Sermons on Religious Ritual:

Focus Your Faith

Contributed by Richard Burkey on May 26, 2005

This encounter between Jesus and a leading Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus deals with focus questions. Who is Jesus? What is His purpose? What exactly does Jesus come to do?

Focus Your Faith John 3:1-17 (New International Version) 1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Lutheran

The Power Of Love

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Apr 23, 2007

There is only one power at work in the last week of Jesus’ life - not Pilate’s, not the religious leaders’ - but the power of His love for the world. This power kept Him silent and drove Him to the cross.

John 15:9-13 9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Coming Like A Child

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Oct 21, 2005

Christ clearly teaches that it is not religious observance or our goodness that saves. Christ teaches that it simply takes child-like faith. But what does it mean to come to God in child-like faith?

Disclaimer: Concepts and source material for this sermon has been gleaned from many different sources. I have attempted to acknowledgethese sources whenever possible. COMING LIKE A CHILD LUKE 18:15-17 INTRODUCTION: Sandwiched between the accounts of a Pharisee who believed that he would go to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:15-17

Denomination: Baptist

Preach The Word Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 27, 2011

To qualify as worship, our corporate religious activities must include sound preaching. To fail to include this vital aspect of worship is to condemn our congregations to an insipid presence in the midst of a hostile world.

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Parable Of The Pharisee And The Publican Series

Contributed by Ricardo Rodriguez on Nov 1, 2012

There is a necessary appropriate attitude in prayer so that it can be answered by God. The Pharisee belonged to a Jewish religious sect that believed that salvation came by obeying the letter of the law and precepts that they and their ancestors had esta

Ice Breaker: Can you describe the characteristics of a humble person? Scripture: Lucas 18:9-14. INTRODUCTION: There is a necessary appropriate attitude in prayer so that it can be answered by God. The Pharisee belonged to a Jewish religious sect that believed that salvation came by obeying ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Apostolic

"All Hail The King!"

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jun 18, 2013

The Triumphal Entry ushered in Jesus' final week before his crucifixion. He was gathering a greater following and the religious leaders didn't like that. Jesus was being hailed as king.

“ALL HAIL THE KING!” John 12:12-19 1) All hail the King! (Vs. 12-13). “The great crowd”. It was near the Passover and the week long Feast of Unleavened Bread celebration, where the population in Jerusalem rose from about 50,000 to over two million. Even though there was a ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Parable Of Two Sons

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Oct 6, 2008

In this parable Jesus is comparing the younger son to the tax collectors and sinners who came to Jesus. The elder son represented the Pharisees and religious rulers who continually found fault with the teachings of Jesus.

A Parable of Two Sons Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 “Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisaical teachers of religious law complain that Jesus was associating with such despicable people – even eating with them.” Luke 15:1-2 The Pharisees and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Free Methodist

An Outline For Acts 6:8-15

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 30, 2021

Stephen was a willing worker for the Church in the days of the Apostles. There were some people, including religious leaders, who didn't like him and made plans to do something to him.

An Outline for Acts 6:8-15 Introduction: Stephen was one of the original seven men chosen to assist the apostles (see Acts 6:1-7). He was able to more than just assist in distribution of food, as he performed “great wonders and miracles among the people” and even engaged in dialogue with members ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:8-15

Denomination: Baptist

Revival Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 5, 2021

Revival is not only a good word used in Scripture, it is also a good and positive experience. When rightly understood, we will long for it in the religious realm as we do in all other areas of life.

Clovis Chappell, the great Southern preacher and author, said in one of his messages, "What announcement could the average pastor make to his people next Sunday that would create less enthusiasm, less approval, less holy expectancy, then that he would soon to begin a revival?" ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:6

Social Justice And Critical Theory: Biblical Justice In An Age Of Ideological Civil War

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 27, 2021

There is an ideological civil war taking place in the United States, and in western civilization overall. This is a battle that displays itself along political lines, social lines, academic lines, and along religious lines.

Proverbs 21:15 "When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers." There is an ideological civil war taking place in the United States, and in western civilization overall. This is a battle that displays itself along political lines, social lines, academic ...read more

Scripture: John 7:24, Proverbs 21:15, Proverbs 28:5, Galatians 3:26-29, Matthew 5:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Departure From The Faith (Full) Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Apr 14, 2017

To establish that the Holy Spirit predicted a “departure from the faith” that resulted in religious apostasy and the rise of denominational institutions throughout the world. This lesson describes the failures of the Reformation Movement and the successes of the Restoration Movement.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 1. The Retraction Movement 2. The Reformation Movement 3. The Restoration Movement Remarks. 1. In this lesson we will be discussing the theme: “The Departure from the Faith.” It should be noted that Paul begins our lesson describing “the retraction movement” or “the departure ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, 1 Timothy 4:1-5, 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prayer Meeting In The Jerusalem Church

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Nov 30, 2014

The prayer the Jerusalem Christians prayed when Peter and John were released from the inquisition of the Jerusalem religious leaders teaches some important truths about prayer, which is the subject of this sermon.

Prayer Meeting in the Jerusalem Church Chuck Sligh November 30, 2014 NOTE: A PowerPoint presentation of this sermon is available upon request by emailing me at chucksligh@hotmail.com. TEXT: Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 4 (TO BE READ LATER) INTRODUCTION The first church in Jerusalem ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Retraction Movement (Lesson 1) Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Mar 15, 2020

To establish that the Holy Spirit predicted a “departure from the faith” that resulted in religious apostasy and the rise of denominational institutions throughout the world. This lesson describes the failures of the Reformation Movement, and the successes of the Restoration Movement.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 1. The Retraction Movement Remarks. 1. This is lesson one, in our sermon-series of the theme: “The Departure from the Faith.” It should be noted that Paul begins our lesson by describing “the retraction movement” or “the departure from the faith!” It should also be noted, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, 1 Timothy 4:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Reformation Movement (Lesson 2) Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Mar 15, 2020

To establish that the Holy Spirit predicted a “departure from the faith” that resulted in religious apostasy and the rise of denominational institutions throughout the world. This lesson describes the failures of the Reformation Movement, and the successes of the Restoration Movement.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 2. The Reformation Movement Remarks. 1. This is lesson two, in our semon-series of the theme: “The Departure from the Faith.” It should be noted that Paul begins our lesson by describing “the retraction movement” or “the departure from the faith!” It should also be noted, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-5, 2 Timothy 4:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Restoration Movement (Lesson 3) Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Mar 15, 2020

To establish that the Holy Spirit predicted a “departure from the faith” that resulted in religious apostasy and the rise of denominational institutions throughout the world. This lesson describes the failures of the Reformation Movement and the successes of the Restoration Movement.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 3. The Restoration Movement Remarks. 1. This is lesson three, in our sermon-series of the theme: “The Departure from the Faith.” It should be noted that we began this series by describing “the retraction movement” or “the departure from the faith!” Recall, we stated, that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-5, 2 Timothy 4:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ