Sermons on Pretenders:

Lessons From The Early Church

Contributed by Carl Allen on Jul 13, 2010

The world today is full of people playing Christian, but the Lord is no friend of hypocrisy. The Lord is looking for a few good Christians.

The Game is Over Acts 5:1-11 Introduction As children many of us played a game called let’s pretend. My favorite was pretending to be a soldier, like my Dad. I would dress up like a soldier and me and my friends would go out into the fields around our house and go on secret missions to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Nitty Gritty...meet Jesus #1 Series

Contributed by Jeffrey Stratton on Aug 20, 2002

This series is based upon Mike Yaconelli’s book "Messy Spirituality" and is designed to cnvince seekers that God wants their Nitty Gritty lives

May 18 and 19, 2002 Romans 3:10 “Nitty Gritty…Meet Jesus” Keith Miller wrote the following, “Our churches are filled with people who outwardly look contented and at peace but inwardly are crying out for someone to love them…just as they are- confused, frustrated, often frightened, guilty and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:10

Denomination: Baptist

The Crown Of Thorns

Contributed by Rodney Fry on Oct 9, 2005

A look at Jesus and the crown that he wore here on earth the Crown of thorns.

The Crown of Thorns Matthew 27:27-29 I. Introduction A. What a Decision Pilate Had to Make! 1. He had to judge the Judge of all the earth 2. He had to decide between Christ and the crowd 3. We must each do the same B. Pilate Offered the Crowd Jesus or Barabbas 1. The Master or the murderer 2. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:27-29

Denomination: Baptist

Photos Series

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Mar 15, 2002

This sermon takes one of the summary paragraphs in Acts and likens them to photos in a photo album of the early church and describes what the church today should learn from these photos.

Photos Acts 5:12-16 March 17, 2002 Intro: A. [Confusing Signs, Citation: Doug Lansky, signspotting.com; submitted by Lee Eclov] Doug Lansky has been a travel writer and photographer for many years. In the course of his travels he has collected photos of odd signs from around the world. Some ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:12-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Fake Faith

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Nov 6, 2023

Jesus says the religious leaders are faking faith, s let not fake faith.

“Don’t Fake Faith” Matthew 23:1-12 1. We have heard this somewhere before haven’t we “Fake News”. In our text today Jesus gets the idea there is some folks who are Faking Faith • In this Gospel of Matthew Jesus denounces the scribes and Pharisees they “tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Faces In The Crowd

Contributed by Carl Willis on Mar 19, 2002

A look at those who lined the road during Jesus triumphal entry.

John 12:12-18 (CEV) The next day a large crowd was in Jerusalem for Passover. When they heard that Jesus was coming for the festival, they took palm branches and went out to greet him. The shouted “Hooray! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the King of Israel!” Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's White Elephants

Contributed by Horace Wimpey on Nov 22, 2012

We get gifts from people that we don't want and we call them white elephants. In Amos 5, God tells us of white elephant gifts And what He really wants from us.

God’s White Elephants Amos 5:21-24 Intro. We are officially into the Holiday season. Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is coming at us fast and furious isn’t it? Lists are being made and shopping has started for the ladies. Men don’t worry; we have another month before we have to ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Sincerity Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Dec 15, 2011

Prayer keys are not ways of manipulating God. Rather, they are like a boat hook. If I am in a row boat and cast a hook to shore, does pulling move the shore to me or does it move me to the shore? Prayer keys do not pull God to our will. They pull us to Go

“These people come near to me with their mouth & honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” Isaiah 29:13 Before saying anything else to introduce sincerity as a prayer key, I want to repeat something about ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 29:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

1 John 1:5-7 - The Revealing Light Of God Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jan 18, 2019

God is Light. The Light is the great revealer of one's spiritual condition. There can be a disconnect between what we claim to be our spiritual condition and reality. The Light of the Lord reveals the truth.

1 John 1:5-7 Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together … 1 John 1:5-7 “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-7, Genesis 1:3, Psalm 104:2, 1 Timothy 6:15-16

Denomination: Nazarene

Joseph The Actor Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 11, 2021

Joseph is wearing a mask and playing a role that is not his real self, and that is what an actor does.

The old joke is the question, who was the greatest actor in the Bible? The answer is Samson, because he brought down the house. The surprising thing is that there really are actors in the Bible and Joseph is the first. He put on a performance that would have won him an Academy Award. He ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 42:1-22

T - Ake Sanctuary (Part 6) Series

Contributed by Jeff Christopherson on Dec 23, 2004

Experience a faith connected in positive relationships.

Take Sanctuary Series, “Being Spiritual without being Religious” – Part 6 Pastor Jeff Christopherson October 24, 2004 Start with Authenticity… Preserve my Personality… Investigate the Ground Zero of Faith… Recognize my Net Worth… Invest Myself… Take Sanctuary… Experience a faith connected in ...read more

Scripture: John 19:25-27

Denomination: Baptist

Trusting Jesus In A World Of Hypocrisy Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Oct 13, 2025

This is the 44th Sermon from the Gospel of Luke Series, "Jesus- Son Of Man".

Series: Jesus- Son Of Man [#44] TRUSTING JESUS IN A WORLD OF HYPOCRISY Luke 12:1-12 Introduction: Have you ever walked into a place, (maybe a Church) where everyone seems friendly and welcoming; but as you observe closer, you notice some people pretending to be interested in you, while ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Be Fooled By Those Who Wear Holy Faces On Sunday But Harbor Poison In Their Hearts.

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Oct 20, 2025

Not everyone who wears Sunday clothes is a saint; some carry Monday poison....

The Mask of Deception In the realm of the righteous, where the Sunday best is donned with pride, beware the whispers of the wolf in sheep's clothing. For they come bearing gifts of deceit, their outward appearance a contrast to the venom that festers within. The Warning "Beware of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-35, Matthew 23:27

Mediocrity Series

Contributed by Brad Froese on Jun 28, 2006

A splash of cold water for mediocre Christians...

There is a series of unfortunate events that occurs throughout churches worldwide. They are the unfortunate things Christians do, which work to divide the church instead of unite it, and which destroy the faith of fellow believers and drive people away from the house of God instead of building it ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Are You For Real?

Contributed by Ron Hicks on Jun 15, 2006

Motions are meaningless. True worship comes from the heart.

ARE YOU FOR REAL? Matt 27:27-36 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:27-36

Denomination: Assembly Of God