Sermons on Empty Ritual:

The Broken Altar - When Worship Becomes Work Series

Contributed by Barry Tallis on May 2, 2025

The first in a four part series confronts the subtle drift from passionate devotion to empty religious routine, challenging believers to recognize the cracks in their spiritual foundations and commit to rebuilding authentic altars of worship in their daily lives.

INTO: Today we're kicking off a brand-new series that's going to challenge your spiritual comfort zone and reignite your relationship with God. We're talking about being SET APART in a world that wants you to fit in! Have you ever felt like your relationship with God has become more ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 29:13, 1 Kings 18:30, Romans 12:1

We Change

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Dec 14, 2009

Encountering God is a life changing experience. We are never the same.

Luke 3:7-18 “We Change” INTRODUCTION While walking through life, one of the interesting things to do is to observe fads. I’m not sure how they begin or end. All I know is that after the fad is over people always ask themselves, “Why did I do it?” and “What did I see in it?” Remember ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-18

Denomination: Lutheran

The End Of Christmas

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jan 6, 2012

In Christ’s birth we find ours. When our hearts and hands are full from giving gifts to one another, let us remember the tiny Babe Who gave the greatest gifts of all! Christmas doesn't have to end.

On Christmas Day, after the presents were opened, a family was having a dispute on the topic: “When does the Christmas season really end?” Dad said, “The season is over on the twelfth day of Christmas, and I have a song to prove it!” The teenage daughter argued, “The ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:26-28

Denomination: Congregational

Going Through The Valley

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Aug 1, 2013

Mountain-Top experiences may be good but can easily get you in your head. We must not forget that the Valley experiences are the ones that shape, discipline and position you where God desires you to be.

Opening illustration: Five year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn’t want to go in alone. "It’s dark in there and I’m scared." She asked again, and he persisted. Finally she ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"They Found"

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Mar 27, 2016

The women rise early in the morning and find stone rolled away, no body, remembrance, wondering, and they found hope.

“They Found” Luke 24:1-12 1. The women came to the tomb that morning and found a stone rolled away the text says “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Easter Series

Contributed by Ken Sowers on Mar 18, 2014

Grave robbers didn't rob the tomb, God did!

An event can be thrust upon you and it takes you by surprise, you never would have predicted it in a million years. Now here it is - staring you in the face. What will you do? You can't stay the same, you can't pretend it didn't happen. You may not know what to do, but this much is certain, you ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Women At The Tomb Lesson 33 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Dec 14, 2018

Women at the tomb

A. INTRODUCTION 1. New Day. “Now when the Sabbath was past . . .” (Mark 16:1). It was also identified “the first day of the week began to dawn” (Matthew 28:1). “The Lord’s Day” (Rev. 1:10). It is also known as the “Resurrection Day.” 2. The followers did not expect a resurrection, because ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1, Luke 24:1

Denomination: Baptist

Why Believe In Christ's Resurrection

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Feb 11, 2019

The tomb is empty

1. The tomb was empty. “They (the women) found the stone rolled away . . . and found not the body of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Luke 24:2-3). The angel said, “He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him” (Mark 16:6). a. The enemy tried to secure it. “Pilate said . . . make it as secure as ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:2-3, Matthew 27:65-66, John 20:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

On A Morning Like This

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Mar 18, 2019

Mark's ending, unique among the gospels, connects the empty tomb to real-life struggles, as it ends with the women "bewildered and afraid." As we join the women there, we grasp the life-changing impact of the resurrection.

ON A MORNING LIKE THIS—Mark 16:1-8 “In the sky the song of the skylark greets the dawn in the fields wet with dew The scent of the violets fills the air on such a lovely morning as this Surely on such a lovely morning as this Lord Jesus came forth from the tomb.” John Carden, A Procession of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8, 1 Corinthians 15:14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

He's Alive, He's Alive!

Contributed by Timothy Brown on Apr 4, 2010

Easter Sermon

Text: Matthew 28:1-7 Title: He’s Alive!- He’s Alive! Introduction: The very heart of Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus Christ! In 1 Corinthians 15 St. Paul reasoned, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. . . .We are then found ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Evidence Of Christ's Return

Contributed by Grant Adams on May 20, 2023

The resurrection of Jesus was unexpected, and beyond human explanation and understanding, and in violation of all-natural laws.

The resurrection of Jesus was unexpected, and beyond human explanation and understanding, and in violation of all-natural laws. But it was true. It was what God did to give proof and power to all of the life and ministry of Jesus. On the first Easter, those who were the closet to Jesus were the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-53

Denomination: Baptist

Unusual Times

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Apr 13, 2020

We are living through an unusual Easter celebration, but that first Easter was the most unusual of all.

April 12, 2020 – Easter Sunday Hope Lutheran Church Pastor Mary Erickson Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10 Unusual Times Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Well, friends, we find ourselves in very unusual times! Typically, on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10, Colossians 3:1-4

Denomination: Lutheran

The Church Is Closed But The Grave Is Still Open!

Contributed by Christopher Arch on Apr 14, 2020

I delivered this sermon Easter Sunday 2020 at the height of the pandemic.

Title: “It’s Easter the Church building is Empty” Scripture: John 20 and various Type: Thematic Where: GNBC Easter 2020 Intro: Today is Easter Sunday 2020, and as such, it is in my opinion the most important day of the Christian calendar. This is the day we celebrate Christ’s triumph over ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Stone Was Rolled Away

Contributed by Delray Lentz on Nov 15, 2023

Amazing Passion Week

• On Palm Sunday we looked at the story of Barabbas, and the last words of Christ on the Cross • Wednesday night-Benjamins’ Box-Incredible night. We’ll touch on that in a few minutes • Yesterday @ the Pavilion o We had a few desires as a church, in having this event: ? Build on last year, which was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Abounding Love Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Nov 18, 2023

The Lord is available for all of us with his forgiveness, eternal life and blessings needed for our earthly lives. Where we stand with him or without him. Blessed are those who are near to him. Amen.

Text: Exodus 34:1-8 Theme: Abundant Love   Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever.   Remember our theme verse: “Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 34:1-8

Denomination: Methodist