Sermons on Empty Ritual:

A Sting Or A Saint?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 24, 2010

An empty niche above the church door, made for a statue of a saint, but now containing a hornet’s nest, suggests the choice of letting our lives be empowered by God or letting the sting of death and disappointment take over.

The other day I was hauling in a load of stuff from my car. I came in the Aspen Street entrance to the building, the entrance nearest my office. For some reason, as I was carrying things through the door, I looked up above my head, probably to implore the Lord to give me an extra ounce of muscle ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Denomination: Baptist

Love God With All Your Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 13, 2007

Idolatry is preferring something above God. God doesn’t just want to be added to your list of preferences and activities. He demands that He is your love, your greatest desire, the one who occupies your thoughts and the one you seek to please above all.

Politics is a blood sport. Some go on principle and naively believe that others will see the logic and fairness of their position while other politicians spin their opponents position and prognosticate to vilify their opponent and scare the electorate that their opponent’s position will result in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-38

Denomination: Other

Worthless Clouds Without Water Carried By The Changing Winds –jude 1 Verse 12 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 16, 2022

Jude continues his description of the false teachers using metaphors to describe them. This follow on from hidden reefs and we now have empty clouds without water, useless in promise and leaving bitter failure. Many people are left hurt, and without hope, and fleeced and betrayed.

WORTHLESS CLOUDS WITHOUT WATER CARRIED BY THE CHANGING WINDS –Jude 1 verse 12 In our last message we were looking at these false teachers Jude was battling when he urged his readers to contend for the faith. They had to be positive, and a lazy and don’t care less approach would achieve nothing. ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:12, Ezekiel 34:1-8, Zechariah 11:15-17, Acts 20:28-30, Deuteronomy 32:9-10, 1 Peter 5:7, 1 Corinthians 12:25, Ephesians 4:14, John 4:13-15, John 7:37-38, Hebrews 10:22, James 3:11-12, Revelation 7:17, Revelation 22:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sharing The Peace - Why Anglicans Do This Thang. Series

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Apr 6, 2024

Jesus says "Peace be with you" - looking at the inner meaning behind the ritual. )The Peace of the Presence. 2) The Peace that puts the past behind you 3) The Peace that makes fear disappear 4) The Peace that pulls people together 5) Peace that brings healing 6) Peace for a purpose

This sermon was preached at St Jospeh the Worker Church Northolt 2nd Sunday f Easter 7th April 2024 ..... John 20.19–31 19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31, Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:11-12

Denomination: Anglican

Go! And Hear The Roar Of God Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Sep 25, 2025

The roar of God’s holiness thunders through the book of Amos. It is a warning, a call to repentance, but also a signpost pointing us to Jesus Christ—the only One who can rescue us from judgment and bring us into eternal life.

Go! And Hear the Roar of God A Sermon from the Book of Amos Introduction – The Lion Has Roared Imagine walking through the African savannah at night. The stars are bright above you, the wind is calm, but suddenly… you hear it. The deep, rolling roar of a lion. That sound shakes you. It demands ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:8, Amos 5:21-24, Amos 5:4, Amos 9:11, Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 7:21, Joel 2:13, Acts 3:19, Luke 19:10, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9, John 10:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jesus’ Final Instructions, Part 1

Contributed by Craig Condon on Sep 15, 2015

Jesus went to heaven to prepare a place for us to go to when we go to our heavenly home. Going home fulfills the longing we have for God. Only God can fulfill the emptiness of our souls.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-14

Denomination: Anglican

Part 2: Having Hope Series

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Jul 15, 2016

Instead of collapsing in terror of our circumstances, like Daniel, Christ’s ambassadors need to stand firm on the cross and empty tomb as being evidence that not even the gates of hell can stop God and His plans!

THRIVING IN BABYLON Part 2: HAVING HOPE Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 Source: “Thriving in Babylon: Why Hope, Humility, and Wisdom Matter in a godless Culture” by Larry Osborne While we usually think of the lion’s den or prophecy when we hear ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:8

Denomination: Baptist

What To Expect Leading Up To Jesus' Return?

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Oct 12, 2020

Who is winning? Churches stand empty or partially filled as compared to last year. How does Jesus expect us to make it through? "Look around and listen!" told his disciples and tells us.

As Jesus and his disciples were walking through the busy city of Jerusalem, the disciples began to comment how impressive this place was. No matter how many times they had been there before, they couldn’t help but be amazed by the great structures that surrounded them: Herod’s palace, the mighty ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Don't You Get Weary, Children Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 5, 2002

There are many thankless tasks we have to perform, of which, to some, church participation may be one. But God teaches us that if we do something out of love, it is not burdensome, and the Cross and Empty Tomb teach us that it is not futile.

There sure are a lot of thankless tasks to be done. There certainly are a great many things that are immensely frustrating, because they just won’t stay done. Do you know what I mean? The kinds of jobs that you do and almost immediately you have to do them again? These are thankless ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-5, 1 John 5:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

When The Glory Returns

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on May 25, 2025

When the glory of God departs, emptiness, defeat, and shame follow. But when His glory returns, joy, revival, restoration, and victory are inevitable. The return of the glory is not a casual occurrence; it is birthed through hunger, repentance, and divine order.

WHEN THE GLORY RETURNS By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Samuel 4:21-5:1 Supporting Texts: Ezekiel 10:18-19, Haggai 2:9, 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, Psalm 85:6-9, John 1:14 INTRODUCTION: The glory of God is the tangible manifestation of His presence, power, and majesty. In 1 Samuel 4:21, Ichabod ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Fools Rush In Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 22, 2006

This is about John beating Peter in a footrace to the empty tomb, but Peter going in first. t’s about Peter’s courage, and how we need to live courageous lives, following God’s plans for us.

John 20:1-9 – Fools Rush In Today, as we are continuing our series called He is Risen Indeed, where we have been studying Jesus’ resurrection and what it means to us, we turn our attention to the men of the story. We have studied Jesus’ female disciples, but now we look for inspiration from ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Breakthrough For Joy

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 2, 2010

Every now and then something happens, after a long struggle, to give us a breakthrough. So with God in Christ, planning from the foundation of time for the cross and achieving a breakthrough victory at the empty tomb. So count nothing impossible.

Every now and again, in human history, we achieve a breakthrough. Something which we have worked for, hoped for, fought and died for, finally happens. There has been struggle and agony and seemingly endless defeat, but suddenly it all works out. That’s called a breakthrough. You know the feeling. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Radical Prayer Series

Contributed by Paul Green on Jul 13, 2009

Many prayers of God’s people are weak, empty, passion-less, and vision-less. If we are going to see God move, if we are going to see God at work, if we are going to see situations turned around and lives dramatically changed by the mighty hand of God the

Walnut Prayers There was once a man who was very faithful in his prayer life. Every morning when he got up he would kneel by his bed and he would pray, ‘God bless me, God bless my family, God bless this day’. And before every meal he would say a prayer ‘God bless this food’. And every night ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:21-32

Denomination: Baptist

From Egypt To Heaven - Part Ii Series

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Apr 6, 2001

A study of the exodus

THE FIRST NINE PLAGUES At the end of Exodus chapter 2 we’re told: “Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out, and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God. So God ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox

Lesson 52: Gourmet Preaching Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 14, 2018

Preaching lessons from the best sermon ever given, the Sermon on the Mount.

Lesson Goal In this lesson I hope to teach some features of a rich sermon gleaned from the greatest sermon of all time, the Sermon on the Mount for a sermon filled with splendid content. Lesson Intro Have you ever sat through one of those sermons where you wished you could remember every line, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist