Sermons on Empty Ritual:

There Is Hope

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Apr 22, 2019

Ponder the various responses of the people who came to know of the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus.

Can this be real? That Jesus died and then came back to life? • What does it mean to us if He is dead? Does it really matter? The truth is, it matters. If Jesus claims to be God and comes from heaven, and He remains dead, then there is no hope for anyone. • Death ends everything. Death will be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Risen

Contributed by John Dobbs on Mar 29, 2024

Today we celebrate the greatest news the world has ever heard: The Tomb is Empty!

FIVE POWERFUL WORDS: RISEN MARK 16:1-8 Introduction Welcome, everyone, to Resurrection Sunday. For the month of March we have been looking at five powerful words from the last week of the life of Jesus: Rejection, Love, Remember, Forsaken, and today RISEN. Our text opens with the women ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Solemnity Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King Of The Universe, Year B., Christ The King B-- Let The Truth Finish Up

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 15, 2021

"First, I preached my church empty, and then preached it full again."

David Foster Wallace said, "The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you,” in other words, the truth has to be assimilated in your conscience before it can set you free. Stanley Hauerwas, of Duke Divinity school, says, in effect, that, when we don’t let the truth ...read more

Scripture: John 18:33-38

Denomination: Catholic

No Light In The Lamp

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 5, 2025

Obedience is not empty duty, but the surrendered, grateful, Spirit-filled response of a heart alive in Christ.

Opening Story – The Boy in the Corner A little boy had been disobedient. His mother sent him to the corner and said, “You sit there.” With folded arms, slumped in his chair, he muttered, “I might be sitting on the outside, but I’m standing on the inside.” That’s obedience… but only on the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:2-4

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

When Old Ways End Series

Contributed by Scotty Killingsworth on Mar 24, 2004

Emptying ones life of bad stuff is just not good enough. No one can maintain an empty life. Something must occupy your space. Something will occupy your life. We choose what we let in.

This sermon was preached by Scotty L Killingsworth on March 7, 2004. The Biblical text is taken from Colossians 3. The sermon title is: When old ways end Nearly everything Jesus did brought change to the world. Nearly everything we do at Evergreen Church is about change. We value ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1

Denomination: Baptist

The Living Hope Of Easter

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Apr 6, 2016

Hollow Hope or Living Hope? Where do you find your hope? Are you hoping to fill up on something that will leave you empty? Or are you filling up on the empty tomb that brings powerful, living and lasting hope?

1 Peter 1:3,4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you What did you hope ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-4

Denomination: Lutheran

O Father, Where Art Thou? Series

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Jun 14, 2005

We pray, "Our Father, which art in heaven," but we often wonder if he is there at all. What do we do with unanswered prayer?

Our Father, which art in heaven… When we pray, we pray to God. Have you ever wondered if God is paying any attention? I read a story once about a woman who was dying in a hospital bed. Her two daughters were by her side. All day one of the daughters had been praying vigorously and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Heart Trnsformation Through His Word

Contributed by Daniel Reyes on Aug 1, 2005

King Josiah was used by God to raise Israel back to God. King Josiah’s heart was aflamed and he set his peoples hearts aflamned for God again

HEART TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THE WORD Text: 2 Kings 22:1-23:30 by Pastor Daniel A. Reyes Church: Masantol Christian Church Address: Cupit San Nicolas Masantol Pampanga Philippines 2017 Email Address: ptrdan22@yahoo.com Introduction: The heart is very important organ of the physical body. It is ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Superficial Thanksgiving

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Nov 17, 2025

As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s fitting to reflect on the power and purpose of gratitude

(This is not an original work, I have expanded points to fit our congregation and my style of delivery) TITLE: THE SUPERFICIAL THANKSGIVING SCRIPTURE: ST. LUKE 18:9-14 As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s fitting to reflect on the power and purpose of gratitude. PSALM 92:1 says, “IT IS A GOOD THING ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

Worship Today

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jan 4, 2007

Jesus introduces a shift in worship, focusing worship on the spiritual instead of the physical. The future of worship as Jesus was describing it would be a spiritual more than a ritual activity.

Worship today John 4:19-24 The original worship must have been amazing. Eve and Adam, surrounded by the Garden of Eden, something between a botanical garden and an orchard. Discussions at dusk of keeping trees, naming animals, new things they tried, and gratitude for the bounty and beauty they ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-24

Denomination: Mennonite

The Jewish Roots Of The Lord’s Supper

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 2, 2021

The Lord’s Supper is rich with meaning, but best understood in its original context. We can move in that direction by looking at the Jewish Roots of this meaningful ritual.

The Jewish Roots of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 10:1-5 and chapter 11:23, 26, passim) 1. A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his Sunday sermon. Four worms were placed into four separate jars: The first worm was put into a container of alcohol. The second worm ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-5, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Desire Mercy Not Sacrifice Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 4, 2023

God values mercy and compassion over religious rituals and rules. As followers of Jesus, we are called to extend mercy to everyone we encounter, regardless of their circumstances.

Hey guys! Ever wondered what gets God really pumped? What makes Him say, 'Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!'? Well, today we're going to dive into that. Spoiler alert: It's mercy. So, what's mercy? Think about when you're playing a video game, and you're totally crushing your friend. You could ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Topics: Mercy, Sacrifice, God's Desire, Daily Living

Ministry With The Mind Of Christ-7

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Feb 23, 2026

7 of 9. The apostle Paul counseled the Philippian church to minister empowered with the mind of Christ Jesus. God’s people are to minister with the mind of Christ Jesus. But How do God’s people minister with the mind of Christ Jesus? Christmas/New Year/MINISTRY with the mind of Christ...

MINISTRY: With The MIND Of CHRIST-VII —Philippians 2:12-13(2:1-18) Attention: 'Sure, No Problem': A young executive was leaving the office late one evening when he found the CEO standing in the secretary’s office, in front of the office shredder, with a piece of paper in his hand, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-13, Philippians 2:12-18, Philippians 2:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Hosea. The Prophet Of The Merciful And Loving God. Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Nov 7, 2025

Israel, sinful and twisted and its thinking and does God sit back and let it happen, as always, he challenges the nations thinking and drags his beloved adulterous wife back from the abys.

Hosea. Prophet of the merciful and loving God. 1. Historical Context The Book of Hosea is one of the books of twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament. It is traditionally attributed to Hosea, a prophet active in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Last week Rhys mentioned that Amos, who lived at ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 1:2, Hosea 5:1-7, Hosea 6:1-6, Matthew 9:10-13

Denomination: Salvation Army

Responsiliberty PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 24, 2023

The main point of this sermon is to explore the freedom we have in Christ (and as Americans), and to understand the responsibilities that come with that freedom in order to live as a testimony to God's love and grace.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ! Today, we'll take a few minutes to explore the intersection of our freedom in Christ, the freedom we enjoy as Americans, and the responsibilities that come with that freedom. What a fitting sermon topic as we prepare for the 4th of July this week. Max ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-16

Topics: Freedom, Responsibility