Sermons on Pharisees Rebuked:

Righteousness Plus

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 10, 2011

Righteousness greater than that of the Pharisees isn't about behavior: it's about bone-deep transformation.

We’ve been shocked and horrified once again this week at the shooting of children by children, from Santee CA to next door in Pennsylvania. And the commentators and pundits are asking once again what kinds of laws we should pass to keep this from happening. Most are honest enough to admit ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Bonds Of Legalism Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on May 4, 2009

Instead of doing a full exposition of the passage, we’re going to focus on one aspect of it. We’re going to focus on the bonds of legalism. And make no mistake about it, legalism is bondage.

http://brushforkbanner.blogspot.com As you can tell, we are in the same passage this morning as we were last week. But this morning, rather than doing a full exposition of the passage, we’re going to focus on one aspect of it. We’re going to focus on the bonds of legalism. The fact is that true ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Too Full Of Yourself? Or Weighed Down By Shame?

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 21, 2013

A short talk given at a baptism service. If we’re too full of ourselves then God desires humility. If we’re weighed down by sin, by shame, by guilt, and if we can pray, "God have mercy on me a sinner", God will restore us and lift us up.

Jesus told lots of challenging stories; and in the Church we tend to calls his stories parables. But why did Jesus use stories, parables, to communicate truth to his 1st century audience? Well, he used parables to paint a picture with a punchy, poignant, pertinent point. His pithy parables packed a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Anglican

How To Face A Hypocrite?

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Mar 6, 2012

I. EXORDIUM: Are you a hypocrite? We've been all a hypocrite at one time or another. II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: General with ministry involvement III. OBJECTIVES: Facing a hypocrite IV. TEXT: Matthew 23:3 So observe and practice all they

I. EXORDIUM: Are you a hypocrite? We've been all a hypocrite at one time or another. II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: General with ministry involvement III. OBJECTIVES: Facing a hypocrite IV. TEXT: Matthew 23:3 So observe and practice all they tell you; but do not do what they do, for they preach, but ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:3

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jesus, The Rebel With A Cause Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

Throughout the Gospel of Mark, we see a growing opposition to Jesus from the Pharisees and the other religious leaders of the day. To understand that, we need to look at the religious landscape Jesus ministered in

Jesus, the Rebel With a Cause Throughout the Gospel of Mark, we see a growing opposition to Jesus from the Pharisees and the other religious leaders of the day. To understand that, we need to look at the religious landscape Jesus ministered in. In Jesus’ time, there were three sects of Jews ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:1-6

Denomination: Methodist

Reaction To The Resurrection Of Lazarus Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Nov 5, 2017

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and that miracle brought results. First of all and most important is that many believed on him. There were others that did not believe and they went back to Jerusalem to report this incident to the religious leaders.

Perea to Bethany Lesson: Reaction to the Resurrection of Lazarus John 11:45-54 (John 11:45-46) Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had ...read more

Scripture: John 11:45-54

Denomination: Baptist

The Christian And Fasting Series

Contributed by Grant Adams on Nov 26, 2019

Perhaps, the most misunderstood and most misapplied teaching in the Bible is the teaching of fasting.

The Christian and Fasting Matthew 6:16-18 Perhaps, the most misunderstood and most misapplied teaching in the Bible is the teaching of fasting. Down through the ages, it has been a method of displaying something on the outside that was supposed to be prevalent on the inside. It supposedly used to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Was Baptized "to Fulfill All Righteousness" Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 12, 2020

We might make the mistake of thinking that Jesus stopped growing in the Spirit at His baptism.

The Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ 2020 In today’s Gospel the words of John the Baptist could just as well have begun “Jesus, this makes no sense!” He rightly senses at the Jordan River, as he did three months before he was born, when Mary visited his mother Elizabeth, that he is in the presence ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:52, Isaiah 42:1-7, Matthew 3:13-17, Matthew 5:3-4, John 19:30  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Not To Be Called Rabbi, Father Or Teacher? How's That? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 25, 2020

Not only did the Son of Man come to serve, not to be served, He insisted that the ones who follow Him take that as the pattern of life.

Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Course 2020 St. Thomas Aquinas This Gospel from a late chapter in St. Matthew’s Gospel has caused a great deal of ink to be spilled, especially in the dialogue or dispute between Catholics and Protestants. Catholics call priests “Father,” and the pope the “Holy Father.” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:8-12

Denomination: Catholic

Love Does Not Condone But Love Loves

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jan 29, 2019

How many people will be in Hell because we chose not to win them or told them that some sin we deemed unpardonable blocked them from coming to Him?

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:4-9

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Is The Better Shepherd (John 10:1-21) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Feb 10, 2022

John's readers who have chosen to hear Jesus, and follow him, and become part of his flock, have upgraded their shepherd. Jesus is a better shepherd than the Pharisees.

Let's start today by simply reading John 10:1: (1) Truly, truly, I say to you, the one not entering through the gate/door into the inner courtyard of the sheep, but going up from some other place-- that one, a thief, he is, and a robber. When we read this, we should notice something, ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-21, John 9:24-41

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

Tradition! Tradition! Tradition!

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Aug 24, 2021

Does tradition have any role in the Christian life?

Tradition! Tradition! Tradition! Mark 7:1-23 I can remember many years ago seeing Fiddler on the Roof. My mind has gotten a little foggy concerning the details, but I remember a hit song which came from it called “Tradition, Tradition, Tradition. I was about an orthodox Jewish community facing the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23, Mark 7:1-8, Mark 7:14-15, Mark 7:21-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Easter Preparations - Part 3

Contributed by Todd Blair on Apr 16, 2022

Palm Sunday Sermon

Have you ever done anything that you knew was going to be painful but would ultimately be for your benefit? Maybe you started an exercise program and you knew it would be difficult but you needed to get back in shape or lose some weight. Or maybe you underwent some surgery you knew you needed even ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God’s Great Love For Humble Sinners Series

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 23, 2023

Working through the Gospel of Luke using consecutive expository preaching. Teaching sheet included at end of text.

“God’s Great Love for Humble Sinners” Luke 18:9-14 Pastor John Bright Luke 18 “9 Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else. 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Matthew 6:5

Denomination: Methodist