Sermons on Religious Rites:

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

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

America Today: Calling Evil Good And Good Evil Updated

Contributed by Lee Houston on Feb 26, 2024

Being an old man, I have lived through many changes, changes that caused Americans to disagree, but never have I seen anything like the division and outright hatred we see today. As a pastor, I see our basic problems as religious.

America Today: Calling Evil Good and Good Evil Being an old man, I have lived through many changes, changes that caused Americans to disagree, but never have I seen anything like the division and outright hatred we see today. Here are a few of the things that are causing the division: ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:20-21

A Living Sacrifice

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Mar 7, 2026

God is not asking for occasional religious moments—He is asking for our lives. In A Living Sacrifice from Romans 12:1–2, we consider Paul’s call to present ourselves fully to God and discover how surrender becomes the pathway to a transformed life.

A Living Sacrifice Romans 12:1–2 I come back to Romans 12:1–2 this morning because it is Paul’s transition point in the letter to the Romans. For eleven chapters, the Apostle Paul has unfolded the gospel with clarity and depth. He has shown us the righteousness of God revealed apart from the law. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Methodist

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

Be A Doer, Not Just A Hearer

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Jul 10, 2019

A study in the book of James 1: 1 – 27

James 1: 1 – 27 Be a doer, not just a hearer 1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But ...read more

Scripture: James 1:15

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Denunciation Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 15, 2018

The Judaizers, who were a legalistic Jewish party, tried to combine Christ’s message of salvation within the context of the Mosaic Law. Immature Christians believed their distorted teachings, which demanded more than justification by faith alone.

August 17, 2013 The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians Tom Lowe I. Introduction (1:1-10) Chapter I.B Denunciation (1:6-10) Galatians 1.6-10 (KJV) 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-10

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 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

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

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

"Tricky Words, Tricky Questions”

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Oct 16, 2020

Taxes, Taxes California is considering a "Wealth and Exit Tax" Religious leaders need Jesus dead. Jesus would have said, "Whose image is on you?" “Are you reflecting God’s character?” if the discussion continued. It did not.

In Jesus Holy Name October 18, 2020 Text: Matthew 21:45,46a, 22:15 Redeemer “Tricky Words, Tricky Questions” Benjamin Franklin has often been quoted as saying, "In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes." Many have figured out ways ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15, Luke 20:20-26

Denomination: Lutheran

"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