Sermons on Religious Tradition:

What God Wants On Sunday Morning

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 16, 2010

We are incurably religious, thinking that if we use the right formulas, we will be acceptable to God. But God wants our personal involvement and our investment in understanding Him.

Our most persistent sin is that we are religious. Of all the sins that men and women commit, of all the wrongheaded directions we take, of all the wayward wanderings on which we go, none is more persistent than this: that we are religious. As someone has put it, we are incurably religious. ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-26

Denomination: Baptist

Worldviews

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Aug 20, 2006

A look at the religious groups of Jesus day and how they were affected by their culture (as might be): 1. Zealots 2.Phariasees 3. Saduccees 4. Scribes 5. Herodians 6. Essenes

How would you like it if someone spit on you? In our cultural setting it would be a sign of disrespect, an attempt to shame and humiliate a person. But for some cultures, it has an entirely different meaning. I am reading a wonderful book entitled Christianity Rediscovered. It is written by a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:18-34

Denomination: Methodist

Great Expectations Part Two.

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Sep 3, 2006

Great expectations part two further conflict with the Pharisees. Whose right?

Mark 2:23-3:6. Great expectations part two. Regulations shape all our lives. Michael imagine a game of bridge without rules, Brain imagine a Cricket match without the wickets and the crease, Mark imagine a football match without a ball and the posts. Imagine these roads without highway code, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Social Justice And Critical Theory: Biblical Justice In An Age Of Ideological Civil War

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 27, 2021

There is an ideological civil war taking place in the United States, and in western civilization overall. This is a battle that displays itself along political lines, social lines, academic lines, and along religious lines.

Proverbs 21:15 "When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers." There is an ideological civil war taking place in the United States, and in western civilization overall. This is a battle that displays itself along political lines, social lines, academic ...read more

Scripture: John 7:24, Proverbs 21:15, Proverbs 28:5, Galatians 3:26-29, Matthew 5:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Set Free

Contributed by Ed Owens on Jan 17, 2007

Though freedom is often regarded as throwing off the restraints of religion, true freedom comes from obeying the scriptures.

SET FREE PSALM 119:32,45 JANUARY 14, 2007 I read some real life warnings on products. The first one was found on a snow sled. It warned: “Beware: sled may develop high speed under certain snow conditions.” I wonder if that warning was for ignorant Floridian kids who have never seen snow. I mean ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:32-45

Denomination: Baptist

Come And Behold Him

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Sep 22, 2006

The gift of the Maji.

This morning I want to invite you to join me in reflecting upon the timeless invitation that lies beneath all the activity of this season;…the invitation to COME AND BEHOLD HIM. As one of the great Christmas anthems declares so beautifully “O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant O come ye, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Listening To Unchristian America

Contributed by Jay Robison on Nov 1, 2007

Christianity has an image problem. What can we learn from how those outside the church see the church today. I use Jesus criticism of religious leaders to cause us to think.

I have used sermoncentral along with other resources in this message. James White’s Critical Times email was a starting point. I also referred to Kinnaman’s book. LISTENING TO UnCHRISTIAN AMERICA October 28, 2007 Jay Davis Robison MATTHEW 15:1-12 The Church in America HAS AN IMAGE ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

More Than Hatch, Match, And Dispatch Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 13, 2000

The church is for far more than empty ceremony on occasions demanded by tradition; it is the steward of new life, with a rich and full experience that employs the diversity of gifts God has given it.

Last week you seemed to get a big charge out of my little story about going to a wedding rehearsal and wasting time waiting for a key person to arrive. When I said that I didn’t know what we’d do on Sunday afternoon if he didn’t show up, you let out a belly laugh. You assumed I was talking about ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Vital Signs

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Apr 27, 2007

Answers the question: Are you a bold pioneer who is exploring new non-traditional ways of expressing faith and interacting with the Body of Christ - or are you just skipping church and quietly backsliding?

Dakota Community Church April 29, 2007 Vital Signs I recently went to the doctor for a general physical. Besides being violated, and crying all the time for about three days, it was only mildly horrifying. I was sent home with a blood pressure monitor to keep an eye on my “stage one ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-25

Denomination: Mennonite

Danerous Wonder

Contributed by Jerry Mckee on Dec 12, 2007

The Christian walk has become too safe. We need to have the exciting wonder that children have. We need to explore our Christian faith without the safety of tradition.

Dangerous Wonder * Introduction * Would you agree that being a Christian today is boring? * Daughter loves to fall off of my lap head first. * What would happen if we all took Jesus’ advice and “became like little children?” * The obstacle of Dullness * Don’t you just hate dull people? * “The most ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10

Denomination: *other

Washing Feet And A Kingdom Of Power Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 22, 2021

This passage gives us the dynamic example of Jesus washing feet. How can Jesus lay aside the traditional power structures to be able to live like that? The answer is in this passage.

PETER'S EMPHATIC "NO": Peter was deeply offended by Christ’s offer because he was still thinking of a traditional power structure. - John 13:6-10a. - The disciples were still expecting the inaugural of a traditional kingdom. - Rome was going to be overthrown, the Jewish nation was ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Living Out The Gospel: Lessons From Titus

Contributed by Ronald Moore on Nov 14, 2023

The Apostle Paul, writing to Titus, outlines the qualities of those who are to lead with integrity and humility. In our Anglican tradition, we recognize the importance of bishops, priests, and deacons embodying these virtues.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, let us turn our hearts and minds to the Epistle of Titus, a letter that holds timeless wisdom for our journey of faith. As we explore the pages of Titus, may the Holy Spirit illuminate our hearts and guide us in ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Healing Heart Wounds - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on Aug 10, 2018

Jesus can heal your broken heart. In this message we are dealing with Grief & Loss. We talk about the traditional five stages of grief and bring God's Word into the conversation.

2 Corinthians 1:3-11 DEFINITIONS: (WEBSTER’S) GRIEF - The pain of mind produced by loss, misfortune, injury or evils of any kind; sorrow; regret. We experience grief when we lose a friend, when we incur loss, when we consider ourselves injured, and by sympathy, we feel grief at the misfortunes of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11, Genesis 50:1-3, 1 Peter 5:6-7, Joshua 1:1-2

Denomination: Church Of God

Who May Dwell In Your Sanctuary

Contributed by Charles Scott on Oct 17, 2006

Jesus came to do more than stir our emotions: He intends that the whole person be renewed in his image; mind, body, soul and spirit by following the traditions of faithful devotion to Christ and the discipline outlined in Scripture.

Proper 17 (B) who may dwell in your sanctuary Deuteronomy 4:1-9 Moses said, “And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:1-9

Denomination: Anglican

In Search Of The North Pole

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 13, 2015

In the Book "Winnie the Pooh and the North Pole"; Christopher Robin has organized a band of animals on a journey to the North Pole. It seems to me, that this expedition to the North Pole is symbolic of our culture's quest for the spiritual.

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service, there are four Scriptures readings before the Message. Today's assigned Lessons are: 2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 50:1-6 ; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 ; and Mark 9:2-9 .; Children's stories .... Can often bring insight... to greater Spiritual Truths. In the Book ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Mark 9:2-9

Denomination: Anglican