Sermons on Empty Ritual:

The Reading Of The Law PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 23, 2023

The importance of engaging with God's Word for spiritual growth, understanding, and as a fundamental aspect of worship.

Good morning, beloved family in Christ. Isn't it a blessing to gather here in His name, united by a common thread of faith, hope, and love? We are not here by accident, but by divine appointment. Each one of us, in our unique ways, have been drawn by the loving hand of our Savior into this sacred ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-8

Topics: Foundation Of Worship, Word Of God

The Reading Of The Law PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 23, 2023

The importance of engaging with God's Word for spiritual growth, understanding, and as a fundamental aspect of worship.

Good morning, beloved family in Christ. Isn't it a blessing to gather here in His name, united by a common thread of faith, hope, and love? We are not here by accident, but by divine appointment. Each one of us, in our unique ways, have been drawn by the loving hand of our Savior into this sacred ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-8

Topics: Foundation Of Worship, Word Of God

Worship PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 30, 2023

This sermon emphasizes the importance of approaching God with humility, listening more than speaking, and understanding His willingness to hear our prayers.

Good morning, dear family of God. Isn't it marvelous to be gathered here today, in this sacred space, where the echoes of countless praises and prayers reverberate off the walls? It's a place filled with the whispers of our shared faith, a faith that speaks of grace, forgiveness, and an ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

Topics: Foot, Mouth

When God Is Silent Series

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Oct 30, 2002

How do we deal with the issue of unanswered prayer?

The Rev. Dr. Maynard Pittendreigh Senior Pastor October 27, 2002 Habbakuk 1:1-13 1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet received. 2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? 3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Nurtured In The Faith Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Dec 30, 2009

Jesus was brought up in a family that actively participated in the religious traditions and rituals of their faith. Being brought up in the community of believers prepared Jesus for his earthly ministry.

Luke 2:41-52 “Nurtured in the Faith” INTRODUCTION Have you noticed how quickly Christmas is celebrated and then forgotten? The stores have already started removing their Christmas decorations and replacing them with Valentines Day. The radio stations have stopped playing Christmas Carols, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:41-52

Denomination: Lutheran

Losing God In Religion Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 3, 2015

We lose God when we emphasize a ritual or object over and above our relationship with God. Don't expect God's blessings without repentance.

During a service at an old synagogue, when a particular prayer was said, half the congregants stood up and half remained sitting. The half that was seated started yelling at those standing to sit down, and the ones standing yelled at the ones sitting to stand up. The new rabbi didn't know ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Micah - True Worship Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Feb 4, 2013

True worships relates, it is a relationship, not rituals. True worship obeys. To obey is better than sacrifices. True worship impacts. It changes your life and influences others.

God has chosen to bless His people Israel and through them, the world. • They were set apart to worship God and be His witnesses to the nations. • But sadly, the people have gone astray. God was pleading His case, calling the mountains and hills to be His witnesses. • 6:3 ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Week Two Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Mar 15, 2021

Lent is a ritual of the Church that leads us into the hope we have in Jesus. Fasting and Prayer are disciplines of Lent to bring about suffering to draw a person closer to God

“Lent is one of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar. Like all Christian holy days and holidays, it has changed over the years, but its purpose has always been the same: self-examination and penitence, demonstrated by self-denial, in preparation for Easter. Early church father ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 35:13, Matthew 19:15, Luke 2:37, Jonah 3:5, Esther 4:1-4, Acts 13:2, Matthew 6:16-18, Romans 4:13-25, 2 Samuel 1:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What's In A Name? Series

Contributed by Dan Jackson on Jul 11, 2005

The word vanity, used often in the Old Testament, means “to empty of con-tent, to make irrelevant.” That’s what the The third commandment is about emptying God’s name of significance; making it irrelevant; identifying God as something He is not.

“WHAT’S IN A NAME?” (Exodus 20:7) I played in a golf tournament the other day. I was in a foursome with three men whom I had never met. (The tournament format required that we be paired together because we all had similar handicaps. I didn’t know these guys because I make it a practice to never ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:7

Relationships By The Book Series

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Oct 21, 2002

When we are filled with the Spirit, and living our lives by the power of the Spirit, we no longer need to look to others to fill our emptiness, and we do not have to manipulate and control them so that they will fill our emptiness! So, because we are str

Grace Based Relationships October 13, 2002 “Relationships by the Book” Ephesians 5:18-6:9 Last week we looked at relationships where grace is not in place We talked about how when we try to control those around us for our own purposes we are living in the curse that Adam and Eve received when ...read more

Denomination: *other

Tearing Down The Temples Of Hell Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 13, 2005

Paul had an open door of OPPORTUNITY. There were many OBSTACLES. God helped him to OVERCOME! Link included to Formatted Text version, Handout, and PowerPoint Presentation.

Tearing Down the Temples of Hell Acts 19:8-27 Paul stayed in Ephesus for 3 full years…not his normal pattern. There was much work to be done there, and w/ a pop. of 300,000 people, it was the capital of the Roman province of Asia. 1. Paul’s opportunity I Cor. 16:8-9 But I will tarry at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:8-27, Acts 19:23-41

Denomination: Baptist

Hand Me Another Jar

Contributed by Ronald Hughes on Jun 4, 2002

How a widow teaches us about emptiness. What we think is nothing God uses for everything.

HAND ME ANOTHER JAR 2Kings 4:1- Rev. R. B. Hughes 2Kings 4:6b … “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. I. INTRODUCTION Ever run out ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

"The Hidden Child In All Of Us"

Contributed by Ken Harris on Nov 12, 2005

The purpose of this sermon is to motivate the HEARERS to display their dependence on the Father by coming to Jesus with EMPTY HANDS and TRUSTING hearts.

13 November 2005 Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris CP Walker, Taegu South Korea BIG IDEA: The hidden child in us all is to totally DEPEND on GOD’S GRACE in order to receive God’s kingdom. REFERENCES: Exodus 20:14 – KJV (Thou shalt not commit adultery); Mark 10:1-12 KJV (Jesus’ Story of Marriage and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:13-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Easter Miracle Isn't Found In The Tomb

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 12, 2006

This sermon examines the effect that the empty grave had on the women who first arrived at the tomb on Easter morning.

April 16, 2006 Mark 16:1-8 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

The Fulness Of Christ Series

Contributed by Ken Ritz on Dec 30, 2005

How Christ takes our empty lives and fills them with His goodness. Based on Ephesians 3.

The Fullness of Christ Ephesians 3:14-23 Ephesians: Riches in Christ, part 6 Turn to Eph chapter 3 Continuing in our series on the book of Ephesians. Eph 3:14-21 (NLT) 14 When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational