Sermons on Religious Hypocrisy:

Rejection, Spiritual Blindness, Occupation Of The Heart. Matthew 12.22-50 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on May 11, 2025

1. The religious leaders' continued rejection of Jesus reveals their hardened hearts, leading to their spiritual blindness and condemnation. 2. OCCUPY your heart with JESUS.

2025.05.11. Sermon Notes. MATTHEW 12.22-50 REJECTION, SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS, OCCUPATION OF THE HEART WILLIAM AKEHURST, HSWC SCRIPTURES: Matthew 12:22-50, Acts 19:13-16, 1 Timothy 1:13, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 2:2, John 19:30, John 5:24, John 16:8-11, 1 Timothy 3:16, Romans 1:3-4, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:22-50, Acts 19:13-16, 1 Timothy 1:13, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 2:2, John 19:30, John 5:24, John 16:8-11, Romans 1:3-4, John 16:12-14, John 15:26, Acts 3:14-15, Acts 3:17-19, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Romans 10:9-10, Ephesians 3:17, John 6:40, Hebrews 2:11, 1 Timothy 3:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Did You Wash Your Hands? Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on May 2, 2012

A study of the Gospel of Mark 7: 1 – 23

Mark 7: 1 – 23 Did You Wash Your Hands? Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Facing The Perilous Times

Contributed by Pastor Renji George on Mar 7, 2026

The early church faced persecution, imprisonment, and martyrdom—yet they turned the world upside down because they were filled with the Spirit. What is lacking today? The presence of God! Knowledge and human wisdom will not take the Church to the old path. We need the Holy Spirit on our side.

2 Timothy 3:1–5 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Romans 8:35-39, Acts 1:8, John 8:31-32, 2 Timothy 4:2-5, Matthew 24:12, Revelation 3:16, Revelation 2:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Fighting Against God Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Nov 23, 2007

I preach expository messages, and this is the eleventh in my series on the Book of Acts.

“Fighting Against God” Acts 5:12-42 July 15, 2007 “Honey, it’s the dentist,” I say, “I just know it. All the signs point that way. Everything lines up. He had to be the murderer,” I say. “No,” my wife Karen will reply, “It was her brother-in-law.” “But it can’t be her brother-in-law,” I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:12-42

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Your Religion Will Not Save You

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Jul 13, 2022

No amount of rule keeping or adherence to religious rituals will be able EVER to reconcile a sinner to the true and Holy God. Your Religion will not Save You – You Must Be Born Again.

Religion Will Not Save You By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING: - For quite a while now I have been dealing with leaving religion and entering into Kingdom. If you recall at the beginning of the year, I stated how God had been dealing with me about seeking the old paths and walking therein ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-7, Proverbs 14:12, 2 Corinthians 6:7, Acts 17:30

Denomination: Apostolic

“jesus Came To Overcome Blindness”

Contributed by Sean Harder on Dec 11, 2013

We heard last week that Jesus says he came so that no one should remain in darkness, and just before that he says that anyone who sees me sees the Father. What does this mean? It means that the truth that is the most imperative for all people, is to believe that Jesus is God in the flesh.

“Jesus Came to Overcome Blindness” (2 Cor 4:1-7) English author H. G. Wells—famous for science fiction novels like The Time Machine, and The War of the Worlds—once wrote a short story called “The Country of the Blind.” It’s about an inaccessible, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-7

Do You Have The Fruit Of Repentance In Your Life?

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 4, 2015

“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” He is talking to Pharisees and Sadducees, who were very religious but also very distant from God. Many of us here this morning could easily claim to be very religious, but if we are. . . .

25-Aug-05 Do You Have The Fruit Of Repentance In Your Life? Matthew 3:7-11 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Vision Of The Church

Contributed by Brian Harrell on Jan 17, 2006

I grew up thinking that Jesus must be emabarassed with this thing called church. The hypocrisy and fakiness led me to want to see something different. This sermon is my personal understanding of what i wanted the church to be.

Loving the Church powerpoint available at coolguybri@verizon.net There is a word that brings a lot of emotion when used. To some people it is a bad word and thoughts associated with it are pain, politics, division, hurt and disappointment. That same word, to others brings to mind absolutely ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-19

Denomination: Church Of God

Reflecting God's Holiness

Contributed by Howard Parnell on Sep 22, 2002

In a modern world of religious compromise, is the biblical concept of personal holiness even possible? It is...John tells us how.

REFLECTING GOD’S HOLINESS I Jn. 2:3-6 INTRO. We have been studying about the importance of having true fellowship with God. It is possible to be saved and still not have a personal, daily walk with Christ. It is also possible for someone to "say" they have fellowship but not really have it. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6

Denomination: Baptist

Close To The Kingdom

Contributed by Bernard Dawson on Nov 23, 2002

An examination of a biblical character demonstrating the need of a vital relationship with Jesus Christ and not just a respectable alignment with a popular religious understanding.

CLOSE TO THE KINGDOM Scripture: Mark 12:28-40 Jesus had skilfully answered the Pharisee’s questions and avoided their trap. (v.13) The scribe in today’s lesson was quite pleased with the answers and stepped forward with some questions of his own. Scribes were professionals whose occupation was to ...read more

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

Denomination: Holiness

Why Worship Jesus?

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Feb 20, 2002

With so many religious options available, why worship Jesus? Why look to Him only? A message for Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday April 8, 2001 What a spectacle it must have been. A grown man on a donkey is treated to the reception of a king. That’s how Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Surrounded by a crowd who shouted Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. They wanted to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Malachi 2.10-16 Series

Contributed by Alan Mccann on Nov 7, 2006

The challenge is are we faithful and does my religious observance actually reasonate in my daily life or am i a hypocrite

Malachi 2.10-16 Schizophrenia is apparently a quite frightening illness to watch but to the person suffering from it the world seems perfectly normal. In the passage before us this evening God through the prophet Malachi exposes the schizophrenia of the people of God. As you know from last week ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 2:10-16

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Stephen's Sermon Series

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Apr 18, 2002

This sermon encourages us to let go of human tradtions and seek God only--just as Stephen said to the religious leaders.

Stephen’s Sermon Acts 7 April 21, 2001 Intro: A. [Seeing Yourself in a Sermon, Citation: From a cartoon by Lee Johnson, The Best Cartoons from Leadership Journal, Volume 1 (Broadman & Holman, 1999)] Following the Sunday morning service, the pastor stood at the back of the church, shaking hands ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:1-60, Acts 7:55-60

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"A Church Member Gets Saved"

Contributed by Ray Scott on Aug 26, 2003

Nicodemus was religious, moral, and active in his "church" ... yet LOST. This message focuses on those in the church who might be lost.

“A Church Member Gets Saved” John 3:1-21 INTRODUCTION: I’m not known as a “Hell-Fire & Brimstone” preacher. If that’s what you want, I can recommend several churches in the area. In some churches, that’s what you’ll get … every Sunday. It gets old after awhile. Every now & then, someone will ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Assumptions & Accusations Series

Contributed by Carl Willis on Aug 5, 2008

Jesus was misunderstood by His family and accused by the religious leaders. Jesus was willing to endure it all to bring about the assurance of forgiveness.

Assumptions & Accusations Mark 3:20-30 Mark 3:20-21 (HCSB) Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat. When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, “He’s out of His mind.” Misunderstood * The truth * Jesus had gone ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational