Sermons on Religious Traditions:

Rugby, Reality & Religious Rivalry: Mark 9:31-34

Contributed by David Smith on Dec 14, 2006

Father Dave’s sermon on faith and discipleship. Why do the disciples so often seem to get it wrong? And what’s the good news in all this?

Yesterday was a great day for this community. Yes, I’m talking about the Newtown-St George Rugby game at Telstra Stadium, where our team, trailing by 2 points with only five minutes to go, ran in two tries to win by ten and get themselves a spot in next week’s Premier League Grand Final. Being ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:31-34

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Those Denying Resurrection Keep Religious Language To Spread Deception

Contributed by Frederick Meekins on Feb 10, 2012

Those Denying Resurrection Keep Religious Language To Spread Deception

In the 9/20/11 issues of Sojourners magazine is an advertisement for the 2012 Gladdening Light Symposium featuring Jesus Seminar scholar John Dominic Crossan. Part of the ad copy reads, "Feed the soul, savor the beauty, and experience the communion love of Agape in the Gladdening Light of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Rev #56~17:1-5 Origin Of Religious Babylon Series

Contributed by William D. Brown on Jun 22, 2010

Today I want to lay a foundation to a most important subject, the {ORIGIN OF RELIGIOUS BABYLON} there are countless people around the world that will not agree or except what I’m going to say, let me be sure and say right here at the beginning that I

Rev #56~17:1-5 ORIGIN OF RELIGIOUS BABYLON 5-29-10 Today I want to lay a foundation to a most important subject, the {ORIGIN OF RELIGIOUS BABYLON} there are countless people around the world that will not agree or except what I’m going to say, let me be sure and say right here at the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 17:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Why Were The Religious Leaders So Blind About Jesus? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 11, 2021

This passage speaks to the ignorant confidence that the religious leaders possessed. How do we avoid their mistake?

WHAT'S THE HEART OF THIS PASSAGE? The religious leaders had all that knowledge and yet they didn’t know God. - John 7:28d – “You do not know Him” - The religious leaders, of course, thought they were the epitome of knowledge and understanding. They loved the status they had among the people. ...read more

Scripture: John 7:25-36

Denomination: Baptist

Philosophie De La Musique Dans La Tradition "Louange-Adoration" Series

Contributed by Patrick Berthalon on Sep 1, 2010

Tradition "Louange & Adoration

PHILOSOPHIE DE LA MUSIQUE DANS LA TRADITION « LOUANGE-ADORATION » A. Musique des Grands Réveils dans l'Eglise Pendant le grand réveil du 17ème les auteurs les plus prolifiques du jour, Charles et John Wesley, emploient souvent dans leur hymnologie le concept de l'amour du Seigneur tout en mettant à ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 150:6

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Beware Of Spiritual Malware

Contributed by Thilini Perera on Jan 17, 2021

WORD OF GOD CONSTANTLY WARNS US TO BE ON OUR GUARD AGAINST THE MALICIOUS INTRUDER WHO COMES TO US IN VARIOUS DISGUISES TO STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY OUR LIVES, FAMILIES, CHURCHES BY INSTALLING MALWARE IN OUR HEARTS.

MALWARE IS MALICIOUS SOFTWARE DESIGNED TO STEAL, DAMAGE & DESTROY INFORMATION AND IT POSES A GREAT THREAT TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF OUR DAY. MALWARE IS EXPERTLY CRAFTED & CAMOPHLAGED FOR HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT UNDETECTED FOR LONGER PERIODS. ORGANIZATIONS, BANKS, COMPANIES ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Deuteronomy 12:30-31, Exodus 12:19, Genesis 3:6, Jeremiah 10:2-4, Jeremiah 16:19, John 4:24, John 8:32, Mark 7:6-13, Matthew 13:24-30, Proverbs 16:24-26  (view more)  (view less)

Inside-Outside Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 29, 2012

The condition of your heart is what determines your status with God, not the rituals and traditions you follow.

Introduction Have you ever asked someone a question and found you had touched a raw nerve? The other person swells up with emotion and then unleashes a tirade. “I’ve had enough of people asking me…” “You want to know my opinion? I’ll be glad to give you my ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Ritualism Versus Spiritual Reality Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on May 20, 2010

God desires to curb the trend toward formalism in religion which is satisfied with meeting external observation. To obey the moral precepts & principles of the word is infinitely more important than ceremonies & man-made traditions.

ZECHARIAH 7: 1-7 RITUALISM VERSUS SPIRITUAL REALITY [Ezra 6:1-11] The seventh and eighth chapters are the third distinct division of the prophecy. In the first portion was the call to national repentance and turning to the Lord for His Covenant blessings. After a national turning to God ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 7:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Vintage Wine

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Aug 22, 2023

Don’t let your faith turn to vinegar. Keep it fresh by letting the newness of Jesus Christ flow through you continually.

How many of you remember the 60’s? Some of us lived through that period, some of us have heard or read about it, and for some of us it’s as distant as the American Revolution. The 60’s were a kind of revolution too, complete with ideology and pamphleteers and civil unrest and rather more bloodshed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:36-39

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Did You Wash Your Hands?

Contributed by Howard Gunter on Sep 2, 2018

Understanding Traditions in the Church

Weekend Message/Devotion Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 September 2, 2018 How many times have you heard: “Okay everyone, wash your hands and get to the table, dinner is served!”? Those instructions had nothing to do with religion or religious practice, did they? Washing our hands before eating is a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-8, Mark 7:14-15, Mark 7:21-23, Isaiah 29:13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cleaning Services

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 18, 2023

We have been forgiven in Christ for the sins that we have committed and confessed. But the underlying condition out of which these sins arise - what’s to be done about that?

“Out, damned spot!” may be one of the most widely recognized lines Shakespeare ever wrote. I wonder why? In a more innocent age it might have been for the forbidden thrill of saying “damn.” But of course that doesn’t apply any more, does it. It’s one of the milder epithets available. If that’s the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Christianity Is Not Unique

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Feb 24, 2019

Christianity, in many ways, is not all that different than other religions and faith traditions. In fact, there is really only one thing about Christianity that is unique.

I’m going to begin this morning with a familiar text: "What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others." Sound good? That, of course is . . . a well-known saying of Confucius, a Chinese wise man who lived in the 5th and 6th century B.C. "What you do not wish for yourself, ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-59

Denomination: Baptist

Can Music Heal?

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on May 23, 2019

There has been a growing interest in the healing ability of music within the church. That has led some to explore ancient religious music traditions and practices as people seek supernatural encounters and deeper intimacy with God.

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn — shout for joy before the LORD, the King.” (Ps 98:4-6 NIV) Music has always been an ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 14:11, Ezekiel 28:13-15, Psalm 98:4-6, Isaiah 53:5, Revelation 5:10, Ephesians 5:19-20, Colossians 3:16-17, Revelation 15:3-4, Acts 16:25-26, Isaiah 24:16, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Romans 8:26, Jeremiah 2:13, Matthew 8:7, Exodus 15:26, Psalm 103:3, Psalm 33:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ripple Effect

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Apr 13, 2023

Conflict between the old and the new can lay the foundation for growth, even if the self-examination and change can be painful.

One afternoon when I was 14 or 15, my father and I down in a bottom of a large hole in the side yard digging a septic tank. We were digging with a trowel and a pair of pruning shears, because the ground was so laced with tough, springy ivy roots that you couldn’t use a shovel, you had to scrape ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:1-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Firm Foundation

Contributed by William D. Brown on Jul 31, 2008

Where tradition strays from Scripture’s teaching then tradition must give way and change.

“ Firm Foundation” Galatians 1:6-9 Before we read to day’s text let me lay a little groundwork for this message, Most of us have heard of Martin Luther, Born in 1483 in Eisleben Germany, He became fully immersed in the traditional Catholic faith. His great intellectual bent ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-9

Denomination: Baptist