Sermons on Pagan Ritual:

Obedience Is More Than Sacrifice PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Feb 16, 2024

This sermon emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's will over rituals and sacrifices, highlighting the need for a genuine, heartfelt commitment to God.

Good morning, beloved family in Christ. It is always a joy to gather together in the presence of our Lord, to share in His Word, and to grow deeper in our understanding of His will for us. Today, we find ourselves drawn to the profound book of 1 Samuel, specifically to chapter 15, verse 22. The ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:22

Topics: Obedience

Restrictive Religion Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 3, 2018

If you want to be free from a guilty conscience, don’t depend on restrictive religion, which is limited by its procedures, its place, its people, and its purifying power.

Two neighbor boys were the best of friends on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. On Sunday, however, they didn’t talk to each other, because one was a Catholic and the other was a Baptist. Their parents were concerned, so they agreed to let their sons visit each other’s ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Avoiding Anger: Doers Of The Word, Series

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Aug 26, 2021

Avoiding Anger: Doers of the Word August 29, 2021, FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, YEAR B, While anger might not be the center of this text, it is one of those distractions that often keeps us from being doers of the word.

Avoiding Anger: Doers of the Word August 29, 2021 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, YEAR B text James 1:17-27 While anger might not be the center of this text, it is one of those distractions that often keeps us from being doers of the word. Throughout this series, we are reflecting on how well ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17-27

Denomination: United Methodist

Look Out For False Teachers Series

Contributed by Jason Grubbs on Jan 11, 2020

The Bible teaches that Satan is a master counterfeiter, trying to pass off on people a version of Christianity that looks good but will not be accepted by God in Heaven.

Introduction: Have you ever had a counterfeit bill? That’s never happened to me. But sometimes, today, people can get scammed into buying a counterfeit ticket to a sporting event or concert or even buying a counterfeit product that was cheaply made to look like the real thing. The Bible ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-3

Religion Without Relationship Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Aug 29, 2025

Without God’s Word, people create their own religion.

RELIGION WITHOUT RELATIONSHIP By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Judges 17 Key Verse: Judges 17:5–6 –“And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

We Are His Offspring

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 11, 2024

God created mankind, and He gives us our being. Thus, we must not segregate on the basis of race or sex. Flowing from the knowledge of God's creation, and having given His Word, we discover that not all cultures are equal, though all people have opportunity to know God.

“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-28

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas - Part 3

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Oct 9, 2020

Last time we learned that both Jews and Gentiles, before Christ, were in bondage the "elements of the world." The “elements of the world” referred to the principles of non-Christian humanity, that is, humanity outside of Christ.

(Gal 4:1 NKJV) Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, (Gal 4:2 NKJV) but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. (Gal 4:3 NKJV) Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:1-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Ruth - A Woman Of Character Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 23, 2001

Ruth, a pagan widow through her faith becomes the key to Israel’s future and to God’s plan of salvation for the world

Today we continue our series on Heroes of Faith, characters from the Judges, though no longer from the book of Judges. But the setting of our story in that era is made clear in the opening verse of ch 1 of Ruth: "In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land." Our author ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1

Denomination: Anglican

Superstition, Luck, And Halloween

Contributed by Robert Joseph on Oct 26, 2012

A warning against mixing the beliefs of the pagan world--like luck and superstition--along with our precious Christian beliefs. Superstition is idolatry!

A pastor was in line at McDonald’s when the woman ahead of him became very upset. “Quick,” she told the clerk in an upset voice, “Add something to my order.” Usually, when someone wants another sandwich or extra order of fries, they are much calmer about it. So, I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:20-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

Display Loyal Love For Your Redeemer! Series

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Dec 17, 2015

PROPOSITION: Because Christ is your Kinsman-Redeemer, you must forsake your pagan ways and demonstrate loyal love to Him.

Display Loyal Love for Your Redeemer! Ruth 1-4 PROPOSITION: Because Christ is your Kinsman-Redeemer, you must forsake your pagan ways and demonstrate loyal love to Him. I. Loyal love puts the needs of others first and thus experiences the blessing of God. 1:6-22a A. Ruth is widowed and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Birth Pains

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 1, 2024

This message unpacks Jesus teaching about how to live as his coming approaches and the church is challenged and persecuted by the secular and pagan culture.

Title: “Birth Pains” Text: Matthew 24:1-14 (The Olivet Discourse) Subject: How do we live for Christ as the age moves toward his return? Complement: We live wisely, fearlessly, courageously, devotedly, missionally…with endurance inspired by his coming. Big Idea; Jesus calls us to faithfulness as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-14, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

Our Demas. (Hix)

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Dec 2, 2018

Paul was in prison thinking about Demas….Legend tells us, he was now a priest in a pagan temple, making lots of money!

Our Demas Dec. 2, 2018 Philemon- 1:23-Epaphras, (Ef/A/Fras) my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24-as do Mark, Aristarchus (Air/U/Stock/us), Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10

Denomination: Baptist

Stop Chasing Shadows! Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Oct 9, 2006

Keeping religious rules and observing religious rituals in order to be close to God are only a shadow of the "real thing," a relationship with Him through Jesus.

INTRODUCTION In the time of the early church, there were people in the churches who were teaching that once you became a Christian, you still had to obey the Jewish regulations and rituals to be religiously correct. That kind of false teaching still exists in the 21st century. In this series I’m ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:16-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Jewish Roots Of The Lord’s Supper

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 2, 2021

The Lord’s Supper is rich with meaning, but best understood in its original context. We can move in that direction by looking at the Jewish Roots of this meaningful ritual.

The Jewish Roots of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 10:1-5 and chapter 11:23, 26, passim) 1. A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his Sunday sermon. Four worms were placed into four separate jars: The first worm was put into a container of alcohol. The second worm ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-5, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Stumbling Stones Or Building Blocks - Your Choice!

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 30, 2009

How can we build people up...and why should we?

Audio File: http://player.sermoncentral.com/c/bethanyumcpastor/audio/178053_15567.mp3 -------------- 1Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Denomination: United Methodist