Sermons on Religious Tradition:

Meaningless Worship = Sins Unforgiven

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Aug 25, 2018

Sermon based on false Jewish traditions which they designed to "earn" God's blessings. Jesus challenges their theology of how to receive forgiveness. Includes a story about "team work in the ministry".

In Jesus Holy Name August 26, 2018 Text: Mark 7:5,7,21,23 Pentecost XIV “Meaningless Worship=Sins Unforgiven” Mark records for us today another encounter with the Pharisees. Jesus was constantly being challenged by the Pharisees. They challenged His authority to heal on the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Lutheran

Sermon # 18 A Good Conscience Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Jan 20, 2023

How do we live with a good conscience? The life of the Apostle Paul will teach us how to do this. Read on to understand what we should hold on to and what we should let go of.

We read in Acts 23:1, “And looking intently at the council, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day."(ESV) As the apostle Paul stood on trial before the council of religious leaders, he bravely testified that he had lived his life ...read more

Scripture: Acts 23:1, Acts 22:3-4, Acts 22:6-8, 2 Timothy 1:12, Philippians 1:21, Philippians 3:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

The Heart Matters Most - Lessons From Matthew 15 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jun 12, 2025

GOD cares more about the condition of your heart than the traditions you keep. GOD desires genuine inner purity and authentic faith, not religious performance. True righteousness comes from a transformed heart, not outward tradition.

2025.06.15.Sermon Notes. The Heart Matters Most – Lessons from Matthew 15 When Religion Misses the Point William Akehurst, HSWC Reminder: It’s Father’s Day Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalms 51:10, Psalms 139:23-24 INTRODUCTION: JESUS confronts the religious leaders for honoring ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalm 51:10, Psalm 139:23-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Clean Heart Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Oct 9, 2009

If we want to find life and joy in our relationship with Christ, we must focus on Scripture not tradition, and focus on a clean heart not clean hands.

Clean Hearts (Mark 7:1-23) Alan Kraft, in his book, Good News for Those Trying Harder, shares a story about a time when his wife borrowed his car and heard a CD he had loaded in the sound system. The song touched her. When she asked him about it, he was able to recite the lyrics, but was unable ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Parable Of The New Cloth And New Wine Series

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Nov 17, 2019

Traditions and the word of God. Can traditions justify us before God.

The parable of the new cloth and new wine Matthew 9:14-17; Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39 A tradition is a long-established custom or belief passed on from one generation to another (Oxford). Because of that, many traditions are good and necessary. Paul speaks several times of some traditions in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:14-17, Luke 5:33-39

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Holiness Is A Matter Of The Heart

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 1, 2002

Holiness is more than merely a matter of religious activities. God is not near as concerned with our methods of ministry as He is our motives of ministry. That’s because God is not so concerned with the surface of man as He is with the spirit of man.

Holiness Is A Matter Of The Heart Text: Eph.6: 6; Mark 7: 18-19a Intro: It is absolutely impossible to become a Christian without a change of heart. Everything about trusting Christ as ones Savior affects the heart. If there has been no change of heart, there has been no conversion. Just ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:18-19, Ephesians 6:6

Denomination: Baptist

Battling Exhaustion Series

Contributed by Ryan Akers on May 7, 2009

Exhaustion is something we all struggle with. Paul teaches us how to battle spiritual exhaustion in our lives in this message.

When I sat down in my office on Wednesday to write this message I found it very ironic that I was planning to preach on how to battle exhaustion in our lives while at the same time I was going through a very exhausting week. So, basically this message has come at just the right time. This week ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Mythbusters 2

Contributed by Gregory Helman on Nov 20, 2009

Destroys the myth that I only need to be religious.

May 7, 2006 Mark 12:28-34 Mythbusters “I Just Need To Be Religious” I. Religion majors in rules. One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: *other

Rtd - Pt. 2 - Apathy Angina 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 It was the morning of December 7th, 1941. There were 353 Japanese airplanes diving and strafing the American battleships and military sites in Pearl Harbor. The results of the "surprise" attack were devastating. 8 battleships sunk. 6 major airfields destroyed. And the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:37-46

Denomination: Pentecostal

Rtd - Pt. 3 - Performance Pathogen 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 One of the scary things about certain diseases is that you can be infected and not even be aware of the presence of the disease until later in life. On the outside everything seems normal. Daily activities are uninterrupted. Life moves on down the road. However, either age (like 40) ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:7-9, Exodus 18:13-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

Two Little Parables.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 3, 2023

A house divided against itself, and a strong man overcome.

TWO LITTLE PARABLES. Luke 11:14-26. The spiritual blindness of the people opposed to Jesus is demonstrated in their reaction to His good works. Their refusal to hear His message is echoed in their speaking out against Him. LUKE 11:14. A demon-possessed man, who was physically dumb, was brought ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:14-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Accusing Jesus

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 4, 2021

Was Jesus ever falsely accused? Purpose: Did He face vilification? Plan: Let’s look at how Jesus handled unfair criticism in Mark 3:20-35.

Intro Was Jesus ever falsely accused? Purpose: Did He face vilification? Plan: Let’s look at how Jesus handled unfair criticism in Mark 3:20-35. Is our Faith Crazy? Are Christians nuts because of their self-sacrifice? Mark 3:20 Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-35

Denomination: Baptist

Lost And Found Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Dec 1, 2021

Lost and Found Series: Parables - Small Stories, Big Truths Brad Bailey – June 27, 2021

Lost and Found Series: Parables - Small Stories, Big Truths Brad Bailey – June 27, 2021 [Note: This message is only slightly adapted from what I had taught entitled “Our Story” when engaging this passage in a series in the Gospel of Luke. Both series called for teaching the text in its entirety ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sermon On The Best Days Of Your Life?

Contributed by William Meakin on Jan 25, 2024

The best days of your life are reputed to be the days that one has enjoyed the most.

Russell Brand, an English comedian and actor once remarked: “People do this a lot. They don't seem to realize that the future is just like now, but in a little while, so they say they're going to do things in anticipation of some kind of seismic shift in their worldview that never actually ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:3, Ecclesiastes 6:12, Proverbs 11:24-25, John 6:53

Making Jesus Real

Contributed by Brian Williams on Sep 27, 2023

The Love of God was put on display for all the world to see. Those who believed became the personal recipients of that love. As His family we want continue to make the love of Jesus obvious to others, through our words and our actions, we cannot divorce one from the other.

We took this summer to discuss many different philosophical as well as biblical arguments that point to God’s existence. Yet amongst all the arguments, I believe one of the greatest testimonies for the existence of a personal God is His love (1 John 4:8). Love is at the core of the Christian faith ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational