Sermons on Legality Verses Liberty:

Freedom's Promise Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Mar 5, 2009

This message encourages us to live by promise not by law. If we want to enjoy life as God intended it, then we can’t live it trying to earn God’s blessings. We must live it in light of his blessings already given.

Freedom’s Promise (Galatians 3:15-22) It was a battle, a wrestling match, a test of wills. Every day, at exactly the same time, Margaret would go to the bathroom cabinet, open it, and take out a huge bottle of castor oil. Then she would head to the kitchen to get a tablespoon. At the sound of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:15-22

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Freedom's Promise Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Nov 2, 2016

If you want to enjoy the life God has called you to live, depend on God's promise, not His law.

Just a few years ago (2010), Audi had one of the best commercials aired during the Super Bowl. It poked some fun at the imaginary “green police” out of control. Take a look. (Show Green Police Audi Ad Super Bowl 2010) Standing at the checkout counter of a store, the clerk tells a ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:15-22

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Spring Of Persistent Public Love

Contributed by John Piper on Mar 29, 2007

Marking the Two-Hundredth Anniversary of the Abolition of Legal Slave Trading in Britain

The title of this message is long and full of historical significance: “The Spring of Persistent Public Love, Marking the Two-Hundredth Anniversary of the Abolition of Legal Slave Trading in Britain: A Sermon on Martin Luther King Weekend.” I hope to weave together three things: 1) a biblical ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

What Happened To Your Joy? Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Sep 5, 2013

There’s no joy in religious legalism. Joyless religion is like going into a nice restaurant and eating the paper menu instead of enjoying the food.

INTRODUCTION We’ve all seen special-occasion cakes that have a message spelled out in the frosting. There’s a collection of pictures of funny messages called Cake Wrecks. Apparently, some of these cake decorators had someone order a cake over the phone and they took their verbal ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:12-20

Denomination: Baptist

Genesis 4 Series

Contributed by Tom Owen on Apr 18, 2008

Genesis verse-by-verse

Genesis 4 [Trouble sitting still, RLS, etc illustrations.] For some of us it’s hard to sit still. For some of us it’s hard to just stop and rest. But there’s a solution to that, it’s called Nyquil! (A couple slugs of that and you’ll sit still.) But seriously, God didn’t intend on us being busy ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Too Much Of A Good Thing

Contributed by William Nieporte on May 17, 2005

A sermon about the abuse of Christian liberty and the call to serious discipleship.

SERMON TITLE: To Much of a Good Thing! TEXT: Luke 14:25-35 What is your favorite type of restaurant? Do you like to dine in those eateries that serve particular varieties of ethnic foods—like Indian, Chinese, or Hispanic? Do you like steak houses that specialize in serving finest cuts of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Denomination: Baptist

Defeating Intolerance Series

Contributed by Landon Winstead on Dec 31, 2013

In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.

At first glance, you might wonder just what all this writing about eating has to do with your Christian faith. After all, the text was penned with Jewish and Gentile Christians in mind and specifically written for the church at Rome. The Jewish converts had a problem with the rigid Jewish laws. To ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-12

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

Lord Of The Sabbath

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on May 29, 2018

What does keeping the Sabbath look like?

LORD of the Sabbath Mark 2:23-3:6 Jesus’ understanding of the Sabbath embroiled Him in a great deal of controversy, especially among the Pharisees and led to many disputes. “Sabbath” is the Hebrew word for “seventh.” It goes back to the beginning of Genesis where it says that God rested from His ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

People Can Stifle God's Love Series

Contributed by Paul Shafit on Dec 1, 2009

The contrast between legalism and loving obedience of God’s Word

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranging from 2 to 5 pounds. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it." He continued, ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Righteousness Par Excellence Series

Contributed by Johann Neethling on Sep 18, 2006

What God is after is a love relationship with His people – not legalism.

RIGHTEOUSNESS PAR EXCELLENCE Matthew 5:17-20 1. I have been an “average person” much of my life. • During my school years, I was an average student in my class. I studied and worked and aimed as high as I could, but I knew there were always those other students who would consistently achieve ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Denomination: United Methodist

The Gospel: For All Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Sep 3, 2015

Paul has expressed astonishment that churches of Galatia have turned from faith alone to faith plus law. He says what they have really done is moved from the true gospel to no gospel at all.

Is the Gospel really for everybody? You have probably heard someone tell the humorous one liner; you can’t get there from here. That is what the Judaizers were telling the churches in Galatia about coming to Christ only they weren’t trying to be funny. There were a group of people ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Genesis 36 Series

Contributed by Tom Owen on Aug 6, 2009

verse-by-verse

Many times in our world we see a Father passing down his ‘mantle’ to his son. - race car driver - My grandfather to my uncle - Falwell’s son Now those types of ‘passing of the baton’ are fairly easy to define. There’s paperwork, there’s legal work, there’s policy changes, and there’s a visible ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 26:1-35

Denomination: Baptist

The Bad News Gospel Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Sep 5, 2013

Discovering freedom through God's grace.

INTRODUCTION An oxymoron is a set of words that cancel each other out and the English language is full of them. Here are ten of my favorites: (1) Live recording; (2) Original Copy; (3) Freezer burn; (4) Jumbo Shrimp; (5) Minor miracle; those are fairly evident, but there are others that you have ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:3-9

Denomination: Baptist

Nation Building

Contributed by Jb Hall on Jun 21, 2011

Explains how America came to be, where she is and why, and where she is headed; and provides the solution to her problems.

Nation Building Psalm 33:12 – 22 by: JB Hall Introduction: Nations are most often defined by the type government they have; for the type government usually reflects the nature of the people. According to Romans 13:1 government has been established by God. Here’s what it says, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:12-22

Denomination: Baptist

Practice What You Preach

Contributed by Michael Bolin on Jul 4, 2009

understanding that you have an impact!!

1st Corinthians 9:1-2 Today Paul is building on the same principles we talked about last week. All of these are in the gray areas in Christian living. We do find Christians divided on issues of freedom like… Drinking alcoholic beverages; Smoking or chewing tobacco; Card playing; Wearing ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-2

Denomination: United Methodist