Sermons on Religious Hypocrisy:

Spiritual Fruit Or Religious Nuts?

Contributed by Douglas Turner on Dec 4, 2008

Lessons from the Withered Fig Tree

A sign posted outside a church on Highway 110 outside of Tyler, Texas once read, “God is looking for spiritual fruit not religious nuts.” Unfortunately, religious nuts abound everywhere, but in and out of the church, but spiritual fruit is rare. The importance though of bearing spiritual fruit in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-26

Denomination: Baptist

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

Mission Possible - Bringing Hurting And Lost People To God

Contributed by Tim L. Heath on May 26, 2015

A sermon inspiring the church and individual Christian to get out of their "religious" comfort zone and discover the heart that God has for the lost and hurting.

MISSION POSSIBLE – Bringing Hurting and Lost People to the Lord Text - Luke 5:17-26 NIV “One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:17-26

Denomination: Assembly Of God

True Worship In The Religious World PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2023

Explore the themes of true worship, the dangers of insincere worship, and the necessity of forgiveness.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ. We're diving deep into the Word today, looking at a powerful passage in Luke that explores some very profound themes: the power of true worship, the cost of a fake worship, and the need for forgiveness. In the words of A.W. Tozer, "Worship is no longer ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Topics: Worship

Whitewashed Tomb Christians Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on May 9, 2025

This metaphor reveals the contrast between outward appearances and inner reality, exposing the hypocrisy that plagues many who claim to follow God.

In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus unleashes a scathing critique on the Pharisees, calling them "whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness." This metaphor reveals the contrast between outward appearances and inner reality, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:25-28, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Challenging Religion Series

Contributed by Ken Sowers on Mar 18, 2014

Jesus confronts religious leaders

Challenging Religion Vital to read the entire book at one sitting from time to time. Chapters 5-7 at minimum Jesus' teaching are set in the backdrop of the Feast of Tabernacles - Season of our Gladness! Called Succoth - Booths. Booths = we want rain. Fall harvest festival - reminder of tent ...read more

Scripture: John 7:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Freedom Comes From The Inside Series

Contributed by Jon Daniels on Jul 31, 2023

Based on Matthew 23:25-28 - Challenges hearers to realize that they'll never be truly free on the outside if they're not truly free on the inside.

“FREEDOM COMES FROM THE INSIDE” Matt. 23:25-28 FBCF – 7/30/23 Jon Daniels INTRO – Read Matthew 23:25-28 (p. 829) Do y’all know what this is called? (drop a mic) It’s what someone does when they want to emphasize that the discussion is over & the definitive point has been made. It’s a way of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:25-28, Colossians 3:5, Matthew 22:34-40

Denomination: Baptist

Turning Religious Reluctance-8

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Sep 11, 2018

8 of ? Jesus bore witness of His Messianic identity to a reluctant but religious woman. God’s people bear witness of Jesus’ identity to reluctant religious people. What does it take to turn that religious reluctancy around? Turning religious reluctance to God requires...

TURNING RELIGIOUS RELUCTANCE-VIII—John 4:1-26(:28-30, 39-43) Turning the Religious Lost Attention: Think Twice Before Continuing down the path you’re on! The Church exists to turn the world away from it’s errant way! Everybody lives by a ‘religion’—a set of spiritual & secular values that ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-42

Denomination: Baptist

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

How Is Jesus’ Way Different From The Law? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 8, 2021

This passage highlights how different what Jesus is bringing is from what the religious teachers were offering. How exactly is Jesus' way different?

THE JEWS' PLAN: 1. THEIR SYSTEM WAS THE LAW. - John 7:21-24. - The miracle that is referred to in v. 21 is almost certainly the healing at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-15). John records miracles after that, but that was the miracle that brought out the issue of healing on the Sabbath. ...read more

Scripture: John 7:14-24

Denomination: Baptist

How To Overcome Intentional And Unintentional Hypocrisy

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. Recognize any personal or organizational Pharisaical tendency to view people through the law rather than through grace.

1. Recognize any personal or organizational Pharisaical tendency to view people through the law rather than through grace. The Pharisees' values were rooted in their traditions, laws, and culture. They found a great sense of their identity in their clique. They resented anyone who failed to live up ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:16-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Avoid Hypocrisy In Your Life

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 29, 2013

A look at four keys to avoid hypocrisy in our lives.

WHAT IS SO BAD ABOUT HYPOCRISY? For the Christian, it’s the false security; for the non-Christian, it’s the disillusionment that happens when you look closely at Christians’ lives. - Luke 12:1 – “hypocrisy.” a. For the Christian, it’s the false ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Your Father Will Reward You

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 11, 2009

A sermon on hypocrisy or pompus piety from Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Evening Service for 8/9/2009 Matthew 6:1-6, 16- 18 Introduction: Did you grow up in an openly “religious” home? WBTU: A. Jesus has been talking about superior righteousness (Matthew 5:20- Righteousness exceed the Pharisees), now he warns them of the danger of religious hypocrisy. B. Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God’s Chosen People Will Be Judged First. Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Aug 1, 2019

Judgment starts at the place of God as Christians are chastised By God when they sin.

Judgment starts at the place of God as Christians are chastised By God when they sin. Scriptures are evident that even the People of God will be judged in this life, despite the fact that Christ has borne the full punishment for every one of our transgressions. For 1 Peter 4:17 tells us, “it is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:17, Matthew 23:25

I Never Knew You Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Jun 30, 2025

Jesus' statement "I never knew you" serves as a warning to those who claim to be His followers ...

In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:23