Sermons on Religious Ceremonies:

Taking The Journey

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Apr 1, 2019

God’s call to take the journey to worship the newborn king isn’t just for those born to privilege, or those born in the church. It isn’t just for pastors, scholars, and religious leaders. No, God’s call to worship is for anyone who will listen.

OPENING STORY An old king sat uncomfortably on his throne, fingernails dug into well-worn grooves in the wood as he waited nervously for the mysterious travelers to approach. All Jerusalem was abuzz with the rumors that these men were searching for a new heir which had just been born, yet neither ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Nazarene

First Teaching Tour Of Galilee Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jul 9, 2017

At this time, Jesus had a great deal of freedom. He moved freely through Galilee and He taught in the synagogues. The religious leaders would eventually plan to take Him and to put Him to death, however before that, they would bar Him from the synagogue

Harmony of the Gospels -AD 27- Galilee Title: First Teaching Tour of Galilee Matthew 4:23-25, Mark 1:35-39, Luke 4:42-44 -Matthew- And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:23-25, Mark 1:35-39, Luke 4:42-44

Denomination: Baptist

Grace And Truth

Contributed by John Tristan Jayme on Dec 18, 2022

Who is Jesus? The debate begins with a discussion of Jesus’ whole person. Practically every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet, a rabbi, or a godly man. However, the Bible tells us that Jesus was beyond a visionary, a good teacher, or a religious man. He is the Son of God.

Points: Who is Jesus to the Jews? The debate begins with a discussion of Jesus’ whole person. Practically every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet, a rabbi, or a godly man. However, the Bible tells us that Jesus was beyond a visionary, a good teacher, or a religious man. He is the Son ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17, John 1:17

Contrasting Christmases

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Dec 20, 2022

This message reveals a contrast seen within the Christmas story, a contrast between those who are ready and willing to receive the good news, like the shepherds and the Magi, or Wise Men, and those who are not, like King Herod and the religious leaders of that day. Come and See.

Contrasting Christmases Psalm 1; Luke 2; Matthew 2 Someone has said that life is full of contrasts, and as far as I can determine, they are right. But most of these contrasts are self-determined. Psalm chapter one deals with the main contrast, the one that determines all the rest. It involves the ...read more

Denomination: Foursquare

Deceitful Religion

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 6, 2025

Jacob's sons distorted the Faith; the Shechemites attempted to co-opt the religious practices of the Israelites to enrich themselves. Both groups attempted to use religion to obtain their own ends, resulting in death and destruction. Deceitful religion always leads to ruin and destruction.

“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. And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 34:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

America Today: Calling Evil Good And Good Evil Updated

Contributed by Lee Houston on Feb 26, 2024

Being an old man, I have lived through many changes, changes that caused Americans to disagree, but never have I seen anything like the division and outright hatred we see today. As a pastor, I see our basic problems as religious.

America Today: Calling Evil Good and Good Evil Being an old man, I have lived through many changes, changes that caused Americans to disagree, but never have I seen anything like the division and outright hatred we see today. Here are a few of the things that are causing the division: ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:20-21

Jesus Christ: Our Divine Teacher, Part 2

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jan 4, 2022

Nicodemus had been confronted with the fact that his religious zeal will not make him righteous before God. It is only by being "born again" through the work of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins that we are forgiven and restored to a true relationship with God.

The mark of a true learner is his or her willingness to be corrected of an erroneous belief or idea that would tend to deter them from seeking the truth about a subject of interest or topic of discussion. They are not so immovable in their thinking to where they refuse to consider anything else ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21, Numbers 24:4-10, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Isaiah 45:22, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Living Sacrifice

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Mar 7, 2026

God is not asking for occasional religious moments—He is asking for our lives. In A Living Sacrifice from Romans 12:1–2, we consider Paul’s call to present ourselves fully to God and discover how surrender becomes the pathway to a transformed life.

A Living Sacrifice Romans 12:1–2 I come back to Romans 12:1–2 this morning because it is Paul’s transition point in the letter to the Romans. For eleven chapters, the Apostle Paul has unfolded the gospel with clarity and depth. He has shown us the righteousness of God revealed apart from the law. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Methodist

The Audience & Content Of Prayer Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Feb 8, 2010

The true and false audience and content of prayer

Why do many athletes pray before they compete? I’ve noticed with mixed martial arts fights, fighters gather with their trainers and recite the Lord’s prayer before a fight. Those that trash talk before a fight, putting down their opponent, are not the ones that I see praying. But the fighters who ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-8

Denomination: Other

In Seventy Weeks-3 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Dec 19, 2017

3 of 3. Daniel was granted knowledge of the fulfillment of God’s plan for the ages. Messiah’s(God’s Anointed) presence is pivotal to God’s plan for the ages. But What will He do? In 70 weeks Messiah(God’s Anointed) will complete...

IN SEVENTY WEEKS-III—Daniel 9:24(1-3, 13-27) The Pivotal Messiah OR Messiah’s Niche Attention: Progressive television?: Sadly, the following is a disclaimer which previewed today’s airing(Dec. 17, 2017) of Dr. Charles Stanley’s ‘In Touch’ TV show: “The opinions and views expressed do not reflect ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Redemption At Hand-3 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jan 6, 2016

3 of 6. God initiated the redemption of His people thru John’s birth. Redemption is encountered/at hand thru God’s visitation. But when is that redemption realized? Redemption is at hand when God initiates...

REDEMPTION At HAND-III—Luke 1:67-80 TOUCHING REDEMPTION Attention: A man owned a huge warehouse complex in a large city & had trouble leasing it because it was dilapidated & had been vandalized. He decided to sell it. But before he could properly repair it & get it ready to show, a man ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:67-80

Denomination: Baptist

Letter To The Church In Thyatira

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Jun 20, 2020

For some people today tolerance is the only real virtue and intolerance the only vice. The message to Thyatira goes against the grain of modernity by setting limits to tolerance.

Letter to the church in Thyatira Rev. 2:18-29 In the opening pages of Revelation, our Lord introduces Himself as heaven’s holy warrior (1:12–20) who would prepare His people to overcome their enemies (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21) by exhorting them to hear what the Spirit has to say in the letters ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Ransom

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 25, 2005

When we think of ransom in a religious sense, especially in Christianity, we think of ransom as a deliverance from sin or its penalty. And yet, someone has to pay for the sin, do they not? As we find in the passage today, Jesus has paid a huge ransom fo

RANSOM Hebrews 9:11-15 INTRODUCTION... Ransom Ransom, is an action packed drama thriller that came out in 1996 starring Mel Gibson and Rene Russo and directed by Ron Howard. The movie focuses on Mel Gibson’s character, Tom Mullen, a rich airline owner, is shocked when his son is kidnapped. He is ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:11-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is One Way To God Really Fair

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Sep 26, 2006

Last week the unquestionable and unavoidable claims of Christ…this morning I want to address a concern that often arises from the sidelines of such claims… Is one way to God really fair? It’s a big world…with many following religious traditions within t

Last week the unquestionable and unavoidable claims of Christ…this morning I want to address a concern that often arises from the sidelines of such claims… Is one way to God really fair? It’s a big world…with many following religious traditions within their own culture…isn’t Christianity a bit too ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Last Mountain

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jul 4, 2007

Did you ever wish that leaders were held accountable? Today it seems so many leaders in every field of human endeavor politics, business, sports and even religious leaders get away with their offences and sometimes end up pretty well off. Is there some

The Last Mountain Did you ever wish that leaders were held accountable? Today it seems so many leaders in every field of human endeavor politics, business, sports and even religious leaders get away with their offences and sometimes end up pretty well off. Is there some day of reckoning for ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:48-52

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed