Sermons on Authentic Relationship:

The Heart Matters Most - Lessons From Matthew 15 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jun 12, 2025

GOD cares more about the condition of your heart than the traditions you keep. GOD desires genuine inner purity and authentic faith, not religious performance. True righteousness comes from a transformed heart, not outward tradition.

2025.06.15.Sermon Notes. The Heart Matters Most – Lessons from Matthew 15 When Religion Misses the Point William Akehurst, HSWC Reminder: It’s Father’s Day Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalms 51:10, Psalms 139:23-24 INTRODUCTION: JESUS confronts the religious leaders for honoring ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalm 51:10, Psalm 139:23-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank God.

Contributed by Daren Mitchell on Jul 11, 2013

The Bible isn’t a list of rules. The Bible is a relationship waiting to happen. You need Jesus. And Jesus isn’t going to leave you because you mess up

The Bible tells us how to live. Not necessarily as a list of rules, but, more like guidelines. Sometimes we confuse the Bible with a list of rules and then we really worry about whether we’re keeping them all or not. I know I used to live that way. The problem with trying really, really, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:21-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Laborers In The Vineyard

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Nov 18, 2014

The parable of the vineyard in Matthew 20 is almost mind boggling in scope and what can be extracted from it. In this sermon we are taking a look at the relationship between the owner and the workers and becoming an employee and the "doing".

Now we need to remember that we can never take a scripture out of context. Just before this the Rich Young Ruler asks Jesus in Matthew 19:16b (NASB) “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” “Do” This was an underlying foundation in the mind of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-15

Denomination: Nazarene

We-Harmony: We Can Work It Out Series

Contributed by Tim Harlow on May 13, 2009

This is the third of a four-part series of sermons on godly marriage. This message focuses particularly on conflict resolution.

A dietician was once addressing a large audience at a convention. The material we put into our stomachs is enough to have killed most of us sitting here, years ago. "Red meat is awful. Soft drinks erode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG. Vegetables can be disastrous, and none of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:15-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Authentic Life Part 1: James 1:1-8 Series

Contributed by David Rumley on Aug 19, 2010

James is a no nonsense leader in the early church. In the letter written by James he speaks to specific issues in the church. Those issues are timeless for this books still speaks to us today.

Tonight we begin a journey in the book of James… The Book of James is probably the oldest book of the New Testament, written perhaps as early as A.D. 45, before the first council of Jerusalem in A.D. 50. James was martyred in approximately A.D. 62, according to the historian Josephus. James is a ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Authentic Life Part 2 - James 1: 9-14 Series

Contributed by David Rumley on Aug 19, 2010

James is a no nonsense leader of the church. His letter speaks to specific issues in the church, and those issues are still around today.

Study of James: Wisdom and Practical Christian Living * as a long time participant in Sermon central... there will be spliced material and illustrations in from the site. If not cited I apologize. JAMES 1: 9-14 The Book of James is probably the oldest book of the New Testament, written perhaps ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Authentic Life Part 3 - James 2:14-Ff Series

Contributed by David Rumley on Aug 19, 2010

James is a no nonsense leader speaking to the church. Those words are still relevant today as the same issues continue to arise.

Study of James: Wisdom and Practical Christian Living JAMES 1: 9-14 The Book of James is probably the oldest book of the New Testament, written perhaps as early as A.D. 45, before the first council of Jerusalem in A.D. 50. James was martyred in approximately A.D. 62, according to the historian ...read more

Scripture: James 1:14-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Isolate Your Isolation Series

Contributed by Steve Meenho Kang on Feb 1, 2017

In order to be truly happy, we must be connected to God, others, and ourselves.

Isolate Your Isolation Habits of Happiness Part 1 Matthew 22:36-39 We all want to be happy. I bet there is no single person who intentionally chooses to be unhappy. However, so many people in this world are not happy for one reason or another. In order to be happy, this is what we have to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:36-39

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Came To Repalce Rules With Relationships Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jul 10, 2003

As we continue in our series, What Jesus Came To Do, we are going to look at the awesome truth – that Jesus came to replace rules with relationships….

He Came To Replace Rules W/Relationships What Jesus Came To Do – part two QUESTION – who here likes rules….? We have rules at home…. Wash your hands before you eat Take off your shoes before you come into the house Don’t touch the thermostat Ask before you eat There are rules at ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:13-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Better Together PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 4, 2025

The sermon emphasizes the grace and necessity of Christian community, highlighting how God designed us to support, encourage, and walk alongside one another in life.

There’s a quiet kind of courage in the person who shows up for another. A text that says, “I’m here.” A hand that steadies the ladder. A shoulder that catches tears. If you think back across the years, who taught you that you don’t have to carry the couch alone? Who sat in the waiting room when ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Topics: Relationships

Replacing My Religion Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Apr 24, 2007

Religion which is man-made brings insecurity, but a Relationship with Jesus brings confidence.

> When I was a young man, I would frequently hear, “I’m gonna lose my religion!” Normally, this was said at a time of stress and frustration. > Gallup took a poll on “Religion” in January of 2007, the results of which seems to me to be a little contradictory in nature. When asked “do you ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:12-21

Denomination: Baptist

Authentic Life Part 5 - James 2: 16-26 Series

Contributed by David Rumley on Aug 19, 2010

James is a no nonsense leader in the early church. His letter speaks to specific issues in the church, those issues still exist.

Study of James: Wisdom and Practical Christian Living The Book of James is probably the oldest book of the New Testament, written perhaps as early as A.D. 45, before the first council of Jerusalem in A.D. 50. James was martyred in approximately A.D. 62, according to the historian Josephus. James ...read more

Scripture: James 2:15-26

Denomination: Pentecostal

How Not To Be A Hypocrite Series

Contributed by David Asch on Oct 12, 2004

In this text Jesus will show us how to move beyond hypocrisy and into genuine, authentic faith. In this text we will see Jesus goes head to head with religious hypocrites, and show us what it takes to leave hypocrisy behind.

HOW NOT TO BE A HYPOCRITE Mark 2:18-3:6 INTRO: 1. What is the #1 thing that keeps people from faith in Christ? 2. Is there anything that keeps people from faith in Christ like my hypocrisy? Saying one thing, and doing another. Claiming to believe and live a certain way, but not demonstrating it. ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christian Atheist: Shame Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 7, 2015

what do we do? How do we break through shame and come out the other side? How do we smash out of self-recrimination and move on with our lives basking in the forgiveness of God?

This sermon is based off of a few ideas in Craig Groeshel’s book “The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living as if He Doesn’t Exist.” Zondervan, 2010. ISBN: 9780310332220 CHRISTIAN ATHEIST: SHAME PSALM 51:1-12 INTRODUCTION… Smack in the face (p) Last January, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Be Real"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Oct 26, 2013

A sermon about authenticity.

Luke 18:9-14 "Be Real" So, who are you, really? I'm not talking about the person who appears to have everything perfectly under control, or the persona who has been created, layer-by-layer, through the painful, embarrassing or shameful experiences of life... ...the protective shield we build ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: United Methodist