Sermons on Empty Ritual:

Overlooking The Obvious PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Feb 13, 2024

This sermon explores the dangers of spiritual blindness, the emptiness of misdirected religious activity, and the necessity of recognizing and accepting God's divine intervention.

Good morning, beloved, and welcome. We stand here today at the threshold of a divine revelation, ready to open our hearts to the wisdom of the Word. We are about to immerse ourselves in the sacred text of Luke 19:41-48, a passage that, like a mirror, reflects our human frailty and God's divine ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:41-48

Topics: Jesus Wept, Blindness

Even The Religious Person Cannot Escape

Contributed by Paul Apple on Oct 18, 2000

EVEN THE MOST RELIGIOUS PERSON (DEVOUT JEW) CANNOT ESCAPE GOD'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT--TRUE SPIRITUALITY IS MUCH MORE THAN POSSESSING RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES AND PRACTICING RELIGIOUS RITUALS 1.

EVEN THE MOST RELIGIOUS PERSON (DEVOUT JEW) CANNOT ESCAPE GOD'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT--TRUE SPIRITUALITY IS MUCH MORE THAN POSSESSING RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES AND PRACTICING RELIGIOUS RITUALS 1. True Spirituality is much more than Possessing Religious Privileges (:17-24) a. Religious Privileges can ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:17-29

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Priority Of Justice And Righteousness

Contributed by Leonard Davis on May 29, 2009

The failure of Israel to make a connection between their religion rituals and their daily lives should serve as a warning for us in the church today that justice and righteousness are still priorities with God and judgment results with these are absent.

THE PRIORITY OF JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS Every now and then we come across stories that are both humorous and sad. During World War II in the Pacific Theater our forces set up a base on the island of New Guinea. We built an airport with runways, a tower, lights along the runways, and the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Paul's Focus: Souls Won Not How It's Done Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Jul 20, 2014

Paul did NOT believe we should stand on ceremony or ritual when it comes to sharing Christ, but that we should have an attitude of being willing to do ANYTHING to win people to Christ!

Sermon Brief Date Written: July 17, 2014 Date Preached: July 20, 2014 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: A Series in 1 Corinthians Sermon Title: Paul’s FOCUS –Souls Won not How it is done Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 [NLT] 19Even though I am a free ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Denomination: Baptist

Occupying In Prayer And Warfare Series

Contributed by Tesh Njokanma on Apr 27, 2018

Prayer is not a mere routine or ritual. Prayer is actually a spiritual confrontation with the kingdom of darkness. When we pray, we are wrestling; we are engaging in a fight, a battle or warfare with forces and powers of darkness.

Introduction In Luke 19:13, the King of Glory gave us a guideline to follow until Christ returns. This verse tells us what to engage in or spend our time on until we meet with the Lord. We are told to occupy till Jesus comes, to put what God has given us to work, to make profitable divine ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Alms And Prayer SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Oct 28, 2023

The place of alms and prayer in the life of a believer

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. As we gather here today, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a new day, a new opportunity to grow in our faith and deepen our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are here, not by chance, but by divine appointment. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-15

Topics: Our Attitude In Our Prayers, Our Attitude In Our Alms

Worship The Lord Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Aug 3, 2005

God is Lord of creation, Lord of our lives, and the Lord, King of glory.

These several Sundays, we are preaching from the Psalms. If you are acquainted with the Psalms you appreciate some of the tantalizing word pictures included there: • God’s commands are sweeter than honey and drippings of the honeycomb (19) • The river of God is full of water ( 65) • Under his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 24:1-10

Denomination: Brethren

Prayin’ Like A Pagan - Matthew 6:7-8 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 30, 2024

How would you naturally finish this sentence: “God already knows what you need before you ask him, therefore ____.” The conclusion Jesus finishes that sentence gives us great insight into how to pray in a way that truly communes with God, rather than just saying dry words.

Matthew 6:5-8 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:7-8

The Genuine Vs The Counterfeit Christian Believers. Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Jun 13, 2025

Here are few differences, along with biblical examples.

The Bible warns us that not everyone who claims to be a follower of Christ is genuinely saved. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says that some will claim to have done great things in His name, but He will declare, "I never knew you." This raises an important question: what distinguishes a true ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23, Acts 16:25, Daniel 1:8-16

The Problem Of Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Feb 2, 2011

Part 1 in the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality series, this message looks at signs of emotionally unhealthy spirituality, and examines these characteristics in the life of Saul in 1 Samuel 15.

The Problem of Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, prt. 1 Wildwind Community Church October 10, 2010 We all know that some things look great on the surface, but they're a disaster underneath. For example, in Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, the radar was picking up ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:19-22

Denomination: Free Methodist

"Jesus Came To Meet People Where They Were.”

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Jun 3, 2002

June 9, 2002 -- THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -- Proper 5 Matthew 9:9-13 Color: Green

June 9, 2002 -- THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST -- Proper 5 Matthew 9:9-13, Color: Green The Call of Matthew 9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. 10 And as he sat at ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Robinson Crusoe's Text

Contributed by Stephen Fournier on Sep 13, 2003

Sermon on prayer

ROBINSON CRUSOE’S TEXT PSALM 50:15 I want to begin today by reading to you some excerpts from Daniel DeFoes book’s Robinson Crusoe. If some people knew that the book Robinson Crusoe actually contained the gospel they might seek to have it removed from the shelve. What we see in the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:15

Denomination: Bible Church

Developing A Real Faith

Contributed by Ralph Juthman on May 16, 2002

Series from the Book of James

TITLE: Developing A Real Faith TEXT: James 1:18-27 THEME:James. Maturity, genuine faith, good works, service, growing on. P.S. The next part of the test is how our faith works itself in everyday life. James does not merely want believers to simply HEAR the truth, but also DO IT. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:18-27

Denomination: Pentecostal

When Fasting Becomes Feasting Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Nov 4, 2010

Zechariah announces the divine blessing of faithful obedience to be realized during that time & in full during the future Messianic Age. At that time God's people will rejoice with great joy, gladness & experience popularity.

ZECHARIAH 8: 18-23 WHEN FASTING BECOMES FEASTING In the previous chapter Zechariah proclaimed to the people the mere externals and empty ritualism in their observance of the fasts as well as pointing out to them the sins and transgression which caused their suffering (7:1-7). He also gave them ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 8:18-23

Denomination: Baptist

Timothy…what It Will Take For God To Use You!

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 28, 2022

Most of us refer to ourselves as being “NORMAL.”

It must be nice in this life when someone can be more than a NORMAL PERSON and become an “EXCEPTIONAL” PERSON. That is, when normal people die the preachers who do the eulogy can pretty much sum up their entire lives in 15 to 30 minutes. When the funeral is finished the family and friends can ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:2-26

Denomination: Baptist