Sermons on Futility Of Ritual:

Off With The Old, On With The New Series

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Feb 18, 2018

God wants us to us our minds for something much, much greater than futile thinking.

February 18, 2018 Sermon “Off with the Old, On with the New” - Ephesians 4:17-24 How many of you were here last Sunday? How many of you are here today? I hope you were able to listen to Tom More’s message last week on Christian maturity. He gave an excellent overview of what maturity in Christ ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ecclesiastes: The Meaninglessness And Mundanity Of Life PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Feb 15, 2024

Explores the futility of seeking fulfillment in worldly pursuits, emphasizing the importance of finding significance and happiness in God alone.

Dear brothers and sisters, I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A warm welcome to each of you, whether you are a familiar face or a new friend. We gather here not as strangers, but as a family united in Christ. We are bound together by the love of God, a love that transcends ...read more

Topics: Human Effort, God

The Difference Baptism Makes Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Jun 29, 2011

Baptism was never meant to be an empty ritual. It has implications for our everyday lives

Romans 6:12-23 “The Difference Baptism Makes” INTRODUCTION In 1517 Martin Luther had a problem. A monk by the name of Tetzel was selling indulgences. An indulgence is a certificate guaranteeing the forgiveness of all sins—for a small price. Not only did Luther have a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:12-23

Denomination: Lutheran

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jan 7, 2017

Worship is about who, not what. It is about giving, not getting. It is about encounter, not ritual.

Listen to what the Scriptures say. Wise men from the East came seeking for Jesus. • Through the study of the stars and the revelation of the Holy Spirit, they were enlightened to know that the Messiah, King of the Jews was born, in Israel. • They came seeking and inquiring, and was told to go to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

This Is Love

Contributed by Larry Grant on Feb 9, 2025

“The defining act of love is revealed solely in the rituals of sacrifice.” by C. Kimble

1 John 4:8-11 THIS IS LOVE February 9, 2025 The Apostle John tells us about a great God with a great love for the world. Let us begin with 1 John this great letter of love. Love is mentioned 46 times in 105 verses. Pastor Crawford Kimble wrote in his book called “Adventures in Love” that, “The ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Call To Live For God

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on May 10, 2025

Living for God is not merely a religious ritual—it is a lifestyle of surrender, obedience, and transformation.

A CALL TO LIVE FOR GOD By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Romans 12:1-2 – "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

An Encounter With The Risen Lord

Contributed by Stephan Brown on Oct 3, 2002

Demonstrates how religious ritual, even good religious ritual cannot bring the spiritual satisfaction that we crave. Only an intimate encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ can bring what our souls desire.

An Encounter with the Risen Lord Christianity and the Bible make a lot of promises. When we tell people about Christ we promise them fulfillment: peace, and joy, and happiness. We promise them that Christianity is a relationship with Christ that will bring meaning to their life. And we offer all ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-8, Luke 24:13-33

Denomination: Assembly Of God

An Encounter With The Risen Lord

Contributed by Stephan Brown on Oct 3, 2002

Demonstrates how religious ritual, even good religious ritual cannot bring the spiritual satisfaction that we crave. Only an intimate encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ can bring what our souls desire.

An Encounter with the Risen Lord Christianity and the Bible make a lot of promises. When we tell people about Christ we promise them fulfillment: peace, and joy, and happiness. We promise them that Christianity is a relationship with Christ that will bring meaning to their life. And we offer all ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-8, Luke 24:13-33

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Life Under The Sun V. Life Under The Son

Contributed by James Vilgos on Dec 17, 2004

In Ecclesiates Solomon writes of the futility of life under the sun. Contrast this with life under the Son, Jesus, God the Son

Life “Under the Sun” v. “Life Under the Son” Chaplain James Vilgos Scripture Reading Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 Life “under the s-u-n” v. life “under the S-o-n” When I was young a song titled Richard Cory was popular it was based on a poem of the same title, the lyrics state in part: They say that ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Orthodox

The Secret To Church Growth - The Bible Is All About Jesus - Not Us!

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on May 22, 2018

When a person preaches from the Bible, with their audience as the primary focus, it becomes an empty narcissistic and hedonistic exercise in futility.

I have watched, listened to, and read countless sermons in my 50+ years as a Born-Again Christian and I have noticed the continued increase in feel-good, self-help, multi-point motivational messages that are more focused upon fallen human beings than upon Jesus, who has become more of a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15, John 5:39-40, Luke 24:27, 1 Corinthians 11:2, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Jeremiah 17:9, John 1:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus In The Midst: The Upper Room.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 10, 2021

Trying to understand Jesus without the Scriptures is futile, and comprehending Scripture without Jesus opening our understanding is impossible

JESUS IN THE MIDST: THE UPPER ROOM. Luke 24:36-48. What a scene met the two from the Emmaus Road upon their return to Jerusalem! The dejected church was now declaring its Easter message: “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon.” To which they added their own testimony of the risen ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:36-48

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Turn PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Jan 13, 2024

This sermon explores God's relentless pursuit of us, the futility of idols, and the promise of redemption, using Jonah's story as a guide.

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I am overjoyed to stand before you today, within the warm embrace of our shared faith, to share a message from the heart of God's Word. It's a message that I believe is as timely as the morning sunrise, and as enduring as the steadfast ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:8-9

Topics: God's Pursuit, Running Away

Know Your Profits And Losses Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jul 23, 2015

We either believe that Jesus Christ alone is sufficient for a life of faith or He is not.

“Living a Joy-Full Life: Know Your Profits and Losses” Phil. 3:1-11 I recall a conversation that took place during a Consistory meeting of another church I served. It was about requirements for who should serve on Consistory. Some wanted to add guidelines to what the Scriptures have ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Sin Is A Heart Problem! Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Aug 3, 2014

How God tells you to live is infinitely more important than how others think you should live! This is what Pharisees couldn't grasp. The challenge for us also is: Do not get a big head about it and become arrogant and/or unteachable.

Sin … It’s a Heart Problem! Mark 7:8-23, 1 John 1:8-10 Introduction - Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant” -- Key verse: Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:8-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

New Wine With Jesus

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 15, 2013

The passing of old things, and the ushering in of new.

NEW WINE WITH JESUS. John 2:1-11. The Gospel of John provides us with an unashamedly theological overview of the person of Christ. We are introduced to our Lord under the Genesis motif “in the beginning” (John 1:1), and as the Word made flesh (John 1:14). Throughout the book, John’s preferred ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational