Sermons on pagan ritual: showing 1-15 of 19,792

Rituals

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Nov 19, 2004

A religious person usually feels that he has a special standing before God, not only because of his intellectual assent to certain beliefs, but also because he keeps the ordinances, the rites, and the rituals of that religion. Paul shows in this passage t

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: A railroad yardmaster called the telephone daily at exactly 11:45 to verify the time. After years of this ritual, the operator asked the yardmaster, "Why do you call each day at exactly the same time?" His reply, "I take my responsibilities very seriously, I call to be ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:25-29

Denomination: Baptist

Why A Christian Should Not Celebrate Halloween

Contributed by Ronnie Thrower on Oct 25, 2001

Halloween is an annual celebration, but just what is it actually a celebration of? And how did this peculiar custom originate? Is it, as some claim, a kind of demon worship? Or is it just a harmless vestige of some ancient pagan ritual?

WHY A CHRISTIAN SHOULD NOT CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN Halloween is an annual celebration, but just what is it actually a celebration of? And how did this peculiar custom originate? Is it, as some claim, a kind of demon worship? Or is it just a harmless vestige of some ancient pagan ritual? In North ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12

Denomination: Baptist

Ritual Or Relationship? Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Jan 26, 2015

Ritual that rejects relationship is pointless; Ritual that reflects relationship is priceless

The wedding ring that I’m wearing this morning is not the same one that Mary placed on my finger on our wedding day. Fairly early in our marriage we went to San Diego on our vacation and I managed to lose my wedding ring while swimming in the ocean. That ring was an important symbol of the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:25-29

Denomination: Baptist

Grace And Rituals Series

Contributed by Martin Wiles on Mar 31, 2011

While our rituals and ceremonies testify of our faith, they are not the source of our faith.

Grace And Rituals Romans 4:1-11 I. Abraham’s Faith (vv. 1-3) A. Paul’s continual discussion that salvation is by neither works nor heritage or through the Law. 1. It may appear Paul belabors this point, but establishing a proper foundation for how salvation is attained is just as ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Is Christmas Pagan?

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 21, 2017

Is Christmas pagan? Is it okay for Christians to observe? Is Christmas even in the Bible?

Prelude Is Christmas pagan? Is it okay for Christians to observe? Is Christmas even in the Bible? Purpose: Let’s examine the worth of Christmas and why it’s a perfectly fine Christian celebration. Plan: Let’s ask some questions that are controversial in some churches and look at the story of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-40

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Paganism & The Occult

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 18, 2006

This was the introduction of a presentation to a High School youth Rally at our church. I followed this up with material from a book written by Erwin Lutzer and John DeVries on Satan’s Evangelistic Strategy for this New Age which teaches about "the lie"

Youth Rally Presentation on Paganism and The Occult Ed Skidmore, April 17, 2004 Intro: Today the hot new attraction in the religious world among many young people is the cluster of religions often called Paganism or Neo-paganism. Inspired by interest in things “Gothic”, certain rock music, the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:4-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Need For Rituals Series

Contributed by Darrin Koone on Sep 20, 2001

A sermon discussing the need for ritual in raising our children in a post-modern society.

Last week I spoke to you about the need to throw traditions by the way side if the principles of the gospel or models of the New Testament dictate the need to do so. I’m changing my mind about that this week. Well, not really, but I am going to try to provide the balance to that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:39-52

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Relationship Not Ritual PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2023

Explore the supremacy of Christ over rituals and regulations, emphasizing the importance of a genuine relationship with God rather than adherence to human commands and teachings.

Good morning, family! Today, we’re going to be diving into the book of Colossians, specifically chapter 2, verses 16-23. We'll be exploring three important themes: the supremacy of Christ, the futility of rituals, and the power of relationship. A.W. Tozer once said, "The most important thing about ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:16-23

Topics: Christ, Rituals

Awakened By A Pagan Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 9, 2021

All it takes for many pagans to become children of God is a faithful prophet who will awake at their rebuke; pray for their preservation, and begin to proclaim the person of Christ.

Jonah and Paul were alike in that they were both commissioned by God as missionaries to the Gentiles, and both were alike in their desire to go to Spain. Both of them had the experience of being on a storm tossed ship with pagans. These superficial similarities, however, become material for a ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:4-6

Pagan Piety Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 9, 2021

We see here an example of how God can use evil to bring forth good. Jonah disobeyed and did the opposite of God's will, and yet there was no loss, for by his act of evil he was led providentially to bring the knowledge of the true God to these men.

Total depravity is not the concept that man is as bad as he can be, for we all know that there are many degrees of evil among the lost, and this holds true even among the saved. Some redeemed people are less sinful than others, and some lost people are less sinful than others. Total depravity, ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:13-17

Halloween: Is Evil A Red Herring?

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 19, 2021

The roots of Halloween have to do with pagan rituals but today, it’s more a night to celebrate. Not everything connected with the modern celebration is all fun and games. Any believer who is sensitive to the Holy Spirit will pull back on a number of elements associated with this celebration.

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend a projected $8.8 billion dollars on the holiday called Halloween in 2019. Almost 30 million will dress up and the average person will spend over $86 to celebrate. In fact, I have a neighbor who decorates more for Halloween than any ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Footwashing - Example Or Ritual?

Contributed by Frank Gallagher on Nov 29, 2000

Footwashing was an EXAMPLE for believers to follow, not a ritual to observe like the Lord’s Table!

FOOT WASHING - EXAMPLE OR RITUAL? (John 13:3-17) [HTTP formatted version of this sermon is located at http://members.aol.com/abidingitw/footwash.html] The Bible does NOT command New Testament believers to observe foot washing as a Church ritual. 1. The washing of the apostles’ feet by ...read more

Scripture: John 13:3-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Relationship, Ritual Or Both?

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Feb 10, 2016

Lent is coming! Lent is coming! Why do we have Lent? Why do some observe this ritual while others do not? How do we discern which rituals are beneficial and which are harmful to our walk with the Lord? To Lent or not to Lent, that is the question!

Please stand with me as we read our recent memory Scripture together! John 1:1-4 NIV “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23

Denomination: Nazarene

Legitimate Use Of Rituals Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 29, 2024

For a person to be declared righteous by God, rituals/sacraments are unnecessary. Justification is by faith alone. So, what is the value of rituals like water baptism and the Lord's Supper? Using Romans 4:11, this message seeks to answer that question.

Intro Last week we expounded Romans 4:9-12. There Paul used Abraham’s experience to prove circumcision is not a prerequisite for justification. In that study, we did not have time to talk about why God gave Abraham the rite of circumcision. If it is of no value for justification, then what is its ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-25, Genesis 17:1-14, Genesis 9:12, Exodus 12:13, Jeremiah 31:31-33, Colossians 2:1-13, 1 Corinthians 9:2, Deuteronomy 30:1-6, Acts 2:38  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

More Than A Ritual Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

Most of us can’t change ourselves. But God can change us, if we mean it.

On the night before he was betrayed, Jesus washed his disciples feet. This was a menial task, a task performed only by the very lowest house slave. And his disciples were shocked. They weren’t objecting to having their feet washed - far from it. It was the sort of courtesy a good host would make ...read more

Scripture: James 4:5-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed