fulfill the law in the presentation of Jesus, and they receive so much more from Simeon and Anna.

2.2.20 Luke 2:22-40 22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-40

Denomination: Lutheran

Does The Word Homosexual Appear In The Greek Language Manuscripts?

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Feb 16, 2020

The LGBTQIA+ community has raised the argument that the word ‘homosexual’ never appeared in the Bible until 1946

Before we begin, it is important to note that Jesus is God, and as God, that makes Him the author of both the Old and New Testaments and He does not change (John 1:1-5; Psalm 15:4; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17). Either “All Scripture is breathed out by God (i.e. Jesus) and profitable for teaching, for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10, Romans 1:24-28, Romans 1:3-5, Romans 1:18-32, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Ezekiel 16:49, Genesis 1:23-28, Genesis 2:24, Galatians 3:28-29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Colossians 3:5-11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sermon With A Casket

Contributed by John Gaston on May 5, 2019

I borrowed a casket and preached this message, "Dead or Alive?" Everyone received a poem entitled "The Old Man is Dead" telling things they need to remove/bury out of their lives. They filed by and put their list into the casket to "Nothing But the Blood!"

“DEAD OR ALIVE?” Rev. 3:1-3 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. There was a man who had a mental problem: he walked around all day believing he was dead. His family got tired and frustrated by his delusion because dead people don’t contribute anything to the living. 2. So his wife got him an ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-3

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Acts 2:42 Blueprint

Contributed by Rev. Dr. John Varughese on May 14, 2025

Acts 2:42 is not merely a record of the past; it serves as a Blueprint for cultivating community and faith. By embracing these practices, you invite a transformative journey that reflects the vitality and spirit of the early church.

Picture a cozy, inviting living room filled with close friends, heartfelt conversations, and laughter that nourishes the soul. This image captures the spirit of the early church as described in Acts 2:42. Believers came together with purpose—devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, sharing in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Christian Marriage

Contributed by Lee Houston on Nov 10, 2025

I read an interesting article saying the younger generation is looking more positively at marriage than those even a decade ago. So, I believe there is a need to revisit what God has ordained.

A Christian Marriage I read an interesting article saying the younger generation is looking more positively at marriage than those even a decade ago. That is good, and it reminded me that two-thirds of you are married and at least some of the rest of you have thoughts about marriage so I believe ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:3-6