Sermons on Empty Ritual:

Easter 2025

Contributed by Michael Nesmith on Apr 21, 2025

Once again here we are gathered on this glorious Easter morning to celebrate. But this is not just a meal of remembrance and celebration of a one-time event as is the Passover of old.

This morning. We come together to celebrate Easter. We believe in and celebrate the empty tomb – the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. However, His resurrection, this most wonderous of all miracles, and all these worship services would mean nothing for us without the reason of the resurrection. ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-9

Denomination: Catholic

Stump

Contributed by Roy Fowler on May 29, 2021

Isaiah has been purified and set on a course by God. He finds out there will be a stump, small amount of people, that will carry the message forward.

Sermon Title: Stump. Scripture Text: Isaiah 6:1-8; 9-13 Isaiah6:1-8 NLT Isaiah’s Cleansing and Call *This was written 740 years before Christ. 6:1Itwas in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8, Isaiah 6:9-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Empowered Lives Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Apr 9, 2007

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest watershed event in human history. Our world will never be the same, and living in the reality of the resurrection our lives will never be the same either.

John 20:1-8 “Great Expectations” INTRODUCTION What do you do with an empty tomb? John is very brief in his description of the events of Easter morning. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found it empty. She ran to Peter and the beloved disciple to tell them that someone had stolen Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

The Heart Matters Most - Lessons From Matthew 15 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jun 12, 2025

GOD cares more about the condition of your heart than the traditions you keep. GOD desires genuine inner purity and authentic faith, not religious performance. True righteousness comes from a transformed heart, not outward tradition.

2025.06.15.Sermon Notes. The Heart Matters Most – Lessons from Matthew 15 When Religion Misses the Point William Akehurst, HSWC Reminder: It’s Father’s Day Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalms 51:10, Psalms 139:23-24 INTRODUCTION: JESUS confronts the religious leaders for honoring ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalm 51:10, Psalm 139:23-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seeing Jesus Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Jul 23, 2007

The story of Mary Magdalene at the tomb of Jesus teaches us many things about when and how Jesus reveals himself to us.

John 20:1-2, 11-18 “Seeing Jesus” INTRODUCTION For several Sundays, we have been walking with Jesus as he has sent his face toward Jerusalem traveled toward the cross. Our time with Jesus has been a time of learning. While Jesus has not instructed us in things that our society considers ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Autarkia: Our Full Sufficiency In Christ

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Jun 5, 2007

This is a sermon starter for Preaching out of the second chapter of Colossians showing our all sufficiency in Christ. Autarkia is the Greek word used in the text for "all sufficiency".

“Autarkia” (Greek) “Fully Sufficient” Colossians 2:10-23 “In Him you have been made complete” There are certain things that tend to clutter up the simplicity we have when we are complete in Christ. II Cor 11:3 spoke about those who are deceived, having been led astray from the simplicity and ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:10-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The New And Living Way

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Mar 13, 2009

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, MUST BE OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY IN LIFE.

IN THE BOOK, THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED BY M. SCOTT PECK, THERE IS A WONDERFUL DEFINITION OF LOVE. PECK DEFINED LOVE IN THIS BOOK AS "THE WILL TO EXTEND ONESELF FOR THE PURPOSE OF NURTURING ONE’S OWN AND ANOTHER’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH." IF THERE HAS BEEN ANYONE IN HUMAN HISTORY WHO HAS DONE JUST THAT, IT ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-25

Denomination: Free Methodist

Finding God In Us

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Dec 4, 2020

The Second Sunday of Advent.

Finding God in Us Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-5, Isaiah 40:9-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15, Mark 1:1-8. Reflection Dear sisters and brothers, Let us begin our reflection listening to the Gospel according to Mark (Mark1:1-18): “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. As ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8, Isaiah 40:1-5, Isaiah 40:9-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15

Denomination: Other

Torn By Unseen Hands Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Feb 28, 2018

At the moment Jesus died the curtain in the temple was torn in two - God has left the building.

Message Matthew 27:51 Torn By Unseen Hands There is something about curtains that just makes us want to know what is behind them, isn’t there. Curtains have the ability to make us very curious. Example: Visit to a Heritage Home and they always seem to have one or two areas sectioned off. So ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:51, Leviticus 16:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Identification Of Worship Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Oct 27, 2019

As Jesus talked with the woman at the well, He revealed much regarding worship. Through their conversation we discover there are two distinct types of worship - Religious worship and Righteous worship. All worship will fall into one of these categories.

The Identification of Worship John 4: 19-24 This is a portion of a very familiar passage of Scripture. I’m sure that most of us have heard the account of the woman at the well many times. She was a woman who was shunned and rejected by those who knew her. She was an outcast of society due to the ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

An Intelligence Briefing On The Invisible War

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jan 6, 2021

The army of God and the malevolent demons of Satan have been at war since the start of history. We are on one side or the other with no neutrality. Your eternity rests on whose side you choose when the LORD declares victory at the end of the age.

Nearly a century ago there lived a minister by the name of Donald Grey Barnhouse, who served as pastor of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1927 until his death in 1960. He led the church through the time when the mainline Presbyterians began to drift away from ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:15, Hebrews 10:25, Revelation 19:11-21, John 16:33, 1 Corinthians 15:24, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 1 John 5:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

We Serve The Same Purpose Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Oct 3, 2014

With Jesus as our leader or 'coach' all believers are called to the SAME team to follow Him. He leads us, but to what? What is the purpose of following Christ? Paul makes that known here in Col 2 and this morning we will see what he means...

Sermon Brief Date Written: Sept 25, 2014 Date Preached: Sept 28, 2014 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: We Serve the SAME God Sermon Title: We Serve the SAME Purpose! Sermon Text: Colossians 2:1-23 [ESV] Introduction: Over the past few weeks we have learned that ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Loving Truth

Contributed by James Groce on May 4, 2003

Pontius Pilate even attempted to engage Jesus Christ in a philosophical discussion of the nature of truth when he asked “What is truth?”

******************* Loving truth 2 Thess. 2:10b “…because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” It is sobering to realize that this statement implies that we don’t naturally love the truth. Nor, for that matter, can we be saved without loving the truth. Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:10

Denomination: Pentecostal

"What Church Is Best" Series

Contributed by Brad Henry on Aug 6, 2014

Too many denominations can water down the Gospel

The Ultimate Decision August 6, 2014 I wonder what God would think of all the denominations today? The true church started at the cross and ended at the empty tomb. That is it. We are all born dead in our sins and God knew we needed a Savior. He then sent His son from heaven to be born a Virgin ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

The Week That Changed The World: The Day Jesus Saw The Downfall Of Apostate Religion Series

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jul 15, 2021

Jesus finished His final day of public ministry. He taught the crowds in the Temple, confronted difficult questions, and then left for good. The Temple and its religious system was corrupt, useless, and irredeemable, and would be judged by God.

Mark 12:28-44 gives us details about the final day of Jesus' public ministry and HIs departure from the Temple. He will go to the Mount of Olives and present to His astonished disciples the reality of what is to come in the future, and it does not involve a new Israel free from Rome, nor the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-46, Mark 12:28-44, Luke 10:25-28, Luke 20:41-47, Luke 21:1-4, Matthew 23:1-7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist