Sermons on Religious Hypocrites:

Legalism Versus Love

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 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

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

Face Off Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Jun 21, 2017

A study of the Gospel of John 8: 31 - 59

John 8: 31 - 59 Face Off 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-59

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

More Righteous Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 16, 2024

Why would Jesus seemingly praise the Pharisees saying our righteousness should exceed theirs? Why would I need to compare my righteousness to that of men that Jesus despised?

A man was telling about being a student at the University of Southern California, and he and his friends worked hard to earn their PhDs, because they wanted to be would allowed to hold the coveted title of “doctor”. Then, one day one of their professors told about a friend of his who’d called his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:20-48

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"You Have Heard...but I Say To You" Series

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Jun 23, 2006

Sermon 10 in a study in the Sermon on the Mount

“You have heard that the ancients were told” “Believing things ‘on authority’ only means believing them because you have been told them by someone you think trustworthy. Ninety-nine percent of the things you believe are believed on authority. I believe there is such a place as New York. I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-48

Denomination: Orthodox

Picky Picky Belief Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Apr 14, 2006

The religious leaders were selective about which laws to follow and which ones to ignore or defy. We are too. The point of this is to expose our own double-standards and lead us to show mercy to others.

John 19:31-37 – Picky Picky Belief Tonight, in our last message of The Life of Jesus before Resurrection Day, I’d like to point out an interesting characteristic about the religious leaders that really bears hearing. Just to let you know: likely something I say tonight might make you angry. ...read more

Scripture: John 19:31-37

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Judge Me (August 21, 2022)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Aug 25, 2022

Whether or not we like to admit it or not, we are all hypocrites because of our double standard judgments we make. .... There is in us all a built-in inclination to judge others. It begins in in our minds. Today we will look at without, within, and transformation.

DON'T JUDGE ME (August 21, 2022) Text: Matthew 7: 1 – 5 Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, 2 for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others. 3 Why, then, do you look at the speck in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5

Denomination: United Methodist

When Fault Is Found—5

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Aug 17, 2001

Part 5 of a 5 part sermon exploring what is forfeited by religious people who deny Jesus. When fault is found with God’s grace we forfeit...

WHEN FAULT IS FOUND-V—Luke 4:16-30 Finding Fault with God’s Grace forfeits.... Jenny pregnant/Involved in a car accident & falls into a deep coma/Asleep for nearly 6 months/When she wakes up she sees that she is no longer pregnant— frantically asks the doctor about her baby. The doctor replies, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:16-30

Denomination: Baptist

Why Should They Hate Us?

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 18, 2001

Using the backdrop of the hatred that resulted in the terrorism attacks on America, this sermon asks why anyone would hate Christians?

OPEN: I remember when I was in 2nd grade. I was in class the day that it was announced to us that the President of the United States had been assassinated. A sniper had murdered John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, and the nation was in tumult. I remember many things about that day. The way the class ...read more

Scripture: John 15:17-21, 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"The Exam"

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Jul 18, 2013

Testing our spirituality

“The Exam” July 21, 2013 2 Corinthians 13:5 ”Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5

Denomination: Holiness

Where Does God Live? Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on May 3, 2015

Stephen's Acts 7 defense before the Jewish leaders is a masterful theological treatise on the presence of God. But it was a message with ominous implications to these power-hungry leaders. Stephen's message has applications to us today 2000 years later.

Where Does God Live? Series: Acts Chuck Sligh May 3, 2015 TEXT: Turn to Acts 7 INTRODUCTION Have you ever heard a church referred to as “God’s house?” I’ve often used this term myself, speaking of the importance of being faithful to “God’s house” by ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:1-60

Denomination: Baptist

When Religion Blocks Relationship

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Aug 21, 2016

We go about trying to live religious lives, but do we miss connecting with God in the process? Christianity is about relationship, not religion. And Jesus makes such a relationship possible.

Luke 13:10-17 When Religion Blocks Relationship It was a day I will never forget. Our village had gathered at the local Synagogue to hear the word and receive teaching, to pray together, and to worship Yahweh, the one true God. On this day there was an unusual excitement in the crowd because we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

In Search Of The North Pole

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 13, 2015

In the Book "Winnie the Pooh and the North Pole"; Christopher Robin has organized a band of animals on a journey to the North Pole. It seems to me, that this expedition to the North Pole is symbolic of our culture's quest for the spiritual.

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service, there are four Scriptures readings before the Message. Today's assigned Lessons are: 2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 50:1-6 ; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 ; and Mark 9:2-9 .; Children's stories .... Can often bring insight... to greater Spiritual Truths. In the Book ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Mark 9:2-9

Denomination: Anglican

How Long, O Lord? How Long? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 27, 2024

Though the Lord shall judge the nation that practice wickedness, how shall we who follow Christ respond to the evil embraced and promoted within our culture?

When the child of God sins, that child knows that God does not ignore that sin. Because He loves us, the LORD disciplines His people, and His discipline will not be pleasant. God’s discipline was never intended to be pleasant. Divine discipline is intended to impose … well, discipline! Indeed, ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 5:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Love The People Around Us

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Jun 2, 2025

We are most like Jesus when we “Love the People around Us.”

Love the People around Us “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational