Sermons on Religious Tests:

Saved From Shallow Religion Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 4, 2023

Jesus saves us from sin and shallow religion. He teaches us to practice our faith in private, not for public approval, but to build a solid core of self-giving love.

Today we're going to talk about how Jesus saves us from sin and shallow religion. You know, the kind of religion that's all about showing off and not about what's really going on inside of us. Let's start with a little object lesson. I want you all to imagine a cup. Now, this cup looks super shiny ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21

Topics: Spiritual Growth, Faith Journey, Religious Depth, Beyond Superficiality

Jesus Disrupts Dead Religion Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Feb 21, 2024

Jesus disrupts the old system of death and sacrifice, bringing in a new system of love and mercy. He challenges corruption and exploitation, and disrupts our lives to remove anything that hinders us from living abundantly in His love.

Imagine you're at your favorite concert, but instead of enjoying the music, people are selling stuff and ripping you off. That's what Jesus walked into at the temple. People were supposed to be worshipping God, but instead, they were making a quick buck. Jesus was not cool with that. He flipped ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-22

Topics: Spiritual Awakening, Religious Reformation, Faith Disruption, Sacred Transformation

"Woe To You": Avoiding The Pharisees’ Mistakes About Faith Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 4, 2025

Jesus' criticism of the religious leaders provides several insights into what genuine faith is supposed to look like.

WRONG WAY: Jesus rejected the Pharisees’ approach to faith. - Luke 11:37-38. - Jesus gets invited to dine with a Pharisee and He goes. That in itself is interesting: Jesus is engaging with those who are His most vociferous enemies. - Why did He do that? I think there are at least a couple ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:37-54

Denomination: Baptist

How To Be Completely Irreligious (And Completely Pleasing To God) Acts - 24 Series

Contributed by Jeff Christopherson on Jan 15, 2005

How to be less religious and more spiritual...

How to be completely irreligious (and completely pleasing to God) Acts Series: “Completely Irreligious, Yet Radically Christian” Part 24 Pastor Jeff Christopherson June 29, 2003 Acts 15:1-35 re•li•gion: ri-’li-j&n, from Latin religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-35

Denomination: Baptist

The Thessalonians #11

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 6, 2022

The British Railways were looking for a way to test locomotive windshields when they heard about an unusual test cannon that The British Airways had used to test their windshields.

This cannon fired birds, with great force, into the windshields of passenger jets to insure designs and materials were up to par. They were glad to let the railway borrow their cannon to test the train windshields. Just before the test run, British Railways sent someone out to buy a dead chicken ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Joseph Takes A Fall Series

Contributed by Dan Yaw on Jan 26, 2002

How Joseph was tested.

NO ORDINARY JOE Lesson One: Temptation “Joseph Takes a Fall” (Genesis 39:1-40:23) — How Joseph was Tested — I. BY ALARMING CIRCUMSTANCES (GEN 39:1-6) A. Refuse to be Discouraged by Your Circumstances ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

If It Ain't One Thing It's Another!

Contributed by Spencer Miller on Mar 9, 2003

The testing of our faith.

We live in a world full of trouble and problems, there are problems after problems. Not many of us can truly say "I don’t have any problems" Job even said it himself, "Man born of a woman but for a few days and full of trouble. But Job goes on to reason that since his days on earth are already ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Moving Out By Faith

Contributed by Derrick Thompson, Sr. on Jun 9, 2003

Putting faith to the test

Let us pray Welcome.... Each Sunday we are re-minded of our theme for this year, which is, With God All Things Are Possible or With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible......... Today we will be using as our topic, Moving Out By Faith. Please turn with me in your bi-bles to Matthew 14: 22-36. Let’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-36

Denomination: Church Of God

Even Trouble Is Welcome Series

Contributed by Carl Willis on Apr 14, 2001

The testing of your faith.

Even Trouble Is Welcome James 1:1-8 I. When trials & temptations come A. Not “if trials come” 1. Our lives will be permeated with trials 2. The Christian life does not make trials stop B. Trials - adversity 1. sickness 2. persecution 3. tragedy C. Temptations 1. lust 2. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not Offended

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 6, 2024

Would we be offended if Jesus critiqued some of our church traditions as being vain? Let’s examine Matthew 15.

Would we be offended if Jesus critiqued some of our church traditions as being vain? Let’s examine Matthew 15. Vain Traditions Was Jesus criticized over a man-made tradition? Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Keep The Faith Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Feb 21, 2016

John’s moral test for genuine salvation consists of: 1) The Test Stated (1 John 2:3), 2) The Test Applied (1 John 2:4–5) and 3) The Test Exemplified (1 John 2:6)

Most of us don’t like tests. Tests conjure up bad images in our minds: that horrible math final exam your senior year in high school, that stress test the doctor has ordered, or that dreaded driver’s license test with a dour instructor in the car with you demanding that you display ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6

Denomination: Other

Hey, Watch Your Mouth Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Jan 21, 2016

A study of the book of Job 5: 1 – 27

Job 5: 1 – 27 Hey, Watch Your Mouth 1“Call out now; is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn? 2For wrath kills a foolish man, and envy slays a simple one. 3I have seen the foolish taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling place. 4His sons ...read more

Scripture: Job 5:1-27

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Counterfeit Christianity

Contributed by Michael Bowen on Nov 20, 2001

Four tests to examine your Christianity.

Counterfeit Christianity - Matthew 7:13-27 Introduction: A man had died and appeared at the gates of heaven. St. Peter told the man that in order to get into heaven he had accumulate 100 points based on how he lived his life. St. Peter asked the man to begin describing his life. The man said, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-27

Denomination: Baptist

Building Materials

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Oct 22, 2011

What you have in your foundation!

1 Cor. 3:9-15-For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:9-15

Denomination: Baptist

Whitewashed Or Washed White

Contributed by Louis Bartet on Oct 15, 2007

The cost of maintaining religious appearances is high.

Whitewashed or Washed White Matthew 23:25-26, 27-28 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:25-28

Denomination: Assembly Of God