Sermons on Smoking Ceremony:

Sin Changes Things

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Jul 15, 2009

Sin dampens our ability to hear and know what God desires. Sin takes the beauty of our relationship with God and it twists and perverts it into a ritualistic ceremony with NO meaning.

SERMON BRIEF Date Written: July 26, 2005 Date Preached: July 27, 2005 Church: OZHBC (PM) Wed Night FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS Title: Sin Changes things Text: Gen 3:1-15 Introduction: We have many names for it… we call it a mistake, a slip up, a feaux paux, missing the mark, rebellion… We call ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Three Thing The Lord Require Of Us

Contributed by Ronald Matandakufa on Feb 10, 2016

God is much more interested in our life style then in ceremonies and sacrifaces that we may perform. Its about how we relate to God and one another.

Recently, I had a story about a certain man who was very poor. He really struggled to make ends meet in life. Putting food on the table and taking his children to school was a problem. It so happened that this man becomes sick for a long time and eventually he died. What actually made his health ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Master Of The Wedding Banquet Series

Contributed by Bill Walker on Dec 4, 2016

Jewish wedding customs. First miracle of Jesus. Encounter with his mother, the master of ceremonies. family and friends of the wedding party. God's perfection and our sinfulness. Transformation.

MASTER OF THE WEDDING BANQUET John 2:1-11 A traditional Jewish wedding is full of meaningful rituals, symbolizing the beauty of the relationship of husband and wife, as well as their obligations to each other and to the Jewish people. The dawning wedding day heralds the happiest and holiest day ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Parable Of The Wedding Feast: A Marriage Invite For You

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 4, 2022

Have you ever been to a very beautiful wedding ceremony? I’ve been to several weddings in my day that were just really something special.

Have you ever been to a very beautiful wedding ceremony? I’ve been to several weddings in my day that were just really something special. I think of my sisters wedding or my moms wedding to my step dad. Hard wood floors, flowers everywhere, beautiful smells, beautiful sights, the taste of sweet ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:37, Matthew 22:1-14

Denomination: Salvation Army

From Jesus' Back Series

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 10, 2025

This is a sermon series for the six Sundays of Lent. I am using a wooden "Tau" cross on the platform and some examples of the instruments of torture the Romans used - a large spike, scourge/cat of 9 tails, spear, and crown of thorns. There is a teaching sheet below the sermon.

Series: Jesus’ Blood for Me “From Jesus’ Back” Isaiah 53:4-6 A sermon for 3/16/25 – Second Sunday of Lent Pastor John Bright Laurel Hill Global Methodist Church Isaiah 53 “4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:15, Matthew 27:26, Isaiah 53:4-6, Galatians 4:4, 1 Peter 2:24, Hebrews 10:19-23, Leviticus 17:11, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Matthew 9:2, Joel 2:25-26, James 5:14-15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Fingerprints Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Mitchell Skelton on Jun 23, 2004

What about the proverbial "smoking gun?" Is there one? One we could point to and erase all doubt. Where’s the DNA, the fingerprints? Today I want us to look at the "fingerprints" that point to the validity of Jesus’ claims and his resurrection.

CSI: Easter 3 of 5 in Series Fingerprints of Jesus INTRODUCTION So far, in our investigation of the resurrection we have looked at Biblical, Medical and Historical evidence. We have also looked at the man himself, Jesus of Nazareth. We studied who man claimed Jesus was and who the bible ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:30-39

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Even If God Does Not Deliver Us We Will Not Bow Pt 2 Who Is The 4th Man? Series

Contributed by Jeremiah Menyongai on Mar 14, 2016

The Fourth Man awaits you in the furnace of affliction and will preserve you from the flame of the heat. God never leaves his beloved stranded. He forever protects them from the smell of smokes. Be committed for the fire will only loosen the bondage.

EVEN IF GOD DOES NOT DELIVER US, WE STILL WILL NOT BOW. (PART 2) WHO IS THIS FOURTH MAN? DANIEL 3: 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if ye be ready that at ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:14-30

Denomination: Charismatic

Graveside Service

Contributed by Tony Searles on Nov 3, 2007

This is a brief graveside service I prepared for a person I was not familiar with. This is a short and simple, but respectful ceremony. Although it is simple and short, it does have some nice touches.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” I want to encourage you, as we gather together this afternoon, to remember that God is our refuge and our strength. We are ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Deuteronomy 5:6-7

Denomination: Other

When There Just Isn't Enough? Cold Stone Pots?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on May 19, 2008

Sometimes our rituals and ceremonies can become cold stone pots.It is never enough. Then Jesus takes man’s efforts and rewards people with His presence!

NOT ENOUGH, THERE JUST ISN’T ENOUGH --- COLD STONE WATER POTS? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I. INTRODUCTION: A. We walk in some perilous times. Trust God! Nothing will catch Him by surprise. B. There are many laws of nature. What goes up, must come down. If you sow today, don’t ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What Do You Know About Satan? Have You Seen Him? Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 8, 2023

The world is fast descending into chaos and wickedness. Is Satan responsible? This covers the activity of Satan, his origin and his demons and the influence in the world. There is a lot that is covered here but there is much more we can’t do at this time. Read carefully.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SATAN? HAVE YOU SEEN HIM? [A]. THE FACE OF SATAN Have you seen the face of Satan? No, I don’t expect you have, nor will you, but Jesus has. He knew the anointed cherub because He created him. He knew him when he was perfect in all his ways. Some don’t acknowledge ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 28:15, Revelation 12:10, Ezekiel 28:13, Ezekiel 28:17, Isaiah 14:12-15, Ephesians 6:12, Daniel 10:12-13, Daniel 10:20-21, 2 Corinthians 11:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fired Up, Or Fizzled Out?

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jul 19, 2007

Satan has no problem with a church that has smoke going up the chimney, as long as there’s no fire in the furnace. If the church isn’t careful, its ministry can become mere methods and mechanics, performed legalistically, without love for Christ.

FIRED UP, OR FIZZLED OUT? Text: Rev.2: 4 Intro: In the first seven verses of Revelation chapter two, the resurrected Christ, via the Apostle John, writes a letter to the church of Ephesus. At the time this letter was penned, the church of Ephesus was a thriving body of believers. Times were ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:4

Denomination: Baptist

First Trumpet: Third Of Vegetation Destroyed. Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jan 18, 2017

Look up into the sky. Can you envision blazes of fire, streams of blood and great chunks of ice falling upon the earth? Can you imagine all the trees blazing, burning, and going up in smoke— and the grass being burned to a crisp?

By: Tom Lowe Date: 2/22/2016 Series: Verse By Verse Through Revelation ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 8:7

Denomination: Baptist

Warning For Taste Testers Series

Contributed by John Mitchell on Sep 16, 2025

God provides more than a fire escape from hell in providing salvation; He initiates a relationship with us and calls us to Holiness. In the warning in Heb 6, we see wants us to enter heaven powerfully and not smelling like smoke.

I. Introduction Last week we looked at chapter 5 verses 11-14 and considered the challenge for believers to not settle for a diet of milk, but to include solid food in order to grow in Christ and discern good from evil in areas that may not be explicitly described in Scriptures. Today we are ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

More Than Hatch, Match, And Dispatch Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 13, 2000

The church is for far more than empty ceremony on occasions demanded by tradition; it is the steward of new life, with a rich and full experience that employs the diversity of gifts God has given it.

Last week you seemed to get a big charge out of my little story about going to a wedding rehearsal and wasting time waiting for a key person to arrive. When I said that I didn’t know what we’d do on Sunday afternoon if he didn’t show up, you let out a belly laugh. You assumed I was talking about ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Winning Circle Of His Love - A Nascar Sermon Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 5, 2007

Nascar has one of the loyalist fan bases in the US and it is the only major US sport that opens its ceremonies with prayer. See how Colossians 1 applies to the "race for Christ."

TEXT: Colossians 1:12-23 TITLE: The Winning Circle of His Love (The stage was decorated with various racing items including race flags crisscrossed on the pulpit and a racing streamer across the length of the stage. I entered the sanctuary wearing a one piece pit-crew outfit and racing helmet, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:12-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ