Sermons on Ritual Cleansing:

The First Shall Be Last, And The Last Shall Be First

Contributed by Craig Condon on Apr 22, 2015

Jesus says that it isn’t the religious folk who are first in the kingdom of heaven. It is those who are most open to turning their lives around who are first in line, those who take action when Jesus says, “follow me”.

It’s painful to have someone you trust tell you that they are going to do something for you---and they don’t. Many of us can tell stories about people who have let us down by making promises and then not following up on them. For example, there is a story of a young widow whose husband ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32

Denomination: Anglican

Deadwood

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 7, 2008

What have you substituted in your life in exchange for God’s power? Is it rituals? Family activities, Spiritual mountaintop memories? Church duties?

I visited one of our members in the nursing home. He told me that he didn’t have long to live because of his diagnosis of cancer. So I inquired of his wisdom so I could perhaps glean some jewels of knowledge to help me along my life journey. One question that I asked him, was “What one thing would ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:18-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus - Faithful And True

Contributed by Brian Buriff on Jun 14, 2006

Tending to the ruins of life. Prayers of wretched truthful passion, not ritual trendy pretense, connect us and keep us faithful to God.

I. INTRODUCTION - Jesus Is Referred To Many Names In OT & NT A. Rev. 3:14 - He Is Also Called “Faithful And True” 1. Imagine being in 1st century persecuted church – Nero’s persecution •Matthew - executed by sword in Ethiopia. •Mark - cruelly dragged through an Egyptian city street. •Luke - ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14

Denomination: Church Of God

Presumption

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 9, 2007

Religion does not create a relationship with God, nor does ritual. It is refinement born of repentance that shapes that relationship. Repent, relate, and receive.

“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Famous words supposedly spoken by journalist Henry Morton Stanley somewhere in Tanganyika at the end of his expedition to find the missing explorer. “I presume”. It means, “I think I know what I am doing. Would you please confirm it for me? You look like what I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Naaman (2 Kings 5)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 16, 2025

Do we demand certain rituals or a simple word from God? Let's look at 2 Kings 5.

Do we see God in simplicity or do we demand complicated rituals? Do we misuse church funds or are we scrupulously honest? Let’s look at 2 Kings 5. What happened when a Syrian army commander had a skin disease and wanted to be healed? Did Elisha perform a lot of mumbo jumbo, or give a simple ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What God Desires PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 8, 2023

Explores God's desire for justice and righteousness over rituals, and how we can live out these values in our daily lives.

Hey there, folks. I'm glad you could join us today. We're going to spend some time in the book of Amos today. Yeah, that's right, Amos. It's a little book tucked away in the Old Testament, but it's got a big message for us. Before we get into it, let's read the passage together. Amos 5:23-24 says, ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:23-24

Topics: God's Desire

It's Time To Face Hard Reality, Not Fantasy PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 25, 2023

God desires genuine worship from our hearts, not just rituals, and we must align ourselves with His divine will and justice.

Good morning, beloved family. Today, we're going to dive deep into a passage from the book of Amos that's as challenging as it is enlightening. We're going to take a good, hard look at the hard reality of God's justice, the fantasy of false worship, and the mighty hand of God. Now, before we read ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:18-27

Topics: Justice, Supreme

Lady Cassandra Vs The Toddler Whom Love Bade Welcome

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Oct 22, 2025

Lady Cassandra from Doctor Who is a chilling example of someone who felt the Universe owed them something - But God doesn't owe us a favour for all we have done for him. He just simply loves us

This sermon was first preached on 26th October 2025 at St Francis of Assisi Hemel Hempsted .............................................................................................................................. Back in 2005 one of the very early episodes of the New Doctor Who featured Zoe ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, 2 Timothy 4:6-18, Luke 15:11-32, 1 Corinthians 15:9

Denomination: Anglican

The Power Of The Word Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 10, 2012

The story of Elisha and Naaman teaches us about the Word of Evangelization, the Word of direction, and the Word of testimony, all powerful in the saving of souls.

Monday of the 3rd Week in Lent Verbum Domini At least as early as the time of St Gregory of Nyssa in the 4th century (On the Baptism of Christ), the Fathers of the Church were seeing this healing of Naaman the Syrian as a type of Baptism. The story is a compelling reminder of the impotence of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-15

Denomination: Catholic

The Father’s Provision For Purification Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Feb 3, 2011

In response to repentance & faith in Jesus, God cleanses you both inside & out. Sorrow over sin is not an end in itself. Those who repent & follow God find He revives the heart of the contrite & blots out their sins.

ZECHARIAH 13: 1-6 THE FATHER’S PROVISION FOR PURIFICATION Following the great outpouring of the Spirit who brings spiritual illumination, recognition of the Crucified One, and the resulting sorrow of repentance (12:10-14), the Spirit then brings cleansing. Sorrow over sin is not an end in ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 13:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

What To Do When Depressed Series

Contributed by Manny Salva Cruz on Oct 19, 2015

Many times, we have difficulty serving the Lord when we are emotionally depressed and we don't know what to do. In this message, we will discuss the causes and the cures for depression basing from Joshua's experiences in the defeat from Ai.

WHAT TO DO WHEN DEPRESSED SCRIPTURE READING: Joshua 7:1-6 (NIV) "But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things[a]; Achanson of Karmi, the son of Zimri,[b] the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. 2 Now Joshua ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-6

Denomination: Nazarene

Getting Thrown Out

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Apr 13, 2015

The Temple of God had a place for you and I called the Court of the Gentiles. It was a place for all the Non-Jewish people could gather. God provided a place for people just like us even though we are not Jewish.

Getting Thrown Out Mark 11:12-25 Have you ever been thrown out from somewhere? I mean really, here’s your hat get moving we want you out of here kind of thing? Maybe you got thrown out of your brother or sisters room or maybe you got thrown out of a car and lost your ride? But here we ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Pentecostal Promises

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on May 18, 2017

Holy Spirit - Pentecost Sunday - The Fulfillment of God's Promise-The Coming of the Holy Spirit! The Power of God's Promise - The Infilling of the Holy Spirit! The Proclamation of God's Promise - New Life through the Holy Spirit

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21; Luke 24:48-49; Acts 1:4-5 Call to Worship - Psalms 104:24-34 Theme: Holy Spirit - Pentecost Sunday - 1. The Fulfillment of God's Promise - The Coming of the Holy Spirit! 2. The Power of God's Promise - The Infilling of the Holy Spirit! 3. The ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21, Luke 24:48-49, Acts 1:4-5

Denomination: Nazarene

The Heavens Declare The Glory Of God: An Exposition Of The 19th Psalm

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Jan 23, 2019

There is more to this psalm than teaching us about natural revelation or a useful benediction to our church service.

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God: an Exposition of the 19th Psalm The nineteenth psalm is majestic and begins with lofty words. The Holy Sprit who inspired the psalmist to write these words speaks in beautiful poetry. The use of poetry paints a picture that lifts our soul to God. The King ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:1-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Backsliding Believer

Contributed by Stephen E. Trail on Nov 24, 2014

A sermon that details the drift that many experience at times in their Christmas experience.

"THE BACKSLIDING BELIEVER" Zechariah 3:1-10 Zec 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 3:1-8

Denomination: Baptist