Sermons on Religious Ritual:

How To Change The World Without Being Religious Series

Contributed by Adrian Warnock on Feb 15, 2007

What are the identity markers of the Christian?

Changing the World- one person at a time. How to Change the world without being religious (Acts 10) Why study Acts? Not just a story but a template for how church should be Acts is the key to understanding the rest of the NT Acts shows why Jesus died- to start the church Acts provides the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:1-48

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Do Religious People Whoop It Up?

Contributed by Monty Newton on Sep 15, 2007

God invites us to share his joy when someone who was lost, is found.

Title: When Do Religious People Whoop It Up? Text: Luke 15:1-10 Thesis: God invites us to share his joy when someone who was lost, is found. Introduction Have you ever lost something you really treasured… something you would really like to find? After reading the text for today, I thought ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Religious Would Always Attack The Message Of Grace

Contributed by Richard Papafio on Oct 2, 2018

DONT STOP PREACHING THE MESSAGE OF GRACE AND NEITHER MIX GRACE AND THE LAW

May the peace of the Lord be with you. Topic: THE RELIGIOUS WOULD ALWAYS ATTACK THE MESSAGE OF GRACE Acts 21:17-40 King James Version (KJV) 17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:17-40

Denomination: Charismatic

Nicodemus' Religious Blindness Lesson 8 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Dec 6, 2023

Why must a person be born again?

A. INTRODUCTION: JOHN 3:1-8 1. Positive things about Nicodemus: a. Sanhedrin, “ruler of the Jews” (3:1). b. Defended Jesus. “Does our law judge any man before it hears him” (John 7:51). c. Secret believer. “Joseph of Arimathaea … disciple of Jesus but secretly … also Nicodemus” ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Peter's Conflict With The Religious Leaders Series

Contributed by Hugh W. Davidson on Jun 16, 2020

Any progress in the Christian life will face opposition

Peter's conflict with the religious leaders Acts 4:1-22 1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 being grieved that they taught the people, and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

7 Woes On Religious Leaders (Matthew 23)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 17, 2024

Why are we afraid to preach Matthew 23? Why does the Revised Common Lectionary leave it completely out? Are we afraid to let our churches know that we church leaders are weak, and fail, and also need to repent? Let's find out in Matthew 23.

Jesus warned about hypocrisy among religious leaders and accompanying woes. Have we ever heard this taught? Is it just too painful to admit that we church leaders can sometimes be just like the Pharisees? Let’s learn some hard lessons from Jesus in Matthew 23. Hypocrisy Do we practice what we ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Can You Take That (Religious) Mask Off!

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Aug 30, 2020

Can You Take That (Religious) Mask Off! - sermon by Gordon Curley (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email gcurley@gcurley.info)

SERMON OUTLINE: (A). Three Negative Truths: • Negative Truth #1: Don't be hypocritical (vs 5). • Negative Truth #2: Don't be limit your praying to public places (vs 6). • Negative Truth #3: Don't use meaningless repetition (vs 7). (B). Three Positive Truths: • Positive Truth #1: We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-8

Denomination: Brethren

Zechariah #16: Superficial Religion Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jun 27, 2022

This exposition of Zechariah 7:1-6 explores the issue of the inner motives behind our service to the Lord. How many people go to church, give their money, fast, etc. and are baffled by God's lack of response. Why is there so little power in the church? The text addresses all that.

Intro Our text today is in Zechariah 7. Last week we examined the capstone of the eight visions.i The crowning of Joshua, the High Priest, was a symbolic act prophesying Messiah. Unlike any other, Messiah would be both priest and king. All the promises of God are yea and amen in Him.ii The eight ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 7:1-14, Matthew 23:5, Colossians 3:23, Philippians 2:3, Isaiah 1:12-15, Proverbs 4:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Nurtured In The Faith Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Dec 30, 2009

Jesus was brought up in a family that actively participated in the religious traditions and rituals of their faith. Being brought up in the community of believers prepared Jesus for his earthly ministry.

Luke 2:41-52 “Nurtured in the Faith” INTRODUCTION Have you noticed how quickly Christmas is celebrated and then forgotten? The stores have already started removing their Christmas decorations and replacing them with Valentines Day. The radio stations have stopped playing Christmas Carols, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:41-52

Denomination: Lutheran

Lay, Ordained, And Orders Called To Follow Him

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 19, 2023

no matter our position in the church, we are all called to follow Jesus

Matthew 4:12-23 Many stories within the Bible are known as ‘call stories.’ A call story tells how God invites someone to become something new and unexpected. God calls this person to begin and not only begin but persist so that this new thing can occur. One day Andrew, Simon, James, and John ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-23

Denomination: Episcopal

The Last Supper And The Passover

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Oct 6, 2016

What are the similarities and differences between the Passover and the Last Supper, Circumcision and Baptism? What are the differences and similarities between the rituals of the Old Testament and the sacraments of the New Testament?

Luke 22:14-20 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (These will be read later in the sermon) This morning we will be remembering the Lord’s Supper also known as Communion. Augustine, in the 5th century described a sacrament as “an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace.” A ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:14-20

Denomination: Nazarene

Religion Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Nov 7, 2024

Religion imprisons in ritual, Jesus frees us through our willingness to surrender all to Him

We continue our series of escape by looking at another area of ourselves that keeps us from experiencing the freedom Jesus’ coming and rising offer us. The last couple of weeks we spoke about escaping bad decisions and the shame/guilt that accompanies them, this week I’d like to explore how to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:30, 2 Chronicles 7:14-17, Isaiah 59:1-2, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 11:28-30, Mark 14:28, 1 Samuel 7:2-4, James 4:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Breaking Down Barriers Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Oct 24, 2020

Peter’s response to these religious rule-keepers is a model for us as we face criticism or complaints. We’ll see that Peter’s answer is more pastoral than argumentative. I see seven correctives to help us handle criticism.

This week I shared something positive on Facebook and got pulverized. The criticism came quickly and repeatedly. Normally I’m more careful about posting about controversial matters so I wasn’t prepared for all the venomous vitriol and overwhelming opposition. One person simply replied, “Oh ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Plumb Line

Contributed by Charles Scott on Jul 11, 2009

Amos uses the Plumb Line as a metaphor to explain that both nation and the religious establishment are under judgment for being "out of line"; unrighteous.

The Plumb Line by Charles Scott, Church of the Good Shepherd, Indianapolis Trinity 5 —Proper 10B July 12 2009 The Plumb Line Old Testament Reading Amos 7:7 THIS IS WHAT the Lord God showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:7-17

Denomination: Anglican

Battling Exhaustion Series

Contributed by Ryan Akers on May 7, 2009

Exhaustion is something we all struggle with. Paul teaches us how to battle spiritual exhaustion in our lives in this message.

When I sat down in my office on Wednesday to write this message I found it very ironic that I was planning to preach on how to battle exhaustion in our lives while at the same time I was going through a very exhausting week. So, basically this message has come at just the right time. This week ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan