Sermons on Playing Church:

Play God Day Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 10, 2016

Play God Day is "celebrated" on January 9th and encourages people to do something nice for others. That's good. But "playing God" also has a negative side. What's wrong with "playing God" and how do I recognize if I'm falling into that trap?

This is the 2nd in our series of “holidays” in January you probably haven’t heard of. This one is called the “Play God Day” and its “observed” on January 9th each year. According to www.cute_calendar.com: “The day encourages you to do something ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Same Three Plays

Contributed by Brady Boyd on Apr 28, 2011

Jesus endured temptations, and so can we with His help.

All right, let me ask you a question. If the team that you’re rooting for-- if they knew the other team’s plays, in other words all this week they knew exactly what play the other team was going to run every time. It was all scripted out right there for you. Do you think that your team ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let's Play Ball Series

Contributed by Michael Karpf on Feb 20, 2009

We are not to judge others or make plans without consulting God because if we do we are playing God.

LET’S PLAY BALL James 4:11-17 Those of you who have been around for my Tuesday night class know of a little game we like to play. I have this ball, and I’ll think of a topic. For example I’ll say, “Tell me something you do every day.” And I’ll start by saying, “I drink a Dr Pepper.” Then I’ll ...read more

Scripture: James 4:11-17

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Playing Footsie With The Devil

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Apr 18, 2018

It's hard to walk with Jesus when you're playing footsie with the devil. We must live a life of holiness no matter what else is around us.

Playing Footsie with the Devil April 15, 2018 Morning Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: We must live a life of holiness no matter what else is around us. Focus Passage: Ephesians 5:1-16 Supplemental Passage: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Playing For The Right Team Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Mar 26, 2016

Worship in spirit and in truth is always directed to God above everything else. I want for my audience to understand how worship tends to get misdirected, and why that is such a grievous error; to know what worship directed toward God truly is

Welcome to the stadium! This is now the 3rd week we’re taking a closer look at worship, and we’re doing that in the context of something that most all of us already think about – a stadium – how, just like a big football game, there are a lot of parallels between what you ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

All The Characters In This Play.

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Apr 2, 2001

Year C. Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday April 8th, 2001

Year C. Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday April 8th, 2001 Luke 23:1-49 Lord of the Lake Lutheran Church The Rev. Jerry Morrissey, Esq., Pastor e-mail: pastor@southshore.com web page: http://lordofthelake.org/ Heavenly Father empower each of us here at Lord of the Lake Lutheran Church to develop the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:1-49

Denomination: Lutheran

The Rules We Play By

Contributed by Monty Newton on May 2, 2009

In all we do and say, we point the way to Jesus Christ.

Title: The Rules We Play By Text: Acts 4:1-12 Thesis: In all we do and say, we point the way to Jesus Christ. Introduction: Most games have rules that players play by. However, sometimes, as has been my experience with playing with our grandchildren, players sometimes change the rules or make ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Playing Follow The Leader

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 20, 2006

Leadership and followship demand truth, grace, and sacrifice to be effective. A story-sermon, reworked from one originally done in 1999.

The desire to be “somebody” is deep within all of us. We want to be distinguished, we need to be acknowledged, we must be somebodies, not nobodies. That desire to be “somebody” can lead us to glorious accomplishment, or it can lead to the depths of degradation. It’s all in what motivates us. Do ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:7-16

Denomination: Baptist

Playing Games With Sin

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 16, 2014

Sin is more than an outward act, sin is a STATE OF MIND. Sin is much like a dandelion you can fight it your whole life and it tends to spring up again and again. Sin starts as a seed of thought and roots from there.

PLAYING GAMES WITH SIN... Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com TEXT: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"God Doesn't Play By Our Rules"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Mar 19, 2004

The Church should be the place of celebration.

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 “God Doesn’t Play by Our Rules” By: Kenneth Emerson Sauer, Pastor of Parkview United Methodist Church Newport News, VA www.parkview-umc.org During a conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated, what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: United Methodist

The Play That Goes Wrong

Contributed by David Western on Nov 19, 2025

Just like the Off-Broadway play, life is not always going to go right. But if you trust the Director, He is going to direct your path.

There is actually a play named, “The Play That Goes Wrong.” I was hesitant at first to go see it, but Allen wanted to see in while we were in NY, and so I obliged. It was hysterical. The play is supposed to be a murder mystery, but the whole point of the production is well…everything goes wrong. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-8

Narnia: Playing With Fire

Contributed by Raymond Blacketer on Nov 24, 2005

A Sermon on the holiness of God amidst a people of stiff necks who tend toward idolatry and seek to domesticate God.

INTRODUCTION: Not to be Bargained With One of the volumes of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia is the creation story of the world of Narnia, where animals talk; a land ruled by the Christ-like Lion Aslan. In this book, called The Magician’s Nephew, a little boy named Digory, whose mother is dying, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Refusing To Play Favorites Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Sep 30, 2012

If you want God's favor, don't treat people with favoritism.

Something very interesting happened on Monday night when people who normally hate on the Packers were suddenly on their side when a blown call by the replacement officials gave the win to the Seahawks. Even Bear fans expressed sympathy to me all week. Well, except for one guy who called me a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Religious Play-Acting

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 9, 2025

Jesus frees us from religion’s stage—calling us from performance to presence, from spotlight to sunlight, to live unmasked before the Father.

Religious Play-Acting The Sermon on the Mount opens with blessing and ends with a choice: sand or rock, appearance or obedience. Between those two poles, Matthew 6 sits like a quiet heart—Jesus’ exposition of motive. Here the Lord shifts from what disciples do to why they do it. He moves from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18, Luke 18:9-14, Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 23:27, John 4:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

They Are Not Playing Our Song Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Jul 16, 2014

A study of chapter 8 of Revelation verses 1 through 13

Revelation 8: 1 – 13 They Are Not Playing Our Song 1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at ...read more

Scripture: Jude 8:1-13

Denomination: Calvary Chapel