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

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

The Religious Sinner, Nicodemus Series

Contributed by Jimmy Davis on Sep 19, 2001

Picture # 3 in the series: The 14 Candid Snapshots of the Maturing Christian as found in the Gospel of John. Nicodemus, a picture of the religious sinner who sits in the pew week after week but is not saved. John 3:16, preached to a religious sinner.

Picture # 3: The Religious Sinner, Nicodemus John 3:1-21 The Surgeon General teaches us that the key to good health and physical fitness is plenty of exercise, a balanced nutritional diet, and the proper amount of rest. The Surgeon General doesn’t mention that we have a body and a soul. It’s ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21, John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Religious Party Poopers

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Jun 9, 2005

A look at hypocrisy.

In what way was Christianity new and improved from Judaism? Why is it inappropriate for Christians to boring and depressed? Why do so many people have the idea that Christians are narrow minded and uncompassionate people? How can we balance celebration in Jesus with a serious commitment? Well ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:33-39

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Not To Be A Religious Leader

Contributed by William Mouser on Nov 28, 2005

In training his disciples to be leaders, Jesus pointed to the religious leaders of his day as examples to avoid.

Psalm 43, Micah 3:5-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13,17-20, Matthew 23:1-12 How Not to be a Religious Leader There’s an old story about three boys who are bragging about rich their dads are. The first boy said, "My dad is so rich. He writes a few paragraphs on a piece of paper. Calls it a poem. And he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Ungratefulness Of Religious People

Contributed by Rodney Johnson Sr., on Nov 28, 2002

In this text, Jesus reveals how prevelant ungratefulness is among religious people.

Introduction: Today many people will be celebrating what is called; "Thanksgiving Day." Parade goers will fill the streets. People will fill their yards with lavish eating and drinking. The smell of barbecue sauce will permeates the air. It is a tragedy that this day like most others have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:12-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Religious But Hard-Hearted Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 2, 2007

If God does not soften ones heart, one may dabble with religion, but one will never find a saving relationship with the true God.

The Religious But Hard-Hearted (Exodus 8:20-9:12) 1. What if God was politically correct? Imagine this: Moses was sitting in the Egyptian ghetto. Things were terrible. Pharaoh wouldn’t even speak to him. The rest of the Israelites were mad at him and making the overseers even more irritable than ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Answering Religious Pluralism

Contributed by Dr. Kenneth Rhodes, Jr on Sep 29, 2002

Defending the Christian faith against religious pluralism and tolerance.

1. Answering Religious Pluralism Also called tolerance. 2. Defining Pluralism · “Traditional tolerance (Social Pluralism) is now referred to as negative tolerance. This is defined as ‘respecting others beliefs and practices without sharing them,’ or ‘to bear or put up with something not ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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

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