Sermons on Empty Ritual:

Blessed Are The Merciful Series

Contributed by Charles Salmon on Aug 18, 2004

A sermon on God’s mercy with main points taken from a very popular section of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice.

Blessed Are the Merciful Matt. 5:7 INTRO. This is the first of the Beatitudes that deals with the attitude of a Christian toward his fellow man. Mercy is love in action. It seeks the benefit of those who are in our power to hurt and may well deserve ill treatment. It goes beyond benevolence ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Worship That Displeases God Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 15, 2020

Israel was worshiping. They were even boasting about their worship. Yet it displeased God. What can we learn from them?

GOOD WORSHIP? Israel had lots of religious activity, but it was not pleasing to God. - Amos 4:4-5. - Religious activity is not always pleasing to God. - How can worship be bad? - It’s helpful to understand how evil works. Evil doesn’t usually come up with something altogether new. Instead, it ...read more

Scripture: Amos 4:4-5

Denomination: Baptist

Confession

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 27, 2005

In these verses we find that the people did not understand the depth of their sins. They did not turn from their idols, regret their sins or pledge to make changes (vv. l-2). It seems that they thought God’s wrath would only last for a few days. Little di

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: In the washroom of his London club, British newspaper publisher and politician William Beverbrook happened to meet Edward Heath, then a young member of Parliament, about whom Beverbrook had printed an insulting editorial a few days earlier. “My dear chap,” said the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Piggy Bank Burped

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 19, 2025

Heaven’s currency is grace. Stop feeding the piggy bank of performance — the cross has already paid every debt in full.

Part 1 – Earth’s Economy They tell me gold passed four thousand dollars an ounce last week. The financial networks lit up like Christmas trees—investors smiling, anchors breathless, everyone announcing, “Buy gold before it’s too late!” It happens every time the world feels a little shaky: we all ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-25, John 19:30, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:24-25, 2 Peter 1:18-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Be Prepared

Contributed by Christopher Raiford on Nov 17, 2002

2nd Sunday in End Time - Saints Triumphant A sermon that encourages us to be prepared for Jesus’ 2nd Coming

Matthew 25 1-13 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Why Don't You Honor Me? Series

Contributed by Charles Cockroft on Jan 24, 2008

God asked Israel a Question: … it seemed that God wasn’t pleased with either their sacrifices or service,

"WHY DON’T YOU HONOR ME?" TEXT: Malachi 1: 6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear(reverence)? Living for God can become a ritual rather than a relationship! A ritual causes a lack of genuine ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Five Keys To Living In Resurrection Power Series

Contributed by Dan Cale on Apr 10, 2004

This is the third in a series of messages looking at the days surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. This studies the resurrection as it applies to living each day.

The Passion Pt 3 Five Keys To Living In Resurrection Power Matthew 28:16-20 In the weeks leading up to Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday – I shared with you the first two installments of a series called The Passion. I want to conclude that series today. One of the main points that I wanted to get ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Denomination: *other

Stopping At The Mouth Of A Miracle

Contributed by Larry Goodwin on Feb 6, 2001

Don’t allow cicumstances to keep you at arm’s length from you miracle

There are a few points about our text that I would like to mention, while we are on our way to the message. #1, the Bible says that Mary visited the tomb early, when it was still dark. Matthew 28:1 actually says it was, "the end of the sabbath...," somewhere between 3 and 6 a.m. And whether you ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Thankful For Breaking And Mending

Contributed by Pat Cook on Dec 5, 2011

Thanksgiving message about what Jesus was thankful for at the Last Supper.

Mark 14:22-26 – Thankful for Breaking and Mending Tonight, as we sing and pray and thank God, I’d like to share with you from the life of Jesus. I think that’s always a good place to start. Tonight’s scripture passage is found 3 times in the Gospels, meaning that the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:22-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Candle That Refuses To Go Out

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Oct 28, 2025

It is not just about remembering the dead, it is about keeping love alive when everything else has gone.

Title: The Candle That Refuses to Go Out Intro: It is not just about remembering the dead, it is about keeping love alive when everything else has gone. Scripture: Luke 19:1-10 Reflection Dear Friends, My grandmother kept a small wooden box on her dresser, the kind with a brass latch that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Other

"Asking God To Continue To Be God.”

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Jan 11, 2002

Psalm Forty Year A. 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, January 20th, 2002 Title: “Asking God to continue to be God.”

Psalm Forty Year A. 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, January 20th, 2002 Title: “Asking God to continue to be God.” During the period between the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 587 BC and its reconstruction in 520-515 BC Israel realized first-hand what was a cardinal tenet of prophetic ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:1-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus The Living Water Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Nov 19, 2025

This study reveals Jesus as the Living Water who alone satisfies, sustains, and renews the human soul.

JESUS THE LIVING WATER By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: John 4:7-14 Key Verse: “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” — John 4:14 Supporting Texts: ...read more

Scripture: John 4:7-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Finding True Hope In A World Of Uncertainty SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 8, 2023

In a world where some have no hope, and others cling to false hopes, is there a True Hope we can rely on?

"No Hope; False Hope; True Hope" - Titus 2:13 Introduction: Faith and Hope are closely related but should be distinguished. Faith is active in the present, while Hope encourages and looks forward to future rewards. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God, while Hope comes from personal ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:13

Topics: Faith, Works

A Cry For Mercy

Contributed by Glenn Hamel on Nov 13, 2004

This is a message about our plea for mercy to God for the sins we have commited. Based upon David’s same cry in Psalm 51

A Cry For Mercy Psalm 51 Verse 1-2. A Cry for Mercy. Have mercy on me, O God You see David doesn’t try to plead his innocence nor shifts the blame to someone else. He knows that he does not deserve forgiveness, he pleads first for mercy, based on God’s loving-kindness. In line with this mercy, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don’t Turn Aside

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Mar 21, 2011

Be faithful to God to the end, for God will be faithful to you.

Don’t Turn Aside March 20, 2011 Evening Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: Be faithful to God to the end, for God will be faithful to you. Focus Passage: I Samuel 12:19-25 Supplemental Passage: Not that I have already obtained it or have already become ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 12:19-25

Denomination: Baptist