Sermons on Religious Ritual:

Cleansing The Temple

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Mar 26, 2024

Cleansing the Temple

Cleansing the Temple Scripture: John 2:13-25 Reflection Jesus cleanses the temple in Jerusalem, driving out the merchants and money changers. This event holds profound significance, revealing aspects of Jesus' character and mission. Here, we delve into the rich layers of this passage, ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-25

Denomination: Other

Re-Examining Our Practice Of Christianity Series

Contributed by William Baeta on Aug 28, 2024

Follow the commands of the Lord. Do not add or subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God

The majority of Ghanaians, around sixty percent, claim to be Christian. In a few months, we will be voting to elect a new president and new members of parliament. The campaign has already started and we are being told that not all that we hear is really the truth. Are Christians not ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17-27, Deuteronomy 4:1-9, Mark 7:9-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Faith On Autopilot – Going Through The Motions Without Heart Series

Contributed by Dr. John D. Wentworth on Sep 27, 2025

There’s comfort in routine. Singing the same hymns, praying the same prayers, sitting in the same pew each Sunday—it all feels safe. But these familiar patterns can lull us into a dangerous place: performing religion instead of pursuing Jesus.

Title: Faith on Autopilot – Going Through the Motions Without Heart Text: Matt. 15:8-9 ‘This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ “When routine replaces relationship” Introduction: “When faith ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:8-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Fullness Of Christ

Contributed by Richard Francis on Aug 19, 2008

As a Christian is your heart for people, walk with Jesus and see how he reached out with a heart for people and lets learn to be more like our Lord everyday.

A prayer for all believers in Christ Before we explore John 5: 1-11 can you walk with me for a while and consider our hearts? I would like to start by asking what fills your inner being, what defines you? It’s a difficult one to answer, if you are like me many things can fill my inner being most ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Matter What - Keep Serving

Contributed by Colin Thornby on Nov 6, 2010

Jesus' call to us is service (Luke 17:11-19)

Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem. He will be betrayed, tortured, abandoned and murdered. He’s going willingly, in the full knowledge of what will happen to him. Yet, instead of being paralysed by fear, despair or anger at the unfairness of it all, he continues to live out the way of service. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: *other

Warfare

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005

We need to keep in mind that throughout this letter Paul is writing to a divided church, and a church that is being seduced by false teachers. These false teachers charged Paul with being very courageous when he wrote letters from a distance, but said t

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: A custom of the natives in New Guinea is told. At certain times they have rituals, songs, and dances. They work themselves up into a frenzy and the ritual culminates in what are called “the murder songs,” in which they shout before God the names of the people they wish ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Know For Sure

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Jun 4, 2007

There can be no spiritual journey or rightful claim to Christianity without first having a personal encounter with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

WE DETERMINE IF CHRISTIANITY BECOMES DEFINED AS EITHER RELGION OR RELATIONSHIP. THE DEFINING FACTOR OF WHAT CHRISTIANITY BECOMES IS BASED SOLELY ON WHERE WE DECIDE TO PUT JESUS IN OUR LIFE. SO, JUST HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN? WHAT CRITERIA WOULD YOU SAY NEEDS TO BE MET ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-5

Denomination: Free Methodist

Equal Rights And Marriage

Contributed by Robert Sickler on Mar 30, 2013

The objection to all the fuss people are raising over equal rights in marriage hinges on the proposition that marriage is primarily a secular institution regulated by a non-Christian government and therefore it is something Christians should not get all w

EQUAL RIGHTS AND MARRIAGE ILLUSTRATION There was a young man who was about to enter high school. The guidance counselor called him into her office and asked him if he would prefer the agricultural or the vocational section. The young man explained to her that he wanted to be put in the academic ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:4

Denomination: Christian Church

We Serve The Same Purpose Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Oct 3, 2014

With Jesus as our leader or 'coach' all believers are called to the SAME team to follow Him. He leads us, but to what? What is the purpose of following Christ? Paul makes that known here in Col 2 and this morning we will see what he means...

Sermon Brief Date Written: Sept 25, 2014 Date Preached: Sept 28, 2014 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: We Serve the SAME God Sermon Title: We Serve the SAME Purpose! Sermon Text: Colossians 2:1-23 [ESV] Introduction: Over the past few weeks we have learned that ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Going For Life Change

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Oct 13, 2013

The Pharisees did not experience life change because they had a different belief. Don't replace the relationship with a religion. Don't make the outward more important than the inward.

RECAP – John 20:24-28. We saw last week how Thomas finally saw Jesus alive and uttered the most profound statement of faith – “My Lord and My God!” (1) LET GO of our Agenda – don’t cling on to the demands we set. (2) CHOOSE to have faith - faith is a choice ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:23-28

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Hosea 6:4-11 Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on May 15, 2013

Gods call of repentance in v.1-3 is followed up by a warning about NOT repenting!

Hosea 6:4-11 [HCSB] May 15, 2013 Oak Park Baptist Church – Wed Bible Study Series Hosea Bible Study A Study of the Minor Prophets Hosea (750-725 BC) HOSEA to Israel (Northern Kingdom) Last time we looked at Hosea we looked at v.1-3 of this chapter and it was a cry by Hosea for the nations of ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 6:4-11

Denomination: Baptist

Disregarding Tradition And Taboo (Matthew 15:1-39)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Aug 20, 2025

In this chapter, we read about the Lord Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees yet again, and of His mercy to a Gentile woman whose daughter was possessed by a demon.

Coming from Jerusalem, the Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples did not perform the traditional ritual of washing one’s hands before eating. This ceremony had been established by the “elders” and had nothing to do with hygiene alone, but was instead an elaborate ritual that involved not only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Mark 7:24-30, Mark 8:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Paul's Sermon At Athens: The Evidence Of A Shepherd's Heart

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jun 6, 2021

When Paul arrived in Athens, he was grieved over the rank idolatry of the city with statues and temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses. He knew that the Gospel had to be proclaimed. Souls hung in the balance. This is the heart of a man of God and the example we need to follow today.

When Paul arrived in Athens to wait for Silas and Timothy to join him, he looked around the city and did not marvel at the beauty of the city's temples or the culture or anything typical of a tourist's curiosity. If he were to be classified as a "sightseer", the sights he saw ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-36, Mark 1:14-15, John 10:27-30, Acts 17:16-18, Romans 1:16-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Stagnant Bottom

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 15, 2008

We begin by looking at the spiritual area of our lives. Is God really in control of our spiritual walk or do we just assume God is? What do we mean by spirituality and is this how God’s Word describes it?

7UP: Stagnant Bottom 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 September 14, 2008 Bishop Davis liked to golf and he was pretty good. But at one point, his game started to flounder a little so he swallowed his pride and signed up for golf lessons. When he arrived, he was greeted by the golf pro, who Bishop Davis ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Denomination: Church Of God

God And People Of All Faiths

Contributed by Minister Dachi on Sep 29, 2022

This world we live in is a world of religions, beliefs, traditions, customs, methods, languages, regions, languages and folktales!

This world we live in is a world of religions, beliefs, traditions, customs, methods, languages, regions, languages and folktales! This place where we live, this town, this country is not only the world. Human civilization spread across the globe. We live in a world filled with many mixed, mixed ...read more

Scripture: Amos 9:1-12, Romans 2:17-29