Sermons on religious tests: showing 46-60 of 67,209

Test 2: Preference Test Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Oct 8, 2007

When we glory in the status of people, we forget how far we all fall short of the glory of God. The only thing we can glory in is the imputed righteousness of Christ. We forget that when we don’t treat people right.

1. Introduction (2:1) 2. Treat people in light of man’s motives (2:2-4) 3. Treat people in light of God’s purposes (2:5-7) 4. Treat people in light of Jesus’ commandments (2:8-11) 5. Treat people in light of God’s mercy (2:12-13) JAMES 2:1 I recently heard a story about a man who was the interim ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Test 3: Works Test Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Oct 23, 2007

We don’t work for our faith—true Christians work as a result of our faith. The right kind of works are always a sure test to prove the genuineness of faith. James continues with the third test of faith—the works test.

1. Works that show compassion for God’s creation (14-17) 2. Works that show trust in God’s Word (18-19) 3. Works that show hope in God’s promises (20-24) 4. Works that show service to God’s people (25-26) JAMES 2:26 Men, I want you to try this when you get home. Go into your wife’s favorite ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Denomination: Baptist

Test 4: The Tongue Test Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Oct 23, 2007

Jesus said what is in a person’s heart inevitably comes out of his mouth. As water flows from a well, words from your mouth reveal the source’s purity. Knowing that, it makes sense that James would make the tongue test a test of true faith.

1. The first characteristic of a test-failing tongue is that it is condemning. (1-2) 2. The second characteristic of a test-failing tongue is that it is controlling (3-5a) 3. The third characteristic of a test-failing tongue is that it is consuming (5b-6) 4. The fourth characteristic of a ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Test 7: Patience Test Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Jan 13, 2008

The coming of the Lord. What a great and wonderful day it will be when our Lord Jesus returns. Until He returns, we are called to be patient. In this passage, James gives us the seventh test of our faith--the patience test.

1. Patience has natural evidences 2. Patience has eternal consequences 3. Patience has a cloud of witnesses The coming of the Lord. What a great and wonderful day it will be when our Lord Jesus returns. We just finished celebrating the first coming of Jesus when He came as a tiny, helpless Baby ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

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

The Ungratefulness Of Religious People

Contributed by Rodney Johnson Sr., on Nov 28, 2002

In this text, Jesus reveals how prevelant ungratefulness is among religious people.

Introduction: Today many people will be celebrating what is called; "Thanksgiving Day." Parade goers will fill the streets. People will fill their yards with lavish eating and drinking. The smell of barbecue sauce will permeates the air. It is a tragedy that this day like most others have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:12-19

Denomination: Baptist

Righting The Religious Rut Series

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 8, 2005

4th in 5 part series on overcoming the obstacles and difficulties of life using five different Psalms. We used a "journey" or "road" metaphor in terms of the bumps of success, fear, guilt, the religious rut and grief, etc.

RIGHTING THE RELIGIOUS RUT Navigating the Bumps of Life - Week 5 PSALM 63:1-8 INTRODUCTION: (Faith Story - Beth Rampleberg) Thank-you Beth. Did you catch the words and phrases in Beth’s faith story? “Obligation,” “knowledge in my head but not my heart,” “something was missing,” “emptiness,” ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:1-8

Denomination: Christian Church

Religious Party Poopers

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Jun 9, 2005

A look at hypocrisy.

In what way was Christianity new and improved from Judaism? Why is it inappropriate for Christians to boring and depressed? Why do so many people have the idea that Christians are narrow minded and uncompassionate people? How can we balance celebration in Jesus with a serious commitment? Well ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:33-39

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

The Religious But Hard-Hearted Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 2, 2007

If God does not soften ones heart, one may dabble with religion, but one will never find a saving relationship with the true God.

The Religious But Hard-Hearted (Exodus 8:20-9:12) 1. What if God was politically correct? Imagine this: Moses was sitting in the Egyptian ghetto. Things were terrible. Pharaoh wouldn’t even speak to him. The rest of the Israelites were mad at him and making the overseers even more irritable than ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

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

Are You Religious Or Spiritual?

Contributed by Jay Winters on Jun 28, 2008

This week the texts seem to revolve around the idea that you can’t be "religious" but not "spiritual". It sounds like that tired line, "I’m spiritual but not religious". In the Gospel reading, I think it is interesting how Jesus heals both someone who wou

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Three in One who has come to call sinners home. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Up to 10 percent of the world’s population that does not attend church on a regular basis describes itself as “spiritual, but not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-26

Denomination: Lutheran

Religiously Transmitted Diseases

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Sep 18, 2009

Did you know that there are spiritual diseases you can catch from practicing your religion? Jesus shows us two of them in Luke 15:11-32. Let’s explore them together.

RELIGIOUSLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES 2 RELIGIOUSLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN LUKE 15:11-31 September 20, 2009 ________________________________________ (I credit Ed Gungor for the title of this message. His book entitled "Religously Transmitted Diseases" served as a jumping off point for me to write ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist