Sermons on Burdensome Religion:

Worship: What? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 5, 2003

Worship will not satisfy unless it has both the elements of "spirit" and "truth". To worship without knowing the Bible is to fall for "feel-good" religion. And to worship without connecting with Christ is to go through the motions.

I am one of those who does not consider a meal complete unless it includes dessert. No matter how sumptuous the meal may be, until I have had my bowl of ice cream or my slice of pie, it just isn’t complete. And my wife is saying, under her breath, what you mean is a bowl of ice cream AND a slice ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 146:1-10, John 4:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

Rest For The Stressed

Contributed by James Botts on Aug 29, 2002

“Rest For The Stressed” will look at three commands Jesus gave for people who are weary and stressed out. Religion is a heavy burden, but Jesus invites us to experience real rest for our souls.

The Crossing Community Church “Rest For The Stressed” Pastor Jim Botts August 11th, 2002 Introduction We live in a very tense, uptight and fast paced world filled with hurry... A Tahoma, Washington newspaper carried the story of Tattoo the basset hound a while back. Tattoo didn’t intend to go for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

Is Jesus The Only Way To God? Series

Contributed by Robbie Phillips on Mar 24, 2004

A Critical look at ’slogans’ like ,"It is intolerant to claim Jesus is the only way" and "All major religions basically say the same thing" compared with Jesus words in JN 14:6

Harrison Christian Church March 21, 2004 IS Jesus the only way to God? Robbie Phillips Introduction: ¡§Jesus answered, ¡§I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ¡§JN 14:6 ¡§Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me¡¨. That ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Priority Of Justice And Righteousness

Contributed by Leonard Davis on May 29, 2009

The failure of Israel to make a connection between their religion rituals and their daily lives should serve as a warning for us in the church today that justice and righteousness are still priorities with God and judgment results with these are absent.

THE PRIORITY OF JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS Every now and then we come across stories that are both humorous and sad. During World War II in the Pacific Theater our forces set up a base on the island of New Guinea. We built an airport with runways, a tower, lights along the runways, and the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Persistence In The Presence: How Women Pray

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 22, 2009

Women succeed in pray because they persist in trusting God, allow the whole self to pray, take God at His word, are not afraid of intensity, choose responsibility over religion, and keep their commitments.

If, as Thomas Edison tells us, genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration, then I suspect it is also true that prayer is one per cent insistence and ninety-nine per cent persistence. Prayer is one per cent insistence, to be sure; we do, in our prayers, tell God what ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Murderer's Row! Series

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Mar 14, 2012

Murder comes in many different forms. It is misunderstood in our culture. Some religions believe that stepping on a bug or ant is equivalent to murder. What does the Word of God say about it?

Exodus 20:13 Murderer’s Row! As I prepared this series, I realized how little we actually preach or teach on the Ten Commandments as if they are neither important nor relevant. They are both. It was very enlightening to me to preach through them. I learned a lot! I trust this series will ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:13

Denomination: Baptist

The Awfulness Of Sin-Sexuality & Idolatry Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 2, 2009

The first two works/deeds of the flesh here in Galatians 5, fall generally into the two pitfalls of: 1) Sexuality (Galatians 5:19), and 2) Religion, (Galatians 20a)

People mark off times and celebrations in different ways. In Belgium (since 1394, in Binche), Brazil (a four-day celebration in Rio de Janeiro), Italy (in Venice, six months of celebrating in the 18th cent., now 12 days), Trinidad and Tobago (featuring a daylong competition among calypso bands), ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-20

Denomination: Other

How Do I Experience The Spirit's Life? Series

Contributed by Jason Pettibone on Aug 28, 2009

Living ‘in the Spirit’ is the normal Christian life. In Galatians, a letter written to correct the love for religion over relationship, we are told that the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to all Believers.

The question I would like to start us thinking about is: “HOW do I experience the life of the Spirit?” Let’s explore that idea this morning in this message which is titled.... Choosing to live IN the Spirit Living ‘in the Spirit’ is the normal Christian life. In Galatians, a letter written to ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-5

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Apostles And Wisdom Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jul 8, 2018

Some of the combative people in Corinth, who had formed factions, seem to have made more of them than was appropriate, placing them on a pedestal as if they were lords of their faith, and authors of their religion.

September 13, 2012 Commentary on First Corinthians By: Tom Lowe Lesson 2.7: Apostles and Wisdom Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3.5-3.17 1 Cor 3:5-17 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:5-17

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Special Revelation

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Dec 27, 2016

A Christmas Sermon: philosophy, science, and religion can only take us to Jerusalem, it takes special revelation from God's word to find Jesus. Message taken from the Magi's journey.

Christmas – God’s Special Revelation Matthew 2:1-12 In a Peanut’s cartoon, Charlie Brown goes up to Lucy and says, “Someone said we should live each day as if it were the last day of our lives.” Lucy then runs out screaming, “Aaugh, this is the last day, this is it. I only have 24 hours left! ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Foursquare

Why We Need Hell Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

Can we have a heaven without a hell? Not if, according to the three prophetic religions, we all live under divine justice. So why do we need a hell?

Why We Need Hell
 Isaiah 6: 1-5 Kevin Miller of the Huffington Post writes, “After Wade Michael Page allegedly opened fire in a Sikh temple in suburban Milwaukee, a commenter expressed his disgust online: "Meet Wade Michael Page, white supremacist and latest entrant to the gates of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-5

Denomination: Methodist

Life Of Faith: Defined Series

Contributed by Todd Brock on Nov 13, 2008

Is there anything we can do to protect the work of God in our lives and keep us from having the type of religion that is stale and boring? Yes, it’s called living by faith!

Introduction: There was a man who used to have problems getting his son to clean his room. He would insist that his son, “Do it now,” and he would always agree to do so, but then he wouldn’t follow through – at least, not right way. After high school, the son joined the Marine Corps. When he ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Transforming Power Of The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Patrick Usifo on Mar 19, 2018

How God changes a coward to a conqueror, a fearful man into a rock in His kingdom. Transformation is the difference between our faith and most religions of the world. As a continuous process, perfected on the day of the Lord.

More often in the church we hear testimonies of men and women saved by grace. In various ways we all joyfully testified of what God has done for us. On the other hand to speak of what God is doing in our life at any stage is hard to tell. Therefore the single, most important discerning ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

(Exodus 4:27-28) Aaron Is Sent To Meet Moses. Series

Contributed by John Lowe on May 23, 2022

According to the Abrahamic religions, Aaron was a prophet, high priest, and the elder brother of Moses. Knowledge of Aaron, along with his brother Moses, comes exclusively from religious texts, such as the Bible and Quran.

(Exodus 4:27-28) Aaron is sent to meet Moses. According to the Abrahamic religions, Aaron was a prophet, high priest, and the elder brother of Moses. Knowledge of Aaron, along with his brother Moses, comes exclusively from religious texts, such as the Bible and Quran. Aaron has a vital role as a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:14

Denomination: Baptist

The Nearness Of God.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 27, 2022

Popular religion speaks about man reaching up to God. However, the reality is that God is reaching down to us. Yes, Christ is stretching out His arms to us upon the Cross.

THE NEARNESS OF GOD. Isaiah 65:1-9. People sometimes talk about somebody who ‘found God.’ God was never lost; it is people who are lost. When the prodigal son returned to his father, the father said, ‘this my son was lost, but now is found’ (cf. Luke 15:24). Yet, in their distress, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 65:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational