Sermons on Luke 18:12-14:

Holy Masks

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 3, 2025

True worship begins when performance ends; Jesus frees us from religion’s stage to live honestly before the Father who sees in secret.

If you’ve ever stood backstage before the curtain rises, you know that trembling hush—the buzz, the heartbeat, the thought: Will they like it? That’s performance. And you don’t need a theater to feel it. The biggest stage ever built fits in our pockets. Every post, every selfie, every opinion ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 23:27, John 4:23

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Religious Play-Acting

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 10, 2025

Jesus frees us from religion’s stage—calling us from performance to presence, from spotlight to sunlight, to live unmasked before the Father.

Religious Play-Acting The Sermon on the Mount opens with blessing and ends with a choice: sand or rock, appearance or obedience. Between those two poles, Matthew 6 sits like a quiet heart—Jesus’ exposition of motive. Here the Lord shifts from what disciples do to why they do it. He moves from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18, Luke 18:9-14, Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 23:27, John 4:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Superficial Thanksgiving

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Nov 17, 2025

As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s fitting to reflect on the power and purpose of gratitude

(This is not an original work, I have expanded points to fit our congregation and my style of delivery) TITLE: THE SUPERFICIAL THANKSGIVING SCRIPTURE: ST. LUKE 18:9-14 As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s fitting to reflect on the power and purpose of gratitude. PSALM 92:1 says, “IT IS A GOOD THING ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

A Pharisee And Tax Collector Pray Together PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 13, 2025

True acceptance with God comes not from self-righteousness or comparison, but from humble confession and receiving the mercy and love found in Jesus Christ.

Some of us walked in today with a smile on our face and a scoreboard in our heart. You know the scoreboard I mean—the quiet tally of how we’re doing compared to others, the inner itch to be seen as enough, the nervous need to be noticed and approved. We measure our worth by the week we had, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Topics: Humility, Exaltation, Self-Righteousness

Who Do You Think You Are? PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 23, 2025

God welcomes honest, humble prayers from needy hearts; true prayer is not performance, but sincere confession that receives mercy and transforms us by His grace.

If your heart is tired and your prayers feel thin, you’re in the right place. The Lord welcomes real people with real needs and real words. He is not looking for polish; He is listening for honesty. He is not impressed by our resumes; He is moved by our repentance. We’ve all had those moments—hands ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Topics: Prayer, Proclamation, Positioning

Coming To God In Humility PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 24, 2025

True peace and acceptance come not from self-righteousness, but from humble, honest confession and receiving God’s mercy through Jesus Christ.

Some of us came in today with a smile that hides a sigh. Calendars are crammed, minds are noisy, and hearts carry the kind of weariness you can’t quite name. You’ve been faithful, you’ve been trying, and you’re hoping heaven hears. Others of us slipped in quietly, feeling a little out of place, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Topics: Listening, Humility

A Tale Of Two Prayers PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 24, 2025

True acceptance with God comes not from self-righteousness or performance, but from humble, honest confession and receiving His mercy through Jesus Christ.

Some of us walked in today with weary hearts and distracted minds. The week has been loud. Deadlines and dishes, headlines and heartaches—so many voices bidding for your attention. But in the quiet place where you talk to God, what matters most? How do you come to Him? With polished phrases and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Topics: Prayer, Power

The Sinner And The Saint PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 25, 2025

True acceptance with God comes not through self-righteousness or comparison, but through humble confession and receiving His mercy offered in Jesus Christ.

Some stories slip into the room and sit right beside us. This is one of them. It whispers to the weary, “You can put down the mask,” and it nudges the proud, “You can put down the measuring stick.” Picture it: two people walk into God’s house—one with a polished prayer and a proud posture, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Topics: God's Mercy, Divine Compassion

Be Real

Contributed by Mark Atherton on Mar 9, 2001

A plea for Christians to stop covering up and putting on a show and just be real about who we are and where we are spiritually.

Be Real... ---about our relationship with God - hot or cold Rev. 3:15 - doubts or questions Lk. 7:18-23 John 20:24-31 --- about our spiritual growth Hebrews 5:11- 6:3 - infancy & maturity Heb. 5:13 - perfect but not perfect Philippians 3:12-16 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Holiness

God Answers Prayer

Contributed by Mark Haines on Mar 27, 2001

A deductive exposition of the text introduced by statistics and stories of answered prayer.

Topic: Prayer Theme: Answered Prayer Purpose: to be the Holy Spirit’s second witness calling God’s people in my care to pray with persistence and humility. Response: Individuals will ponder God’s grace in answering our prayers. Pattern: A deductive exposition of the text introduced by statistics ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-17

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Three

Contributed by John Kapteyn on Oct 18, 2000

As we continue to look at the Apostles Creed we consider what it means to believe in the "forgiveness of sins." Are your sins forgiven?

Introductory Considerations 1. Call in education among many today to go back to basics - "the 3 R’s" - reading, writing, and rithmetic. It may be easy to learn all kinds of other things, but if basics not there a student is in trouble. 2. Today I call on us to go back to basics. To look at the 3 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Trophy Case Christians

Contributed by Roger Griffith on Oct 18, 2000

Your trophies and accomplishments will not get you into heaven. There is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ.

TROPHY CASE CHRISTIANITY TEXT: Luke 18:9-14 INTRODUCTION: I was visiting a man in his home when I noticed a large glass case that was filled with trophies. There were trophies for bowling, trophies for racing cars, trophies for hitting home runs at softball, and many others. Each one had this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

The Prayer That Was Filled With Pride

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Oct 18, 2000

Luke 18:11-12 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luke 18:11-12 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. We have the blessed promise in God’s Word that He will ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:11-12, Luke 18:11

Denomination: Baptist

Letting Go Of Our Golden Tickets

Contributed by Kyle Meador on Nov 30, 2000

The church must release our self-righteousness, pride and entitlement if we are going to offer Jesus to our community.

Letting Go of Our Golden Tickets Remember the classic children’s movie, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?” It starred Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. He’s basic a reclusive owner of a famous candy factory who starts a global craze by offering five children a tour of his factory and a lifetime ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Can God Still Bless America?

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Dec 20, 2000

God can bless any country He wants to, because God is God. But will God still bless America?

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER CENTRAL CHRISTIAN, BROWNSVILLE, TX A. I really do love the United States of America, & I feel tremendously blessed to be a citizen of this land. As most of you know, I lived the first few years of my life on the China/Tibetan border, & since then have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, 2 Chronicles 33:10-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ