Sermons on Pagan Ritual:

Calling God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 7, 2008

Uses a cell phone to illustrate the basics of effective prayer. Addresses the tendency of people to rely on repetition and ritual to get God’s attention.

OPEN: (a deep voiced man was positioned in a side room with microphone and monitor. This opening illustration goes on for a couple of pages but worked well to set up the rest of the sermon) "Our Father who art in heaven..." "YES?" (look up and around suspiciously then bow and say) "Our Father ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Warfare Prayer And Fasting Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Jul 16, 2025

Prayer and fasting are not passive religious rituals; they are mighty weapons in God’s arsenal to demolish strongholds and advance His Kingdom in the unseen realm

Warfare Prayer and Fasting July 20, 2025 Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship Matthew 17:21, James 5:13-18, Ephesians 6:10-20 Introduction Prayer and fasting are not passive religious rituals; they are mighty weapons in God’s arsenal to demolish strongholds and advance His Kingdom ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:21, James 5:13-18, Ephesians 6:10-20

Denomination: Brethren

Spirit Of Reformation PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2023

Encourage believers to move beyond the rituals and regulations of religion and embrace a transformative relationship with God that aligns with His divine design for our lives.

Good morning, church family! Today we're diving into Hebrews 9:10, a scripture that speaks to God's desire for reformation, the image and likeness of sonship, and living above our original design. This passage is a powerful reminder of God's transforming power and His divine plan for each one of ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:10

Topics: Longevity

Evaluating Your Spiritual Growth PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Jan 5, 2024

Explores the concept of spiritual maturity, emphasizing its essence in living out God's word rather than merely performing religious rituals.

Welcome, dear friends, to another blessed day in the house of our Lord. It's always a joy to gather together in His name, to be nourished by His Word, and to grow in our understanding of His unending love for us. Today, we gather to ponder some profound truths that will challenge us, inspire us, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Topics: Spiritual Maturity

Jesus Does Not Need Your Cain

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 24, 2018

Too many professing Christians believe Christ needs a little help to finish His work. They are like the Judiazers Paul fought and like Cain who wanted God to accept His work rather than having the faith of Abel.

Act 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:22-32, Galatians 5:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

The True Meaning Of Christmas

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Dec 17, 2021

Every December, hundreds of millions of people and even billions of people worldwide celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus. Is Jesus happy with that? Was Jesus really born on December 25th?

Intro: What would have happened if it had been three wise WOMEN instead of men? They would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought disposable diapers as gifts! Let's read Isaiah 1:10-18: "10 Hear the word of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-18, 1 Chronicles 24:7-19, John 14:15, John 14:23-24, Matthew 22:37-39  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mail Call - Thyatira Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Mar 23, 2012

A series of messages from Jesus to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3.

Church at Thyatira Revelation 2:18-29 March 11, 2012 If you were going on a vacation — would you go to Elgin, Illinois; Erie, Pennsylvania; or Flint, Michigan? They don’t sound like overly attractive towns; you wouldn’t choose them for your honeymoon. If you were to go there, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Baptist

Love Makes The Simple Complex Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 29, 2021

Many Christians had no problem with relating to their pagan family and friends by eating this meat offered to idols. Life would have been so simple if other Christians had not taken an opposite view.

Dr. James H. Robinson, a great black preacher in New York, tells of how he use to sit on the steps of the public library in Knoxville. He would watch the white people go in, and he would be filled with resentment because he wanted to read and learn, but the doors were closed to blacks. He came ...read more

Sunny Side Sermon Iii: Who You Listen To Makes A Big Difference Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Jul 1, 2020

In our fallen world, many voices vie for the attention of the masses - and pagan voices seem to be the loudest - but mature people of faith value their spiritual well-being and pay attention to Him who is the Truth and the Life.

WHO YOU LISTEN TO MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD SPIRITUALLY Have you seen any ghosts lately? Thirty-four percent of Americans believe in ghosts, and fifty-six percent believe ghosts are spirits of the dead. Did you ever live in a ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:9-18

67. Paul And The Law Series

Contributed by Gary Regazzoli on Nov 17, 2018

In the past, the focus of worship centered on shadows such as sacrifices, locations, days, foods, etc., now the emphasis is rightly focused on the One these rituals and laws pointed to, Jesus Christ.

IN GOD'S IMAGE 67 - PAUL AND THE LAW This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in ...read more

Scripture: John 2:19-21, Colossians 2:16-17, 1 Corinthians 7:19, Romans 14:17, Hebrews 7:18-19, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Matthew 5:21-22, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:25, Galatians 6:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

Living In The Light! "What's Wrong With Halloween?”

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Oct 29, 2009

Halloween is one of those days that is viewed by different people in different ways. Within every church there are different views and opinions. This message is not about opinion, it is about truth, the truth contained in God’s Word the Bible, the truth

Ashingdon AM 25 10 2009 Living in the Light - What’s Wrong with Halloween? Ephesians 5:11-5:17 Deut 18:9-12 Late one dark night, two men were walking home after a party. They were tired and desperate to get home So they decided to take a shortcut through a cemetery. They got to about the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:11-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

Pursuing The Call Part 8 How The Good-News Affects Christ-Followers Series

Contributed by Thomas Bartlett on Oct 26, 2019

When Paul came to Ephesus in Acts 19, the city was locked in a stronghold of pagan superstition. But within two years of ministry in Ephesus, Satan’s stronghold was crumbling.

ACTS Pursuing The Call – Part 7 Dr. Tom Bartlett August 11, 2019 Acts 19:21-41 OUTLINE How the Good-News affects Christ-followers Acts 19:21-41 (ESV) THE GOSPEL HAS A PROFOUND AFFECT ON . . . How we think about money Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia ...read more

Denomination: Other

A Troubled Dreamer Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 22, 2021

Here is a pagan king and God communicates to him in a dream. He may not have listened to a prophet, but a dream is so personal that he cannot refuse to pay attention.

When John Wesley returned to England from his fruitless visit to America, he learned that on another ship in the harbor his friend Whitefield was about to sail to America. This depressed Wesley for he had hoped to have fellowship with Whitefield. Early in the morning he sent a message by boat to ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 2:1-18

Living In The Joy Of The Lord

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Jun 1, 2014

“Joy, which was the small publicity of the Pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian”. - G.K. Chesterton This message looks at the avenues and barriers to living in the joy of the Lord.

Sermon for CATM – June 1, 2014 – Living in the Joy of the Lord - Nehemiah 8:1-10 Robert Louis Stevenson once entered in his diary what he considered to be an extraordinary thing. He said, "I have been to Church today, and (Surprisingly) I am not depressed." I hope that your ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Life And Death Struggles Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 11, 2021

Today we are in a struggle like that between Moses and Balak, or between Jesus and the religious authorities, a battle to the death between God’s people and a pagan secular culture.

Homily for Monday in 3rd Week of Advent Balaam was a prophet for hire. He was a wealthy and respected prophet of Yahweh, but he was not an Israelite. Balak, a king who was in the way of Israel as they moved toward the Promised Land, was nervous about all these people moving across his territory. ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 24:2-7, Numbers 24:15-17, Matthew 21:23-27, Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Catholic