Sermons on Religious Rules:

Hypocrisy Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Aug 5, 2022

If Christians really love Jesus, why is there so much hurt in the church? Jesus confronted the hypocrisy of religious people and desires that his disciples walk in love.

INTRODUCTION • In our new series, Hot Topics, we will dig into six tough topics that people inside and outside the church often think about (even if we don't ask about them out loud!): • If Christians love Jesus, why is there so much hypocrisy in the church? • How can we trust the Bible? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-36

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Justice

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jan 16, 2021

Justice is important to God so it should be important to us. This is about standing up for your beliefs. Some people die for theirs and some get into arguments over them like Peter and Paul.

Sermon Title: Justice Scripture Text: Isaiah 1:17; Micah 5:8 Gandhi was a practicing Hindu, but Christianity intrigued him. In his reading of the Gospels, Gandhi was impressed by Jesus whom Christians worshiped and followed. He wanted to know more about this Jesus that Christians referred to as ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:17, Micah 5:8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Story #16 Good King - Bad King

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jan 20, 2014

This lesson is a contrast between a good king (Hezekiah) and an evil king (Manasseh) who ruled Israel. It should be noted that even the evil king was blessed upon his repentance.

1. Colonial Attitudes toward God and Kings a. In 1774, a report went to the King of England from the Governor of Massachusetts in Boston which read, "If you ask an American who is his Master, he will tell you he has none, or any governor but Jesus Christ." b. Prewar Colonial Committee of ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Call Of Matthew

Contributed by James May on May 16, 2007

What did Jesus see in you when he called you? He saw something in Matthew that we probably couldn’t see. Are there some "Matthew’s" around us that Jesus wants us to bring to him?

The Call of Matthew By Pastor Jim May Mark 2:13-17, "And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:13-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Parable Of The Lost Sheep

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jul 13, 2012

That one single lost sheep is as worthy and as loved as a flock of 99 safe sheep or saved sheep. And that heaven rejoices more over the one lost soul that repents than it does over a whole church who already believes.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep 15:4-7pp -- Mt 18:12-14 1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:10-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Blocking The Door To Heaven

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Mar 10, 2002

In religious leaders’ refusal to accept God’s way not only did they not go through the door but also blocked the door to heaven for others.

In Matthew 23:13 Christ pronounced judgment upon the scribes and Pharisees when He said, "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." Christ condemned ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:15-17

Denomination: Baptist

I Am...the Way, The Truth, And The Life Series

Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Jan 27, 2007

In our age of religious tolerance Jesus’ supposed intolerant message is still the truth. He is the way, the truth, and the life and the only way to the Father.

During this season before Easter, which we call Lent, we have been looking at who the real Jesus is. Not who other people THINK Jesus is, but what Jesus actually said about himself according to an eye witness, his disciple John. Specifically, these are Jesus’ seven “I am” statements. Through ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Denomination: Methodist

"No Additives" Series

Contributed by Keith Bunch on Feb 28, 2003

In a world where men are perverting the Gospel in the name of "Religious Unity", let us find the strength to stand fast and preach Christ ALONE!

THE COURSE OF THE GALATIANS (Vv. 6-7) "I marvel that you are turning away so soon..." I think it is safe to say that at least, part of the Galatian Christians were believers (v. 9), but they were being led astray by false teachers; We read in (Acts 18:23-28) that Paul had preached the Gospel to ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Significance Of The Sacrifice

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 18, 2008

Blood - everyone’s favorite topic. We will look at the spiritual and religious significance that blood has for us to prepare our hearts for communion.

The Significance of the Sacrifice 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 November 16, 2008 This morning we are going to talk about everyone’s favorite topic: blood. How precious is the flow? I was reminded of a story. A man let his dog out one night to do his business and went back to his football game and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

Denomination: Church Of God

Why Bad People Can Get To Heaven

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jul 27, 2008

Message based on Jesus’ words to the religious leaders who were missing the message while the tax collectors and prostitutes were hearing and responding.

Why Bad People Can Get to Heaven Matthew 21:28-32 July 27, 2008 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT USED IN MY MESSAGES IS BORROWED FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Me: During my freshman year in college, I went back to my high school to visit and to play in the band for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32

Denomination: Wesleyan

Mechanical Religion Or Heartfelt Obedience? Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 27, 2014

The type of worship or religious practice that pleases God comes from a sincere heart and is directly connected to the way we live every day.

Mechanical Religion or Heartfelt Obedience? Isaiah 58:1-8 with Matthew 6:1-4, 16-23 1. Some of the most successful leaders, politicians, or business persons are some of the worst family members. Workaholics, driven, or impossible people, but they get the work done, and many of them are quite ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Lessons In Apologetics #6: Pantheism

Contributed by Frederick Meekins on Mar 3, 2011

As a worldview, Pantheism has plagued the religious thought of both the East and West from ancient times on up through our contemporary day.

If Deism is the belief that God is so transcendent from the cosmos He created that He no longer participates directly in it, Pantheism must be the worldview at the other end of the continuum believing that a higher power exists as Pantheism holds that God is so immanent with the universe that God ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Authority Issues Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Oct 9, 2011

The religious leaders questioned Jesus' authority. We know Jesus has authority, but does he really have authority over us?

Matthew 21:23-32 "Authority Issues" INTRODUCTION God is a God of abundance and diversity. Looking around the worship area, it is obvious that we are very different people. We like to make things easy, though, so we often condense our diversity down to the basic essentials and say that there ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32

Denomination: Lutheran

Part 7 - The Accomplishments Of Worship Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Feb 26, 2020

What is it we accomplish in our life of worship? Do our gathering, singing, listening, preaching accomplish something or it is merely a religious exercise?

The Accomplishments of Worship www.gracecommunity.com Reporters and city officials gathered at a Chicago railroad station one afternoon in 1953. The person they were meeting was the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner. A few minutes after the train came to a stop, a giant of a man - six feet four inches ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, 1 Peter 4:7, Mark 16:16-20, Psalm 24:1, Luke 6:38, Revelation 4:11, 1 Peter 1:18-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren

Finding God's Blessing After We've Been Wandering Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 18, 2019

This sermon discusses the need to return to God, not just return to doing good. Is religious activity enough to get God's blessing?

- Background on the book: - Addressed to the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon in 538 B.C. Two years later they started to work on the temple, but opposition led that to be put aside for 16 years. - This opening statement comes right after the restarting of the temple project. - ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 1:1-6

Denomination: Baptist