Sermons on Legal Trap:

How To Avoid The Seductive Trap Of Legalism Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

“If your religion hasn’t changed your life, you’d better change your religion, because Jesus will make a bad man good and a good man better.”

Welcome and thank you for worshipping with us this morning on this Memorial Day weekend. Keep Colossians 2 open before you, will you? It’s good to see many of you for the first time in months! And we are grateful for those of you continuing to worship with us online as well. Please text the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:16-23

Denomination: Baptist

Holiness Without Legalism

Contributed by Brian La Croix on May 12, 2003

A message looking to help people live a life of holiness without falling into the trap of legalism.

Holiness Without Legalism 1 Peter 1:15-16, Galatians 5:1 May 4, 2003 Introduction Have you ever seen a proud legalist? I have. They wouldn’t necessarily call themselves a legalist, but they are. They live their lives around making sure everything is just right so they don’t mess up with God or ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:15-16, Galatians 5:1

Denomination: Wesleyan

Legalism Series

Contributed by Rev.dr.vijay Raju on Mar 9, 2024

The doctrine of freedom from law is a central and crucial teaching in the Bible. It refers to the idea that as Christians, we are no longer bound by the Old Testament laws and regulations to be right with God. Instead, we are justified through faith in Jesus Christ.

Introduction: As Christians, we often talk about our freedom in Christ. But what does that mean? In today's passage, we will explore Paul's words in Galatians 4:21-31 to understand true freedom in Christ. Scripture Reading: Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1, Galatians 4:21-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Legalism

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 9, 2010

A series of sermons on "What Would Jesus Hate?" This idea came from Tim Harlow at a convention. I preached Tim Harlow’s stuff on judging sinners and disciple dividing. This is my stuff on legalism.

Evening Service for 8/8/2010 “What Would Jesus Hate? Legalism” HoHum: One Sunday afternoon there was a drunken man who was staggering down a country path. He came upon a baptismal service at a pond. There were many to be baptized that day and the drunk, not knowing what was going on, got in the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Legalism Stinks Series

Contributed by Larry Osborne on Jun 13, 2007

Having a clear understanding of God’s law can help us avoid the trap of legalism. King David, the apostle Paul and Jesus can each give us a healthy perspective on God’s law.

1 Timothy: Doing Church God’s Way North Coast Church Message #5 August 12-13, 2006 Dr. Larry Osborne Why Legalism Stinks 1 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Legalism

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Sep 8, 2004

Are you too caught up in man-made laws?

The story was told some years ago of a pastor who found the roads blocked one Sunday morning and was forced to skate on the river to get to church, which he did. When he arrived the elders of the church were horrified that their preacher had skated on the Lord’s Day. After the service they held a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:23-28

Denomination: Baptist

Trapped? Forever Trapped?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 21, 2018

What is the purpose of a trap? Are we forever trapped or is change possible? Try kindness, try love... IT WILL SET YOU FREE. Identify the traps.

TRAPPED, FOREVER TRAPPED? FOCUS? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13 (MSG) Whatever I have, ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

John 8:2-11 The Stone Dropped: How Jesus Turned A Legal Trap Into A Call For Self-Examination

Contributed by Ellick Wu on Jan 6, 2026

Now we come to study John 8:2-11. A familiar story about “The Woman Caught in Adultery” and the well-known phrase, “He who is without sin throws the first stone.” Let’s explore the Hypocrisy in the Temple that day, and challenge the judgmental spirit alive in our world today.

Imagine the scene: The temple court is quiet, filled with people eager to hear Jesus teach. But the peace is about to shatter. Suddenly, a group of powerful religious leaders storms in, dragging a terrified woman to the center. They haven't come for justice; they've come to set a trap. They ...read more

Scripture: John 8:2-11, Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 20:10

Denomination: Baptist

The Trap Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Sep 21, 2012

We live in a fallen world full of sinners saved or not, who are all going to say and do things that hurt or offend us at some point. Not one of you in here has not done so yourself. In other words Jesus is saying expect it, why should you expect otherwise

“It is impossible that no offences should come” (Lk 17:1) The word for offence is literally where we get our word scandal from, and Jesus is making a very clear point that scandals, offences, temptations to sin will come. “But woe to the one through whom they come”. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:10-13

Trapped Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Jul 14, 2011

Paul discovers that he cannot escape from the pwoer of sin and evil in his life. His only hope is Jesus.

Romans 7:15-25a “Trapped” INTRODUCTION I going to name a number of people, and I’d like to see if you can identify the one thing that they have in common. Here goes: Moses, King David, Thomas Jefferson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, JFK, Martin Luther King, Elizabeth Taylor, Bill ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-25

Denomination: Lutheran

Trapped?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 11, 2014

Ever feel trapped? How did you get here? How do you get out? Humans are the only varments that build their own traps?

TRAPPED? MAKING CHOICES? CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES? HOW DID I GET HERE? HOW LONG WILL I STAY HERE? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyyfingers@aol.com TEXT: Deut. 11:26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; [27] A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:26-28

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Beware Of Legalism Series

Contributed by David Taylor on Mar 6, 2014

Philippians - Manual of Joy Beware of Legalism

Philippians - Manual of Joy Beware of Legalism 3:1-8 David Taylor Legalism is deadly and it is dangerous. It brings about spiritual bondage and frustration in the Christian life, it hampers the inner transformation of heart; and it robs us of joy and intimacy with Christ. It is a tool of the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Temptation Of Legalism

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Sep 14, 2015

This is a three to four week Bible Study on the Issue of Legalism, and the surprising places where we may practice legalism in the church today.

THE TEMPTATION OF LEGALISM GALATIANS 5:1-6 QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE FREEDOM? QUESTION: IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE FREEDOM WITHOUT LIMITS? ROMANS: 14:12-19: 12SO WE WILL ALL HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO GOD THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE. 13LET US STOP JUDGING ONE ANOTHER. INSTEAD, MAKE UP YOUR MIND NOT TO ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Escaping The Trap Series

Contributed by David Asch on Feb 16, 2005

How do we escape the traps of life, religion, etc? How do we get out, how do we keep out? In this message we discover the keys as we see some religious leaders try to trap Jesus.

ESCAPING THE TRAP Mark 12:13-27 INTRO: Pitch the hamster – feeling trapped. A hum-drum existence, punctuated by brief moments of excitement. Eat the food. Run on the wheel. Over and over again. Not able to be all a hamster could be. You could tell it was getting to her – more urgent climbing and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:13-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trapped In Idolatry Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Jun 4, 2005

Examining the idols in our lives, we see what keeps us from receiving God’s blessing

SERIES: “LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH” TEXT: ACTS 19:23-41 TITLE: “TRAPPED IN IDOLATRY” INTRODUCTION: A. The dictionary definition of “idol”: “an object of excessive devotion or admiration” --Fails to capture the biblical sense ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:23-41

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ