Sermons on Pharisees Warning:

Plucked Corn Precipitates Sabbath Controversy Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jul 15, 2017

Throughout His ministry, Jesus was accused of breaking the Sabbath laws, and it is true that He broke them. They were part of the old covenant that God made with Israel. He had come to bring a new covenant based on grace.

Harmony of the Gospels -AD 28- En Route to Galilee (13) Plucked Corn Precipitates Sabbath Controversy (Deuteronomy 5:14) Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 2:23-28, Luke 6:1-5 Throughout His ministry, Jesus was accused of breaking the Sabbath laws, and it is true that He broke them. They were part of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 2:23-28, Luke 6:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Mute Demoniac Healed Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Aug 9, 2017

They brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

Harmony of the Gospels -AD 28- East Shore of Galilee Lesson: Mute Demoniac Healed Matthew 9:32-34 32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. As Jesus went out of the house where He had restored the sight of two blind men, they brought a man to Him, who ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:32-34

Denomination: Baptist

Nit-Picker Or Disciple? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 21, 2021

It’s a constant battle to make prayer not just external, but an action of listening to God that can change our hearts and behaviors.

Tuesday of 21st week in Course Today we have one of the great analogies of Biblical literature–only St. Matthew has it–you strain out the gnat and swallow the camel. Jesus says “Oy! You nitpick the little stuff and neglect the critical duties.” The people described by the Hebrew word ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Psalm 139:1-6, Matthew 23:23-36

Denomination: Catholic

Asking, Seeking, Knocking (Luke 11)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 1, 2024

What is the importance of asking, seeking and knocking in prayer? Let's look at Luke 11.

What does prayer have to do with asking, seeking and knocking? Do we gather with Jesus or scatter? What woes can religious leaders face? Let’s look at Luke 11. What are the important topics to pray about that Jesus addressed? It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Gives Sight, To Those Who Want It (John 9:1-41) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Feb 8, 2022

Jesus gives physical sight, and spiritual sight. By chapter's end, the only blind ones left are the Pharisees. Have to be open-minded, and know what you don't know.

At this point in the gospel of John, some of you are maybe feeling a little confused. John is not a very easy book. Jesus' words seem complicated-- they are "from above," as he is from above, and we struggle to climb up, and view things from above, and understand them from ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

I'm Glad I'm Not. . .

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Oct 27, 2022

do we pray like a Pharisee to impress God or like the tax collector to be impressed by God

God, I thank you that I am not like those conservative Episcopalians who walked away refusing to acknowledge gospel hospitality, love, and inclusiveness. God, I thank you that I am not like the agenda-driven liberal Episcopalians who neither understand nor respect the holy scriptures. God, I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Proverbs 16:18, Matthew 23:27, Isaiah 2:11

Denomination: Episcopal

"Before Abraham Was” Series

Contributed by John Newton on Jun 4, 2023

Jesus’ controversy with the Pharisees concludes with the most amazing claim.

For those of you who are old enough to have watched the Seinfeld show on TV, you may recall an episode from twenty-five years ago entitled “The Comeback”. It all revolved around a conversation in the opening scene between George Costanza and a co-worker named Reilly. The two are taking a snack ...read more

Scripture: John 8:48-59

Denomination: Episcopal

Is There A Doctor In The House

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 3, 2023

We need more men with calloused knees than degrees.

Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word ...read more

Scripture: Amos 8:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

Finicky Faith Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Apr 28, 2025

John, while in prison, sent representatives to Jesus to ascertain whether or not he is the one - Jesus provided proof and then affirmed John’s ministry, sinners repented, Pharisees rejected/scoffed, Jesus confronted the finicky faith of the generation

During World War II, a congregation in London faced bombings nightly. In the midst of fear, their pastor encouraged them to gather for prayer. One night, after a particularly intense bombing, he found a soldier praying with fervor. When asked why he prayed amidst such chaos, the soldier replied, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:18-35

Denomination: Baptist

Rivers Of Living Water (John 7)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 29, 2025

Why do people either love or hate Jesus? Let's look at John 7.

What kind of teacher was Jesus, cautious and weak or bold and confronting? Let’s look at John 7. Did members of Jesus’ own family believe in Him? Do we have doubters in our families? After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, because he didn’t want to travel in Judea, since the Jewish leaders ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Good Shepherd (John 10)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 1, 2025

Who is the good shepherd and why? Let's look at John 10.

Why is Jesus the good shepherd? How is he the gate to the sheep pen? Why did people not believe and falsely accuse Him? Let’s look at John 10. Did people understand Jesus telling a parable about sheep and their shepherd? Do we recognize Jesus’ voice? Jesus said: I tell you for certain only ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Deals With Hypocrisy, Covetousness, Worry, Alertness Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Sep 23, 2017

A large crowd had got together to hear Christ preach. The scribes and Pharisees were there, but they were looking for something that they could accuse him of. But the people, who were not prejudice against Him and jealous, still admired him...

Judea Jesus Deals With Hypocrisy, Covetousness, Worry... (Micah 7:6) Luke 12:1-59 A large crowd had got together to hear Christ preach. The scribes and Pharisees were there, but they were looking for something that they could accuse him of. But the people, who were not prejudice against Him and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:1-59

Denomination: Baptist

Why God Gets Angry

Contributed by Ken Henson on Oct 20, 2019

God is a God of love, and we all like hearing and talking about that. But there is another side of love-one that is less pleasant, but no less essential-that is God’s anger.

God’s Anger God is a God of love, and we all like hearing and talking about that. But there is another side of love-one that is less pleasant, but no less essential-that is God’s anger. God gets angry because He loves, but I’m getting ahead of myself. First, I think it’s important that we establish ...read more

Denomination: *other

Turning Hearts Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 1, 2015

The idea of the sermon is the see the contrast between our tendencies to be self-serving or self-promoting versus having the humble spirit that promotes God. The Pharisee and Tax Collector in the parable of Luke 18.9-14 are the examples we will consider.

1. Self Esteem and Funeral Director A mild mannered young man came into a counselor's office ready for a divorce. He complained that his wife was so bossy that she was driving him off the wall. He wanted things to change, immediately. The counselor gave him a book on assertiveness. He was so ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Your Situation Seems Impossible Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Jan 25, 2018

Our greatest need to fill the sense of spiritual hunger. If you are hungry, you can eat bread and be satisfied for a few hours and then you get hungry again. But Jesus can fill a spiritual need that will satisfy you for eternity.

INTRODUCTION Life is full of impossible situations. And everyone has different advice to pass on to you during tough times. Someone has said the best way to deal with your problems is to laugh at them. But someone else said that laughing at your problems is like changing a baby’s diaper. It ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:1-21

Denomination: Baptist