Sermons on Ritual:

I Desire Mercy Not Sacrifice Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 4, 2023

God values mercy and compassion over religious rituals and rules. As followers of Jesus, we are called to extend mercy to everyone we encounter, regardless of their circumstances.

Hey guys! Ever wondered what gets God really pumped? What makes Him say, 'Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!'? Well, today we're going to dive into that. Spoiler alert: It's mercy. So, what's mercy? Think about when you're playing a video game, and you're totally crushing your friend. You could ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Topics: Mercy, Sacrifice, God's Desire, Daily Living

Worship Today

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jan 4, 2007

Jesus introduces a shift in worship, focusing worship on the spiritual instead of the physical. The future of worship as Jesus was describing it would be a spiritual more than a ritual activity.

Worship today John 4:19-24 The original worship must have been amazing. Eve and Adam, surrounded by the Garden of Eden, something between a botanical garden and an orchard. Discussions at dusk of keeping trees, naming animals, new things they tried, and gratitude for the bounty and beauty they ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-24

Denomination: Mennonite

An Offer To God

Contributed by Nathan Johnson on Mar 27, 2009

God does not want sanctimonious platitudes and feel-good ritual; He wants us, and our praise to Him needs to reflect true righteousness and thanksgiving.

An Offer to God Griffith Baptist Church – 3/29/09 P.M. Service Text: Psalm 50 Key verse: Psalms 50:23 – Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. Premise: God does not want sanctimonious platitudes and feel-good ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Religion Without Relationship Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Aug 29, 2025

Without God’s Word, people create their own religion.

RELIGION WITHOUT RELATIONSHIP By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Judges 17 Key Verse: Judges 17:5–6 –“And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Our Principle Assets(2023)-2

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jul 10, 2023

2 of 7. Paul & Sosthenes opened their letter to the Corinthian church by informing them of their most important spiritual assets. The local(our) church has important spiritual assets. But What are some of those spiritual assets? A Principle Asset of the Christian church is...

Our PRINCIPLE ASSETS-II—1Corinthians 1:2-?(:1-9) ATTENTION: Congaree National Park is located around 10 miles southeast of Columbia SC. It’s a little over a 2 hr. drive from here.—We have plans to go there sometime in the near future. There are certain aspects of the park that are appealing to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Losing God In Religion Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 3, 2015

We lose God when we emphasize a ritual or object over and above our relationship with God. Don't expect God's blessings without repentance.

During a service at an old synagogue, when a particular prayer was said, half the congregants stood up and half remained sitting. The half that was seated started yelling at those standing to sit down, and the ones standing yelled at the ones sitting to stand up. The new rabbi didn't know ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Authentic Authority Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Apr 27, 2009

Controversy tore the early church. Judaizers taught that Gentile Christians had to submit to Jewish ritual laws & traditions in addition to believing in Christ. Paul confronted this issue.

GALATIONS 1: 1-5 AUTHENTIC AUTHORITY A family, carefully executing their escape plan, dashes for the border at midnight...a man standing outside prison walls, gulping fresh air, awash in the new sun...a young woman with every trace of the ravaging drug gone from her system...they are FREE! ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Nurtured In The Faith Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Dec 30, 2009

Jesus was brought up in a family that actively participated in the religious traditions and rituals of their faith. Being brought up in the community of believers prepared Jesus for his earthly ministry.

Luke 2:41-52 “Nurtured in the Faith” INTRODUCTION Have you noticed how quickly Christmas is celebrated and then forgotten? The stores have already started removing their Christmas decorations and replacing them with Valentines Day. The radio stations have stopped playing Christmas Carols, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:41-52

Denomination: Lutheran

Micah - True Worship Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Feb 4, 2013

True worships relates, it is a relationship, not rituals. True worship obeys. To obey is better than sacrifices. True worship impacts. It changes your life and influences others.

God has chosen to bless His people Israel and through them, the world. • They were set apart to worship God and be His witnesses to the nations. • But sadly, the people have gone astray. God was pleading His case, calling the mountains and hills to be His witnesses. • 6:3 ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Week Two Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Mar 15, 2021

Lent is a ritual of the Church that leads us into the hope we have in Jesus. Fasting and Prayer are disciplines of Lent to bring about suffering to draw a person closer to God

“Lent is one of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar. Like all Christian holy days and holidays, it has changed over the years, but its purpose has always been the same: self-examination and penitence, demonstrated by self-denial, in preparation for Easter. Early church father ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 35:13, Matthew 19:15, Luke 2:37, Jonah 3:5, Esther 4:1-4, Acts 13:2, Matthew 6:16-18, Romans 4:13-25, 2 Samuel 1:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith Outworked PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 20, 2025

True worship requires sincere hearts and just actions, not empty rituals; God desires authentic faith that transforms both our inner lives and outward behavior.

Friends, pull up a chair in your heart and take a deep breath. You made it here—through noise and news, errands and emails. You brought your whole week with you, and that’s good, because the God who loves you meets you as you are. He is wonderfully near, whispering through His Word, “I see you. I ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 7:1-15

Topics: Church Attendance, Heaven

Look Out For False Teachers Series

Contributed by Jason Grubbs on Jan 11, 2020

The Bible teaches that Satan is a master counterfeiter, trying to pass off on people a version of Christianity that looks good but will not be accepted by God in Heaven.

Introduction: Have you ever had a counterfeit bill? That’s never happened to me. But sometimes, today, people can get scammed into buying a counterfeit ticket to a sporting event or concert or even buying a counterfeit product that was cheaply made to look like the real thing. The Bible ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-3

New Wine With Jesus

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 15, 2013

The passing of old things, and the ushering in of new.

NEW WINE WITH JESUS. John 2:1-11. The Gospel of John provides us with an unashamedly theological overview of the person of Christ. We are introduced to our Lord under the Genesis motif “in the beginning” (John 1:1), and as the Word made flesh (John 1:14). Throughout the book, John’s preferred ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Experiencing The Passover

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Apr 4, 2020

We have an unique experience in the midst of this pandemic

Exodus 12:27  That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S, Passover who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 1 Corinthians 5:7  Purge out therefore the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:27, 1 Corinthians 5:7

Denomination: Baptist

Know Your Profits And Losses Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jul 23, 2015

We either believe that Jesus Christ alone is sufficient for a life of faith or He is not.

“Living a Joy-Full Life: Know Your Profits and Losses” Phil. 3:1-11 I recall a conversation that took place during a Consistory meeting of another church I served. It was about requirements for who should serve on Consistory. Some wanted to add guidelines to what the Scriptures have ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed