Sermons on Religious Ritual:

The Heart Matters Most - Lessons From Matthew 15 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jun 12, 2025

GOD cares more about the condition of your heart than the traditions you keep. GOD desires genuine inner purity and authentic faith, not religious performance. True righteousness comes from a transformed heart, not outward tradition.

2025.06.15.Sermon Notes. The Heart Matters Most – Lessons from Matthew 15 When Religion Misses the Point William Akehurst, HSWC Reminder: It’s Father’s Day Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalms 51:10, Psalms 139:23-24 INTRODUCTION: JESUS confronts the religious leaders for honoring ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalm 51:10, Psalm 139:23-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Be Justified By Faith

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Apr 13, 2003

Too many people assume that the process involves going to church, learning to cite particular creeds or observing certain rituals. However, Paul teaches the Romans in this passage how Abraham was justified (established as right before God and acquitted fr

How To Be Justified By Faith (Rom. 4:1-8) Illustration:God does not expect us to submit our faith to him without reason, but the very limits of our reason make faith a necessity. Augustine. 1. Have you ever considered how to explain to another person the process of being justified by faith? Too ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Explaining The Meaning Of Being Justified By Faith

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Too many people assume that the process involves going to church, learning to cite particular creeds or observing certain rituals. However, Paul teaches the Romans in this passage how Abraham was justified (established as right before God and acquitted fr

How To Be Justified By Faith (Rom. 4:1-8) Illustration:God does not expect us to submit our faith to him without reason, but the very limits of our reason make faith a necessity. Augustine. 1. Have you ever considered how to explain to another person the process of being justified by faith? Too ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Spirit Of Festival Laws Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 22, 2021

Ancient Hebrews used a lunar-solar calendar, easy to observe in the sky as a new moon began a new month. Throughout the calendar year there were ritual observances of locally relevant harvests and commemorations of notable events. How is this relevant for Christians?

The ancient Hebrew year was observed using a lunar-solar calendar with 12 and 13 months over a 19 year cycle. This was easy to observe in the sky as a new moon began a new month. Throughout the calendar year there were ritual observances of locally relevant harvests and commemorations of notable ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:23-25, Romans 14:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

True Unadulterated Worship In The House Of God

Contributed by Christian Jones on Oct 21, 2023

In a world filled with distractions and temptations, it's vital for us to understand and embrace the concept of true unadulterated worship in the house of God. Genuine worship goes beyond rituals and routines, touching the very core of our relationship with God.

Point 1: Worship with a Humble Heart Exodus 20:3 - "You shall have no other gods before me." True worship begins with humility, recognizing that God alone deserves our reverence and adoration. When we come before Him with a humble heart, we acknowledge His supremacy and our dependence on ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:3, John 4:24, Psalm 100:4, Romans 12:1, Psalm 111:10, Psalm 133:1, Matthew 25:40, 2 Corinthians 4:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Go! And Praise With A Pure Heart - Psalm 119:7 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jul 18, 2025

The longest chapter in the Bible is not about laws and rituals—it is about delight in God's Word. Psalm 119 is a heart-felt celebration of God's truth, written by someone who deeply loved and honoured the Scriptures.

Go! And Praise with a Pure Heart - Psalm 119:7 Duration: 30 minutes Opening Prayer Lord, as we open Your Word today, open our hearts. Let Your truth be planted deep within us. Shape our thoughts, stir our affections, and strengthen our obedience. May Jesus Christ be glorified in all we say and do. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:7, 2 Timothy 2:15, James 1:22, Psalm 51:17, John 1:14, Romans 5:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Christian God Is A Bit Unusual, Isn't He? Series

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Oct 22, 2024

Crossing yourself may seem a bit weird to Christians who don't do it- a strange ancient (perhaps slightly superstitious) ritual. But at the heart of it are two great biblical truths - perhaps the two greatest truthes of all.

[This sermon was preached at St Barnabas Northolt Sunday 20th October 2024 - Trinity 21 Year B (Proper 24)] ………………………………………………........................................................................................................................ [Making the sign of the Cross] We meet in the name ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 7:13-14, Isaiah 53:4-12, Hebrews 5:1-10, Romans 3:22-23, Mark 10:25-45  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

How People Grow Series

Contributed by Alan Mccann on Jun 23, 2004

how people grow through right relationships

HOW PEOPLE GROW . . . RIGHT RELATIONSHIP ROMANS 3 If you go into any bookshop today you will find a large section on personal growth. It is a big industry. You will find books on popular psychology. Books on how to be successful in every area of your life. Books on being assertive, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:1

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Changing The Spiritual Climate Of Indifference Series

Contributed by Robert Massey on Jun 5, 2002

God gives a somber condemnation of indiffernce and speaks to the people of Joel’s day of what they must do to overcome it.

CHANGING THE SPIRITUAL CLIMATE: INDIFFERENCE Joel 2:1, 12-28 (1:1-5, 13-16) Joel is listed as one of the minor prophets, in contrast to the major prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, or Daniel. They are called the minor prophets simply because the short length of their works. The title, ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:1-28

Denomination: Church Of God

Stumbling Onto Grace Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Feb 7, 2012

What we need is a true picture of Jesus, with nothing avoided and nothing exaggerated. We must be careful to not overemphasize one aspect of Christ’s character at the exclusion of the totality of His being. People will stumble over Him, but if they open t

Stumbling onto Grace Romans 9:30-33 -Do you know what a caricature is? One definition says that it’s “a representation, especially pictorial or literary, in which the subject’s distinctive features or peculiarities are deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic or grotesque ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:30-33

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Jesus Pronounces Woes

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Oct 5, 2013

Jesus teaches us that woes serve as warnings about finding ultimate satisfaction with present pleasures.

Scripture Last week we began studying Jesus’ “Sermon on the Plain” that is recorded for us in the Gospel of Luke 6:20-49. Jesus’ sermon was about the kingdom of God. He drew a contrast between two ways of life. He explained the difference between those who belong to the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:24-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Balaam's Donkey - Part 2

Contributed by Bo Dunford on Nov 23, 2017

Strange Ways God Speaks To Us Power Point is available upon request

NUMBERS 22:21 “BALAAM AND HIS DONKEY” – PART 2 A) As I said last week, Balaam is one of those strange, mysterious characters in the Bible. * The Bible tells us in 2 Pet. 2:16 that Balaam was a prophet. * But it becomes very obvious that he was not a true prophet – He was a false ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Should Christians Seek Psychics Or Things Of The Spirits

Contributed by Michael Cotie on Oct 21, 2014

Our question for this evening is this “is it wrong to consult with a psychic or the spirits?” This we have specific commands about.

Title: Consulting Mediums, spirits and Spiritualist is it wrong Subject: The occult and the Christian Introduction: Our question for this evening is this “is it wrong to consult with a psychic or the spirits?” This we have specific commands about. God gave Moses clear instructions ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 20:27

Denomination: Baptist

All Have Sinned

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Aug 10, 2021

In fact, the family I was born into were all sinners. And when I went to school, I was surrounded by sinners. As life continued, I was not able to get away from sinners!

Alba 7-8-2021 ALL HAVE SINNED Romans 3:9-26 I am so glad to have so many of our relatives with us in church today. These are people from Janine's family. I actually knew most of them quite well before Janine and I got together. So now I am part of this family. And I love them all. But ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:9-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Listening To The Right Voice Series

Contributed by Brian Williams on Aug 16, 2022

The only way we will not be fooled or led astray is to know His voice. He’s our Good Shepherd and He calls to us to come through Him into the fold. He’s the gate and the gate offers us protection, peace, freedom and security from those who would attempt to turn us from following the Shepherd.

John 10:1-10: 1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational