Sermons on Religious Leaders:

How Faith Triumphs Over Prejudice

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Prejudice is at the heart of much of the resistance to Christ and His message. In the first century, the religious leaders thought of their knowledge of truth to be superior to that of Christ, the upstart carpenter’s son. Things have not really changed al

1. Prejudice is at the heart of much of the resistance to Christ and His message. In the first century, the religious leaders thought of their knowledge of truth to be superior to that of Christ, the upstart carpenter’s son. Things have not really changed all that much in 2000 years. People ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:7-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Listening To Unchristian America

Contributed by Jay Robison on Nov 1, 2007

Christianity has an image problem. What can we learn from how those outside the church see the church today. I use Jesus criticism of religious leaders to cause us to think.

I have used sermoncentral along with other resources in this message. James White’s Critical Times email was a starting point. I also referred to Kinnaman’s book. LISTENING TO UnCHRISTIAN AMERICA October 28, 2007 Jay Davis Robison MATTHEW 15:1-12 The Church in America HAS AN IMAGE ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Can You Be Threatened?

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Feb 4, 2018

Many in the Body of Christ are living in compromise. They are allowing the world to dictate what they will and will not believe about the Bible. How does this happen? Peter and John's confrontation with the religious leaders in Acts 4 shows us how.

I was thinking about Bro. Alain’s message this morning and what saddens me so much is how much of the Body of Christ is living in compromise and we don’t even realize it. And I thought about a Republican senator here in Ohio who came out strong and hard against homosexuality. He came out strong and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-30, Mark 16:15-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

" An Interview With John The Baptist" (Sermon 3 Of Series On Gospel Of John) Series

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on Mar 29, 2021

Early in the ministry of John the Baptist he had introduced a new teaching of baptism to the Jewish people. In this message the religious leaders interview John the Baptist on this new doctrine, and aquestion him to see if he is the Christ.

AN INTERVIEW WITH JOHN THE BAPTIST John 1: 21-34 Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ January 31, 2021 [Sermon three on the Gospel of John series 2021 Video Link to Sermon: https://youtu.be/n9pQUAGlVPM INTRODUCTION: 1.) As an introduction to this passage of Scripture I want to read from ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:15, Matthew 3:16-17, John 1:21-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rejecting Jesus Or Handling Him With Care

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Apr 12, 2022

Experiencing rejection is a normal part of life. It happens to all of us. How could a single Palm Sunday Celebration cause the religious leaders to be jealous, and envious of Jesus? What causes men to reject him?

Sermon: Rejecting Jesus Instead of Handling Him with Care Scripture: Luke 20:9-20 “Now Jesus turned to the people again and told them this story: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and moved to another country to live for several years. 10 At the time of the grape harvest, he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:9-20, Psalm 118:22-24, 1 Peter 2:6-8

Denomination: Methodist

Jesus Was Rejected Series

Contributed by Robert Irvine on Apr 23, 2024

Jesus was rejected by his family, by his local religious leaders, by Judas Iscariot, by Simon Peter, and then finally by God. So expect to be rejected if you share the Good News of Jesus Christ and him crucified.

The Old Testament word “hadel” is used in this verse that is transliterated as rejected, but this word has also been used in the Bible to mean forbearing. The word “hadel” is used in Ez 3: when God told the prophet that some will listen to the message but there will also be those who refuse to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:3

Denomination: Baptist

Ganging Up On Jesus Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 11, 2012

In this portion of Mark we get a clearer picture of what it means to rely on God for things, and what it means to rely on the government. Here the religious leaders try to trip Jesus up, but they fall right into His trap.

After the episode in the Temple on the previous day, I guess Jesus should have expected the religious leaders of Israel to react. In fact, the Lord is trying to get them to react and eventually figure out a way to arrest and condemn Him. In the end of Chapter 11 and into Chapter 12 we see a series ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

I Am The Son Of God

Contributed by Monte Brown on Jan 22, 2015

The first statement that Jesus makes is an assertion that everything that the God the Father does, He does, and everything He does is also done by the Father. The only possible conclusion is not lost, to the religious leaders Jesus is claiming to be God.

I am the Son of God John 5:19-30 Monte T. Brown October 27, 2013 Sunday Evening Stapp Zoe Baptist 1. The Father and I are the same. John 5:19-18 Jesus ruffled the feathers of the Jews when he basically claimed that the Father and I are one. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, ...read more

Scripture: John 5:19-30

Denomination: Baptist

Reaction To The Resurrection Of Lazarus Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Nov 5, 2017

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and that miracle brought results. First of all and most important is that many believed on him. There were others that did not believe and they went back to Jerusalem to report this incident to the religious leaders.

Perea to Bethany Lesson: Reaction to the Resurrection of Lazarus John 11:45-54 (John 11:45-46) Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had ...read more

Scripture: John 11:45-54

Denomination: Baptist

First Appearance Before Pilate Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jan 12, 2020

Jesus has been taken to Pilate’s palace by the religious leaders. They need Pilate to give Jesus the death sentence, since the Jews no longer have that authority. Pilate interviews Christ and announces that he is innocent.

HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS (31) First Appearance Before Pilate Scripture: Matthew 27:2,11-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-7; John 18:28-38 (focal passage) Tom Lowe 2/13/2008 Time: Friday of Jesus’ Final Week Place: Jerusalem Jesus has been taken to Pilate’s palace by the religious leaders. They ...read more

Scripture: John 18:28-38

Denomination: Baptist

Tuesday - Opening Closed Minds And Penetrating Callused Hearts Series

Contributed by David Owens on Mar 14, 2022

On Tuesday of the final week of Jesus' earthly life, He spent the day teaching His disciples, the crowds and the religious leaders. His teaching was designed to confront some and comfort others. The choice is always ours.

A. Did you hear about the guy going around different towns and jabbing people with knitting needles? 1. The police believe he was trying to make a point and was following some sort of pattern. B. The word “needle” can be used as a noun or a verb. 1. As a noun, a needle might be: a small slender ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

If Only People Understood What Jesus Was Offering Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 9, 2021

The problem here is not so much that the religious leaders didn't understand Jesus. It's more that they actually do understand Him. What's He saying that is so provocative?

THE CLIMAX OF THE CONVERSATION: The more they understood Jesus, the more they thought He was crazy. - John 8:48, 52a, 55-57, 59. - This is the climax of a long conversation in John 8 that we’ve handled in several sermons because there is so much content there. The further the conversation went, ...read more

Scripture: John 8:48-59

Denomination: Baptist

Turning The Other Cheek

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

The religious leaders of the world can quote their wise and holy men in ways that show they too have many of the values of the Sermon on the Mount. But they have nothing to match the teachings of Christ on the love of one's enemies.

Almost everybody agrees with the Sermon on the Mount in general, but almost nobody can agree to the specifics of the last part of chapter 5. Even Nikita Krushev, an atheist, when he was the leader of Russia, could say he agreed with the Sermon on the Mount, for even in Russia they do not consider ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

My Last Week Lesson 7 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jul 6, 2023

The last words of a person, will reflect his character and purpose in life. “The religious leaders had announced that anyone seeing Me must report it to the authorities so I could be arrested” (John 11:58).

Note: All Scripture references in this lesson are from The Bible by Jesus unless otherwise noted A. MY LAST WEEK “The religious leaders had announced that anyone seeing Me must report it to the authorities so I could be arrested” (John 11:58). The Week That Changed The World: April A.D. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19, Luke 23:34

Denomination: Baptist