Sermons on Religious Ritual:

"Artificial Righteousness”: Glorifying In The Flesh.

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 16, 2019

1) Religious Pride (Galatians 6:12a), by 2) Cowardice (Galatians 6:12b), and 3) Hypocrisy (Galatians 6:13).

This month, heavily armed assailants again attacked an Ebola treatment centre in the heart of eastern Congo’s deadly outbreak. Some community members wary of outsiders after years of deadly rebel attacks have shown hostility to health workers in a region that is facing its first Ebola outbreak. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:11-13

Denomination: Other

Nick At Night

Contributed by Tim Zukas on Feb 20, 2005

Nicodemus - religion vs relationship

Nick at Night This passage is one of the most familiar in scripture. You see John 3:16 advertised on road signs and sporting events. Luther called John 3:16, “the gospel in microcosm” It is one of the first passages that we memorize, usually in a Sunday School class. Now don’t get me wrong, I love ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fire Of Glory, Fire Of Drought

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 8, 2003

We have experienced the warm glow of God’s blessings, but the fire of judgment is also at hand, for worship becomes ritual, there is a critical spirit, and pessimism spreads. Diligence and integrity bring vitality in worship.

In all the annals of human history, there is one item which has held out more hope and yet offered more terror than any other. Wherever human beings gathered, in the infancy of our race, there this one item, this one element, both attracted them and repelled them; it drew them close and yet it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Pass The Peas

Contributed by Bishop Johnathan Hester on Aug 5, 2009

When you have finished one year and begin a new one, what can you do for good luck in the year to come? Our society has a variety of good luck rituals.

Pass The Peas Psalm 65:1-4 SCRIPTURE: " Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 65:1-4

Denomination: Apostolic

Living Water Series

Contributed by Richard White on Jan 30, 2010

Many go through life spiritually dehydrated. Rituals, creeds and the like do not fill us. Only Jesus can give us this fulfillment when we learn to worship in Spirit and in Truth.

Living Water John 4:4-26 Recently one of the major denominations met in Columbus to debate, of all things, whether or not Jesus Christ is the one true Savior of the world. Is he the universal Savior or might there be several? What about the other world religions and their claims? Some people ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Opportunities We Miss Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 2, 2023

Why did King Herod - and all of Jerusalem - miss the opportunity to go find Jesus in Jerusalem? And how can we avoid "missing" our opportunity find Jesus as well?

We opened by singing the first verse and chorus of “We three kings of Orient are” “We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. CHORUS: O, star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright. Westward leading, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Grand Opening Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Nov 23, 2007

I preach expository messages, and this is the nineteenth in my series on the Book of Acts.

“God’s Grand Opening” Acts 10:34-48 September 16, 2007 It came to be known as “Black Sunday”. Following a 15-day heat wave, the thermometer on that July day registered 110 degrees. The asphalt, laid only the night before, was still steaming, and thus the ladies who came attired in high ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:34-48

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Rules Are Made To Be Broken Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Nov 27, 2006

Discover the counter-cultural ethic that Jesus utilized as he ministered and saved the human race.

RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN Mark 2:18 – 3:6 Sermon #4 of “Ten Cultural Myths that Drive America” This is the fourth sermon in our sermon series, “Ten Cultural Myths that Drive America” from the first six chapters of Mark. Last week we looked at “Shop ‘Til You Drop” from Mark 2:13-17. We discovered ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

Christ Verses Legalism

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Apr 27, 2018

Christ has not only set us free from sin, but he has also set us free from religious rules and regulations.

CHRIST VERSES LEGALISM Text: Col. 2:16-19 Introduction 1. Illustration: "What must I forsake?" a young man asked. "Colored clothes for one thing. Get rid of everything in your wardrobe that is not white. Stop sleeping on a soft pillow. Sell your musical instruments and don't eat any more white ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:16-19

Denomination: Methodist

Do You Enjoy God

Contributed by William Nieporte on Nov 19, 2007

This was preached two Sundays after my resignation, dealing with the approaching time of transition that the church (and pastor) will be experiencing.

Introduction: Hold items dug up in the process of moving. Use them as references to all of the change that we have experienced individually and as a church. File – containing clergy records Church – nearly 75% of you were not actively involved when I arrived New article – 911 and all that has ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

Awaiting With Hope

Contributed by Rev Silvester David on Jul 1, 2025

We live in a multi-religious society where everyone will champion the course of what and who they belief in as God or the way of life. Christians must be fully aware what makes Christ and Christianity so different and significant comparing to all other religions and religious teachers or ‘gurus’.

What is the significant difference between Christianity and all other religions? 1. All other religions teaches ‘Work Salvation’ – you work towards attaining salvation. Muslims – must fulfill the 7 pillars of Islam; Hinduism – Karma (do good get good, do evil get evil); Buddism – Charity increases ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3

What Doth The Lord Require Of Thee

Contributed by Grant Adams on Mar 13, 2021

God has brought a charge against His people, and the charge is the same that He brings to us today. Their religion and their worship had become nothing but emptiness and meaningless rituals. All of it had become unrelated to their character and unrelated to their daily life.

They were deeply religious. They were very faithful in performing the acts of worship, but they were empty and meaningless. They had no affect whatsoever on the character of those who worship and on their daily walk and activities. As we go through this life serving God, we need to be careful not ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

Declare Your Independence Series

Contributed by Clint Meade on Sep 29, 2007

An exposition of Col. 2:16-19

Colossians 2:16-19 Clint Meade Cornerstone Baptist Church, 9-30-2007 Along with the rest of the western world, I have been watching the events that are unfolding within Venezuela and Iran. Those two nations are being led by two very dangerous men. Both Hugo Chavez of Venezuela ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:16-19

Denomination: Baptist

“spectators Or Combatants?” Series

Contributed by Chris Surber on Dec 20, 2011

Man's religion is at war with God's revelation.

Introduction “The tale is told of a soldier during the Civil War who simply could not make up his mind which side of the conflict he supported. Thus, he dressed in a blue coat and gray pants, and walked down the center of the battlefield confident of his approval by both sides…and was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:34-39

Denomination: Christian Church

The Lord Of The Sabbath Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on May 17, 2024

This is a study of the gospel of Mark regarding the life of Jesus. It is based on my personal study and research of Scripture and many books and sermons I have read over the years.

GOSPEL OF MARK: GOD’S SERVANT IN ACTION LORD OF THE SABBATH A. Mark 2:23-24 (READ) 1. Over the years STATES and CITIES have had some very strange LAWS on their BOOKS. a. In Florida, a woman may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer. b. In Indiana, citizens are not allowed to attend a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:21-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ