Sermons on Religious Rites:

The Sign Of Wine Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 27, 2017

What was the purpose of "signs" in Jesus ministry? And what did this particular sign have to say to us?

OPEN: The Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn had a problem - motorists weren't coming to a complete stop at stop signs. So in 2007 the Mayor came up with a creative solution. He added a second, smaller octagonal sign the town's 50 or so stop signs that read: “STOP And smell the roses” "STOP No really, ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Gideon And His God Were Soon Forgotten By An Ungrateful Israel [judges 8.33-8.35] Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Oct 18, 2019

It seems that as soon as Gideon was dead that they put off the worship of Jehovah God and turned to worship foreign gods; particularly, the local Baal gods.

Chapter 36 Gideon and his God Were Soon Forgotten By an Ungrateful Israel [Judges 8.33-8.35] Scripture 33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god. 34 And the children of Israel ...read more

Scripture: Judges 8:33-35

Denomination: Baptist

Spring Forward

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 31, 2023

There’s a surprising freedom that comes from following God unto the unknown. Enjoy it.

If you look back on the last 10 to 50 years the amount of change we have experienced in this country is pretty staggering, isn’t it. From propeller planes to space shuttles, from Ozzie and Harriet to Ozzie Osborne, from the Cold War to the War on Terror. But at least we’ve had the same government, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:16-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Precious Gift Of Freedom

Contributed by Don Carpenter on Nov 5, 2000

If you study the character of mankind over the centuries, you will find that there is one passion that transcends all languages, cultures, and barriers. Man has an in born desire and drive to be free

The Precious Gift Of Freedom John 8:31-36 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-36

Denomination: Baptist

Salvation - A Relationship

Contributed by Robert Sickler on Apr 24, 2012

To place our faith in the performance of a salvation ritual is to place our faith in the person leading us to the ritual; but, if we place our faith in a relationship with Jesus Christ we have placed our faith in the author and sustainer of salvation.

SALVATION – A RELATIONSHIP INTRODUCTION If a person is uncomfortable with the idea that there is no special event or ritual that marks the time and place of their salvation, then they certainly have a great deal of company. In fact, almost all existing denominations and Christian religious ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Christian Church

Introduction To Colossians

Contributed by Johnny A. Palmer Jr. on Mar 30, 2010

Paul and Timothy discussed

Intro: 1. “When it was time, in the gracious plan of God, to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world, Paul was the special instrument chosen by God to lead the way in world missions…Paul’s missionary work made his very prominent in the Bible. In fact, outside of Jesus Christ, no ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

The Smartest Unlearned And Ignorant Men In Town! Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Sep 21, 2014

Peter & John were simple fishermen. When they gathered a following by preaching Jesus, the Jewish leaders judged them to be "unlearned & ignorant." Far from it! They were wise and learned in the most important things to know, the subject of this sermon.

The Smartest Unlearned and Ignorant Men in Town! Series: Acts Chuck Sligh September 21, 2014 This sermon was inspired by and adapted from a skeleton outline in “The Most Valuable Men in Town” on page 71 of Preach for a Year. (NOTE: There is a PowerPoint presentation for this sermon ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Church As A Devoted Community Series

Contributed by Galen Hackman on Mar 1, 2003

First in a series of 5 sermons on the Core Characteristics of the Church basoed on Acts 2:42-47. In this sermon we explore what it means to be a devoted community.

The Church as a Devoted Community (Second in the series: The Core Characteristics of the Church) Acts 2:36-47 In Matthew 13 Jesus tells a series of stories (actually, parables) about the nature of the kingdom of heaven. One of them is called the Parable of the Mustard Seed and it goes like ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-32, Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Brethren

Corporate Versus Private Worship

Contributed by Ronald Harbaugh on Feb 5, 2008

A Sermon for Ash Wednesday, with outreach to two congregations without pastors.

Ash Wednesday, February 6, 2008 Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, this evening we begin another season of Lent, another journey in faith as we attempt to follow our Lord on the road to Jerusalem and the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Pictures From The Passover

Contributed by David Scudder on Mar 4, 2008

The more we look at the Passover the more we can see that Christ is clearly pictured in it. Christ’s forgiveness is glorious.

Pictures From the Passover Exodus 12:1-14 Purpose: To explain how the Passover pictures our salvation. Aim: I want he listener to glorify God and rejoice in His forgiveness. INTRODUCTION: Many of the announcements in Scripture don’t have the impact on us that the original hearers had. For ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The First Hand Witnesses

Contributed by Samuel Stone on Nov 15, 2007

Learning from the first hand witnesses

2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What A Contrast! Series

Contributed by Stephen Wright on Jun 3, 2007

Contrasts between the Old Testament and New

What a contrast! Col 2:17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Heb 9:14. I struggled ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:6-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Day Of Atonement

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 19, 2013

A taught this at a Wednesday night Bible study (Adapted from Dr. Leon Morris' book, The Atonement: It's Meaning and Significance, chapter 3 "The Day of Atonement))

HoHum: What or who was a common scapegoat in your family? I have always loved to see the spring come each year, with all that it brings, with one notable exception—spring cleaning. Israel’s annual Day of Atonement was something like a spiritual spring cleaning. In one sense, Israel ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 16:1-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Big Story: Nunc Dimittis Series

Contributed by Danny Davis on Feb 7, 2014

The last of Luke's four songs celebrating the incarnation of Christ is the Song of Simeon. The righteous priest long anticipated the birth of the one who would bring salvation to the Jews and to the whole world.

Introduction Well, I was really thinking about another carol for all of us to sing together this morning but I thought maybe I would give you a break. The only reason is because I want your voices rested so you can join us for caroling at the Golden Living Center and Bristol Manor after church ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21-32

Denomination: Assembly Of God

At The Burning Bush Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Feb 6, 2025

Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing is holy ground...

February 08, 2025 According to Acts 7:23, Moses was 40 when he left Egypt to become a shepherd in Midian. Wild sheep can survive on their own – not so with domesticated sheep. They are skittish and easily frightened. They can’t protect themselves, so as a survival strategy, they flock ...read more

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist