Sermons on Mystery Religions:

The Scourge Of Legalism Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 12, 2004

The problem with legalism is: 1. It turns a relationship of love into a religion of laws. 2. It turns people from encouragers into fault-finders. 3. It emphasizes outward conformity rather than inner transformation.

What an interesting story about the early church The Word of God has just spread to the Gentiles (non-Jews and people from other lands), and they have responded enthusiastically to its message. There were thrilling stories of healings, miracles and dramatic conversions. These new converts were ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-5

Denomination: Methodist

Hiding Behind A Veil

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jun 21, 2005

We often suffer from "blurred vision" when it comes to religion or belief in God. We see what we want to see colored by the prejudices (veils) we have created or experienced.

Hiding Behind A Veil Exodus 34:29-35 / 2 Corinthians 3:12 - 4:2 Intro: I once attended the wedding of a friend. When the bride started down the aisle, I noticed she was having a difficult time. It was as though she was intoxicated. As she neared the row where I was seated, I could see the ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Windswept

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 3, 2005

America is a land swept by the winds of change. Are they destructive? Yes, if we invest in religion without integrity and if we accept leaders committed to materialism. But refreshing winds are possible as we the church are in touch with the Spirit.

In the hills of eastern Kentucky, not far from where we once lived, there is a hidden-away estate called Windswept. If you crawl up the winding grade of US 421 to the wide place in the road called Morrill, off to your left there is a driveway that leads to a lovely stone house. Windswept was ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 8:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Trinity

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 2, 2012

The doctrine of the Trinity is a distinctive mark of Christianity. Though there are “triads” of divinities in many of the world’s religions and philosophies, none of these carries any similarities to the Christian teaching concerning the Trinity.

Title: What the Bible Says About the Trinity Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:7 Text: For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one (1 John 5:7) The doctrine of the Trinity is a distinctive mark of Christianity. Though there ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:7

Denomination: Baptist

Parting Words Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 12, 2009

We commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection annually and claim to personally experience the resurrection of Christ in our own lives. If however there is hostility toward the church and organized religion, something about the resurrection of Christ

• I showed a comic slide to start, which asked the question, "Did anyone hear what the chairman of the board’s parting words were?" The point is how we can walk through an experience, meeting, etc., and totally miss what it was all about. The big question facing us this morning is that very ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:9-20

Denomination: Salvation Army

Effective Christianity

Contributed by Scott Fields on Oct 9, 2013

Why is Christianity in America declining? Why are professions of faith and baptisms on the decline. Christianity is not a religion but a relationship. Church is not a place we go or something we do it is God's people doing His will.

I have a very serious question to start us off with this morning. Why is Christianity on the decline here in America? I am sure there are probably as many answers as there are people. • Could it be because Christianity is competing with so many other religions? • Could it be because ...read more

Scripture: John 5:31-42

Denomination: Baptist

Believers Or Decievers

Contributed by Horace Wimpey on Sep 25, 2015

Paul writes that if we are believers, we should realize that we are vessels that God resides in through the Holy Spirit. The world will try to deceive us and tell us that God reside within religion.

BELIEVERS OR DECIEVERS 1 Corinthians 3:16-20 (NLT) Intro: A dog food company’s latest product was not selling very well, so the president called a board meeting to discuss why. The advertisement department said the ads were great and going full speed ahead. The research and development ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16-20

Denomination: Baptist

What Example Do You Set For Your Children's Faith

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Aug 18, 2016

What does it mean when we say, “We engage to religiously educate our children.” This is not saying that we will educate our children in religion. It says we will religiously educate.

Last week we learned that the Gospel is all that matters. I hope we all left here with that thought embedded in our hearts so that everything in our lives will revolve around the Gospel. Well today we’re going to go a step further with that thought as we think about the message we send to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

Freedom In Christ

Contributed by Imelda Mesa on Oct 30, 2022

BORN-AGAIN IS NOT A RELIGION. IT IS A LIFE CHANGED BY THE POWER OF GOD, AND GOD WANTS YOU TO BREAK FREE FROM ALL THE HUNG-UPS THAT SLOW US DOWN IN CHRIST. LEAD US TO THE LIGHT THAT IS CHRIST.

(SLIDE 1) BREAK FREE: GALATIANS 5:1 – “IT IS FOR FREEDOM THAT CHRIST SET US FREE. STAND FIRM, THEN, AND DO NOT LET YOURSELVES BE BURDENED AGAIN BY A YOKE OF SLAVERY. (SLIDE 2) THE OPPOSITE OF FREEDOM IS BONDAGE! BONDAGE – subjection or slavery restraints. The basic concept of bondage is “loss of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1

Denomination: Foursquare

David And Bathsheba Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Sep 5, 2022

Following his rise to power, David conquered the city of Jerusalem. He established it as Israel's capital, subsequently taking the Ark of the Covenant into the city to be the central point of worship in the Israelite religion.

According to the Hebrew Bible, David was the third king of the United Kingdom of Israel. In the Books of Samuel, he is described as a young shepherd and harpist who gains fame by slaying Goliath, a champion of the Philistines, in southern Canaan. David becomes a favorite of Saul, the first king of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:7

Denomination: Baptist

The Golden Statue Series

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Sep 29, 2021

Nebuchadnezzar remembers the huge statue from his dream years before and the fact that he was the head of gold on that statue. So, he had constructed a huge statue as the representative of the new state religion.

Tonight, we get into the beginning of chapter 3 in the book of Daniel. We will talk tonight about Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue. You know, all of us face trials and afflictions in our life. Sooner or later all of us face hard times. It's in those hard times that we need a strong ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

New Birth - A Passport To Heaven!

Contributed by Reggie Corfield on May 13, 2024

Never compromise for cheap Christianity that takes you close but not far enough to inherit eternal life. Many good people like Nicodemus are so caught up with religion that they lose sight of eternity.

A little girl had been attending Church for a while. One day, she asked her mother “Where did people come from?” Her mother answered “God made Adam and Eve and they had children and that is how all of us came.” A couple of days later she asked her father the same question. The father said “This is ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Anglican

Breakfast With Jesus

Contributed by Chuck Warnock on Jun 26, 2007

Suppose everything we thought and believed about religion got stripped away from us in one horrific event. Suppose all the answers we thought we had to all the questions we thought people wanted answered, seemed hollow and empty.

Breakfast with Jesus Chuck Warnock, Senior Pastor Chatham Baptist Church Chatham, VA www.chathambc.net April 22, 2007 – Sunday after the shootings at Virginia Tech on Ap 16, 2007 – John 21:1-19, NIV 1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.[a] It happened this way: ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Da Vinci Code: Truth And Error Part 1 Series

Contributed by Mark Strauss on May 8, 2006

The Da Vinci Code – first the book and now the movie – has made a huge cultural impact in the United States and around the world. Dan Brown’s mystery novel has not only met with massive popular success, but has shaken the faith of many with its astonishin

Truth and Error in the Da Vinci Code Part 1: Jesus and the Gospels This message contains excerpts from the book Truth and Error in the Da Vinci Code by Mark L. Strauss This book may be ordered at DaVinciCodeErrors.com The Da Vinci Code – first the book and now the movie – has made a huge cultural ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

Cannibals Or Snackers?

Contributed by Bradley Boydston on Jun 3, 2002

The Lord’s Supper isn’t a snack. Nor is it really a cause for charges of cannibalism. But somewhere in between the two is the mystery of Christ present in the bread and cup that we share together. And if Christ is somehow really present in these elements

Are you a cannibal or are you just snacking? You heard me – are you a cannibal or are you just snacking? Or something else? Ancient Christians were accused of cannibalism. Why? Because rumor had it that when they got together before sunrise on Sundays they drank blood and ate a body. It didn’t ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Denomination: *other