Sermons on Religious Tests:

Romantic And Religious Fragrance Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

The sense we want to focus on in greater detail is one that we seldom think of, but it is a primary factor in both romantic and religious love, and that is the sense of smell.

In the tale of the Beauty and the Beast the horrible looking creature with 7 horns in his forehead begs the beautiful young maiden he has carried away to kiss him. She, of course, refuses to kiss such ugliness, and the beast goes away. She saw it no more until one day she found it lying ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 1:3

Romantic And Religious Kisses Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

Kissing is a powerful reality in both romance and religion. The greatest kiss of all is God's kiss of peace, which He gives to all who receive His Son as Savior.

The story is told, and it could very well be true, of a Danish couple who decided to break off their engagement. "It is best I suppose that we give back each others letters," he said. She agreed, and replied, "We should at the same time return each others kisses." By the time ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 1:2

Romantic And Religious Roses Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

It is no wonder that our Lord is identified with flowers. He is called the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley.

Ernest Hemmingway wrote about the experience of Mungo Park, who, on one of his travel adventures, got lost in the vast wilderness of an African desert. He was all alone, and so dead tired he could not go on. His legs were numbed, and he gave up, and laid down to die. He opened his eyes, and right ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 2:1

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

Are You Religious Or Not?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 29, 2024

Jesus, in the Gospel, enumerates the evil we must avoid, or repent of if we haven’t avoided it. It’s like a to-do list from a modern person’s daily schedule, isn’t it?

Twenty-Second Sunday in Course 2024 Those who have known me as a preacher for any length of time also know that I am not a big fan of the clerics who put our Lectionary together. They tend to omit verses and paragraphs to shorten the readings at Mass. And that itself is a kind of insult to the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, Deuteronomy 4:6-8, Psalm 15:2-5, James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1-23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Tests And Trials - The Manna Test

Contributed by George Rennau on Mar 23, 2003

The MANNA TEST IS a cumulative experience of trials where our obedience, patience, and perseverance are molded and tested

TITLE THE MANNA TEST When you ponder the events of your life what comes to mind. For me it’s those powerful moments Those times when I was struggling Those times when I had lost someone I love Or was going through a financial crisis Or was learning an important lesson about relationships For me ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:4

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"This Is A Test, This Is Only A Test..."

Contributed by Jerry Depoy on Feb 21, 2005

Joseph did not yield to this temptation. If we could learn to have the “mind of Joseph,” (Which was the Mind of Christ) it would give us the right thinking so that we, too, could resist temptation...

Primary Text: (Gen 39:7 KJV) And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. (Gen 39:8 KJV) But he refused… : Title: "This is a test, this is only a test..." The Temptation… Day after day Potiphar’s wife tempted Joseph to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

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

Test 8: Integrity Test Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Feb 12, 2008

God demands that His children be people of integrity. People who are honest and reliable. This is the next-to-last test of faith that James gives us--the integrity test.

1. The importance of individual integrity 2. The implication of individual integrity 3. The intentionality of individual integrity 4. The incentive of individual integrity This Wednesday night, American TV is hitting a new low. It’s almost hard to say that with all the trash that’s on TV these ...read more

Scripture: James 5:12

Denomination: Baptist

God Encounters: Ezekiel (Religious Experience Vs. Religious Action) Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Jul 24, 2004

This is about Ezekiel’s God encounter. It explores the difference between religious experience and religious action. Religious EXPERIENCE means nothing without ACTION.

Read Ezekiel 1:4-3:15. This is a bizarre vision. Not all God encounters are alike. We see here two things: Religious Experience (ch. 1) and Religious Action (chs. 2 & 3). What is the difference between the two? * Religious Experience is… In chapter 1, we see Ezekiel’s strange religious ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Test Of Authenticy

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Apr 29, 2002

Jesus helps his listeners to identify faithful shepherds of His Word and how they can know they are true sheep of His pasture.

Easter 4 A A Test of Authenticity John 10:1-10 04/21/02 You wouldn’t think it would be all that difficult. Loading a computer program onto your computer these days is usually as simple as placing the CD in the computer and following the simple instructions on the screen. But this is not ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

The True Test Series

Contributed by John Mccormack on Jan 4, 2011

FOCAL POINT: THE TRUE TEST IS KNOWING GOD.

THE TRUE TEST TITUS 1: 10-16 KEY VERSE: TITUS 1: 15 FOCAL POINT: THE TRUE TEST IS KNOWING GOD. INTRODUCTION: WE ACTUALLY KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT TITUS, A DEVOTEE OF CHRIST. ALTHOUGH NEVER MENTIONED IN THE ACTS ACCOUNT, PAUL APPEARS TO HOLD HIM IN VERY HIGH ESTEEM. ALTHOUGH A GREEK BY ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:10-16

Denomination: Baptist