Sermons on Outward Religious:

Persecution: The Opening Salvoes

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 25, 2013

Religious opposition to the Gospel!

PERSECUTION: THE OPENING SALVOES. Acts 4:1-31; Acts 5:12-42. Soon after the early success of Pentecost, the fledgling New Testament church found herself facing persecution. This is not surprising, and quite in keeping with the pattern of the earlier ministry of Jesus. For example, Herod the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-31, Acts 5:12-42

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Herod And The Wise Men Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Nov 9, 2021

The wise men were religious outsiders who traveled a good distance while the religious insiders were sitting on the front porch of Bethlehem but failed to take another step. The religious insiders watched the religious outsiders pass right by them.

Today, we begin a short Christmas series entitled The Characters of Christmas. All throughout the story of Christmas, there are major and minor characters who play an important role in making the story of Christmas great theatre. Now, I love to watch a good movie, and I imagine many of you are the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Trouble With Tradition Series

Contributed by Mitchell Skelton on Aug 16, 2003

How did Jesus deal with "Traditon." How can we apply His teaching to our practices today?

The Trouble with Tradition Mark 7:1–13 INTRODUCTION We obtain biblical authority from three ways: 1. Direct Command, 2. Divine Example and 3. Necessary Inference. When we come across anything for which we do not have a command, example or cannot infer proper action from clear biblical ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-13, Matthew 15:1-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pilgrims' Progress

Contributed by Perry Greene on Nov 18, 2014

In the first of the movie, Monumental, Kurt Cameron shares information about the Pilgrims which reinforces the Providence of God in their lives and ours.

1. Mayflower Compact https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbjWqsC0Lpk 2. First Thanksgiving Proclamation -- 1623 The following proclamation was made by Governor Bradford in 1623, 3 years after the Pilgrims settled at Plymouth; To all ye Pilgrims, Inasmuch as the great father has given us this year an ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Church Of ‘4’ Collections Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Oct 18, 2012

A study of the book of Judges chapter 18

Judges 18: 1 – 31 The Church Of ‘4’ Collections In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in; for until that day their inheritance among the tribes of Israel had not fallen to them. 2 So ...read more

Scripture: Judges 18:1-31

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Power Over Storms Series

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on Jun 13, 2011

Jesus has dinner with a Pharisee and forgives a sinful woman

Forgiven The Middle East is an extremely conservative, extremely religious area. For a woman to leave the house without her hair up, hair covered, and face hidden behind a veil would have been extremely shameful. Women were not valued at this time, they were not well respected or considered ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: *other

Hope That Nobody Can Take Away

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 21, 2022

Our faith gives life a new basis, a new foundation on which we can stand, one that relativizes the habitual foundation of people’s security, the reliability of material income.

Monday of 3rd Week in Course Spe Salvi We may suppose that little David could have lived his whole life out under the stars, playing his stringed instrument to his flock, chucking rocks at an occasional predator and enduring the taunts of his multiple older siblings. But he heard the call of God ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:34, Mark 3:22-30, 2 Samuel 5:1-10

Denomination: Catholic

Choose Life (July 3, 2022)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jul 1, 2022

What caused America to loose some of her luster? Is it bad decisions from bad leaders through the generations who chose to “bow down to other gods whom they serve” (Deuteronomy 30:17)?

CHOOSE LIFE Text: Deuteronomy 30:15 -19 Deuteronomy 30:15 - 19:  (15)  See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity.  (16)  If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:15-19

Denomination: United Methodist

The Spirit Of The Law, Part 3

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 4, 2023

What about spiritual show-offs? What about materialism and material worries? What did Jesus say about these things in Matthew 6?

As Jesus continued describing the Spirit of the law, He discussed spiritual show-offs, prayer and worry about material things. Let’s look at Matthew 6. Religious Show Offs What are our motives in doing good? Jesus taught that our motive should be to glorify God (Matthew 5:16) not to show ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Double-Agent Series

Contributed by Matt Newburg on Jan 19, 2023

There should be a “Warning Label” on this message. Calling out all the double agents in our churches!

I. INTRO: NOT A SERMON I WANT TO PREACH...BUT A SERMON THAT MUST BE PREACHED. A. I think I don’t want to preach about this subject because I'm at the center of it. 1. I'm BUSTED...Nowhere to run...the cat’s out of the bag...pointing out the elephant in the room. I’d rather just ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Saved From Shallow Religion Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

Jesus saves us from sin and shallow religion. He teaches us to practice our faith in private, not for public approval, but to build a solid core of self-giving love.

Today we're going to talk about how Jesus saves us from sin and shallow religion. You know, the kind of religion that's all about showing off and not about what's really going on inside of us. Let's start with a little object lesson. I want you all to imagine a cup. Now, this cup looks super shiny ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21

Topics: Spiritual Growth, Faith Journey, Religious Depth, Beyond Superficiality

Jesus Disrupts Dead Religion Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Feb 22, 2024

Jesus disrupts the old system of death and sacrifice, bringing in a new system of love and mercy. He challenges corruption and exploitation, and disrupts our lives to remove anything that hinders us from living abundantly in His love.

Imagine you're at your favorite concert, but instead of enjoying the music, people are selling stuff and ripping you off. That's what Jesus walked into at the temple. People were supposed to be worshipping God, but instead, they were making a quick buck. Jesus was not cool with that. He flipped ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-22

Topics: Spiritual Awakening, Religious Reformation, Faith Disruption, Sacred Transformation

Thyatira--The Church Of Toleration And Compromise Series

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Oct 26, 2016

Thyatira was religiously correct and it led to their downfall.

THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION THYATIRA—THE CHURCH OF TOLERATION AND COMPROMISE TEXT: Revelation 2:18-29 Revelation 2:18-29 KJV And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Good Man Lost And A Bad Man Saved

Contributed by Richard Dayringer, Thd on Aug 21, 2006

The attitude of a person’s heart or soul, not his or her outward actions determines one’s destiny.

A GOOD MAN LOST & A BAD MAN SAVED SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS IS SELF-DECEPTION (TWO PRAYERS) 33 LU. 18:9-14 (Prayer) PROP: The attitude of a person’s heart or soul, not his or her actions determines one’s destiny. INTRO: 1. Notice the make-up of the crowd to whom Jesus spoke. V. 9 makes clear the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

Religion & Rituals Will Not Save You Series

Contributed by Ed Taylor on Dec 22, 2008

Religious people can be some of the hardest to reach with the gospel.

1. There is wonderful CONFIDENCE & SECURITY in Jesus Christ. a. Our salvation isn’t based on the promises we have made to God but rather THE PROMISE He has made to us. b. If you believe, you are saved, eternally. 2 Corinthians 1:20 NOTE: They came to Jesus one day and asked: John 6:28-29 (NKJV) ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:17-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational