Sermons on Pagan Ritual:

Are You Living By Rules Or A Relationship? Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Oct 9, 2006

Are you still trying to obey rules and observe rituals to earn God’s favor?

INTRODUCTION During this Grace-Robbers series we have noted there are many people who are still trying to live under law instead of grace. Rules and laws can often be ridiculous, and even funny. Here is a list of ten actual laws from different states. 1. In Alabama it is illegal for a driver to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:20-23

Denomination: Baptist

Diagnoses And Cure Series

Contributed by Chris Surber on Apr 26, 2011

Sin is our condition, the Cross is the cure.

Introduction The best carpenter in the county was asked, "Which is your best tool?" Instead of pointing to a costly power saw or drill, he picked up a simple square and said, "This is the best tool; it makes all the others work." Let us not overlook our best tool; the simple gospel (Rom. 1:16). In ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:8-17

Denomination: Christian Church

To Rescue And Redeem December 3, 2023 Advent

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Dec 1, 2023

In today's text, we see God’s chosen people and their hunger for salvation and how God is always in the picture. .

TO RESCUE AND REDEEM December 3, 2023 Text: Isaiah 64:1 - 9 Isaiah 64:1-9  Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!  (2)  As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9

Denomination: United Methodist

Lesson 14: To Walk Properly Toward Those Who Are Outside Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Oct 15, 2018

Paul said that those who are appointed to an office in the church should “have a good report of them which are without” - that is, we who are believers and name the name of Jesus should live a life above reproach.

9/1/18 Tom Lowe Lesson 14: To Walk Properly Toward those who are Outside (1 Thessalonians 4:12) Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:12 (NIV) “so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” Introduction: In 1 Timothy 3:7 Paul said that those ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:12

Denomination: Baptist

How Do We Know What To Do?

Contributed by Kenneth Anthony on Feb 11, 2007

Sermon gives basic guidelines for making decisions.

Knowing What to Do It’s been said that although some things are permissible, not all things are profitable. Each day we are confronted with countless choices and make decisions that collectively determine the course for our lives. Sometimes our decisions result in unintended consequences. ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox

Riding The Fence Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Nov 1, 2011

More times than we would probably like to admit, we slip into legalism. It can happen when God takes too long to answer a prayer, or answers in a way we don't expect. We take over the reigns, and it's a mistake!

To continue Paul’s arguments against legalism he turns again to a story in the Old Testament. This time it is the children that God promised to Abram. The issue is whether you let God fulfill His promise of righteousness in you, or whether you want to take the controls and do it yourself. ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Secret Things And The Revealed Things

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Dec 12, 2018

A sermon for a NEW YEAR, based on a striking text from Dt. 29:29. As we enter a new year, we cannot know the SECRET (unknown) THINGS that the year will bring, but God has REVEALED to us his commandments, his priorities, and how to enter into a relationship with him through Jesus Christ.

THE SECRET THINGS AND THE REVEALED THINGS—Dt. 29:29 If you could know the future, would you do things differently? ***I was playing basketball with my brother, and I noticed an older guy who seemed to play every day. I asked my brother what he did for a living, and my brother informed me that ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 29:29, Deuteronomy 30:11-16, Romans 6:10-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A New Home: Luke 8:26-39

Contributed by Christopher Metze on Sep 16, 2025

God calls us not to flee the people and places that have seen our worst, but to return and bear witness to His transforming power—so that those who once knew our “demons” can see the change for themselves and, through our testimony, become part of a community renewed by God.

Jesus and the disciples are rowing their boat toward the shore—toward a region called the Gerasenes. It’s Gentile territory—so it’s a place they’ve likely never been before and one they may already feel uneasy about. To the Jews, Gentile lands were unclean and unholy—filled with pagan practices ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:26-39

Denomination: Lutheran

Known By God Series

Contributed by Chris Surber on Dec 20, 2011

Man's religion is at war with God's revelation.

Introduction A number of years ago I had an experience while working on my undergraduate degree in biblical studies that so shocked me that it has stayed with me. For the final exam in a systematic theology course, I understood the assignment to be to write a series of brief essays on several ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

Denomination: Christian Church

Down Into The Land Of Slavery Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 28, 2014

God had planned this trip to Egypt for centuries. But why choose that pagan land? Why not someplace else?

OPEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLc81CS7TY4 (We turned the video's sound down as I explained the artist and artwork that was being shown). I’m not much for modern art, but this particular piece of artwork intrigued me. It’s the work of the renowned French artist Bernard Pras. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Heart Is A Dangerous Place - Genesis 34:1-35:15 Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Jul 25, 2021

Notice what it says about her. It says – She went out to see the women of the land. These are the pagans.

Genesis 34:1 says – Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. He raped her. Dinah is the tenth child of Jacob, ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Another Thanksgiving Sunday?

Contributed by Dr. Madana Kumar, Phd on Oct 18, 2008

It is a tradition to celebbrate Thanksgiving Sundays and Harvest Festivals in our Churches. The Lord had given detailed instructions to Moses about these rituals or Liturgy. However, what do all these rituals mean to us? Do they have any significance in t

Another Thanksgiving Sunday? There are some books of the Old testament that are rarely read. Deuteronomy is not too bad. Many of us would have browsed through the book of Deuteronomy some time or the other. However, I am not sure how much each of us will score if we do a Bible Quiz on ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lord's Supper Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Dec 22, 2012

We see how Jesus transformed a ritual, meant to commemorate the greatest deliverance of God’s people, into a new ritual to commemorate and give assurance that the sacrifice he was about to make would bring about a far greater deliverance.

Introduction Last week we studied the “last supper” that Jesus had with his disciples. We noted how Jesus was in control of the events that were leading to his sacrifice as the Passover Lamb. This morning we will see how he transformed a ritual, meant to commemorate the greatest ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:22-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Be Practical, Not Legalistic Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Oct 30, 2021

Jesus taught the Pharisees how He desires sincere love for people over meaningless ritual, and how He desires grace over legalism. Those who adhere to ritual and tradition are often unable to love others or worship God.

In our message today, we will see how Jesus taught the Pharisees that forgiveness and grace toward others is a necessity before worship. The capacity to extend love and mercy is something that must be present in a person’s heart before he or she is able to worship the Lord in spirit and truth, as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

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