Sermons on Empty Ritual:

Pleading For God’s Presence

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jul 17, 2009

With longing in his heart, Isaiah remembers the time in Israel’s history when God dwelt among His people, and expresses his strong desire for its return, as well as the remedy for its absence.

PLEADING FOR GOD’S PRESENCE Text: Isaiah 64 Intro: Isaiah the prophet was a highly esteemed citizen of Jerusalem, who enjoyed access to the royal court; and who later became the trusted advisor to king Hezekiah. His ministry basically involved the preaching of judgment against Judah. This was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Religious? Series

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jan 9, 2017

Typically, a person's idea of being religious is just going through rituals and practices associated with the faith. In James 1:26-27 God defined what it means to be religious. So regardless of what we think it means we need to learn what God said it is.

ARE YOU RELIGIOUS? (part one) James 1:26-27 INTRODUCTION: When people would ask me if I was religious I would say, no, because to me, being religious kind of had a negative connotation. Because typically, a person's idea of religious is going through rituals and practices associated with the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:26-27, James 3:2-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Washing The Disciples Feet - An Acted Parable

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jun 16, 2001

The washing of the disciples’ feet by Jesus was his way of teaching them humility in serving others, a dramatised parable of his submission to death, an anticipation of the Cross and the Empty Tomb abd a message for us today.

WASHING THE DISCIPLES’ FEET - AN ACTED PARABLE On the night before His Passion Jesus spoke some wonderfully prophetic words: "You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand" (John 13:7). These are the words of Jesus addressed to His disciples. The scene is the room in ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

A Sense Of Accomplishment

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Apr 29, 2003

What did Jesus feel in the pre-dawn darkness as He stood outside the empty tomb? Elation, a sense of victory? Yes, but even moreso, a sense of accomplishment for what He had done.

Passage: Isaiah 53:10-12 Intro: It has to be one of the greatest feelings there is. 1. you fill in the last figure on the spreadsheet and click on “print” 2. you finish the last part of the wall, clean up the mess, and then stand back to admire the new look because of the paint you have app. 3. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:10-12

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Alive, Obediant And Loving! Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Nov 2, 2011

John described the saved and who they are, how they love God and their fellow humans - there is no empty words, they act to bring others to a relationship with the one who matters most, the one they really do love!

Sermon 1 John 5:1-12 You most likely know I’ve just returned from holiday and have that post holiday fuzziness thing going on, I spent a great time with Terry the first week doing the whole father son catch up road trip up around Nelson and over Takaka way, we managed to walk to Harwood’s Hole ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-12

Denomination: Salvation Army

This Advent Come Into Our Lives

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Dec 3, 2014

WE invite God to render the Heaven come down and shake the mountains that we might hear, that we might pray, that we might become vulnerable, because we are so desolate or empty.

Isaiah Chapter 64 “This Advent come into our Lives” 1. The gist of this reading is an appeal to God for help and mercy for a worshiping community that finds itself in dire circumstances. • The Text Begins with the mighty works of God 63:7-14 Great acts in Egypt of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

The Rest Of The Story

Contributed by Perry Greene on Apr 2, 2015

This Easter sermon focuses on the resurrection of Jesus and the potential resurrection of his followers which complete the story of Jesus. We often focus on his death, but the empty tomb is good news that requires a response.

1. The Rest of the Story was a Monday-through-Friday radio program originally hosted by Paul Harvey. Beginning as a part of his newscasts during the Second World War and then premiering as its own series on the ABC Radio Networks on May 10, 1976, The Rest of the Story consisted of stories presented ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Martha Syndrome Series

Contributed by John Huyser on Nov 29, 2022

Entering into the first Sunday of Advent, hope outshines disappointment. At some point of all of have come down with Martha Syndrome. When our caring and compassion tanks are nearing empty - Watch Out!

It was Junior High in the mid 1980’s when the Wilder family opened up Tokens Video Arcade in my home town of Lansing, IL. Today, you can go to Google Play or the Apple Store to download a pinball game, but it is nothing like the original. The pull of the spring tensioned launch button, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:28-31

Every Spiritual Blessing In Jesus Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Feb 10, 2022

Many Christians today have their eyes set on rolling hills of worldly blessings, never realizing we have within our grasp the richest reserve of blessing in Jesus that will never go empty.

Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship Hagerstown, MD, USA www.mycrossway.org View this and other messages at: https://mycrossway.churchcenter.com/channels/8118 I want to ask for some license for just a moment to revisit a story I put into the newsletter last Sunday. It is about the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:10, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, John 15:16, Matthew 25:34, Colossians 2:14, Galatians 3:26  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren

God Is Holy, And God Is Coming (Revelation 4:1-11) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Oct 27, 2025

As an encouragement, Jesus gives John a vision/revelation of heavenly reality. There is a throne higher than Caesar's. That throne isn't empty. And our holy God is coming soon.

Today, we find ourselves in the first of two chapters in Revelation, that I consider to be at its very heart. Revelation 4, and 5. Arguably, these two chapters in their own way are the very heart of the Bible, as well. There are things in these chapters that are not necessarily obvious, that ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:1-11

What Is Greatness?

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Oct 10, 2024

Jesus our God came to serve. And even to die, to give his life as a ransom for many! To die for us, to empty himself of divine power and authority and serve those in need. That is true greatness.

I recall a meme I saw online, it had a picture of a janitorial supply cart and it said, "Called to ministry? This will be your first pulpit." Truer words were never spoken. My first five years in ministry I mopped a lot of floors, and believe me, I expect more floors in the future. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-21

Denomination: Salvation Army

Remember The Lord!

Contributed by Larry Grant on Aug 16, 2025

We have already allowed the enemy to: Silence our praise, Empty our altars & Extinguish our testimony! But its not too late! Our Faith is worth fighting for!

Nehemiah 4:10-15 “Remember the Lord!” 8/17/2025 Intro: Nehemiah was neither a prophet nor a scribe. He was the cupbearer for the Persian King Artaxerxes. After Ezra the scribe led a group of Israelites back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. The Persian King allowed Nehemiah to lead another group ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:10-15

Denomination: Baptist

Be Still Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 7, 2016

People seem to be afraid of silence. They do anything to fill their lives with noise and avoid the emptiness. But God says "Be still and know that I am God." What can that mean to us and how can we go about doing it?

How many of you have ever heard the term: “Circuit Riders”? Circuit Riders were preachers back in the 1700s and 1800s who would ride from church to church and hold services. There were more churches than preachers in that day and a Circuit Rider would travel from congregation to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Alleluia Christ Is Risen

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 23, 2016

The Sunday School teacher asked the class " What do you think were Jesus first words when he came out of the tomb?" A little girl shouted frantically I know!, I know!" Extending her arms into the air she said " TA DA!". Beloved "TA DA the Lord has risen!"

It is Easter... The day that we celebrate the resurrection ... of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A time when Alleluias fill the air: Beloved ... You know the response: Alleluia Christ is Risen...... (Pause) The Lord is Risen in Deed Alleluia. There is a story that I love so well ... that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Corinthians 15:12-26

Denomination: Anglican

Foolish Wisdom-5(2025)

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Sep 23, 2025

5 of 8. The apostle Paul related that the wisdom of the Cross-work of Christ, was seen as foolishness by those who were perishing. The wisdom of the Cross can be misinterpreted. But How can wisdom be properly interpreted? Foolish Wisdom is interpreted thru...

FOOLISH WISDOM-V—1Corinthians 1:22-28[part-2--:24-25](1:18--2:5) Attention: Something deceptively seen by the heart’s predisposition. There is a ‘radical far-left liberal’ belief at work in America, that holds that most anything except Christianity, should be considered as normative. IF the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:24-25

Denomination: Baptist