Sermons on Religious Rules:

Honesty Is A Choice

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Nov 18, 2025

Honesty is a choice, not a natural growth sequence in life.

“Tell the truth to your neighbor as you expect him to tell you the truth” (Luke 6:13, ELT). 1. You must choose to always do right. a. When corrupt business executives had an opportunity to make millions, they did it because they never made a decision to be ethical. b. If you wait until the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:13

Denomination: Baptist

Favoritism Forbidden PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 14, 2023

Showing favoritism goes against God's command to love our neighbors as ourselves, and we should strive to treat everyone equally, as God does.

Good morning, church family! Today we are diving headfirst into the book of James. We're going to discuss a topic that we all wrestle with from time to time. That's right, we're talking about favoritism, and how it goes against the Golden Rule and God's judgement. It's a tough subject, but as Billy ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Topics: Treat Others, Golden Rule

How Jesus' Life And Ministry Contrasted With The Pharisaical Religious Leaders

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Jesus’ values were based on loving the Lord with all of one’s heart, soul, strength and mind. (Luke 10:27) The Pharisees’ values were rooted in their traditions and their religious laws

How Jesus’ Life and Ministry Contrasted With the Pharisaical Religious Leaders Illustration:The trouble oftentimes with religious people is that they try to be more spiritual than God himself. Frederick Buechner. 1. Jesus’ values were based on loving the Lord with all of one’s heart, soul, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:12-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

I Desire Mercy Not Sacrifice Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

God values mercy and compassion over religious rituals and rules. As followers of Jesus, we are called to extend mercy to everyone we encounter, regardless of their circumstances.

Hey guys! Ever wondered what gets God really pumped? What makes Him say, 'Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!'? Well, today we're going to dive into that. Spoiler alert: It's mercy. So, what's mercy? Think about when you're playing a video game, and you're totally crushing your friend. You could ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Topics: Mercy, Sacrifice, God's Desire, Daily Living

Liberty Or Legalism Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Nov 30, 2015

Compassion trumps man-made commandments.

Liberty or Legalism Mark 2:23-28 Rev. Brian Bill November 28-29, 2015 Almost every state has surprising laws on their books. • In Florida, a woman may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer. • In Indiana, citizens are not allowed to attend a movie within four hours after ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:23-28

Denomination: Baptist

It's Time To Build The Lord's House

Contributed by Abraham Shanklin on Jun 17, 2003

The first message from Haggai to the ruling politician, the religious priest and the returned people addresses the unfinished house of God. For eighteen years God’s work was delayed.

It’s Time To Build The Lord’s House Scripture Reference: Haggai 1:1-15 INTRODUCTION In 586 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar invaded and overthrew Jerusalem. The city was raised to the ground and the temple was completely destroyed. God’s people were taken into Babylon as captives and there they remained for ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Three Hundred Word Sermon Starter With Mark 8:14 As The Text. Series

Contributed by Sean Lester on Dec 3, 2020

Political and religious leaders tend to want to rule the people instead of to serve the people. Instead, your faith should be in God as you follow Jesus. Jesus proved he could provide for people more effectively than any government or religious institution.

A Three Hundred Word Sermon Starter with Mark 8:14 as the text. Jesus told his disciples, “Beware of the bread that the Pharisees and the Herodians give you.” In other words, be careful about what politicians and religious leaders offer you. Political and religious leaders tend to want to rule ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Too Full Of Yourself? Or Weighed Down By Shame?

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 21, 2013

A short talk given at a baptism service. If we’re too full of ourselves then God desires humility. If we’re weighed down by sin, by shame, by guilt, and if we can pray, "God have mercy on me a sinner", God will restore us and lift us up.

Jesus told lots of challenging stories; and in the Church we tend to calls his stories parables. But why did Jesus use stories, parables, to communicate truth to his 1st century audience? Well, he used parables to paint a picture with a punchy, poignant, pertinent point. His pithy parables packed a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Anglican

Fulfilling A Promise Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Jan 5, 2017

Simeon and Anna see the Messiah—a fulfillment of God’s promise to them. They are now able to depart in peace.

Luke 2:21-38. "Fulfillment of a Promise" INTRODUCTION During the Advent and Christmas Seasons, we have had many messengers and models to encourage and direct us on our walk of faith. The prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel spoke to us in the Hebrew Scriptures. We have also heard from two angels, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21-38

Denomination: Lutheran

Rtd (Religiously Transmitted Diseases) - Pt. 1 - Discipleship Dyslexia Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Aug 24, 2019

Religion promises life and then it sickens! It steals hope, joy and eventually life! Are you contaminated with an RTD? The cure is

I. Introduction Bojana Danilovic, 28, sees everything upside down because of an abnormal connection in the way her brain processes images. Danilovic has to have a special upside down computer screen and keyboard and reads papers from the bottom up. At home, she watches one TV balanced on its top ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-9

Denomination: Pentecostal

Rugby, Reality & Religious Rivalry: Mark 9:31-34

Contributed by David Smith on Dec 14, 2006

Father Dave’s sermon on faith and discipleship. Why do the disciples so often seem to get it wrong? And what’s the good news in all this?

Yesterday was a great day for this community. Yes, I’m talking about the Newtown-St George Rugby game at Telstra Stadium, where our team, trailing by 2 points with only five minutes to go, ran in two tries to win by ten and get themselves a spot in next week’s Premier League Grand Final. Being ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:31-34

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

What Did Jesus' Resurrection Mean To The Religious Leaders Of The Day? Series

Contributed by Michael Thomas on Mar 22, 2002

Take a look with me about what the Pharisees may have thought about Jesus’ Resurrection.

What Does The Resurrection Mean? Series Sunday March 24 What Did Jesus’ Resurrection Mean To The Religious Leaders? Intro: Did you know that when Jesus was here on earth that there were a group of people who did not like him & what he was doing? What many people don’t realize is that not only did ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rugby, Reality & Religious Rivalry (Mark 9:31-34)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 4, 2007

You get the feeling with Jesus and the disciples that they’re never really on the same wavelength. Indeed, you get the feeling that if the group were there together at a fool...

Yesterday was a great day for this community. Yes, I’m talking about the Newtown-St George Rugby game at Telstra Stadium, where our team, trailing by 2 points with only five minutes to go, ran in two tries to win by ten and get themselves a spot in next week’s Premier League Grand Final. Being ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:31-34

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican