Sermons on Empty Ritual:

Laodicea: Knock, Knock! Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Feb 14, 2021

Becoming a tepid or lukewarm church doesn’t take any effort at all … none. All we have to do is sit in the pews, sing the same old hymns, hear the same old sermons over and over again, and eventually you’ll end up with a tepid church full of lukewarm Christians.

The sun showed them no mercy. Directly overhead, it blazed and beat down on them. They were tired and hungry and very thirsty, so the sight of a well … even a Samaritan well … was a more-than-welcome sight. Jesus and the Disciples didn’t have a jar or a bucket with them, so they had no way to ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22, Isaiah 55:1-2

Denomination: United Methodist

Death In The Pot

Contributed by Norman Lawrence on Aug 23, 2002

Man today is trying to give humanistic answers to spiritual problems to solve the emptiness of the soul, but it cannot be done.... The answer may often sound right, look right, and even be politically correct, but we realize that apart from Jesus Chris

"Death In The Pot" 2 Kings 4:38-41 Someone has observed that we live in a “cut-flower civilization” today. We speak of justice, morals, peace, and ethics, but do not establish a rooted foundation in God. Therefore there is little left to sustain a purposeful life. Things can look good on the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:38-41, Proverbs 16:25

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Grain Of Wheat Is Much Bigger Than A Grain Series

Contributed by Paul Kallan on Apr 4, 2003

What Jesus teaches his disciples is not an empty phrase or a useless theory, but a reality that is proved by personal experiences of himself and of many of his followers and even by the findings of modern psychology: "He who loves his life loses it, and h

A river wanted to flow to the sea through a desert. But it got afraid when it saw the immense dry sand. It complained: "The desert will drink my water, the hot breath of the sun will destroy me and I will be reduced to merely a stinking swamp". Then it heard a voice:"Trust the desert!" But the ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-33, Jeremiah 31:31-34

Denomination: Catholic

Never Again Without The Presence Of Jesus

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

A simple Easter sermon used in at sunrise. What must it have been like between Jesus’ death and resurrection? To be without the presence of Jesus must have been utter emptiness. To be with him again must have been utter joy.

Never again without the presence of Jesus Purpose: To reflect on Jesus’ presence and challenge the people to be the presence of Jesus to a world that needs Him. 1. Read John 20:1-21 2. Do you ever wonder what it would have been like to actually be in the presence of Jesus? What would it have felt ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-21

Denomination: Nazarene

How Hospitable Are We?

Contributed by Gilbert Varela on Nov 9, 2007

How do you feel when someone welcomes you, specially if that is the first time you are there? There is nothing that the sad, frustrated, lonely, pathetic, empty soul does not like more than a friendly and smiling face saying “welcome”.

How Hospitable are We? Genesis 18:1-8 NT: Hebrews 13: 2 1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Transforming Apathy To Revival

Contributed by Randy Bataanon on Oct 17, 2010

A young lady is uncomfortable about her spiritual life. She believes in God, belong to Christian church, attends church’s weekly service, gives offering and yet she still feel emptiness and confusion. She may not be alone...

TRANSFORMING APATHY TO REVIVAL Acts 20:7-12 A young lady is uncomfortable about her spiritual life. She believes in God, belong to Christian church, attends church’s weekly service, gives offering and yet she still feels emptiness and confusion. • She sat on the church’s pew until the preacher ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:7-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hollow Hosannas

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Mar 27, 2010

Hosanna! For some these shouts of praise were true expressions of worship; for others they were hollow hosannas – hollow hosannas which were empty words that outwardly appeared beautiful but lacked substance. Is the praise we offer only hollow hosannas?

Hollow Hosannas Text: Matthew 21:1-17 Introduction: On the Sunday before His crucifixion Christ entered the city of Jerusalem riding upon a donkey while a multitude of people “went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Why Believe The Good News Of Easter

Contributed by Paul Sizemore on Sep 28, 2016

Our Easter joy is not always immediate. It certainly wasn't immediate for Jesus' first disciples either. Even the empty tomb and the angel's proclamation left them bewildered. It was in remembering Jesus' own words that the Spirit brought them to faith.

“Why Believe the Good News of Easter,” Luke 24:1-12, Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016 Brothers and sisters, you probably know that this coming Friday is “April Fools’ Day;” a day that is always celebrated every year on the first day of April. It’s a day, when ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Our Enemy...death... Defeated!

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Mar 24, 2016

Easter. The Resurrection of Jesus divides the believer from the non believer. The physical resurrection of Jesus shatters the grip of the fear of death. (Heb. 2:14) One can not separate the facts of the cross from the empty tomb. "The Theography" Sweet

In Jesus Holy Name March 27, 2016 Easter Sunday Redeemer Text: Matthew 28:1,5-6 “Our Enemy – Death- Defeated” He is risen! He is risen indeed! Easter is the ultimate test of faith. The one great watershed that ultimately divides believers ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Comfort One Another With Eternal Realities

Contributed by Mike Montoya on Jul 20, 2017

Summary: There is hope in life and hope in life after death. A Christian should not be ignorant and hopeless concerning dying as a child of God. Our hope is not an empty hope, it is based upon the eternal reality of Jesus Christ being raised from the dead

Contents Introduction 2 Hope and Hopelessness 2 Ignorance and Sorrow 4 Homer and Hesiod 4 Arguments, and the Conclusion 7 Argument 1 - WE DO BELIEVE 7 Argument 2 - The Authority and the Order of the Meeting 8 Argument 3 - Revealing and the Rapture 9 The Conclusion - The rapture of the living and ...read more

Csi (Cross Scene Investigation) Week 3: Investigating The Cross Series

Contributed by Mark Canfield on Nov 10, 2006

friend’s betrayal, an illegal trial, an execution and an empty grave. What do these things have in common? Enter the world of CSI and search for the truth with the entire Cross Scene Investigation team. Delve deeply into the mysteries of four baffling cr

CSI: Cross Scene Investigation Week 3: Investigating the Cross [Before the message each week, a CSI style drama was performed to examine that weeks evidence] Last Two Weeks – Investigated the Betrayal of Judas / Learned -Betray Ourselves Investigated the Trial – Pilot’s ignored the Truth about ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18

Denomination: Christian Church

Csi (Cross Scene Investigation) Week 4 - Investigating The Resurrection

Contributed by Mark Canfield on Nov 10, 2006

A friend’s betrayal, an illegal trial, an execution and an empty grave. What do these things have in common? Enter the world of CSI and search for the truth with the entire Cross Scene Investigation team. Delve deeply into the mysteries of four baffling c

CSI: Cross Scene Investigation Week 4: Investigating the Resurrection [The message began with a CSI sytle drama that investigated the evidence of the Ressurection] For Most People in Our Culture – SEEING IS BELIEVING! [Show me the Money] BUT . . . For Eric Weihenmayer [WHY-in-Mayor] SEEING ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:17-20

Denomination: Christian Church

To Love Is God’s Commandment Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jun 28, 2015

The world’s values do not last for eternity, they are self-centered and empty. John’s cry to the believer here is asking, “Who do you live for?” Will we love and live for God or ourselves?

To Love is God’s Commandment 1 John Bible Study, Part 4 1 John 2:7-17 Introduction - Last week, John gave us tremendous insight into living fully for Christ • We have an Advocate • We must live for Him • God makes us complete - V4 is the confirmation of this ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:7-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gone Fishing

Contributed by Sean Dees on May 1, 2021

From the text I see three ways in which we may rob ourselves of the blessings of God in our life. Many of you here tonight have been toiling day after day and to a veil came up empty.

Intro: Tonight Lord willing I would like to talk to you about receiving your blessing. From the text I see three ways in which we may rob ourselves of the blessings of God in our life. Many of you here tonight have been toiling day after day and to a veil came up empty. You are ready to give it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-7

Paul's Sermon At Athens: The Unknown God Made Known

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jun 8, 2021

Paul began his Gospel message by pointing out the empty altar dedicated to the "Unknown God' whom the Greeks acknowledged and worshipped, then proceeded to tell them about the true and living God and how to know Him personally.

Paul had now established common ground with the men of Athens by referring to the empty altar dedicated to the God of whom they know nothing yet honored despite their ignorance and uncertainty. Paul did not chide them or charge them with blasphemy, nor does he rebuke them for their polytheism. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1, Exodus 20:11, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 33:6, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 48:13, Acts 4:24, Hebrews 1:10, Acts 17:24  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist