Sermons on Empty Ritual:

Prayer That Gets Results

Contributed by Mike Turner on Oct 9, 2004

Is our praying just routine or simply a ritual ? This message deals with "Prayer That Gets Results"

Prayer That Gets Results Luke 18:1-8 Joke: A woman invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to her six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" "I don’t know what to say," the little girl replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," the woman said. The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Meaning Of Baptism

Contributed by Bill Huffhine on May 27, 2004

Understanding the true meaning of Christian baptism through an examination of the Jewish ritual of proselyte baptism.

One of the greatest joys that I have as a pastor is when an individual who is far from God visits our community of believers, begins to hear the voice of God calling them to a higher place, a fresh beginning, a new life, and that person responds to the call of God by committing their life to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-13

Denomination: Free Methodist

The Last Supper

Contributed by Gregory Mc Donald on Feb 19, 2003

Communion is not merely a ritual. It is fellowship and involvement in the life of Christ and His Body, "The Church".

THE LAST SUPPER 1 COR. 11:17-34 Pastor Greg Mc Donald But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part, I believe ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, 1 Corinthians 11:20-33

Are You Living By Rules Or A Relationship? Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Oct 9, 2006

Are you still trying to obey rules and observe rituals to earn God’s favor?

INTRODUCTION During this Grace-Robbers series we have noted there are many people who are still trying to live under law instead of grace. Rules and laws can often be ridiculous, and even funny. Here is a list of ten actual laws from different states. 1. In Alabama it is illegal for a driver to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:20-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Justice Of A Nation Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Nov 27, 2024

This is the 7th Sermon in the Series from the Book of Amos, "Social Justice".

Series: Social Justice [#7] THE JUSTICE OF A NATION Amos 5:1-17 Introduction: I want to remind each of you about the 1st week of this study, because the focus has not changed. The topics from the Book of Amos are not popular. Amos is a very relevant and practical Book of the Bible. Amos wrote ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

If The Tomb Could Talk

Contributed by Dr. Zachary Sizemore on May 5, 2020

The story of Easter is a story that can be best told from the lips of the empty tomb.God emptied the tomb to fill our hearts.

If The Tomb Could Talk Proverbs 30:15-16 “…... There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. (The grave is never satisfied) There has ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 30:15-16

Denomination: Bible Church

Turn On The Light! Series

Contributed by Michael Mays on Sep 14, 2021

What does it mean to "empty" oneself? Something will fill the vacuum! When we empty ourself for Jesus--who is the perfect example of emptying oneself--we will be filled with His nature... and shine like lights!

I. Intro A. My kids and I are reading a series of books of historical fiction entitled The American Adventure, which follow the lives of various children as the history of our nation unfolds around them. One of the things that has always been the case is that, the older we get, the less we like ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-18

Life On The Cross

Contributed by Chris Thron on Oct 18, 2000

How can the modern professional cope with the overwhelming sense of emptiness and irrelevance?

Faced with the challenge of Corinth, Paul rolled up his sleeves and got right down to basics. He determined to put aside all other practical and doctrinal issues and focused entirely on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. But why does Paul mention ’Him crucified’, and not ’Him resurrected’? Because ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:2-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Against The Flow Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Nov 24, 2012

Through caring conversations, devotions, service and rituals we nourish our faith and shine brightly in a world of darkness.

Romans 8:31-39 “Against the Flow” INTRODUCTION For the past four weeks, we have talked about (what I like to call) wholistic stewardship. The proposition I have presented is that Biblical stewardship involves more than what we drop in the offering basket. Stewardship is more than ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:31-39

Denomination: Lutheran

New Wine With Jesus

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 15, 2013

The passing of old things, and the ushering in of new.

NEW WINE WITH JESUS. John 2:1-11. The Gospel of John provides us with an unashamedly theological overview of the person of Christ. We are introduced to our Lord under the Genesis motif “in the beginning” (John 1:1), and as the Word made flesh (John 1:14). Throughout the book, John’s preferred ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Know Your Profits And Losses Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jul 23, 2015

We either believe that Jesus Christ alone is sufficient for a life of faith or He is not.

“Living a Joy-Full Life: Know Your Profits and Losses” Phil. 3:1-11 I recall a conversation that took place during a Consistory meeting of another church I served. It was about requirements for who should serve on Consistory. Some wanted to add guidelines to what the Scriptures have ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Holy, Whole, And Free! Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 13, 2018

If you want to take care of the sin problem in your life, don’t depend on religion. Instead, enter into a real relationship with Jesus Christ, and let Him make you holy, whole, and free.

Pastor and author John Ortberg talks about a time early in his marriage when he and his wife sold their Volkswagen Beetle to buy their first really nice piece of furniture. It was a sofa. It was a pink sofa, but for that kind of money, Ortberg says, “It was called a mauve sofa.” The man at the sofa ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical Free

A Troublesome Verse And A Glorious Future

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jan 29, 2023

What did Paul mean when he wrote about a "baptism for the dead" in 1 Corinthians 15:29? How should it be interpreted? What does it mean in light of further teaching on the resurrection of Christ? Let Scripture speak concerning these and other matters of the faith.

1 Corinthians is a letter dealing with what could be referred to as a "schizophrenic" church. It had become a crazy quilt of pride, drunkenness, sexual deviancy, arrogance, abuse of spiritual gifts, and personal favoritism towards teachers who had been with them, such as Paul, Peter, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:29, 1 Corinthians 15:35-49, Luke 9:24, John 12:24, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:3-4, Revelation 1:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Our Principle Assets(2023)-2

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jul 10, 2023

2 of 7. Paul & Sosthenes opened their letter to the Corinthian church by informing them of their most important spiritual assets. The local(our) church has important spiritual assets. But What are some of those spiritual assets? A Principle Asset of the Christian church is...

Our PRINCIPLE ASSETS-II—1Corinthians 1:2-?(:1-9) ATTENTION: Congaree National Park is located around 10 miles southeast of Columbia SC. It’s a little over a 2 hr. drive from here.—We have plans to go there sometime in the near future. There are certain aspects of the park that are appealing to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Experiencing The Passover

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Apr 4, 2020

We have an unique experience in the midst of this pandemic

Exodus 12:27  That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S, Passover who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 1 Corinthians 5:7  Purge out therefore the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:27, 1 Corinthians 5:7

Denomination: Baptist