Sermons on Religious Extremists:

Religious People Beware Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Sep 30, 2018

Religious People Beware (Hypocrisy) – Sermon by Gordon Curley. PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info

SERMON OUTLINE: Woe #1: For focussing on small matters while overlooking the big issues (vs 42). Woe #2: For making it all about me (vs 43). Woe #3: For deceiving others into becoming defiled (vs 44). Woe #4: For adding to others guilt without assuming any themselves (vs 45-46) Woe #5: For faking ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:37-54

Denomination: Brethren

The Anamosity Of The Religious Leaders Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 9, 2017

Peter had just been preaching the resurrection of Jesus, and “the Sadducees” saw danger arising from such teaching. Peter an John had wrought a great miracle by healing the lame man, a miracle which the Sadducees could not deny.

October 7, 2013 By: Tom Lowe Series: The Early Church Lesson II.C.3.a: The Animosity of the Religious Leaders (4.1-22) Acts 4.1-22 (KJV) 1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

What Is A Religious Sinner? Series

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 13, 2022

Here, the Gentiles are the individuals who sin, are separated from the law, while the Jews are the people who sin while under the law.

Romans 2:17-29 depicts two groups of individuals, with an accentuation on the way in which their transgression connects with their insight into God's composed Law for the country of Israel. Here, the Gentiles are the individuals who sin, are separated from the law, while the Jews are the people ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:17-29

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Are You Religious Or Not?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 29, 2024

Jesus, in the Gospel, enumerates the evil we must avoid, or repent of if we haven’t avoided it. It’s like a to-do list from a modern person’s daily schedule, isn’t it?

Twenty-Second Sunday in Course 2024 Those who have known me as a preacher for any length of time also know that I am not a big fan of the clerics who put our Lectionary together. They tend to omit verses and paragraphs to shorten the readings at Mass. And that itself is a kind of insult to the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, Deuteronomy 4:6-8, Psalm 15:2-5, James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1-23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Religious Play-Acting

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 10, 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

Lacking Love (Religious Leaders) Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Apr 19, 2011

#1 in series, about religious leaders who followed the Law but did it without love.

Matthew 27:32-43 – Were You There? #1 – Lacking Love (Religious Leaders) This morning, as a build-up to Resurrection Day on April 24, I am beginning a series called Were You There? These messages will cause us to look at the witnesses of Jesus’ crucifixion, and hopefully see ourselves in their ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:32-43

Denomination: Baptist

God Encounters: Ezekiel (Religious Experience Vs. Religious Action) Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Jul 24, 2004

This is about Ezekiel’s God encounter. It explores the difference between religious experience and religious action. Religious EXPERIENCE means nothing without ACTION.

Read Ezekiel 1:4-3:15. This is a bizarre vision. Not all God encounters are alike. We see here two things: Religious Experience (ch. 1) and Religious Action (chs. 2 & 3). What is the difference between the two? * Religious Experience is… In chapter 1, we see Ezekiel’s strange religious ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

How To Help People Identify & Remove Pharisaical Masks

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Many extremists become myopically fixed on certain issues.

Many extremists become myopically fixed on certain issues. They cannot see that the Lord is more concerned about winning people to Christ, discipling them and growing churches that reflect all of His loving attributes. The church of today does not necessarily consist of the good, but of those who ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Tyranny Of Tradition

Contributed by Stephen E. Trail on Oct 4, 2019

Jesus dealt with wrong ideas about tradition

The Tyranny of Tradition - Mark 2-13-28 1. The Problem of religious exclusivity v. 13-17 2. The Problem of religious exercise v. 18-22 3. The Problem of religious enlightenment v. 23-28 ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:13-28

Denomination: Baptist

Wearing Religious Masks? #2

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 12, 2002

Shalom can never be a goal where bitterness thrives.

Part #2 of two part leson. Wearing Religious Masks? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com As we continue pondering, Wearing religious masks and going to hell, while I sit on a pew --- let me share my heart. SHALOM. PONDER: Why do people wear masks? Several years ago, I had a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 17:23, Hebrews 12:12-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"Living Up To Religious Expectations.”

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Dec 16, 2001

Year A Third Sunday in Advent December 16th, 2001 Matthew 11: 1-11 Heavenly Father empower us to accept Jesus on his terms and not expect him to change to fit our preconceptions of God. Amen.

Year A Third Sunday in Advent December 16th, 2001 Matthew 11: 1-11 Heavenly Father empower us to accept Jesus on his terms and not expect him to change to fit our preconceptions of God. Amen. Title: “Living up to religious expectations.” The Baptist, in prison, sends his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

But I'm So Religious Series

Contributed by Timothy Mills on Sep 18, 2006

Because this starts with “Jews” you may think this isn’t about you; think instead, “religious,” you’re a good Baptist, Catholic, or even a Jew; this passage is for people confident in their faith.

Romans 2:17-29 Because this starts with “Jews” you may think this isn’t about you. Think instead, “religious.” You’re a good Baptist, Catholic, or even a Jew. This passage is for people confident in their faith. 1) The reason for your confidence is are good. vv. 17-20. • You have the Law, you have ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:17-29

Religious Intolerance In Our Time

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 13, 2007

We live in a restless, violent, ever changing world that moves in unknown directions every day. We were witness to this sad reality this past week when those victims at Virginia Tech lost their lives.

Religious Intolerance in our Time. Acts Chapter 5:17,41 The Apostles Persecuted 17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:17-41

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus And The Religious Leaders In The Temple

Contributed by Craig Condon on Apr 14, 2015

The fig tree looked good on the outside but it wasn’t producing any fruit. The religious leaders looked good on the outside, but they didn’t provide for the people. Jesus decreed that he would let them fade and raise up something new in their place.

The events in John 2:18-25 occur just after Jesus has chased the moneychangers and the sellers out of the temple. The religious leaders wanted to know who gave Jesus the authority to do what he did in the temple. Jesus did not give them an answer because he knew that the religious leaders did not ...read more

Scripture: John 2:18-25

Denomination: Anglican

Sbnr... Really? (Spiritual But Not Religious)

Contributed by Monty Newton on Nov 16, 2015

Spirituality grows best in an authentic faith community - Church!

Title: SBNR – Really? Text: I Samuel 1:4-20 Thesis: Spirituality grows best in an authentic religious community. Introduction Some years ago, the toy manufacturer Mattel came up with an interesting scheme to promote the latest version of its world famous doll, Barbie. The new Barbie being ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:4-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational