Sermons on Ritual:

Calling God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 7, 2008

Uses a cell phone to illustrate the basics of effective prayer. Addresses the tendency of people to rely on repetition and ritual to get God’s attention.

OPEN: (a deep voiced man was positioned in a side room with microphone and monitor. This opening illustration goes on for a couple of pages but worked well to set up the rest of the sermon) "Our Father who art in heaven..." "YES?" (look up and around suspiciously then bow and say) "Our Father ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

My Gospel

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 4, 2008

Dramatic monologue as if given by Paul. Against trusting in ritual, correct ideas, or emotion, trust the grace of Christ given in personal relationship with Him.

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Oh.. almost didn’t see you there. See what large letters I make when I am writing ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-13

Denomination: Baptist

Red Heifer Water (Numbers 19)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 22, 2024

What does the ashes of a red heifer mixed in water have to do with baptism and Jesus? Let's look at Numbers 19.

Is death the ultimate result of sin? Do hatred, verbal abuse, lust, lying, ignoring the needy and greed ultimately cause our own destruction? Does cleansing us from sin involve someone dying for us? Is this dramatically pictured in the water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer? Let’s review ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jump For Joy Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Dec 20, 2013

Many have the view of the Christian life as boring, lifeless, full of duty, ritual, and restriction.yet the picture painted in Scripture is radically opposite of this view.

“Guidelines for Christmas: Jump for Joy” Is. 35; Lk. 1:11-25 The Sunday School class for 7 year olds was barely underway when one little boy suddenly exclaimed to the teacher, “Can we hurry up? This is boring!” Immediately the little girl to his left gave him a sharp ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:11-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Simplicity Of Christ

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Jul 22, 2024

People are inundated with enough mess without having Christianity or a so-called form of it piling more complex standards, rituals, and obligations upon them.

The Simplicity of Christ By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING:- When we look around and see the asinine events that are taking place we realize our world of today is in utter turmoil as people strive for preeminence and superior individuality, we can quickly become overwhelmed with all the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:3, 2 Corinthians 1:12, Romans 12:1-21, Romans 12:8

Denomination: Apostolic

The Act Of Worship

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Indrani Baboolal on Sep 7, 2022

Worship to the true and Living God has a main attribute and that is Holiness and Righteousness. Worship is not a ritual, it is a condition of the heart each and every day of our lives.

SCRIPTURE Romans 12:1, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship.” INTRODUCTION: Man was created to worship God. The Psalmist said in Psalms 150:6 Let everything that has ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Too Consecrated To Be Wasted

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Aug 14, 2025

Consecration is a divine separation — a setting apart for God’s holy purposes. It is not merely a religious ritual but a total dedication of life, desires, and actions to the Lord.

TOO CONSECRATED TO BE WASTED By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 2 Timothy 2:20-21 Key Verse: “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21, KJV) Supporting Texts: ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:20-21

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

Lent Upside Down Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Mar 1, 2019

Instead of giving something up for Lent let's try adding something instead!

Lent Upside Down Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together … 1 John 1:5-7 “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27, Exodus 23:19, 1 John 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Mark 12:30, 1 Peter 1:15-16, 2 Corinthians 7:1, 1 John 3:3, Matthew 6:16-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Avoiding Anger: Doers Of The Word, Series

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Aug 26, 2021

Avoiding Anger: Doers of the Word August 29, 2021, FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, YEAR B, While anger might not be the center of this text, it is one of those distractions that often keeps us from being doers of the word.

Avoiding Anger: Doers of the Word August 29, 2021 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, YEAR B text James 1:17-27 While anger might not be the center of this text, it is one of those distractions that often keeps us from being doers of the word. Throughout this series, we are reflecting on how well ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17-27

Denomination: United Methodist

Holy, Whole, And Free! Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 13, 2018

If you want to take care of the sin problem in your life, don’t depend on religion. Instead, enter into a real relationship with Jesus Christ, and let Him make you holy, whole, and free.

Pastor and author John Ortberg talks about a time early in his marriage when he and his wife sold their Volkswagen Beetle to buy their first really nice piece of furniture. It was a sofa. It was a pink sofa, but for that kind of money, Ortberg says, “It was called a mauve sofa.” The man at the sofa ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Batteries Not Included #6 Everything Has Changed Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Dec 15, 2020

The birth of Jesus signifies the beginning of new reality. In the same way, our first experience with Jesus is a lifelong mission to announce and usher in a little of God’s kingdom in the here and now.

Four weeks ago, we began a new series entitled: Batteries Not Included. There is nothing more frustrating than wanting play with your new toys and finding out the package had this hidden line - batteries not included. We started this series by talking about the Hope, given in the understanding we ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Restrictive Religion Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 3, 2018

If you want to be free from a guilty conscience, don’t depend on restrictive religion, which is limited by its procedures, its place, its people, and its purifying power.

Two neighbor boys were the best of friends on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. On Sunday, however, they didn’t talk to each other, because one was a Catholic and the other was a Baptist. Their parents were concerned, so they agreed to let their sons visit each other’s ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Jewish Roots Of The Lord’s Supper

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 2, 2021

The Lord’s Supper is rich with meaning, but best understood in its original context. We can move in that direction by looking at the Jewish Roots of this meaningful ritual.

The Jewish Roots of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 10:1-5 and chapter 11:23, 26, passim) 1. A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his Sunday sermon. Four worms were placed into four separate jars: The first worm was put into a container of alcohol. The second worm ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-5, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Truth About Tradition PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 28, 2025

The sermon calls us to abandon empty rituals and idols, turning instead to wholehearted worship of the living God who alone gives true life and meaning.

Welcome, friend. Pull up a chair in your heart for a few quiet minutes. Imagine the sound of pages turning, the scent of a well-worn Bible, the gentle hush that settles when God’s people lean in to listen. Some weeks feel hurried, don’t they? Calendars packed, habits humming, and before we know it, ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 10:1-10

Topics: Christmas Tree, Traditions