Sermons on Religious Legalism:

Taking The Journey

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Apr 1, 2019

God’s call to take the journey to worship the newborn king isn’t just for those born to privilege, or those born in the church. It isn’t just for pastors, scholars, and religious leaders. No, God’s call to worship is for anyone who will listen.

OPENING STORY An old king sat uncomfortably on his throne, fingernails dug into well-worn grooves in the wood as he waited nervously for the mysterious travelers to approach. All Jerusalem was abuzz with the rumors that these men were searching for a new heir which had just been born, yet neither ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Nazarene

How To Avoid The Offense

Contributed by Andre King on Sep 15, 2015

In John 3 Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, a religious man, about religion yet Jesus doesn't offend Israel's teacher with His superior knowledge. How can we imitate Jesus in this. How can I avoid offending and taking offense?

IT SEEMS THAT THE OLDER I GET, THE MORE I AM OFFENDED. I’M OFFENDED BY A LOT OF THE MUSIC I HEAR ON THE RADIO. I’’M OFFENDED BY MANY OF THE THINGS I SEE ON TELEVISION AND IN THE MEDIA. I’M OFFENDED BY BUMPER STICERS. BY TEE SHIRTS. BY THE TITLES OF BOOKS. I’M ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

First Teaching Tour Of Galilee Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jul 9, 2017

At this time, Jesus had a great deal of freedom. He moved freely through Galilee and He taught in the synagogues. The religious leaders would eventually plan to take Him and to put Him to death, however before that, they would bar Him from the synagogue

Harmony of the Gospels -AD 27- Galilee Title: First Teaching Tour of Galilee Matthew 4:23-25, Mark 1:35-39, Luke 4:42-44 -Matthew- And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:23-25, Mark 1:35-39, Luke 4:42-44

Denomination: Baptist

Cyprus And The Proconsul Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 21, 2017

Satan is busy with great men and men in power, in order to keep them from being religious, for their example will influence many. Saul is called Paul for the first time, and never again is he called Saul. Saul was his Hebrew name; Paul was his name....

August 20, 2014 By: Tom Lowe Title: Cyprus and the Proconsul (13:4-12) Scripture (Acts 13:4-12; KJV) 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:4-12

Denomination: Baptist

Grace And Truth

Contributed by John Tristan Jayme on Dec 18, 2022

Who is Jesus? The debate begins with a discussion of Jesus’ whole person. Practically every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet, a rabbi, or a godly man. However, the Bible tells us that Jesus was beyond a visionary, a good teacher, or a religious man. He is the Son of God.

Points: Who is Jesus to the Jews? The debate begins with a discussion of Jesus’ whole person. Practically every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet, a rabbi, or a godly man. However, the Bible tells us that Jesus was beyond a visionary, a good teacher, or a religious man. He is the Son ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17, John 1:17

Contrasting Christmases

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Dec 20, 2022

This message reveals a contrast seen within the Christmas story, a contrast between those who are ready and willing to receive the good news, like the shepherds and the Magi, or Wise Men, and those who are not, like King Herod and the religious leaders of that day. Come and See.

Contrasting Christmases Psalm 1; Luke 2; Matthew 2 Someone has said that life is full of contrasts, and as far as I can determine, they are right. But most of these contrasts are self-determined. Psalm chapter one deals with the main contrast, the one that determines all the rest. It involves the ...read more

Denomination: Foursquare

The Pharisees Confront Jesus: What Does It Mean To Be A Hypocrite? An Issue Of The Heart Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jul 10, 2023

The Pharisees today are often regarded as hypocrites, mean, nasty, people who killed Jesus, and it’s true that they plotted against Jesus. But in general these were not bad people. These were religious leaders trying to help the people live according to God’s ways.

A lot of the scriptures that we look at, I feel like we get to understand another piece of the puzzle about who Jesus really is. It’s like we dive into a moment in history and we get to look over the shoulder of Jesus and see what he does, and why he does it, and we’re amazed. We want to live like ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-5

Denomination: Salvation Army

Deceitful Religion

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 6, 2025

Jacob's sons distorted the Faith; the Shechemites attempted to co-opt the religious practices of the Israelites to enrich themselves. Both groups attempted to use religion to obtain their own ends, resulting in death and destruction. Deceitful religion always leads to ruin and destruction.

“Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 34:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

Is One Way To God Really Fair

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Sep 26, 2006

Last week the unquestionable and unavoidable claims of Christ…this morning I want to address a concern that often arises from the sidelines of such claims… Is one way to God really fair? It’s a big world…with many following religious traditions within t

Last week the unquestionable and unavoidable claims of Christ…this morning I want to address a concern that often arises from the sidelines of such claims… Is one way to God really fair? It’s a big world…with many following religious traditions within their own culture…isn’t Christianity a bit too ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ransom

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 25, 2005

When we think of ransom in a religious sense, especially in Christianity, we think of ransom as a deliverance from sin or its penalty. And yet, someone has to pay for the sin, do they not? As we find in the passage today, Jesus has paid a huge ransom fo

RANSOM Hebrews 9:11-15 INTRODUCTION... Ransom Ransom, is an action packed drama thriller that came out in 1996 starring Mel Gibson and Rene Russo and directed by Ron Howard. The movie focuses on Mel Gibson’s character, Tom Mullen, a rich airline owner, is shocked when his son is kidnapped. He is ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:11-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Faith Of Jairus

Contributed by Troy Campbell on Oct 6, 2011

In this text we read about a religious leader named Jairus. His daughter was lying on her deathbed and so Jairus goes to Jesus and tells him about his situation. Notice that as soon as Jairus spoke his faith, Jesus was attracted by that faith and went w

Title: The Faith of Jairus Text: Mark 5:21-36 In this text we read about a religious leader named Jairus. His daughter was lying on her deathbed and so Jairus goes to Jesus and tells him about his situation. Notice that as soon as Jairus spoke his faith, Jesus was attracted by that faith and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-36

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Last Mountain

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jul 4, 2007

Did you ever wish that leaders were held accountable? Today it seems so many leaders in every field of human endeavor politics, business, sports and even religious leaders get away with their offences and sometimes end up pretty well off. Is there some

The Last Mountain Did you ever wish that leaders were held accountable? Today it seems so many leaders in every field of human endeavor politics, business, sports and even religious leaders get away with their offences and sometimes end up pretty well off. Is there some day of reckoning for ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:48-52

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Real Talk

Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on Aug 3, 2019

Have you ever felt like your past has disqualified you from fulfilling God’s plan for your life? Have religious people made you feel disqualified? Are you tired of feeling this way? LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!

Matthew 9:13 INTRODUCTION: • Have you ever felt like your past has disqualified you from fulfilling God’s plan for your life? • Have religious people made you feel disqualified? (Or is it in your head? The devil will do that too… especially if you are prone to “victim mentality”.) • Are you tired ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:13, 1 Corinthians 16:15-16, 1 Corinthians 1:22-29, Mark 10:31, Matthew 11:28-30, 1 John 1:8, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Church Of God

Sabbath Means Rest

Contributed by Jerry Smith on May 17, 2014

Thus, if someone truly wants to observe the Sabbath Day in modern times (New Testament era), that’s a tall order! One that I do not think anyone could keep, because as religious as the Jews were, they could not keep it (Acts 15:10).

SABBATH MEANS REST Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Q: What happens when we operate a cellphone, tablet, ipod, etc. all day? Q: What happens when we ride a horse all day? Q: What happens when we operate an air-conditioner all day? Q: ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"a Hardened Heart In A Healed Body" (Message 11 In Gospel Of John 2021) Series

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on Mar 31, 2021

This message deals with the healing of a man who had been lame for 38 years. Rather than being filled with praise and thanksgiving for the miracle he reported Jesus to the religious authorities to get him in trouble because of his resentment of Jesus for confronting him in his sin.

“A HARDENED HEART IN A HEALED BODY” John 5:1-15 Message 11 in Gospel of John 2021 Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ, March 28, 2021 Video Link: https://youtu.be/8YfVvENb5Ro INTRODUCTION: 1.) Over the past few weeks, I have said the miracles of Jesus were to bring people to ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-15, Matthew 12:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ