Sermons on Counterfeit Religions:

The Answer To Religion Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Oct 20, 2010

Whenever religion is infused with independence, power, and control it becomes ultimate evil, but when it leads into the way of submission, sacrifice, and service it bears the ultimate goodness of God.

Much argument today is made about whether religion is helpful or harmful for society. Of course much of the discussion hinges on what we mean by religion. It‟s a topic that many of us could really go off on. But if I had to sum up what I see it would be this: whenever religion is infused ...read more

Scripture: John 5:16-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Religion Or Relationship?

Contributed by Stephen Sheane on Jul 14, 2011

Knowing all the right WORDS and doing all the right WORKS are not enough. Do you KNOW Jesus?

RELIGION OR RELATIONSHIP? Karl Barth was a famous theologian. He lived in Basel, Switzerland. One day he was on a streetcar. A tourist to the city climbed on and sat down next to him. The two men started chatting with each other. "Are you new to the city?" Barth inquired. "Yes," said the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Religion Or Relationship Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on May 14, 2011

A study of chapter 1 verses 2 through 31

Isaiah 1: 2 - 31 Religion Or Relationship 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: “ I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me; 3 The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:2-31

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Fruitless Religion Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 27, 2010

If we want to bear fruit for the glory of God and lead people to Him on a regular basis, then we must let Christ clean out the fruitless religion, and we must pray with hearts full of faith and forgiveness

A clergyman dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a guy dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans. Saint Peter says to this guy, “Who are you, so that I may know whether to admit you into the Kingdom of Heaven?” The guy replies, “I’m Joe Cohen, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-25

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Religion Undefiled Series

Contributed by Chris Surber on Aug 26, 2009

Pure religion lives out as an outworking of the grace of God in us!

“Religion Undefiled” James 1:17-27 “Religion Undefiled” James 1:17-27 Introduction The story is told of an evangelist overseer of an African Church, was talking about following the “pure” path, and the “pure” path only. It was night, and a crowd of natives sat around the campfire. A native dog ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17-27

Denomination: Christian Church

Religion And Government

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Aug 6, 2009

We need to restore to society a common moral code by being a light of Christ actively involved in our communities. Religion should be in government but government must not be in religion

As we struggle to understand to live out our faith and God’s will in our lives, we know that God does in fact care about all of the issues we will address during our Tough Issues Sermon series. Can anyone who is a believer truly think that God does not care what we think regarding criminal justice ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: United Methodist

Godless Religion

Contributed by Tim Huie on May 6, 2009

What does religion look like when God is not at the center? 1) It is empowered by rebellion. 2) It is based on human works. 3) It invariably leads to judgment.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF GODLESS RELIGION GENESIS 10: 8-11, 11:1-9 1. Illus. of ecumenical church service • Religious leaders from a dozen different faiths held an Ash Wednesday service at United Nations Church Center Chapel in New York. • The front of the chapel included not only a cross, but also ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

The Giant Of Religion Series

Contributed by Mark Perryman on Jun 5, 2008

Today we are going to look at a very cruel giant, the giant of religion

INTRO: A young girl became a Christian in an exciting revival at her church and was baptized the closing Sunday morning. That afternoon she ran through the house singing and dancing. Her sour grandfather rebuked her with these words, “You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You just joined the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-28

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Cage Of Religion Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Apr 24, 2009

We all want to live life to the fullest, yet we seem to be held back. What cages us in? What locks us down? What fences us in? It is a fight to get out, but victory is possible!

Ultimate Cage Fighting Pt. 4 – The Cage of Religion I. Introduction Round 1, we battled the Cage of Fear. Round 2, we squared off against the Cage of Death. In Round 3, we slugged it out with the Cage of Addiction. Today, we take on what may be an even tougher opponent . . . the Cage of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-23

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Problem Of Religion Series

Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Apr 26, 2009

There are two sides to sin and evil. On the one side we can be very bad and break all the rules, on the other side we can be very good and keep all the rules. Both are trusting in ourselves and not God (thoughts from The Reason for God by Timothy Keller).

(Ideas for this sermon come from the book: The Reason for God, Belief in an Age of Skepticism, by Timothy Keller) Introduction This week- complete- 2nd part of a two week series. Last week we looked at The Problem of Sin, this week we are going to look at The Problem of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Charismatic

Household Religion

Contributed by Melvin Shelton on Jul 31, 2003

I believe the Bible teaches that faith is intended to be a household matter.

HOUSEHOLD RELIGION Acts 18:1-3, 18-19, 24-26 11/10/02 Let me introduce to you before we read God’s precious Word, Aquila and Priscilla. I have never truly met them until this past week. These are a Godly family. I believe the Bible teaches that faith is intended to be a household matter. You ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Fads In Religion

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on May 6, 2002

People are hungry, spiritually today. Yet often people look for a quick fix. What does it mean to follow Jesus? What does it mean to fish for people?

Bibliography: Culture Shift, lesson 8 I learned something interesting this week. Let me ask you something. Have you seen Miss Cleo on television lately? You know who Miss Cleo is, don’t you? Have you noticed that her commercials haven’t been on television lately? It seems that Miss Cleo is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:17-22

Denomination: Methodist

The Birth Of Religion Series

Contributed by Randy Harris on Aug 27, 2002

God never intended for there to be religion, which means it was man’s creation after the fall in the garden. So what now?

Moving From Religion to Relationship The Journey Back To Eden: The Birth of Religion (Gen 1-3) It’s a phrase we picked up somewhere between here and Amarillo, Texas. Kellie and I saw it on a billboard, I believe it was somewhere in Tulsa, OK. We fell in love with it immediately. “From religion to ...read more

Denomination: *other

Religion Or Relationship

Contributed by Matthew Sickling on Apr 12, 2007

This sermon explains that Christianity is all about a Relationahip with Jesus Christ, not a "Religion."

Introduction: The Apostle Paul was in the city of Athens, Greece, waiting for his co-workers Timothy and Silas to join him there. While he waited I’m sure he must have spent some time walking the ancient streets of Athens. Perhaps he even toured The Parthenon, which was a temple built and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-31

Denomination: Baptist

Relationship Or A Religion

Contributed by James Powell on Dec 24, 2006

Is our religion just that, or do we each have a relationship with our God?

Relationship or Just a Religion Joh 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: Joh 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-15

Denomination: Holiness