Sermons on Religious Ritual:

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

The Product Of A Truly Repentant Heart Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Dec 18, 2020

What does it look like for someone who truly repents versus someone who is religious and self-righteous? Let's take a look

Grace Community Church Winchester, VA Pastor Bradford Reaves Watch this message at: https://youtu.be/XeBqmU3cLVI Introduction I want you to think back to the time of your salvation when you truly repented for your sins before God. Some of you know the moment and for some of you, I shared that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-14

Denomination: Brethren

Gaining A Worldwide Vision

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jan 7, 2014

What happened in this passage is of critical importance to church history. The events in this passage need to be studied by every church and every body of believers.

MAR 17 2013PM Gaining a Worldwide Vision Acts 11: 1-18 Usually as we begin each study, I lead in to the message with the ending of the previous week’s message. I don’t have to do that tonight because our passage comes from Acts 11: 1-18 and in it, Peter recaps the whole episode. So ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

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 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

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

Mythbusters 2

Contributed by Gregory Helman on Nov 20, 2009

Destroys the myth that I only need to be religious.

May 7, 2006 Mark 12:28-34 Mythbusters “I Just Need To Be Religious” I. Religion majors in rules. One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: *other

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

Rtd - Pt. 2 - Apathy Angina Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Aug 24, 2019

Religion promises life and then it sickens! It steals hope, joy and eventually life! Are you contaminated with an RTD? The cure is

I. Introduction It was the morning of December 7th, 1941. There were 353 Japanese airplanes diving and strafing the American battleships and military sites in Pearl Harbor. The results of the "surprise" attack were devastating. 8 battleships sunk. 6 major airfields destroyed. And the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:37-46

Denomination: Pentecostal

Rtd - Pt. 3 - Performance Pathogen Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Aug 24, 2019

Religion promises life and then it sickens! It steals hope, joy and eventually life! Are you contaminated with an RTD? The cure is

I. Introduction One of the scary things about certain diseases is that you can be infected and not even be aware of the presence of the disease until later in life. On the outside everything seems normal. Daily activities are uninterrupted. Life moves on down the road. However, either age (like 40) ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:7-9, Exodus 18:13-17

Denomination: Pentecostal