Sermons on Jewish Legalism:

#30 The Problem Is The Heart Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Oct 12, 2020

The Pharisees and scribes were all wrapped up in rules and externals.

#30 The Problem Is the Heart Series: Mark Chuck Sligh October 13, 2020 The Pharisees and scribes were all wrapped up in rules and externals. In Mark 7:1-23, Jesus taught that what pleases Him most is worship from the HEART. NOTE: PowerPoint or ProPresenter presentations are available for this ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Smoking And Other Addictions

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 23, 2025

Any activity or substance use that harms your body, mind or spirit and can leave you addicted to it is evil.

Homily on Smoking and Other Enslaving Addictions Saint Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia was one of his earliest communications with the Church. He had visited that area early in his missionary journeys and left there a church with the kind of spiritual fire and enthusiasm we associate with ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 5:19-21, 2 Timothy 1:7, 2 Peter 1:5-7

Denomination: Catholic

Give Me That Old Time Legalistic Religion

Contributed by Bobby Brewer on Oct 10, 2021

Jesus and Paul experienced opposition from the legalists of their day, as will you and I. None of us are completely immune from its’ affects and we too must guard our hearts from presenting a message and lifestyle that God never intended

Series: We’re on a Mission from God Message: Give Me that Old Time Legalistic Religion Text: Acts 22:22 Big Idea: Jesus had numerous confrontations with the legalists, who among other reasons, sought to kill Him for healing on the Sabbath (Mt. 13:14). Paul also experienced opposition from the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 22:20-22, Acts 22:22

Law...then And Now

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Feb 2, 2009

How do the complex, often strange laws of the OT apply to today? What is the function of the law of God? And what does it mean to live lawfully when salvation is by grace?

What do we do with the Law? As we read the Law of Moses in the Old Testament, we come across some strange rules nearly no one practices today. A.J. Jacobs wrote an intriguing book, The Year of Living Biblically, a chronicle of his attempt to actually follow all the many laws of the Bible (easily ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:14-25

Denomination: Congregational

Defection, Deception & Destruction Of The Gospel Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 11, 2018

In Galatians 1:6–9 we see the dangers of: 1) Defection (Galatians 1:6), 2) Deception (Galatians 1:7), and 3) Destruction (Galatians 1:8-9) of those who would pervert the Gospel of Grace.

Every culture has unique expressions that can seem foreign to others. For one who is astonished, the British have the expression that one is “gob-smacked.” “Gob” is slang for “mouth.” To be smacked is to be slapped with an open hand. So someone who is “gob-smacked” opens his mouth, claps his hand ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-9

Denomination: Other

The Concern About Fasting Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Apr 12, 2017

What began as a confrontation regarding the practice of fasting, turned into a lesson regarding the doctrines of salvation. Christ is the only means of salvation. We must come to Him by grace, through faith, in Christ alone.

The Concern about Fasting Mark 2: 18-22 Our text today deals with a passage that is often misunderstood, and even overlooked by many. Some argue the passage is confusing, and they fail to see the great significance it reveals. Actually Jesus revealed great doctrinal truth in this conversation with ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:18-22

Denomination: Baptist

Billboards And Contract Law Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 17, 2011

If we're not supposed to follow the law to please God, then what is its purpose? Do we ignore it altogether? Paul wants the Galatians to understand the two main purposes of the law.

Driving down the freeway there are two types of signs we encounter: billboards and direction signs. Direction signs tell us of upcoming exits and towns. Billboards advertise products and services to us. It’s important that billboards use a graphic that grabs the attention and no more than ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-26

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

When You Can’t Draw Near - Mark 7:1-13 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Oct 23, 2023

Legalism is an insidious problem because it allows your heart to drift far from God while making you think you’re doing great spiritually.

Mark 7:1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and 2 saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-13, Matthew 15:1-9

Great Expectations Part 1

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Aug 13, 2006

Looks at the challlange of legalism and grace.

"Great expectations." Introduction: A man once asked a friend why he never got married? "Looking for the perfect girl" was the reply. "Surely you’ve meet at least one girl that you wanted to marry?" "Yes once. She was the perfect girl in every way." "Well why didn’t you marry?" "Well she was ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Good News - The End Of Rules Series

Contributed by Adrian Warnock on Feb 14, 2007

How to defeat legalism

Audio at http://www.adrian.warnock.info/2005/10/good-news-end-of-rules-blogging.htm Good News- the end of rules Religions the world over have one thing in common: rules If we are honest rules both attract us with their ability to give us certainty about what we should do and repel us because we ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sabbath Liberation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 20, 2014

The folly of hedging the Sabbath with man-made rules

SABBATH LIBERATION. Our attitudes to the Sabbath can tell a lot about our Christianity. In Luke 13:10-17, the president of the synagogue obviously felt it was more important to keep the Sabbath, even in the minutiae of man-made rules, than to look after his parishioners: "There are six days ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Opinions Of Churchianity

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Mar 15, 2015

There is no room in the Church for legalism. In love, we must get along with (and be more understanding of) fellow believers since we are all at different levels of understanding in our faith journey.

WHEN IT COMES TO LEGALISM, I LIKE WHAT AUTHOR, MAX LUCADO, WROTE WHEN HE SAID, “LEGALISM HAS NO PITY ON PEOPLE. LEGALISM MAKES MY OPINIONYOUR BURDEN, MAKES MY OPINION YOUR BOUNDARY, MAKES MY OPINION YOUR OBLIGATION.” I LIKE THAT! WE HAVE ALL BEEN, AT SOME POINT, NOT ONLY A WITNESS TO, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-12

Denomination: Free Methodist

The Real You Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Nov 21, 2011

What is God like? Is your opinion of God based on an aloof, disconnected, or angry vengeful powerful being who is stern and judgmental? What would He be like if you ran into Him on the street? It might surprise you, but God is a lot like Galatians5:23-26.

I had the opportunity to drive in a foreign country recently. At first I tried to use Google Maps directions but ended up hopelessly lost and confused. Finally I discovered that in this particular country you could find your ultimate destination by just getting to the next community. There would ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:23-26

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Some Implications Of Grace Series

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Jan 9, 2012

Grace trumps the law every time yet we obey the law as if it could save us.

Some Implications of Grace January 8, 2012 Morning Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: Grace trumps the law every time yet we obey the law as if it could save us. Focus Passage: Galatians 3:1-5 Supplemental Passage: But the free gift is not like the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

"A New Way Of Understaning Who God Is"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jun 21, 2012

A sermon about the God of grace and compassion.

Mark 2:23-3:6 “A New Way of Understanding Who God Is” Last June, the city of Alemeda, California immediately changed its policies after its first responders stood by and watched a man drown in the San Francisco Bay. The first responders didn’t venture out into the muddy ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist