Sermons on Empty Ritual:

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

"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

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

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

Living Beyond Yourself

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 17, 2004

The widow of 2 Kings 4 found herself with empty vessels but great opportunity, she just did not know it in the beginning.

2 Kings 4:1-7 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2 And Elisha said unto her, What ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Whose Son Are You Like?

Contributed by Timm Meyer on Oct 10, 2004

PENTECOST 19(A)- Whose son are you like -- like the one son with empty words or like the son with repentance?

WHICH SON ARE YOU LIKE? - October 10, 2004 - Pentecost 19 MATTHEW 21:28-32 28"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, `Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29" `I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30"Then the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32

Denomination: Lutheran

Come And See

Contributed by Kyle Meador on Nov 28, 2000

This is the invitation of the post-modern church to a world hungry to experience something and somone beyond the empty promises of this world - Come and See!

“Come and See” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-42

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Easter Sermon With Surprise Ending

Contributed by Spencer Homan on Nov 19, 2009

This sermon has a little fun with the "short" ending of Mark. We stand at the empty tomb... and it is up to us to finish the story.

The Lady or the Lion By Frank Stockton (edited and revised) In the very olden time there lived a semi-barbaric king, whose ideas were indeed semi-barbaric. The king had a daughter, beautiful and fair… the envy of every woman in the nation. She could have any man in the kingdom… but her heart ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Faith And Works

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 31, 2013

The practical faith of Rahab stands in contrast to the platitudes of the person who sent the hungry empty away, and failed to clothe the naked.

FAITH AND WORKS. James 2:14-26. A person is making what seems to be a credible claim to “faith” - but (as yet) there is no evidence in their lives of their allegiance to Jesus Christ. They seem to have all the right words, but (so far) “works” are lacking. James 2:14. What is the profit in the ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tekel: You Have Been Weighed

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 27, 2017

There is a hole in your heart? Have you ever dreaded facing the scales? how shall we fill this loneliness and emptiness?

TEKEL? CAN WE READ THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL? WHEN I AM IN THE HOLE OF DARKNESS? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I take a scale and lay it before the altar? THE WEIGH IN ALWAYS OCCURS BEFORE THE FIGHT. WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THIS HOLE IN MY HEART? Matthew 12:44 Then he saith, I ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 5:5-23, Ecclesiastes 1:2-3

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Crisis Of Christian Identity Theft

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Oct 9, 2020

People who feel a deep emptiness or a great deal of self-doubt can also feel as if their identity is being stolen

I have always been a 'car guy.' I have had a serious interest in them for as long as I can remember. I also worked in the Automobile Industry and wrenched on so many vehicles I owned over the years that I have lost count. Countless years ago, when I was a teenager, I had a car that was ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:9, John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 3:12-14, 1 Corinthians 13:11-12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Go! And Proclaim: He Is Risen Indeed! (Easter Sunday) Luke 24:34 & Acts 4:33 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Apr 12, 2025

The empty tomb is not just a historical fact; it is the foundation of our hope, the assurance of our salvation, and the power behind our proclamation.

Go! And Proclaim: He Is Risen Indeed! (Easter Sunday) Luke 24:34 & Acts 4:33 Introduction: Today we gather to celebrate the cornerstone of our faith—the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The empty tomb is not just a historical fact; it is the foundation of our hope, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:34, Acts 4:33, 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, Romans 8:11, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 10:9, John 1:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal