Sermons on Religious Vocations:

Understanding Baptism

Contributed by Clay Gentry on Sep 10, 2013

There's a lot of confusion in the religious world regarding baptism. In this lesson, we'll survey the NT teaching on the ancient practice and learn the why's behind doing it.

The words of Ananias in Acts 22:16 are simple to understand. There’s nothing complicated about them. Nothing complex or ambiguous; “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” And yet the religious world of today, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 22:16

Denomination: *other

What God Wants On Sunday Morning

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 16, 2010

We are incurably religious, thinking that if we use the right formulas, we will be acceptable to God. But God wants our personal involvement and our investment in understanding Him.

Our most persistent sin is that we are religious. Of all the sins that men and women commit, of all the wrongheaded directions we take, of all the wayward wanderings on which we go, none is more persistent than this: that we are religious. As someone has put it, we are incurably religious. ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-26

Denomination: Baptist

An Act Of Remembrance Series

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Feb 19, 2014

Mary is remembered as a devoted disciple of Christ. She honored Him by giving her best. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Judas conspired with the religious leaders in betraying Jesus.

Mark 14:1-11 An Act of Remembrance We are headed towards Jerusalem! 33 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

True Leadership

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 31, 2017

When is religious authority right and wrong? How should we behave in an imperfect church? Should we quit church and return to the devil or stay and be a force for good?

Prelude When is religious authority right and wrong? How should we behave in an imperfect church? Should we quit church and return to the devil or stay and be a force for good? Let’s look at Jesus’ blunt assessment of human religious leadership in Matthew 23:1-12 and see if we can learn a better ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Love Your Neighbor (Hix)

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Mar 20, 2014

This was the standard God gave the Jews a long time ago, but the religious leaders had water it down, so that the Jewish people could help who they wanted to help.

Matthew 5:43-48-“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Baptist

The Answer Is No!

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Apr 17, 2018

Jesus is too much a threat to Rome, to the Jewish religious authorities, and to the crowds. They all reject his words of life and his invitation to walk in God’s kingdom.

INTRODUCTION In the movie, “The Lion King” there is the classic plot of good versus evil. There is also a sub-plot of Simba learning what it is to be king. He has to answer the question, “Why will he be king?” Is it to have people do his will? Or, is being a king to serve people. A similar ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

The Great Commandment Of Love Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jun 27, 2018

Surrounded by legalist and religious tradition within the Temple, Jesus was questioned by an earnest scribe which of all the many commandments was greatest. Jesus answered with a convicting and compelling statement.

The Great Commandment of Love Mark 12: 28-34 Jesus was often questioned and challenged concerning His interpretation of Scripture. Who better to know the word than the Word Himself? In this chapter He was questioned of the Pharisees concerning paying taxes, of the Sadducees concerning the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Baptist

Wickedness Revealed Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Apr 21, 2010

Though sinners may seem to prosper, they & the whole system of religious, political & commercial ungodliness, that will so powerfully dominate the earth & its people, will also ultimately fail.

ZECHARIAH 5: 5-11 (THE 7TH VISION) WICKEDNESS REVEALED [Revelations 17:1-6, 15-16] Religious Lawlessness & the World Commercial System. The previous vision of The Flying Scroll is related to this vision of The Woman in the Basket in that they refer to the judgment which flagrant, persistent ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 5:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Take Off That Coat! Feel The Paradigm Shift That Is Coming?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 27, 2015

The religious crowd tends to desire to feel comfort and safe with the status quo? Be quiet poor old blind man? No, I hear Jesus is coming this way.

TAKE OFF THAT COAT! WHAT DO YOU WANT? CAN YOU FEEL A PARADIGM SHIFT? MY MIRACLE IS COMING! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I. WHAT DO YOU WANT? CAN YOU FEEL A PARADIGM SHIFT? I WILL FEAR NO EVIL? I WILL FEAR NO EVIL! A. DO WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ROD? THE STAFF? B. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-51

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sermon On Visions Of Heaven

Contributed by William Meakin on Jan 16, 2023

Heaven is defined by Wikipedia as a common religious cosmological or transcendent supernatural place where deities, angels, souls, saints or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned, or reside.

Oswald Chambers, a Scottish evangelist and teacher once remarked: “We look for visions of heaven and we never dream that all the time God is in the commonplace things and people around us.” Revelation 21:1-4 confirms: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9, John 3:16, Romans 10:9-13, Hebrews 11:16

Do We Have To Keep Being Extra Faithful? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 18, 2019

Our religious ritual can make us feel like we are the extra faithful when we are really failing to give God what He wants.

- We had several night visions one after the other in the chapters up to this point in Zechariah. As we come into chapter 7, two years have passed. And there are signs of progress on the temple – the walls are rising! - So is everything great? Not exactly. - The people of Bethel come with a ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 7:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Life And Death Struggles Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 11, 2021

Today we are in a struggle like that between Moses and Balak, or between Jesus and the religious authorities, a battle to the death between God’s people and a pagan secular culture.

Homily for Monday in 3rd Week of Advent Balaam was a prophet for hire. He was a wealthy and respected prophet of Yahweh, but he was not an Israelite. Balak, a king who was in the way of Israel as they moved toward the Promised Land, was nervous about all these people moving across his territory. ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 24:2-7, Numbers 24:15-17, Matthew 21:23-27, Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

The Confident Lost Vs. The True Believer Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 8, 2021

One can be confident, zealous, and religious, but also be lost. It is only through repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ that we can be saved.

The Confident Lost Vs. the True Believer (Romans 10:1-13) 1. One of my wife’s third graders was wearing a Fitbit watch, which prompted my wife to ask, “Are you tracking your steps?” “No,” said the little girl. “I wear this for Mommy so she can show Daddy when he gets home.” —James Avery, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Church Of Laodecia: Death By Contentment (Revelation 3:14-22)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jan 19, 2024

The last of the seven churches listed in Revelation 2-3 had the reputation of being the church that made Jesus sick due to its religious indifference. Heed the lesson.

The downward slide that started in Ephesus with the loss of their “First Love” culminated with the total apostasy found in the last church mentioned in Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3, the church located in the city of Laodecia. The city had been founded in 253 B.C. by Antiochus II and named after ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:5, Matthew 24:12, Luke 10:2, Proverbs 21:2, 2 Corinthians 10:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Saint Arnold Janssen: A Prophetic Vision Of Divine Encounter In A Transformative Century Series

Contributed by Dr Fr John Singarayar Svd on Jan 23, 2025

In a world often fragmented by ideological, cultural, and religious divisions, Janssen's vision offers a hopeful alternative—a spirituality of connection, respect, and mutual enrichment.

Saint Arnold Janssen: A Prophetic Vision of Divine Encounter in a Transformative Century Intro: In a world often fragmented by ideological, cultural, and religious divisions, Janssen's vision offers a hopeful alternative—a spirituality of connection, respect, and mutual enrichment. Scripture: ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18

Denomination: Other