Sermons on Religious Ritual:

Justice And Righteousness Better Than Rituals

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 19, 2020

The danger of worship without mercy.

JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS BETTER THAN RITUALS. Amos 5:18-24. Historically, Israel had split into two kingdoms shortly after the death of king David’s son, king Solomon. The ten tribes of the north rejected both the dynasty of David, and the worship of the Jerusalem temple, and set up their ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:18-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Religious Or Christ-Like?

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: There is a big difference between being "religious" and following Jesus Christ.

Thesis: There is a big difference between being "religious" and following Jesus Christ. Intro.: 1. When you hear someone use the word "religion" or hear someone refer to another person as "religious" what do you think of? a. Illust. Do you think of "Church Lady" on Saturday Night Live who goes ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-39

Righting The Religious Rut Series

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 8, 2005

4th in 5 part series on overcoming the obstacles and difficulties of life using five different Psalms. We used a "journey" or "road" metaphor in terms of the bumps of success, fear, guilt, the religious rut and grief, etc.

RIGHTING THE RELIGIOUS RUT Navigating the Bumps of Life - Week 5 PSALM 63:1-8 INTRODUCTION: (Faith Story - Beth Rampleberg) Thank-you Beth. Did you catch the words and phrases in Beth’s faith story? “Obligation,” “knowledge in my head but not my heart,” “something was missing,” “emptiness,” ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:1-8

Denomination: Christian Church

What Is A Religious Sinner? Series

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 13, 2022

Here, the Gentiles are the individuals who sin, are separated from the law, while the Jews are the people who sin while under the law.

Romans 2:17-29 depicts two groups of individuals, with an accentuation on the way in which their transgression connects with their insight into God's composed Law for the country of Israel. Here, the Gentiles are the individuals who sin, are separated from the law, while the Jews are the people ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:17-29

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Who Has You Covered?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jan 14, 2016

Many are religious and many claim Christ but will they have the right covering when Jesus arrives?

Isaiah chapter 29 starts with woe, but ends in an awesome WOW! God is speaking to His rebellious children of judgment in the first thirteen verses, but speaks of revival and restoration in the remainder of the chapter. I find it profound that the switch from judgment to blessing starts after verse ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Religious Play-Acting

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 10, 2025

Jesus frees us from religion’s stage—calling us from performance to presence, from spotlight to sunlight, to live unmasked before the Father.

Religious Play-Acting The Sermon on the Mount opens with blessing and ends with a choice: sand or rock, appearance or obedience. Between those two poles, Matthew 6 sits like a quiet heart—Jesus’ exposition of motive. Here the Lord shifts from what disciples do to why they do it. He moves from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18, Luke 18:9-14, Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 23:27, John 4:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Religious People Beware Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Sep 30, 2018

Religious People Beware (Hypocrisy) – Sermon by Gordon Curley. PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info

SERMON OUTLINE: Woe #1: For focussing on small matters while overlooking the big issues (vs 42). Woe #2: For making it all about me (vs 43). Woe #3: For deceiving others into becoming defiled (vs 44). Woe #4: For adding to others guilt without assuming any themselves (vs 45-46) Woe #5: For faking ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:37-54

Denomination: Brethren

The Real Deal Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 16, 2009

Sermon contrasts religious form with spiritual substance with reference made to decline and need for revival that occurred in Israel’s history.

The Real Deal James 1:25-27 5-25-08 Our story opens this morning in 2 Samuel 6:12-15 “Now it was told King David, saying, "The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom ...read more

Scripture: James 1:25-27

Denomination: Charismatic

Are You Religious Or Spiritual?

Contributed by Jay Winters on Jun 28, 2008

This week the texts seem to revolve around the idea that you can’t be "religious" but not "spiritual". It sounds like that tired line, "I’m spiritual but not religious". In the Gospel reading, I think it is interesting how Jesus heals both someone who wou

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Three in One who has come to call sinners home. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Up to 10 percent of the world’s population that does not attend church on a regular basis describes itself as “spiritual, but not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-26

Denomination: Lutheran

The Anamosity Of The Religious Leaders Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 9, 2017

Peter had just been preaching the resurrection of Jesus, and “the Sadducees” saw danger arising from such teaching. Peter an John had wrought a great miracle by healing the lame man, a miracle which the Sadducees could not deny.

October 7, 2013 By: Tom Lowe Series: The Early Church Lesson II.C.3.a: The Animosity of the Religious Leaders (4.1-22) Acts 4.1-22 (KJV) 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 ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Defender Of Religious Liberty Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 15, 2012

St Robert Bellarmine would be an excellent candidate for the patron of the Church in defense of religious liberty, as we face a determined political system who would destroy us.

17 September 2012 St. Robert Bellarmine Verbum Domini Today’s saint is one who is not quoted in Verbum Domini by our Holy Father. Perhaps the reason is that Robert Bellarmine, who lived in the sixteenth and seventeenth century, was a controversial theologian in his time. We might say that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:17-21

Denomination: Catholic

Guilt & Hypocrisy Of The Religious Series

Contributed by Robert Simmons on Jan 1, 2014

IN ROMANS 1, PAUL SHOWS HOW SINFUL HUMANITY IS WITHOUT THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURES. IN THIS STUDY, PAUL CONTRASTS AND SHOWS HOW SINFUL ARE THOSE WHO KNOW THE SCRIPTURE BUT ARE BOUND BY THEIR SINFUL NATURE

Romans 2:1-16—Guilt & Hypocrisy of the Religious 1. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever you art that judges: for wherein you judges another, thou condemns yourself; for you that judges do the same things. 2. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:1-15

Denomination: Church Of God

Understanding Religious Fundamentalism

Contributed by Robert Sickler on Mar 12, 2015

The United States has a very long history of unsuccessful conflicts with Islamic fundamentalists. The reason is that the only person who can really understand the dedication of a religious fundamentalist is another religious fundamentalist.

UNDERSTANDING RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM ILLUSTRATION THE GATHERS There was a very wise man who one day decided to journey to a neighboring city with three of his followers. They were not long into their journey when they came upon a man picking berries. In his quest to get the largest and best ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-7

Denomination: Christian Church

Religiously Transmitted Diseases

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Sep 18, 2009

Did you know that there are spiritual diseases you can catch from practicing your religion? Jesus shows us two of them in Luke 15:11-32. Let’s explore them together.

RELIGIOUSLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES 2 RELIGIOUSLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN LUKE 15:11-31 September 20, 2009 ________________________________________ (I credit Ed Gungor for the title of this message. His book entitled "Religously Transmitted Diseases" served as a jumping off point for me to write ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Religious In All Respects

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Mar 11, 2012

Religion doesn’t save you; a relationship with God through Jesus Christ saves you.

Religious in all Respects March 11, 2012 Morning Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: Religion doesn’t save you; a relationship with God through Jesus Christ saves you. Focus Passage: Acts 17:22-31 Supplemental Passage: If anyone thinks himself to be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-31

Denomination: Baptist