Sermons on Pagan Ritual:

Jesus Loves Me? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 25, 2008

This is one of the most difficult passages in the Gospels because it seems to portray a harsh, callous and uncaring Jesus. But it’s not. Find out why.

OPEN: In 1948, Harry Truman authorized an expenditure of $10,000 to have a balcony installed on the south side of the second floor of the White House. He’d barely gotten around to enjoying it when he became the first president since James Madison to evacuate the White House out of fear for his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:21-29

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Real Reality Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Sep 19, 2023

The story of God is all about the glory of God and the unfolding of the gospel.

The Real Reality Acts 17:16-34 Rev. Brian Bill September 16-17, 2023 Special thanks to Abi Kongkousonh for using her gifts to depict the story of Creation along with the fall of Adam and Eve. Keep that image in mind as we go through the message. Are you aware we ran out of parking spaces during ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

Denomination: Baptist

How Long, O Lord? How Long? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 27, 2024

Though the Lord shall judge the nation that practice wickedness, how shall we who follow Christ respond to the evil embraced and promoted within our culture?

When the child of God sins, that child knows that God does not ignore that sin. Because He loves us, the LORD disciplines His people, and His discipline will not be pleasant. God’s discipline was never intended to be pleasant. Divine discipline is intended to impose … well, discipline! Indeed, ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 5:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Offer Yourselves As Living Sacrifices

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 2, 2021

As God’s kingdom of priests and his holy nation, this is the joyful work we can be busy with—no matter our age, condition or standing. We’re called to be holy, just as He is holy; and we’re called to freely and joyfully offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God through Christ.

Have you ever come to a Bible book, and decided that you’d rather skip it? Maybe you were reading through Scripture in your personal devotions, or around the supper table as a family, and you’d finished Genesis, and slogged through the latter parts of Exodus, and finally came to Leviticus. What did ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 22:17-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Even The Religious Person Cannot Escape

Contributed by Paul Apple on Oct 18, 2000

EVEN THE MOST RELIGIOUS PERSON (DEVOUT JEW) CANNOT ESCAPE GOD'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT--TRUE SPIRITUALITY IS MUCH MORE THAN POSSESSING RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES AND PRACTICING RELIGIOUS RITUALS 1.

EVEN THE MOST RELIGIOUS PERSON (DEVOUT JEW) CANNOT ESCAPE GOD'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT--TRUE SPIRITUALITY IS MUCH MORE THAN POSSESSING RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES AND PRACTICING RELIGIOUS RITUALS 1. True Spirituality is much more than Possessing Religious Privileges (:17-24) a. Religious Privileges can ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:17-29

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Priority Of Justice And Righteousness

Contributed by Leonard Davis on May 29, 2009

The failure of Israel to make a connection between their religion rituals and their daily lives should serve as a warning for us in the church today that justice and righteousness are still priorities with God and judgment results with these are absent.

THE PRIORITY OF JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS Every now and then we come across stories that are both humorous and sad. During World War II in the Pacific Theater our forces set up a base on the island of New Guinea. We built an airport with runways, a tower, lights along the runways, and the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Occupying In Prayer And Warfare Series

Contributed by Tesh Njokanma on Apr 27, 2018

Prayer is not a mere routine or ritual. Prayer is actually a spiritual confrontation with the kingdom of darkness. When we pray, we are wrestling; we are engaging in a fight, a battle or warfare with forces and powers of darkness.

Introduction In Luke 19:13, the King of Glory gave us a guideline to follow until Christ returns. This verse tells us what to engage in or spend our time on until we meet with the Lord. We are told to occupy till Jesus comes, to put what God has given us to work, to make profitable divine ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Prophet And The Talking Donkey - "doctrine Of Balaam"

Contributed by Bruce Hadley on Aug 29, 2019

Let's talk about one of the most interesting stories in the Bible, when a donkey talked to the prophet Balaam. This story in the Bible is not only shows God's sense of humor, but it one of those stories that we really can learn a lot from.

Today we’re going to look at one of the most interesting stories in the Bible, when a donkey, an ass, talked to the prophet Balaam. In all honesty, I’ve had a hard time figuring this guy out. After reading the story of Balaam and the talking donkey again, I told the Lord, I’m confused about ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:1-41, Revelation 2:14, 2 Peter 2:15-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Genuine Vs The Counterfeit Christian Believers. Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Jun 13, 2025

Here are few differences, along with biblical examples.

The Bible warns us that not everyone who claims to be a follower of Christ is genuinely saved. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says that some will claim to have done great things in His name, but He will declare, "I never knew you." This raises an important question: what distinguishes a true ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23, Acts 16:25, Daniel 1:8-16

Where Is Joseph Series

Contributed by Bala Samson on May 14, 2013

Alas, the great, powerful pagan monarch Pharaoh found ‘none’ in his colossal palace to give him a piece of advice and interpret the dream for him among the plethora of magicians and wise men of Egypt!

Where is Joseph! Genesis 41:8”…..there was no one who could interpret them (the dream) for Pharaoh.” In the wee hours of this morning as I read the Bible, the above scripture caught my attention! Alas, the great, powerful pagan monarch Pharaoh found ‘none’ in his ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 41:1-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Universal Praise Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 18, 2021

Can a pagan glorify the God of the Bible? If he becomes a believer, he certainly can. This invitation of Psa. 117 is authentic when it says whosoever will may come, and praise the God who is the God of all peoples.

If you think Psalm 117 is a short chapter, you are right, for it is the shortest in all the Bible. But it is twice as long in English as it is in the original Hebrew. It is 33 words in English, but only 17 in the Hebrew. And it is another of the many paradoxes of the Bible, for small as it ...read more

The Place Where We Got Grace Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 22, 2020

Amazing Grace is such a powerful song that even pagans will tear up when they hear it. What is the message in this song that can speak to the hearts of people who don't understand what Jesus did?

OPEN: A very distinguished preacher and 2 of the leaders from his congregation had attended an out of town meeting that didn’t finish until late that night. As they headed home, they were hungry and decided to have something to eat before going home but the only place open was a seedy bar and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Are What You Eat Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 6, 2017

Daniel and his friends were strangers in a strange land and were surrounded by paganism. How did they deal with standing up for God in that setting, and how can we stand up for God in an increasingly offensive world?

I read the true story about a wife who liked to make sure she had meals ready to cook. She made “freezer meals” ahead of time and carefully noted what they were in large clear letters. There was "Meatloaf", "Pot Roast", "Steak and Vegetables”, "Chicken and Dumplings" or "Beef Pot Pie." But whenever ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Trick Or Treat

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Oct 24, 2010

Halloween has been a popular event in America. It is a time that many see as just a fun time to dress up, get candy and see people. Historically, Halloween has not always been so innocent and some of the practices have been derived from pagan worship.

Trick or Treat 1 Corinthians 10:14-31 Slide Intro Well, we know that Fall has arrived as the days continue to get shorter and as the leaves fall from the trees and as the weather continues to change. Next week, we will have another indication of fall being here as the streets will be filled with ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:14-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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