Sermons on Empty Ritual:

Sermon On A Distant Voice

Contributed by William Meakin on Dec 11, 2025

A "distant voice" often correlates to a sound heard from a far-off location, which is faint or unclear due to the distance involved.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, an American poet once remarked: “Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness; So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another, only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.” ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 30:21, Psalm 46:10, Revelation 3:20, Hebrews 3:15

More Than Hatch, Match, And Dispatch Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 13, 2000

The church is for far more than empty ceremony on occasions demanded by tradition; it is the steward of new life, with a rich and full experience that employs the diversity of gifts God has given it.

Last week you seemed to get a big charge out of my little story about going to a wedding rehearsal and wasting time waiting for a key person to arrive. When I said that I didn’t know what we’d do on Sunday afternoon if he didn’t show up, you let out a belly laugh. You assumed I was talking about ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

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

Giving With The Right Motive

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Jan 21, 2014

Gold wants love and genuine caring concern in all our giving. He could care less about giving by rote, without a heart of worship.

This is a homily shared at The Feast, an inner-city gathering with the Yonge Street Mission that invites everyone from the community in to Feast on good food, the Word of God and fellowship. God is not the same as us. He thinks very differently. Nowhere is this more obvious than in almost all of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:41

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"just As He Said"

Contributed by Curtis Mathis on Apr 24, 2022

Yes, Easter has passed…but I think I will remain here, at the tomb, yet a little longer…

RED OAK BAPTIST Pastor Curtis Mathis 4/24/2022 – Sunday AM Matthew 28:6 “…JUST AS HE SAID… Introduction: Well, another Easter has come and gone, the baskets of goodies have been delivered, families have gathered, meals have been eaten, eggs have been hunted, and the peace lilies have left the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:6, Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

A Word Of Explanation Cleanliness

Contributed by Michael Stover on Oct 18, 2000

Defilement (vs.

Defilement (vs. 11-14) A. Question about law & holiness 1. Does a holy vessel make holy that which it touches? No  2. Does an unclean person make the priest unclean? Yes C. Explanation about law & holiness 1. Holiness is not transferable 2. Contact with unholiness defiles 3. Sickness ö kiss ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:10-19

Denomination: Baptist

Traditions Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Dec 24, 2012

Rituals and traditions nurture of faith and prepare us for the coming of Jesus so that we can in turn prepare the world for Jesus' coming.

Luke 24:28-35 “Traditions” INTRODUCTION During this season of Advent, we continue to focus on how we prepare ourselves, for the coming of Jesus, so that we can prepare the world. We have talked about caring conversations, spiritual disciplines, and service. Today we are going to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:28-35

Denomination: Lutheran

Stale Religion Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 30, 2013

If you want to keep your relationship with Christ fresh and vital, don't focus on tradition and clean hands; instead, focus on scripture and a clean heart.

Alan Kraft, in his book, Good News for Those Trying Harder, shares a story about a time when his wife borrowed his car and heard a CD he had loaded in the sound system. The song touched her. When she asked him about it, he was able to recite the lyrics, but had never thought much about their ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical Free

United We Stand

Contributed by Craig Condon on Feb 17, 2015

Unity can only be achieved through genuine Christian love and its three essential qualities: 1. Mutual concern 2. Mutual contact 3. Mutual contribution

In the early days of World War II, Germany bombed England unmercifully. The British teetered near defeat as German planes dropped tons of bombs on London. The people of London urged the Queen Mother to send her children to safety in Canada. She replied by saying, “The children cannot go ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-26

Denomination: Anglican

#12 Parties, Patches And Wineskins Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Mar 16, 2020

This message describes Jesus' response to the Pharisees because His disciples did not fast. The Pharisees opposition stemmed from a defense of the status quo. Jesus came to smash the status quo and create something new and superior.

#12 Parties, Patches and Wineskins Series: Mark March 15, 2020 Chuck Sligh Several ideas and illustrations for this sermon were adapted from David Dykes’ sermon on SermonCentral.com, Old Whiners or New Wineskins. TEXT: Mark 2:18-22 – "And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:18-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Best Till Now Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jul 19, 2022

This sermon focuses on Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana, and how it might apply to us today.

Good morning. If you have your Bibles, please open up to John 2:1. We have been looking at the book of John. We are actually trying to get through the entire book of John. We are actually succeeded in getting through chapter 1, so we only have about 20 more chapters to go and we will be ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-12

Denomination: Christian Church

What Doth The Lord Require Of Thee

Contributed by Grant Adams on Mar 13, 2021

God has brought a charge against His people, and the charge is the same that He brings to us today. Their religion and their worship had become nothing but emptiness and meaningless rituals. All of it had become unrelated to their character and unrelated to their daily life.

They were deeply religious. They were very faithful in performing the acts of worship, but they were empty and meaningless. They had no affect whatsoever on the character of those who worship and on their daily walk and activities. As we go through this life serving God, we need to be careful not ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

Ark Baptism Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 24, 2006

Baptism is a ritual that points in several directions.

Ark Baptism (I Peter 3:20b-22) 1. When it comes to church, some people cannot stay put. One balmy day in the South Pacific, a navy ship espied smoke coming from one of three huts on an uncharted island. ?Upon arriving at the shore they were met by a shipwreck survivor. He said, "I’m so glad ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:20-22

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Should Protestants Change Our Habits During Lent?

Contributed by Dennis King on Feb 25, 2018

What is the value of Lenten Rituals to Protestants?

We could look to the time of Lent as traditional activities representing the death of Christ plus His resurrection, and return. This year, the 2018 Lenten Season began on February 14th – Valentines' day. For Lent that day is called Ash Wednesday and people, worldwide, gave up certain foods or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

How Does The Empty Tomb Affect Me Today?

Contributed by Glenn Newton on Apr 5, 2005

I share a couple important thoughts about how the Empty tomb, the resurrection affects us today as Christians

The Empty Tomb and how it affects me today Pastor Glenn Newton April 3, 2005 Text: Philippians 3:10-14 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14

Denomination: Nazarene