Sermons on Pharisees Fast Often:

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Keeping Up Appearances (Heavenly Mrs Bucket) Series

Contributed by Thomas H on Nov 24, 2011

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Keeping up Appearances (Heavenly Mrs Bucket)

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Keeping up Appearances (Heavenly Mrs Bucket) Manuscript In the 1990s there was a TV show from Britain called “Keeping Up Appearances.” Who remembers it? The reruns are still showing if you haven’t seen it and want to. The series is about a lady called ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Secret Of Satisfaction Series

Contributed by Allen James on Sep 5, 2010

We live in a world filled with distractions which scream for our attention. Unknowingly these can diminish our desperation for God. Today we explore Matthew 6:1, 16-18, and the warning of Jesus to fast behind closed doors.

The Secret of Satisfaction • Matthew 6:1, 16-18 Introduction: We live in a world filled with DISTRACTIONS which scream for our attention. Unknowingly these can diminish our DESPERATION for God. I. Fasting is an UNFAMILIAR PATTERN. • Jesus expresses expectation that His disciples ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

How Did Jesus Remain Holy Without Acting Like The Pharisees

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

"Be holy as I am holy." Practical ways that we can be obedient to the divine command.

How to be Holy as Jesus Commands us To Be - Matt. 6:26,27 Illustration: Quarterback cum ESPN commentator Joe Theismann, allegedly explaining to his soon-to-be-ex second wife why he had an affair: "God wants Joe Theismann to be happy." Source Unknown. A holy life will make the deepest ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:26-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Tale Of The Two "I” Exams (Sermon Theme Adapted From John Beehler)

Contributed by Daniel Habben on May 27, 2008

The Tale of the Two “I” Exams 1) “See me, God? I’m not like him.” 2) “Save me, God! I’m not like you.”

When is the last time you had an eye exam? Eye care experts recommend that we should have our eyes checked every one to three years depending on age, risk factors, and physical condition (allaboutvision.com). Regular eye exams are important because experts estimate that one in four school-age ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Hungering For Jesus Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Oct 4, 2011

The purpose of Biblical fasting is to satisfy our hunger for God.

This morning we’re going to address a topic that frankly doesn’t get as much attention in the church as it does in the outside world around us. Fasting has actually become quite popular in our culture, primarily for physical reasons like weight loss and health. In fact, this week I went ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Nehemiah's Prayers (Nehemiah 1)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 4, 2025

Do we fast?

Do we prepare for service to God with prayer and fasting? Let’s begin in Nehemiah 1. What news out of Jerusalem caused Nehemiah to act? The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, that Hanani, one of my ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Navigating The Ebb And Flow

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Dec 24, 2024

Jesus shared words to help John's disciples navigate change, as they were dealing with the loss of their leader. He also addressed the change of grace over legalism. This passage can be applied to change within the church.

I have entitled our message this morning, “Navigating the Ebb and Flow.” The expression “ebb and flow” is an idiom used to describe periods of highs and lows, and growth and decline, just like the rising and falling of the tides. It is essentially the idea that life is not always constant, but ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:14-17

Denomination: Baptist

Why Are John’s Disciples So Worried About Jesus’ Disciples Fasting?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 2, 2021

The question from John's disciples about fasting reveals a serious disconnect to what Jesus is trying to accomplish.

WHY DON'T THEY FAST? The question from John’s disciples shows that they missed the point that Jesus just made. - Matthew 9:13-14. - In v. 14, John’s disciples come and ask about why Jesus’ disciples aren’t fasting. In other gospels, it gives us more information that the Pharisees were in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:14

Denomination: Baptist

The Danger Of Comparative Righteousness Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Jun 6, 2021

Thank God I Am NOT LIKE............

February 06, 2021 The Context: “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told a story”: The Parable {Luke 18:10-14}: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

What Kind Of Spirit Do You Have Part#2

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Feb 7, 2021

One of the greatest hindrances you will encounter in your Christian walk is that of the religious spirit. Religious spirits endeavor to interfere with the free flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

What Kind of Spirit Do you Have? By Bishop Melvin Maughmer Part #2 OPENING: - Last night before I went to bed, I was watching the local news and this church here in Florida received a violation for violating covid restrictions. They didn’t have a permit to have the event that had several thousand ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:6, Matthew 23:1-31

Denomination: Apostolic

The Holy Spirit Set Paul And Barnabas Apart

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 20, 2017

Acts 13:1-14:28 tells of Paul’s first missionary journey, which he made in the Company of Barnabas; but, in this lesson (Acts 13:1-3), Barnabas and Saul, are Divinely called to take the Gospel to the Gentiles, are set apart and Sent Forth by the Church...

August 11, 2014 By: Tom Lowe Lesson: IV.A.1: The Holy Spirit Set Paul and Barnabas Apart (13:1-3) Scripture (Acts 13:1-3; KJV) 1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Abstaining For God

Contributed by Martin Wiles on Oct 22, 2010

Fasting is appropriate in the believer's life when mourning over sin or seeking clear direction from God.

Abstaining For God Matthew 6:16-18 INTRODUCTION A. Story of a financially depressed American couple in Switzerland. 1. Involved in program of study that lasted three years. 2. No grants or scholarships to fall back on if they ran out of money. 3. Learned of an Asian student in the theological ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Lord Of The Impossible

Contributed by Richard White on Feb 20, 2010

How easy is it for a cripple to get up on his own? How easy is it to love our enemies? How easy is to forgive someone who hurt us deeply? Jesus commands us to do all this.

This morning we visit a place called Bethesda. An invalid, crippled, lying on the ground waiting for the miraculous. Jesus says "Do you want to get well?" Some people do not want to get better, they like the attention they get, or possibly the thought of doing anything different scares them. ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Ayuna Series

Contributed by Wilbur Madera Rivas on Sep 26, 2009

Ora y ayuna

Buen inicio: Ayuno Intro: Imagina que tu jefe te llama a su oficina y te ofrece un ascenso en la compañía, lo único que el nuevo puesto no es aquí sino en Oaxaca e implica viajar mucho cada mes. ¿Qué haces para tomar la decisión? O bien, tal vez tu matrimonio no anda muy bien…en realidad está ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You Are Greatly Loved!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Dec 3, 2012

Friend, the reason for our mediocre lives, broken homes and debt-drenched lives is because we read more of ‘how to become rich and how to have stress-free life’ rather than the Word of God.

You are greatly loved! Daniel 9:3 ‘And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes..’ Friend, the reason for our mediocre lives, broken homes and debt-drenched lives is because we read more of ‘how to become rich ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 9:1-27

Denomination: Pentecostal