Sermons on Religious Activity:

Legalism Versus Love Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

We are in a world of great religious competition. We will all tend to follow one of these two strategies: The legalistic or the loving, the rule book power, or relationship power.

We live in a world where competition is a master motive. When the news reach Russia in 1945 that the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Stalin ordered secret scientists to find a way to catch up to the U.S. Andrei Sakharov was only 24 years old then, but his brilliant mind was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:20

"No Additives" Series

Contributed by Keith Bunch on Feb 28, 2003

In a world where men are perverting the Gospel in the name of "Religious Unity", let us find the strength to stand fast and preach Christ ALONE!

THE COURSE OF THE GALATIANS (Vv. 6-7) "I marvel that you are turning away so soon..." I think it is safe to say that at least, part of the Galatian Christians were believers (v. 9), but they were being led astray by false teachers; We read in (Acts 18:23-28) that Paul had preached the Gospel to ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

One Nation Under God Series

Contributed by Johnny Small on Mar 4, 2002

Christians need to stand up for Christ and our religious freedoms. 7th of series of Taking Up Your Cross in Todays’ World.

One Nation Under God Let’s read: Mark 8:34-38 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38, Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

Blocking The Door To Heaven

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Mar 10, 2002

In religious leaders’ refusal to accept God’s way not only did they not go through the door but also blocked the door to heaven for others.

In Matthew 23:13 Christ pronounced judgment upon the scribes and Pharisees when He said, "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." Christ condemned ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:15-17

Denomination: Baptist

I Am...the Way, The Truth, And The Life Series

Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Jan 27, 2007

In our age of religious tolerance Jesus’ supposed intolerant message is still the truth. He is the way, the truth, and the life and the only way to the Father.

During this season before Easter, which we call Lent, we have been looking at who the real Jesus is. Not who other people THINK Jesus is, but what Jesus actually said about himself according to an eye witness, his disciple John. Specifically, these are Jesus’ seven “I am” statements. Through ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Denomination: Methodist

Why Bad People Can Get To Heaven

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jul 27, 2008

Message based on Jesus’ words to the religious leaders who were missing the message while the tax collectors and prostitutes were hearing and responding.

Why Bad People Can Get to Heaven Matthew 21:28-32 July 27, 2008 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT USED IN MY MESSAGES IS BORROWED FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Me: During my freshman year in college, I went back to my high school to visit and to play in the band for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32

Denomination: Wesleyan

What Is Salvation? Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on May 25, 2010

What does it mean to be saved? How does this happen? Jesus speaks candidly about it in John 3 to a religious leader seeking truth.

Sermon Brief Date Written: May 18, 2010 Date Preached: May 23, 2010 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: Great Questions of Our Faith Sermon Title: What is Salvation? Sermon Text: John 3:14-17 [ESV] 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Significance Of The Sacrifice

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 18, 2008

Blood - everyone’s favorite topic. We will look at the spiritual and religious significance that blood has for us to prepare our hearts for communion.

The Significance of the Sacrifice 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 November 16, 2008 This morning we are going to talk about everyone’s favorite topic: blood. How precious is the flow? I was reminded of a story. A man let his dog out one night to do his business and went back to his football game and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

Denomination: Church Of God

Lessons In Apologetics #6: Pantheism

Contributed by Frederick Meekins on Mar 3, 2011

As a worldview, Pantheism has plagued the religious thought of both the East and West from ancient times on up through our contemporary day.

If Deism is the belief that God is so transcendent from the cosmos He created that He no longer participates directly in it, Pantheism must be the worldview at the other end of the continuum believing that a higher power exists as Pantheism holds that God is so immanent with the universe that God ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Authority Issues Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Oct 9, 2011

The religious leaders questioned Jesus' authority. We know Jesus has authority, but does he really have authority over us?

Matthew 21:23-32 "Authority Issues" INTRODUCTION God is a God of abundance and diversity. Looking around the worship area, it is obvious that we are very different people. We like to make things easy, though, so we often condense our diversity down to the basic essentials and say that there ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32

Denomination: Lutheran

Mechanical Religion Or Heartfelt Obedience? Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 27, 2014

The type of worship or religious practice that pleases God comes from a sincere heart and is directly connected to the way we live every day.

Mechanical Religion or Heartfelt Obedience? Isaiah 58:1-8 with Matthew 6:1-4, 16-23 1. Some of the most successful leaders, politicians, or business persons are some of the worst family members. Workaholics, driven, or impossible people, but they get the work done, and many of them are quite ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Authority Of Jesus Is Challenged Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Sep 3, 2010

In our study of Luke, in the beginning of chapter 20 we find the religious leaders desparate to discredit Jesus and they openly challenge His authority!

Read Luke 20:1-8… Set the stage: Chapter 20 continues the final week of Jesus, after He has entered Jerusalem and after He has made a scene in His clearing of the Temple and chided the money changers and crooked business practices that took place in the Temple! On a side note, when Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Wise Appeal - Genesis 47:1-12 Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Sep 24, 2021

So they won't be embraced into the culture of the Egyptians, all the religious festivals, all the things that are going on there. They’ll be separate.

…is positioning his family well. Not only they'll have the best land, but they'll be kept separate from everything else that' s going on. So they won't be embraced into the culture of the Egyptians, all the religious festivals, all the things that are going on there. They’ll be ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 47:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Tares Among The Wheat

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Nov 9, 2015

To establish that denominational institutions, orders, or so called religious bodies are merely tares among the wheat. This lesson deals with the origin and practices of denominationalism.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 1. The Seed of the Son's Kingdom 2. The Seed of Satan's Kingdom 3. The Sentence of the Son’s Kingdom Remarks. 1. In our lesson today we are going to be discussing a theme of most importance to all who would seek the kingdom of God. Our Lord taught much in parables ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 13:36-45, Matthew 13:47-51

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Warfare Prayer And Fasting Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Jul 16, 2025

Prayer and fasting are not passive religious rituals; they are mighty weapons in God’s arsenal to demolish strongholds and advance His Kingdom in the unseen realm

Warfare Prayer and Fasting July 20, 2025 Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship Matthew 17:21, James 5:13-18, Ephesians 6:10-20 Introduction Prayer and fasting are not passive religious rituals; they are mighty weapons in God’s arsenal to demolish strongholds and advance His Kingdom ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:21, James 5:13-18, Ephesians 6:10-20

Denomination: Brethren