Sermons on Religious Ceremonies:

The Pharisees Confront Jesus: What Does It Mean To Be A Hypocrite? An Issue Of The Heart Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jul 10, 2023

The Pharisees today are often regarded as hypocrites, mean, nasty, people who killed Jesus, and it’s true that they plotted against Jesus. But in general these were not bad people. These were religious leaders trying to help the people live according to God’s ways.

A lot of the scriptures that we look at, I feel like we get to understand another piece of the puzzle about who Jesus really is. It’s like we dive into a moment in history and we get to look over the shoulder of Jesus and see what he does, and why he does it, and we’re amazed. We want to live like ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-5

Denomination: Salvation Army

Free At Last Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jan 26, 2009

In Galatians 5:1-6, we see Liberty 1) Defined (Gal. 5:1) 2) Defended (Gal. 5:2-4) and 3) Described (Gal. 5:5-6)

In 1963 American civil rights proponent Martin Luther King said: "So let freedom ring. From the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire, let freedom ring. From the mighty mountains of New York, let freedom ring. From the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania, let freedom ring. But not only that; let ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-6

Denomination: Other

Are You Listening

Contributed by Robert Higgins on Aug 2, 2006

Is your life running so fast that you cannot hear God? His angels appeared to announce the birth of Christ but who was "listening?"

Are You Listening? The Christmas Season is closing in. We have do lists, shopping lists, and invitations to parties, as well as church and school Christmas presentations. It seems that when we need the most to slow down to appreciate the season, we are too busy to do so. In fact, I sometimes ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21-38

Denomination: Baptist

A Survey Of Islam Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on May 11, 2011

Islam is a religious, social and political force & every Christian should be aware of it. With so many millions embracing the Islamic faith & with entire countries ruled & dominated by Islamic teachings, practices & laws their world-view is becoming more

A SURVEY OF ISLAM Acts 4:12 / John 14:6 / Genesis 16:11-12 Islam is a religious, social and political force and every Christian should be aware of it. With so many millions (& soon to be billions) embracing the Islamic faith and with entire countries ruled and dominated by Islamic teachings, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:8-18, Acts 4:12

Denomination: Baptist

Nurturing A Merciful Heart

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 24, 2017

Message explores the dangers of religion without the heart of God toward people. How do we nurture a heart of mercy? Pastor shares four key points in answer to that question.

Matthew 9:13 8/28/16 Intro I want to begin this morning with a man named Matthew. Matthew’s family name was Levi.1 He became an apostle and wrote the gospel that carries his name. But when he met Jesus, he was far from that. He was a tax collector. Tax collectors were hated by their fellow Jews.2 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:7-13, Hosea 6:6, Matthew 23:23-24, Matthew 28:19, Matthew 5:7-12, Matthew 7:1-5, Matthew 18:20-33  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Persecution - Are You Ready For It?

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jan 9, 2021

We in America do not have any real experience with religious persecution like we find in other countries. However, over the past decades we have seen reverence for the name of Jesus become mockery. What will we do when proclaiming Jesus becomes outlawed?

Persecution - Are You Ready For It? Please stand with me as we go over our current memory Scripture: Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:1-12, Numbers 32:23, John 3:17, 2 Timothy 2:11-13, Acts 5:41, Revelation 1:9, Matthew 10:39, John 14:2-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Lessons From Jeremiah – Part 5 – Injustice Against God; Treachery And Demonism Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 9, 2024

Jeremiah preached to an unjust and wicked nation facing judgement. Headship in marriage, injustice, and wimps in churches, charlatans in church positions are covered. Israel/Judah changed its God for idols and all in leadership they were corrupt.

LESSONS FROM JEREMIAH – PART 5 – INJUSTICE AGAINST GOD; TREACHERY AND DEMONISM PART 5 - Jeremiah 2:4-12 CHAPTER 2 [A]. THE ADDRESS TO THE NATION; THE LORD PLEADING WITH THEM {{Jeremiah 2:4-8 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. Jeremiah ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:4-8, 1 Samuel 15:22-23, Jeremiah 2:9-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Seven Words From The Cross

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Mar 16, 2004

The Seven Words of Jesus from the Cross are a wonderful commentary in his own words of Forgiveness, Salvation, Love, Atonement, Suffering, Victory and Security.

The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is the corner stone of our faith. It is the chosen symbol of the Christian faith. Thank God, we see it now as an empty cross because the seeming tragedy for good and apparent victory for evil was overturned by the power and purposes of God into the triumph of ...read more

Scripture: John 19:26-30, Luke 23:34-43, Luke 23:46, John 19:29-30

Denomination: Baptist

Three Crosses At Calvary

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

Calvary was the place of Three Crosses - of Rebellion, of Repentance and of Redemption - and the choice is ours.

The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is the corner stone of our faith. It is the chosen symbol of the Christian faith. Thank God, we see it now as an empty cross because the seeming tragedy for good and apparent victory for evil was overturned by the power and purposes of God into the triumph of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Denomination: Baptist

Seven Last Words

Contributed by Scott Spencer on Apr 24, 2014

Jesus went to the Cross so that we, through his death and resurrection might have a personal relationship with God and that we might know its power in every area of our lives.

Seven Last Words The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is the corner stone of our faith. It is the chosen symbol of the Christian faith. We see it empty, it is an empty cross because of the apparent tragedy which God turned for good and the apparent victory for evil which God overturned by the power ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Pharisees Question Commandments Series

Contributed by John Lowe on May 24, 2018

Here is a discourse that Christ had with a Pharisee-lawyer, about the great commandment found in the Law (that is, the laws given by God to His people Israel). In this passage, our Lord gives us what is known as “The Great Commandment."

-Tuesday- Jerusalem Pharisees Question Commandments Matthew 22:34-40 (focal passage), Mark 12:28-34 Matthew 22:34-40 34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Baptist

This Man Receives Sinners

Contributed by Timothy Shumer on Apr 28, 2002

The self-righteous religious rulers of Jesus’ day didn’t want much to do with sinners - but that was precisely the point of Jesus coming to earth! They wouldn’t receive sinners, but Jesus would ~ and He did! Will you?

The custom of the family visiting around the dinner table = Perhaps a lost art + Some = My family = Enjoyed visiting during meals = But also after, living room + And then we would play cards and that’s when the real visiting began + Some = My wife’s family = Loved to linger at the table after the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Loosing Sight Of The Goal?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 5, 2006

How easy is it to loose sight of the goal? I set up a portable basketball goal in the sanctuary to illustrate my point. Mary and Joseph lost Jesus in the midst of doing their religious duties? Stay focused on the goal.

LOOSING SIGHT OF THE GOAL? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com As I start to preach, I have some men carry a portable basket ball goal into the front of the sanctuary and set it up. We discuss who are we going to trust to take a shot and make a basket and not harm our pretty lights? I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:41-51

Denomination: Assembly Of God

How To Separate Ourselves From The Sins Of The Pharisees

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 22, 2004

Jesus gives us a challenge He gave about the Pharisees. He wants us to show mercy and love to those who need salvation, not just go through the motions of our own religious beliefs

How to Separate Ourselves From the Sins of the Pharisees Jesus said to them, "Be careful and on your guard against the leaven (teaching, corruption, hypocrisy) of the Pharisees and Saducees." (Matthew 16:6) Jesus said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the eyes of men. But God ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:6-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Called To Be Rebels Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jan 16, 2006

Looking at Jesus’ Temple cleansing, we can see He was a social revolutionary and a rebel against the culture, even the religious culture. This sermon calls people to rebel as well, as long as they’re obeying God.

John 2:13-25 – Called to be Rebels You may have heard of Emily Post. She was born in the early 1870’s and died in 1960. She was the Martha Stewart of her day. Although she wrote a syndicated newspaper column and for a time also hosted a radio program, what made her famous was her book, called ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-25

Denomination: Baptist