Sermons on Futility Of Ritual:

Why Should We Hope In God?

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Have you ever wondered why it is so important to hope in God? Many people place their hope in parents when they are young, in their peers when they are teenagers and in their careers as they mature. Most people learn too late about the futility of placing

1. Have you ever wondered why it is so important to hope in God? Many people place their hope in parents when they are young, in their peers when they are teenagers and in their careers as they mature. Most people learn too late about the futility of placing their hope in anyone but Jesus Christ. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:4-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

End Time Scoffers

Contributed by Glen Spencer on Nov 19, 2023

In chapter two, Peter spelled out the character of false teachers and the futility of their teaching. Now in chapter three Peter deals with the second coming of Jesus Christ and the end of the world. He starts off by warning us of the end-time scoffers.

THE SAINTS REALITY Regardless of whether we like it or not, the reality is that there’s a lot of false teaching out there today. These false teachers refuse to heed the word of God, repent and trust Christ. Peter describes these false teachers and their followers as last days scoffers ... (2 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Fire Of Glory, Fire Of Drought

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 8, 2003

We have experienced the warm glow of God’s blessings, but the fire of judgment is also at hand, for worship becomes ritual, there is a critical spirit, and pessimism spreads. Diligence and integrity bring vitality in worship.

In all the annals of human history, there is one item which has held out more hope and yet offered more terror than any other. Wherever human beings gathered, in the infancy of our race, there this one item, this one element, both attracted them and repelled them; it drew them close and yet it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Living Water Series

Contributed by Richard White on Jan 30, 2010

Many go through life spiritually dehydrated. Rituals, creeds and the like do not fill us. Only Jesus can give us this fulfillment when we learn to worship in Spirit and in Truth.

Living Water John 4:4-26 Recently one of the major denominations met in Columbus to debate, of all things, whether or not Jesus Christ is the one true Savior of the world. Is he the universal Savior or might there be several? What about the other world religions and their claims? Some people ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Appeal Of Love Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jul 30, 2009

There are many church, synagogue & mosque members today devoted to rituals & rule-keeping. They are living in religious bondage. They need to hear that spiritual freedom is possible only through the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

GALATIANS 4:8-20 AN APPEAL OF LOVE The conclusion reached in verse 7 is that those who have received the Spirit are now sons and heirs of God. Paul now tells the Galatians they are not acting like heirs of God! So he asks them if they prefer slavery or freedom, legalism or the Spirit? Did ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

Pass The Peas

Contributed by Bishop Johnathan Hester on Aug 5, 2009

When you have finished one year and begin a new one, what can you do for good luck in the year to come? Our society has a variety of good luck rituals.

Pass The Peas Psalm 65:1-4 SCRIPTURE: " Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 65:1-4

Denomination: Apostolic

Tribute To Caesar Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 26, 2018

The Pharisees were a religious and political party in New Testament times. They were known for insisting that the law of God be observed, as the scribes interpreted it, and for their special commitment to keeping the laws of tithing and ritual purity.

May 14, 2007 -Tuesday- Jerusalem Tribute to Caesar Matthew 22:15-22 (focal passage); Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26 15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22, Mark 12:13-17, Luke 20:20-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Prayer Of Sorrow Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 5, 2006

Why would Jesus pray to have the "cup" taken away, if He knew that wasn’t going to happen? Was His prayer simply an excercise in futility, or was there something more to it? I learned some surprising truths as I prepared this sermon.

OPEN: A minister noticed a young boy kneeling off to the side of the room after youth group and praying very fervently. As the preacher came within earshot of the boy, he was surprised to hear the boy saying: "Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo." After the boy finished his praying the preacher approached him ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:39-46

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Helpful Routines For A New Year

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Jan 6, 2007

Jesus and his family went to the Passover Feast according to custom. It was a helpful routine and not an empty ritual for them. This talk offers four helpful routines for the Church: Praying, Eating, Worshipping and Serving Together (PEWS).

Luke 2: 41-52 Midnight mass – Church on Christmas Day – Presents all opened before 6am – No presents until after Christmas lunch – Turkey with all the trimmings – A family walk in the afternoon – A football match on Boxing Day – Turkey sandwiches for a week – New Year resolutions – A special diet ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:42-52

Denomination: Anglican

The Table Of The Lord

Contributed by Andrew Drummond on Feb 3, 2007

The threat of religious ritual is ever looming for church goers. There are many things that we have done hundreds of times, but we must always take the time to remember their significance, as it is with Communion. Lest we forget...

A little girl asked her mother one Sunday morning as she was preparing lunch, “Mommy, why do you cut off the ends of the ham before you cook it?” The girl’s mother turned and looked at her and said, “Oh, sweetie, I’m not really sure why, but I suppose you cut the ends off of the meat so that the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

Child Dedication

Contributed by Joel Bernardino on Nov 19, 2025

A Child Dedication is not a ritual, not a tradition, not a way to save a child. It is a public act of faith—where parents, secondary parents, family, and church stand together before God and say: “Lord, this child belongs to You.

CHILD DEDICATION Pastor Joel Bernardino – November 20, 2025 Today is a joyful and sacred moment. A Child Dedication is not a ritual, not a tradition, not a way to save a child. It is a public act of faith—where parents, secondary parents, family, and church stand together before God and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 33:5, Genesis 48:9, Psalm 127:4-5

Leave The Old Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 6, 2020

The worldly life is 1) Intellectually futile (Ephesians 4:17), 2) Ignorant of God’s truth (Ephesians 4:18), 3) Spiritually and morally callused (Ephesians 4:19a), and 4) Depraved in mind (Ephesians 4:19b).

Ephesians 4:17-19 [17] Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. [18] They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-19

Denomination: Other

I Am The Light Series

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Jul 7, 2024

Our words and deeds should not mimic the world’s futile search for significance but should instead reflect a passion for God so strong and divinely initiated that our good deeds point to the sinless One who holds the keys to both death and life.

The Light of the World John 8:12; Matthew 5:14-16 Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 How can one cast a shadow of significance upon a world that is filled with constant change, ever evolving thought processes and constant innovation? In a world of quantum computers that ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12, Matthew 5:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

Ransomed By The Blood Series

Contributed by Steven Buhr on Aug 31, 2023

We were ransomed – that means a price was paid for us. It means we WERE held hostage. Held by the futile ways of our sinful lives. Sin had a grip on us, it took us away from the paradise God originally intended for us

Ransomed by the Blood Father’s Day 2023 A study through Peter June 18th 2023 It’s Father’s Day. For many, it’s a day to celebrate Dad. Whether it’s young kids making him breakfast, or older children taking him out for lunch, dinner, dessert, barbecue, burger-joint, or wherever he may ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon. Choosing The Right Path

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Sep 4, 2025

Psalm 1 also call on all of us to make a decision and then summarizes the contrast between the righteous and the wicked by describing the blessed life of the righteous as a thriving tree nourished by God's word, and the futile life of the wicked as chaff blown away by the wind

Sermon. Choosing the Right Path Scripture Text: Psalms 1:1-6 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6, Jeremiah 6:16, Genesis 41:52

Denomination: Methodist