Sermons on Empty Ritual:

Living In The Spirit Pt 3 Series

Contributed by David Welch on Feb 10, 2015

Third in a five part series exploring what it means to live by the power of the Holy Spirit

“Life in the Spirit” Part Three REVIEW I have led an expedition through the fifth chapter of Galatians over the past two weeks. Galatians is a letter written by Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the people of Galatia. He wrote to encourage them to cling to the true ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-21

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Not In My House!

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Mar 10, 2015

I have often wondered just what Jesus would have seen that day that caused so much righteous anger to rise up within him? Surely these Moneychangers and Shopkeepers were no more frustrating to Jesus than so many of the religious leaders he had encountered throughout His ministry!

TITLE: NOT IN MY HOUSE! SCRIPTURE: ST. MATTHEW 21:10-14 / I PETER 4:17 We have entered into our Third Sunday of Lenten season and preaching around the central theme – “MARCHING TOWARDS CALVARY.” When I read this text a few weeks ago in preparation of this morning’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:10-14

Denomination: Baptist

Looking For The Savior's Return

Contributed by Gerald Steffy on Sep 12, 2009

A child of God is to be alert and looking for the Savior’s return in a world that does not have time to hear His voice and be prepared for His coming.

-- Philippians 3:17-21 Proposition: A child of God is to be alert and looking for the Savior’s return in a world that does not have time to hear His voice and be prepared for His coming. Objective: My purpose is to challenge people to look for the Savior’s return and be prepared for His ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:17-21

Denomination: Baptist

A Demanding Widow And A Deluded Pharisee

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 23, 2010

A Demanding Widow and a Deluded Pharisee (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: Luke chapter 18 verses 1-14 Ill: • When a night club opened on the main street of a small American town; • The local Church held an all-night prayer meeting. • One member asked God to burn it down. • Within a few moments, lightning struck the club and it was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-14

Denomination: Brethren

When Is It Time To Shout?

Contributed by Herman E. Wesley Iii on Sep 12, 2010

In the context of current society the overriding emphasis in a great number of congregations today has been placed on emotionalism, and that, in and of itself is not wrong. It should be noted that emotionalism that grows out of knowledge...knowledge of

Nehemiah 8:5-6 Prepared for Delivery as the Keynote Address Magic City Lectureship • Birmingham, Alabama Monday, September 11, 2000 at 8:00 p.m. PRELIMINARIES In the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus...my soul is just glad to be here. To my good friends who serve as co-anchors of this ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:5-6

Drought - Its Cause & Cure

Contributed by John Perry on Oct 16, 2010

Drought is an ongoing reality where we live, something we've learned to live with & something we've gotten used to. But the thought of drought in our land got me thinking about the reality of personal, spiritual drought.

Bunbury Sun am 17/10/10 “Drought – its cause & cure” Intro: *** One of the constant topics coming up in the news at least every week if not every day now w/ the approach of summer is the obvious drought we’re facing. Rainfall has been perilously low this last winter, dams ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:12-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Standing Alone For Christ Series

Contributed by David Scudder on Oct 5, 2008

It is possible to be so used to seeing imitations that we fail to recognize the real thing. I fear that is happening in American churches. It has been so long since American Christianity has boldly lifted up a holy God before the culture that lukewarm C

Standing Alone for Christ Revelation 3:1-6 Purpose: To warn against a type of Christianity that is impure. Aim: I want the listener to love Christ so much that they will stand alone, if necessary, for Christ. INTRODUCTION: In the 1930’s the rage was imitating Charlie Chaplin’s “Little Tramp” ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Calloused Colleagues Cloud Culinary Courtesy Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Aug 3, 2008

Jesus is honored by Matthew as his new Saviour. To show his acceptance of Christ as his Lord, he throws a party-a meal-in honor of Jesus. Things go well until some nay-sayes come. Jesus sets them stright and sends them packing to find the truth about Him.

MATTHEW 9:10-14 CALLOUSED COLLEAGUES CLOUD CULINARY COURTESY I. CONVIVIALITY: A. Cheerful. B. Common. C. Contagious. II. CONTROVERSY: A. Contempt. B. Confusion. C. Contamination. III. CLARIFICATION: A. Compassion. B. Contemplate. C. Commission. There is nothing quite like ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:10-14

Denomination: Methodist

Of Superstars And Starlight Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 4, 2009

We have not yet learned the difference between superficial superstars and the starlight wisdom of Jesus. He transforms gold into Kingdom power, frankincense into respect, and myrrh into the preface for resurrection.

In 1970 Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber brought out a rock opera with the provocative title, Jesus Christ Superstar. Predictably, not everyone was amused. Some condemned it as sacrilegious. But if you listened carefully and let your defenses down a notch or two, their work communicated the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

You Missed The Point Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 14, 2008

Like Josiah’s sorry sons, we have missed the point of our fathers’ messages about the value of Scripture, the worth of the church, and the meaning of the work ethic.

Why is it that on Mother’s Day we honor our mothers, we talk of saintly moms who worked their fingers to the bone to cook and clean and sew for us? But on Father’s Day we scold the dads! Why is that? Have you noticed? We honor mothers for their industry, their wisdom, their prayer life, and ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 22:11-23

Denomination: Baptist

Army Or Arena Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Apr 19, 2009

Hosea apparently interrupts a feast (possibly Passover) in order to say that loyalty and faithfulness are vital to authentic living/worship.

Army and Arena Text: Hosea 9:1-9 In The 24-Hour Christian, Pastor Earl Palmer warns that people, in general, flock to any proof of power. “Political tyrants always use the army and the arena, the power of the sword and the circus.” (p. 47) This is as true in the church as it is in the political ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 9:1-9

Denomination: *other

Handling God's Success When We Wanted It For Ourselves Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 29, 2009

Ministry looks impossible, and we want to run the other way. But when we do finally tackle it, and God redeems, then we want the credit. In His grace He assures us that we are not forgotten even though we are inappropriate.

All during this month we’ve worked together on the theme of compassion. Because we are a church which urgently needs to do ministry in this community; because we are a people with much to give and much to share, and with a place to share it, by the time this week is over we will have invested four ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Where Do You Go To Church? Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Mar 12, 2008

Central to worship is the “us” and “Him,” not the place and means.

Scripture Introduction God is seeking worshippers in spirit and truth. That does not mean that God seeks to make worshippers, as if there were people not worshipping whom he hopes to change. The issue is not whether we will worship, but whom and how. John Calvin (a pastor in the 1600s) ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Eternal Question

Contributed by Jaco Bester on Feb 13, 2013

A Reflection on the question Jesus asked his disciples... 'who do you say that I am?'.

THE ETERNAL QUESTION... WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? ISAIAH 51:1-6; ROMANS 12:1-8; MATTHEW 16:13-20 Introduction: A friend once asked the famous scientist, Isidor Rabi, who was also a Nobel Prize winner, how he had become a scientist. Rabi replied by relating a story from his childhood. He said that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

There's No Time To Take A Break!

Contributed by Bishop Talbert Swan on Mar 12, 2013

The church has much work to do! We we never arrive at a place in history where the work of the church is irrelevant.

Text: Matthew 25:35-40 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:35-45

Denomination: *other