Sermons on Matthew 15:7-8:

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

Faith On Autopilot – Going Through The Motions Without Heart Series

Contributed by Dr. John D. Wentworth on Sep 27, 2025

There’s comfort in routine. Singing the same hymns, praying the same prayers, sitting in the same pew each Sunday—it all feels safe. But these familiar patterns can lull us into a dangerous place: performing religion instead of pursuing Jesus.

Title: Faith on Autopilot – Going Through the Motions Without Heart Text: Matt. 15:8-9 ‘This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ “When routine replaces relationship” Introduction: “When faith ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:8-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Proper Place Of Tradition

Contributed by Neil Olcott on Mar 31, 2025

Jesus teaches that traditional rules and Laws can't provide salvation and can be dangerous because they can lead to hypocrisy.

We all know the comfort that tradition can bring us. Family traditions over the holidays, birthdays Church traditions - singing hymns, Candlelight Christmas eve services, The way we have always done it. For years after Pat and I were first married - Bowed and/or genuflect - before sitting in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:34-36, Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Confession Without Conversion

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 18, 2025

Confession without conversion is a dangerous spiritual deception. It gives the appearance of salvation without the power of it. God is not impressed with words alone—He looks for a surrendered heart and a transformed life.

CONFESSION WITHOUT CONVERSION By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Matthew 15:7-9 Supporting Texts: Titus 1:16, Isaiah 29:13, Romans 10:9-10, James 2:17, Matthew 7:21-23 INTRODUCTION: In today’s Christian world, many people confess Christ with their mouths but deny Him by their lifestyle. It is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:7-9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"when Praise Ain't Enough

Contributed by Anthony (Tony) Charles on Aug 11, 2025

What if I told you that there are times when our praise actually becomes noise to God? What if our worship services can actually stink in His nostrils?

“WHEN PRAISE AIN’T ENOUGH!” Tony – Study – Prayer – Meditation: August 2025 When God Calls Our Worship NOISE! Opening Scripture: Amos 5:21-23 (KJV) "I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies... Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:21, Matthew 15:8-9, John 4:23-24

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Church Everyone Wants To "join"

Contributed by David Owens on Aug 18, 2025

The early church is an excellent model for us to follow. They had four characteristics that made them a church that everyone would want to join.

The Church Everyone Wants to “Join” David Owens Scripture Reading: Acts 2:42-47 8.17.25 Introduction: A. Good morning, brothers and sisters! Praise God for another Lord’s Day to gather to worship God and to encourage each other. 1. As you know, we just completed a sermon series about eternal ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47, Matthew 15:8-9, Acts 20:29-30, 2 Timothy 4:2-4, John 13:35, Matthew 28:19, Matthew 5:13-16, Acts 4:29-31  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Disregarding Tradition And Taboo (Matthew 15:1-39)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Aug 20, 2025

In this chapter, we read about the Lord Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees yet again, and of His mercy to a Gentile woman whose daughter was possessed by a demon.

Coming from Jerusalem, the Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples did not perform the traditional ritual of washing one’s hands before eating. This ceremony had been established by the “elders” and had nothing to do with hygiene alone, but was instead an elaborate ritual that involved not only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Mark 7:24-30, Mark 8:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

The Heart Matters Most - Lessons From Matthew 15 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jun 12, 2025

GOD cares more about the condition of your heart than the traditions you keep. GOD desires genuine inner purity and authentic faith, not religious performance. True righteousness comes from a transformed heart, not outward tradition.

2025.06.15.Sermon Notes. The Heart Matters Most – Lessons from Matthew 15 When Religion Misses the Point William Akehurst, HSWC Reminder: It’s Father’s Day Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalms 51:10, Psalms 139:23-24 INTRODUCTION: JESUS confronts the religious leaders for honoring ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalm 51:10, Psalm 139:23-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Celebrating God’s Watchman Because Of Their True Value

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Oct 28, 2025

We celebrate our pastors because of their vigilance as they are called to be constantly on duty and alert to dangers that could harm their flock.

Sermon: Celebrating God’s Watchman Because of Their True Value Scripture: Isaiah 21:11-12 “The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 21:11-12, Matthew 15:8

Denomination: Methodist

Acceptable Worship - Part 2

Contributed by Don Campbell on Dec 23, 2025

Jesus taught that acceptable worship must be in spirit and truth. "In spirit" does not mean "spirited" in the sense of animated or peppy.

ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP - Part 2 INTRODUCTION A. We discovered in lesson one that— 1. There are two ideas behind worship: to pay homage and serve. 2. There are three levels of worship: emotional, moral, and ceremonial. B. There was a woman who did all three (John 4:20). 1. The woman believed that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:8-9, Ephesians 5:18-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ