Sermons on Religious Practice:

Religious Play-Acting

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 10, 2025

Jesus frees us from religion’s stage—calling us from performance to presence, from spotlight to sunlight, to live unmasked before the Father.

Religious Play-Acting The Sermon on the Mount opens with blessing and ends with a choice: sand or rock, appearance or obedience. Between those two poles, Matthew 6 sits like a quiet heart—Jesus’ exposition of motive. Here the Lord shifts from what disciples do to why they do it. He moves from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18, Luke 18:9-14, Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 23:27, John 4:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Religious Or Christ-Like?

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: There is a big difference between being "religious" and following Jesus Christ.

Thesis: There is a big difference between being "religious" and following Jesus Christ. Intro.: 1. When you hear someone use the word "religion" or hear someone refer to another person as "religious" what do you think of? a. Illust. Do you think of "Church Lady" on Saturday Night Live who goes ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-39

Practical Sanctification Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Oct 19, 2018

Yield yourself to the Lord; He is the most wonderful Master, and the “salary” He pays lasts forever.

Practical Sanctification Romans 6:13-23 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:13-23

Denomination: Baptist

Building On A Religious Heritage Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 4, 2001

Having a religious heritage can either help us or hinder us in cultivating an authentic relationship with God.

I grew up with no religious heritage at all. As a lot of you know, my childhood was thoroughly secularized. Although I was baptized as a baby, for the most part I lived in an entirely different universe than religion. My mom and adoptive dad believed that religion had a negative effect in people’s ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Answering Religious Pluralism

Contributed by Dr. Kenneth Rhodes, Jr on Sep 29, 2002

Defending the Christian faith against religious pluralism and tolerance.

1. Answering Religious Pluralism Also called tolerance. 2. Defining Pluralism · “Traditional tolerance (Social Pluralism) is now referred to as negative tolerance. This is defined as ‘respecting others beliefs and practices without sharing them,’ or ‘to bear or put up with something not ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is A Religious Sinner? Series

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 13, 2022

Here, the Gentiles are the individuals who sin, are separated from the law, while the Jews are the people who sin while under the law.

Romans 2:17-29 depicts two groups of individuals, with an accentuation on the way in which their transgression connects with their insight into God's composed Law for the country of Israel. Here, the Gentiles are the individuals who sin, are separated from the law, while the Jews are the people ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:17-29

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Religious Sinner, Nicodemus Series

Contributed by Jimmy Davis on Sep 19, 2001

Picture # 3 in the series: The 14 Candid Snapshots of the Maturing Christian as found in the Gospel of John. Nicodemus, a picture of the religious sinner who sits in the pew week after week but is not saved. John 3:16, preached to a religious sinner.

Picture # 3: The Religious Sinner, Nicodemus John 3:1-21 The Surgeon General teaches us that the key to good health and physical fitness is plenty of exercise, a balanced nutritional diet, and the proper amount of rest. The Surgeon General doesn’t mention that we have a body and a soul. It’s ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21, John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Religious People Beware Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Sep 30, 2018

Religious People Beware (Hypocrisy) – Sermon by Gordon Curley. PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info

SERMON OUTLINE: Woe #1: For focussing on small matters while overlooking the big issues (vs 42). Woe #2: For making it all about me (vs 43). Woe #3: For deceiving others into becoming defiled (vs 44). Woe #4: For adding to others guilt without assuming any themselves (vs 45-46) Woe #5: For faking ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:37-54

Denomination: Brethren

The Anamosity Of The Religious Leaders Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 9, 2017

Peter had just been preaching the resurrection of Jesus, and “the Sadducees” saw danger arising from such teaching. Peter an John had wrought a great miracle by healing the lame man, a miracle which the Sadducees could not deny.

October 7, 2013 By: Tom Lowe Series: The Early Church Lesson II.C.3.a: The Animosity of the Religious Leaders (4.1-22) Acts 4.1-22 (KJV) 1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

How Not To Be A Religious Leader

Contributed by William Mouser on Nov 28, 2005

In training his disciples to be leaders, Jesus pointed to the religious leaders of his day as examples to avoid.

Psalm 43, Micah 3:5-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13,17-20, Matthew 23:1-12 How Not to be a Religious Leader There’s an old story about three boys who are bragging about rich their dads are. The first boy said, "My dad is so rich. He writes a few paragraphs on a piece of paper. Calls it a poem. And he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Practice Hospitality

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: The key to practicing hospitality is to forget yourself and to remember your guest.

Thesis: The key to practicing hospitality is to forget yourself and to remember your guest. Intro.: 1. There's an fascinating story about Abraham in Genesis 18. a. Illust. He & his family are camped near the Oaks of Mamre. 3 men visit--Abraham "falls over himself" serving them! Turns out these ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:9

Practice Of Resurrection

Contributed by Sean Lester on Apr 7, 2007

It occurs to me that a life resurrection that brings one closer to God involves three simple things, Removal, Replanting, and Receiving.

The Practice of Resurrection Sean Lester April 3, 2007 The Christian Mission Adrian, Michigan Text: JN 12:20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. [21] They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-26

Denomination: Pentecostal

Let's Be Practical Series

Contributed by Dan Jackson on Aug 19, 2005

First message on James. James’ letter is more a practical paper on corrrect conduct, than a doctrinal discourse. He assumes a knowledge of doctrine (dangerous assumption today!) and urges us to live out the truth.

“It is a bewildering paradox that one-third of all American adults claim to be born again and yet fail to impact our society which becomes sicker and more corrupt by the day. Religion is up but morality is down,” says Chuck Colson. George Gallup reached the same conclusion when he polled the nation ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17

Practical Atheism

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Jul 7, 2004

We are opposed to atheists and their impact on our society, but is it possible that we are atheists in the way we act? How can we keep from becoming practical atheists?

Passage: I Samuel 17 Intro: If you want to stir up the Christian community, talk about atheists and atheism. 1. we know the definition well; those who do not believe that God exists. 2. as a unified group, take responsibility for all kinds of mischief. 3. prayer in schools, ten commandments ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1-58

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Practice Of Patience Series

Contributed by Tim Byrd on Nov 13, 2002

Part 18 in a series of messages on the book of James

A Life Of Works Produced By Faith Part 18 “The Practice of Patience” Date: November 17, 2002 Place: Allendale Baptist Church Text: James 5:7-12 Introduction I can never say this too often: I love God’s Word. I believe it to be the inspired and inerrant. I believe it to be God’s revelation of ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-12

Denomination: Baptist