Sermons on Religious Traditions:

Christmas - A Hijacked Holiday Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Dec 3, 2013

CHRISTMAS has been hijacked in America. And unlike the latest Tim Allen movie, it’s not Santa who needs to be rescued. It’s the very meaning of Christmas itself.

This week, we begin a new series titled, "Christmas Through the Ages." Beginning with the current celebration of Christmas, we will travel back in time, looking at Christmas celebrations, until we arrive at the very first Christmas. Today we begin with Christmas 2013 - A Hijacked Holiday." What ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 18:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Part Two The Historical Jesus Series

Contributed by Denis O'callaghan Ph.d. ,th.d., D.d., D. Phil. on Sep 19, 2012

An unexamined faith is not faith at all it's superstition.

Sometimes we need a change of view. In most of your cases you need to have your "eyes of your understanding" checked for myopia (my·o·pi·a Nearsightedness. or Lack of imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight). What I write here is not by any means complete and as I read other sermons I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:1-2

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Whoopers, Nice Guys, And Rabbis

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 17, 2008

Some churches want entertainment, some want not to disturb anyone. But a Great Commission church will be interested in teaching everyone to obey everything commanded.

Funeral services always challenge me. It is always a high and solemn duty to speak a word from God to those who gather to remember someone’s life. I can hardly say that I enjoy funerals; they are a lot of work. But I can certainly say that I find them a challenge, I find them occasions that demand ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Rejected God

Contributed by Hans Krause on Oct 22, 2018

We can call ourselves Christians, go to church, give our tithes, etc. and yet have rejected God effectively. The picture Jeremiah gives of life in Judah comes close to life in the Christian West, with several gods competing for our loyalty.

[Sermon preached on 4 March 2018, 3rd Sunday in Lent / 3rd year, ELCF Lectionary] It is so endearing at times to see little children in a big supermarket or shopping mall. They come in with mom or dad, but as soon as they see something interesting—toys, candies, pets, or anything else that ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 7:16-26, John 8:46-59

Denomination: Lutheran

The Logos Prepared The Way Series

Contributed by Christopher Roberts on Nov 25, 2003

Jesus was with God at creation. He was there as a word. At Christmas we celebrate the incarnation of that word. His communication creates a reality and gives us hope for a better future.

Advent is a time of preparation. We are preparing for the celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus. At the same, we also wait for the Second Coming, waiting for the consummation of God and God’s creation. We are waiting and we are preparing. As we prepare we must enter into dialogue. We have ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

Great Expectations Part 1

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Aug 13, 2006

Looks at the challlange of legalism and grace.

"Great expectations." Introduction: A man once asked a friend why he never got married? "Looking for the perfect girl" was the reply. "Surely you’ve meet at least one girl that you wanted to marry?" "Yes once. She was the perfect girl in every way." "Well why didn’t you marry?" "Well she was ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

21st Century Sabbath Keeping Series

Contributed by Todd Stiles on Oct 23, 2006

What does the Sabbath have to do with us today? And are we commanded to keep it? Find out more in this exposition from Luke 6.

¡§21st Century Sabbath Keeping¡¨ (Luke 6:1-11) If you¡¦ve read our focus passage before today, you¡¦ll know one of the key words is the word ¡¥Sabbath.¡¦ You probably know it is mentioned 6 times, and you probably know it is the apparent centerpiece of the debate going on between Jesus and the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Trial Of Stephen, Part 5

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Oct 5, 2024

This morning, we shall see how the failures of the Wilderness generation and their rejection of Yahweh for a golden calf became the paradigm for the Sanhedrin's rejection of Jesus for a Golden Temple made by hands.

The Trial of Stephen, Part 5 Acts 7:36–41 NKJV He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years. “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:36-41

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Release The Murderer

Contributed by Rich O' Toole on Feb 7, 2024

Jesus on trial before Pilate

Release the Murderer Mark 15:1-15 Good morning. Last week, the Atlanta first News website reported, “A murder suspect is on the loose after he was accidentally released, according to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. Zion River Shaka, 30, had been booked in Fulton County Jail since 2020 but he ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From The Inside Out

Contributed by Charles Worth on Aug 6, 2011

Challenging the believer to walk outside their comfort zone

From the Inside Out Mark 7:1-30 We all like it when things are neat and tidy. We all want order in our lives. We like to come into church on Sunday morning and getting the bulletin and knowing what to expect when. We have announcements then we pray, then we sing, then we take up the offering and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Sin Of Externalism Series

Contributed by Donald Rapp on Jul 24, 2010

I want to explore the characteristics of externalism today and offer a remedy for dealing with it if it begins to creep into your life.

The Sin of Externalism The Book of Mark Mark 2:15-3:6 I. Introduction: A. Do you consider yourself to be religious? B. A religious person is defined as one who exhibits religion. 1. One who practices the customs and observances of his faith. 2. He is often described as being pious, or devout. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Writing Off The Future

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 15, 2014

Teaching Christian values without bringing our children to faith in the Risen Son of God, condemns them to eternal death. The Pharisees stand as a beacon warning Christians not to succumb to the lure of presenting Christian values.

“Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Your Love Quotient Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 20, 2005

The greatest commandment is to love God, and the second is to love people. What does it mean to truly love God with all our heart?

It is not easy to sum up all the commandments that govern life in one or two sentences, but Jesus did it. It is amazing! Think about it. If you get these commands right, you’ll get the rest right. Jesus says (in Matthew’s version), “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Seasoning The Season Series

Contributed by Richard Pfeil on May 11, 2005

The opeing message that kicks off a six part series on making Christ more central in our Christmas celebrations.

Seasoning the Season TEXT: Luke 2: 9-14; Hebrews 9: 1-10 Sunday, November 24,2002 I’m always confused about this service because there are two things that need to be accomplished at the same time. Advent begins next Sunday and if we are to get the most out of our Advent season, it is important ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:9-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Mystery Babylon And The Current Confusion In The Church Series

Contributed by Bob Faulkner on Jul 31, 2015

Who can we trust these days? Do all roads really have to lead to Rome?

SIXTY-SEVEN: THE LAST POPES At the end of the Old Testament is Malachi. In these last days of the Roman Church, there is Malachi Martin, aggressive "prophet" to the Catholic people, former Jesuit professor, one who served with John XXIII. Comments from his book, The Decline and Fall of the Roman ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:24

Denomination: Assembly Of God