Sermons on Empty Ritual:

The Vessel. (Hix)

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Aug 25, 2009

God wants empty vessels

Harry McCoy the pastor of Tanglewood Baptist Church. He had been there for about 9 years and was retiring because of health problems, preached that Sunday night at Tanglewood and they were going to be moving the next day and he passed away in his sleep that night. Verse 1-Your Servant Sometimes ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jan 7, 2017

Worship is about who, not what. It is about giving, not getting. It is about encounter, not ritual.

Listen to what the Scriptures say. Wise men from the East came seeking for Jesus. • Through the study of the stars and the revelation of the Holy Spirit, they were enlightened to know that the Messiah, King of the Jews was born, in Israel. • They came seeking and inquiring, and was told to go to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

This Is Love

Contributed by Larry Grant on Feb 9, 2025

“The defining act of love is revealed solely in the rituals of sacrifice.” by C. Kimble

1 John 4:8-11 THIS IS LOVE February 9, 2025 The Apostle John tells us about a great God with a great love for the world. Let us begin with 1 John this great letter of love. Love is mentioned 46 times in 105 verses. Pastor Crawford Kimble wrote in his book called “Adventures in Love” that, “The ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Call To Live For God

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on May 10, 2025

Living for God is not merely a religious ritual—it is a lifestyle of surrender, obedience, and transformation.

A CALL TO LIVE FOR GOD By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Romans 12:1-2 – "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Easter Day (B C P). Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 17, 2025

Sermons upon the Bible readings of the Book of Common Prayer.

Psalm 111:1-10, Exodus 12:21-28, Colossians 3:1-7, John 20:1-10. A). A COMMITMENT TO PRAISE THE LORD. Psalm 111:1-10. After the initial exhortation to “Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 111:1), this song forms an acrostic, using all twenty-two Hebrew letters in alphabetical order. As for the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 111:1-10, Exodus 12:21-28, Colossians 3:1-7, John 20:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be Practical, Not Legalistic Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Oct 30, 2021

Jesus taught the Pharisees how He desires sincere love for people over meaningless ritual, and how He desires grace over legalism. Those who adhere to ritual and tradition are often unable to love others or worship God.

In our message today, we will see how Jesus taught the Pharisees that forgiveness and grace toward others is a necessity before worship. The capacity to extend love and mercy is something that must be present in a person’s heart before he or she is able to worship the Lord in spirit and truth, as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Fast God Chooses

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Feb 8, 2014

While we try to please God on our own terms, God wants us to live for Him. We call it a "fast" when we do without a self-serving behavior for a limited period of time, but what God calls a "fast" is a life dedicated to serving others.

Abou ben Adhem had a dream. He awakened with a start to find an angel in his room, writing in a golden book. He said to the angel, “What writest thou?” and the angel replied, “The names of those who love the Lord.” “And is mine one?” he inquired. “Nay, not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Trial Of A Nation Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Nov 27, 2024

This is the 6th Sermon in the Series from the Book of Amos, "Social Justice".

Series: Social Justice [#6] THE TRIAL OF A NATION Amos 4:1-13 Introduction: Karen has been on Jury Duty. In most States, it does not last that long; but in NM, it is 2 months. Karen has to call in almost daily to see if she has to go to Court in Lovington. So far, she has not been on any ...read more

Scripture: Amos 4:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Value Of Human Need In God's Kingdom

Contributed by Dianabasi Essien on Mar 30, 2025

In God's kingdom, we often emphasize the importance of faith, obedience, and spiritual growth. However, there's another aspect that's equally vital: human need. Our vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and limitations are not liabilities to be ashamed...

The Value of Human Need in God's Kingdom: A Sermon on Luke 6:1-11 Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Let us turn our hearts and minds to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 6, verses 1 through 11. Here, we find two seemingly separate incidents – Jesus and his disciples plucking and eating grain on the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:1-11

Abraham's Revival Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 19, 2021

Abraham’s faith is a model for Christians, because we are his successors by faith (Galatians 3:29). Revival of our faith is modeled after his life (Genesis 12-25).

Abraham’s faith is a model for Christians, because we are his successors by faith (Galatians 3:29). Revival of our faith is modeled after his life (Genesis 12-25). Traditional history tells us that Abram’s father Terah, was a high priest for Nimrod and made idols. History tells that Noah and Shem ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:29

Denomination: Baptist

Proofs For The Resurrection Series

Contributed by N A on Jul 17, 2007

Why is it important to consider proofs for the resurrection of Christ? Because if there is no resurrection, our preaching is empty and your faith is empty.

PROOFS FOR THE RESURRECTION OPENING TEXT: “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Denomination: *other

Discovery Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Apr 13, 2013

The women didn't expect an empty tomb. The empty tomb not only surprised them but it also transformed them.

Luke 24:1-16 “Discovery” INTRODUCTION Over two thousand years ago a group of women walked somberly and quietly from their homes to a burial site. Their purpose was to find Jesus and finish their hurried burial preparations, which they were unable to complete two days ago. When ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus Ain't Where I Left Him

Contributed by James Owens on Apr 4, 2010

This sermon deals with the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“JESUS AIN’T WHERE I LEFT HIM!” TEXT: John 20:1-13 (NKJV) “On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-13

Denomination: Church Of God

Resurrection Power

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 2, 2002

There are more hymns celebrating the cross than the open tomb which might lead some to think Jesus’ death was more important than His resurrection. But, how important is the resurrection to us?

OPEN: Women: are there times when your husbands don’t seem to be paying attention? One man wrote: The ears are a marvelous creation: A piano has 88 keys, but each of your ears has a range of 1500 keys. They are so finely tuned that you can hear the blood running through your vessels. The ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Strengthened, Established And Filled

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Aug 28, 2011

When our spiritual tanks are bone dry, God by His Spirit stands ready to fill to us overflowing.

August 28, 2011 – “Strengthened, Established and Filled” – Ephesians 3:16-19 Charles Price, pastor of People’s Church in Toronto, says that verses 16-19 of Ephesians 3 is one prayer that you don’t really need to add: “…If it is Your will”, or ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational