Sermons on Religious Ritual:

The False Security Of Religion Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Oct 29, 2014

Who are you trying to please? Are you into a religion or are you into a relationship?

INTRODUCTION Some of you know the pastor of First Baptist Church of Orlando, Florida, Dr. Jim Henry, is a good friend of mine. Not long after they had been in their new building, they had an unusual thing happen on a Sunday morning. They were through most of the worship service and the choir was ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Religion Or Relationship? Series

Contributed by Ewen Huffman on May 2, 2003

Like us, Isaiah cries out for REVIVAL, but God answers surprisingly: He can’t bring it because the people really want RELIGION and he wants RELATIONSHIP

Religion or relationship? Isaiah 64:1-65:7 WBC 4 May 2003 pm. Kate Chapman’s Baptism Revival Good to have you here tonight. Good to be here! - Folks here with all kinds of outlooks, spiritually o you’re ALL v welcome! - Those - Seeking. Unsure. Tentative - those who feel no need to seek… no ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Heart For The Lord

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Nov 16, 2011

Do the so called transparent barriers that we construct between ourselves and God’s word provide enough safety from God’s wrath?

A Heart for the Lord Readings: Matthew 15:1-20 15:1-20pp -- Mk 7:1-23 1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" 3 Jesus replied, "And why do you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Who Killed Jesus?

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Aug 25, 2025

Who killed Jesus? Was it Judas, Caiaphas, or the Jews in general? The Apostles Creed says “He was crucified under Pontius Pilate,” no one else. If we’re looking for someone to blame, the buck stops at Rome.

One cold December morning in Sunday School, a child was busy drawing a picture of the Nativity. He drew 4 people next to a truck getting ready to board an airplane. His teacher was curious and asked him about it. The child explained that he was drawing the flight to Egypt, when the holy family ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-16

Denomination: Congregational

How To Test The Reality Of Your Religion Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 31, 2021

A Christianity that is not practical is not a real Christianity. If it does not control your conduct, and change your character, and make you more sensitive to the will of God and the world's need, then you better stop and ask some questions about the reality of your religion.

An anthropologist once visited a Bantu village in South Africa to study the customs of the very primitive people who lived there. When he returned to the U.S. he sent back a sun dial to those people to express his thanks for their cooperation. The natives were delighted with their gift, and they ...read more

Scripture: James 1:26-27

What Is Love?

Contributed by Jin Ming Ma on Aug 24, 2009

Mother’s love like Christ’ love which is faithful and kind.

What is love? Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13 I. Introduction According to the Book of Acts (18:1-17), about 54 CE the apostle Paul founded a church in the capital city of the Roman province of Achaia - Corinth. It was a large and prospering urban center with an ethnically, culturally, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: United Methodist

A New Beginning

Contributed by Rajendra Kadia on Feb 8, 2018

A person becomes new in Christ

Introduction: Human nature is to look for "new" things. We call January 1 as "New Year" though it is the same like other days of year. We are fascinated by "new" things like cellphones, house, new cars, new clothes and change in a routine. An idea of vacation is exciting because we expect "new" ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Each Doing Their Part

Contributed by Jeferson Tavares on Nov 8, 2020

Perhaps one of the great defects we have today is to blame others for failures in our personal lives, in our family, in our work environment or in our ecclesiastical community.

Each Doing Their Part Texts: I Chronicles 13: 1-14; Numbers 4: 15; 7: 9 Introduction: Perhaps one of the great defects we have today is to blame others for failures in our personal lives, in our family, in our work environment or in our ecclesiastical community. We hold the government responsible ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 13:1-14, Numbers 4:15

Reflection B.10 / Does God Have A Purpose In Coronavirus? Jeremiah 16:10-11, Forsaking God, Going After Idols

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 11, 2020

Why did God judge the Israelites? Forsaking him, following idols

In 2008 we went to China to watch the Olympics. Our two children were 10 and 8 and it really was a once-in-a-lifetime family holiday. When we first visited the main stadium – the ‘Bird’s Nest’ – I remember thinking, ‘It’s like a temple!’ At the Olympics, the flame, the oath, the hymn, the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 16:10-11

Denomination: Baptist

Learn! Live! Long For! Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Mar 18, 2019

Hebrew Christians 2000 years ago were reminded of the wanderings of their ancestors and we Christians too today are warned about straying away from and disobeying God!

We continue our worship of God by learning from the Letter to the Hebrews. The immediate audience of the letter were Hebrews who became Christians. The Temple in Jerusalem, where Jewish rituals and worship happen, was likely still there when the letter was written to those Hebrew Christians. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:7-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Why The Bible Shows The Holy Spirit In Symbols? Series

Contributed by Patrick Usifo on Jul 7, 2023

A symbol is like a picture that speaks volumes about things that words cannot describe.

Sometimes people inadvertently deploy iconic expressions to cut short the necessity of employing so many words in tactful discussions. For example, people often say a picture is worth a thousand words. This expression immediately brings up the image that a picture can reveal more intimate details ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Growing Goodness: A Journey Through The Fruits Of The Spirit SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 10, 2023

Exploring how the Holy Spirit cultivates virtues in the lives of believers.

The Holy Spirit is actively working in the lives of believers, producing fruit. This fruit is the result of developing a relationship with God through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. It brings about a noticeable change in our attitudes towards everything. The power of the Holy Spirit goes ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-25

Topics: Fruits Of The Spirit, Spiritual Growth

The Year Of The Lord’s Favor

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 14, 2001

As we look at the life of Jesus we see that same thing happening over & over again. So consistently does it happen that we begin to wonder, "What is God trying to tell us?"

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK A. This is the first Sunday, the first day of a brand new year. I think that an appropriate scripture this morning would be Isaiah 61:1 3. In many of your bibles it is sub titled, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Matthew 2:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Triumphal Entry Of Christ Into Jerusalm

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 21, 2016

There are basically two influences in all of our lives. You are doing what you are doing because of one or the other of these influences. The two influences are Righteousness and Religion.

What did you do this past week? Make a list in your mind of five or six things you did this past week. Now, think about why you did those things. What was behind the things that you did that made you do those things? Most people think that they are in control of their life, when in actuality; ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-44

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Judgment Is At Your Door

Contributed by Torri Evans on Sep 16, 2007

There are no appeals for your verdict.

REVELATION 20: 11-15 Judgment is at your door. Verse 12: And I saw the dead, small and great standing before God, and books were opened. Judgment. Our world today is fascinated by judgment. Judgment is even considered to be entertainment. Judgment is something we all will have to endure sooner or ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:11-15

Denomination: Pentecostal