Sermons on Religious Vocations:

How To Avoid The Offense

Contributed by Andre King on Sep 15, 2015

In John 3 Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, a religious man, about religion yet Jesus doesn't offend Israel's teacher with His superior knowledge. How can we imitate Jesus in this. How can I avoid offending and taking offense?

IT SEEMS THAT THE OLDER I GET, THE MORE I AM OFFENDED. I’M OFFENDED BY A LOT OF THE MUSIC I HEAR ON THE RADIO. I’’M OFFENDED BY MANY OF THE THINGS I SEE ON TELEVISION AND IN THE MEDIA. I’M OFFENDED BY BUMPER STICERS. BY TEE SHIRTS. BY THE TITLES OF BOOKS. I’M ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Faith Of Able Series

Contributed by William D. Brown on Jul 3, 2014

In this study we'll notice what kind of faith God recognizes, both Able and Cain had been told by their parents Adam and Eve the only kind of sacrifice that God would except, Cain is a picture of religious people trying to get to heaven by WORKS.

#2 ~ Heb. 11: 4 ~ABEL~ (HALL OF FAITH CHAPTER) 4-19-14 Today we'll continue with our study of Hebrews chapter 11: -- often called "the hall of faith chapter" also the "catalog of the faithful." -- Paul, or the writer first mentioned the O.T. faithful back in Heb. 6:12. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:4

Denomination: Baptist

The First Shall Be Last, And The Last Shall Be First

Contributed by Craig Condon on Apr 22, 2015

Jesus says that it isn’t the religious folk who are first in the kingdom of heaven. It is those who are most open to turning their lives around who are first in line, those who take action when Jesus says, “follow me”.

It’s painful to have someone you trust tell you that they are going to do something for you---and they don’t. Many of us can tell stories about people who have let us down by making promises and then not following up on them. For example, there is a story of a young widow whose husband ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32

Denomination: Anglican

Judas Contracts The Betrayal Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 26, 2019

Judas Iscariot, whom Jesus called “the son of perdition,” lived up to his name by agreeing to hand over Jesus to the religious leaders for a rather insignificant amount of money. How did he get the courage for this evil act? The Bible has the answer.

Tom Lowe 11/12/2007 HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS JUDAS CONTRACTS THE BETRAYAL Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, LUKE 22:3-6 (ZECHARIAH 11:12) Judas Iscariot[1], whom Jesus called “the son of perdition,” lived up to his name by agreeing to hand over Jesus to the religious leaders for a rather ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 24:3-6

Denomination: Baptist

Stephen The Perfect Example Of Martyrdom

Contributed by Lay Man on May 29, 2015

Lord, do not hold this sin against them. - Acts 7:60 Stephen who was a Deacon full of the Holy Spirit was testifying to the religious leaders who crucified Christ just days before. He was dragged out of the temple and city and brought to a place where ..

Lord, do not hold this sin against them. - Acts 7:60 Stephen who was a Deacon full of the Holy Spirit was testifying to the religious leaders who crucified Christ just days before. He was dragged out of the temple and city and brought to a place where they started to stone him. Stones were hurled ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:60

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Wrong Horse

Contributed by Jeffrey Powell on Mar 29, 2010

Preached Palm Sunday 2010. Many religious people of Jesus' day thought they were winning by killing Jesus. They, like many today inside and outside the church let their isn and pride stand in the way of a true relationship with Christ and lost the race. T

Luke 19vv25-48 The Wrong Horse Two Kentucky farmers who owned racing stables had developed a keen rivalry. One spring, each of them entered a horse in a local steeplechase. Thinking that a professional rider might help him outdo his friend, one of the farmers engaged a crack jockey. The two horses ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-48

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Vs The Temple

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Mar 7, 2012

The Passion Week was not Jesus vs the Jewish religious leaders, or Jesus vs Rome...it was Jesus vs the Temple. A different perspective on a text we look at every year. Two kingdoms approach Jerusalem from two opposite directions at the same time with t

Jesus VS The Temple Palm Sunday (2012) Mark 11:1-11 Chronological Bible 10/23 pg. 1410 Mark 11:1–3 (NLT) Jesus’ Triumphant Entry As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Taking The Journey

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Apr 1, 2019

God’s call to take the journey to worship the newborn king isn’t just for those born to privilege, or those born in the church. It isn’t just for pastors, scholars, and religious leaders. No, God’s call to worship is for anyone who will listen.

OPENING STORY An old king sat uncomfortably on his throne, fingernails dug into well-worn grooves in the wood as he waited nervously for the mysterious travelers to approach. All Jerusalem was abuzz with the rumors that these men were searching for a new heir which had just been born, yet neither ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Nazarene

Grace And Truth

Contributed by John Tristan Jayme on Dec 18, 2022

Who is Jesus? The debate begins with a discussion of Jesus’ whole person. Practically every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet, a rabbi, or a godly man. However, the Bible tells us that Jesus was beyond a visionary, a good teacher, or a religious man. He is the Son of God.

Points: Who is Jesus to the Jews? The debate begins with a discussion of Jesus’ whole person. Practically every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet, a rabbi, or a godly man. However, the Bible tells us that Jesus was beyond a visionary, a good teacher, or a religious man. He is the Son ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17, John 1:17

Contrasting Christmases

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Dec 20, 2022

This message reveals a contrast seen within the Christmas story, a contrast between those who are ready and willing to receive the good news, like the shepherds and the Magi, or Wise Men, and those who are not, like King Herod and the religious leaders of that day. Come and See.

Contrasting Christmases Psalm 1; Luke 2; Matthew 2 Someone has said that life is full of contrasts, and as far as I can determine, they are right. But most of these contrasts are self-determined. Psalm chapter one deals with the main contrast, the one that determines all the rest. It involves the ...read more

Denomination: Foursquare

Jesus Christ: Our Divine Teacher, Part 2

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jan 4, 2022

Nicodemus had been confronted with the fact that his religious zeal will not make him righteous before God. It is only by being "born again" through the work of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins that we are forgiven and restored to a true relationship with God.

The mark of a true learner is his or her willingness to be corrected of an erroneous belief or idea that would tend to deter them from seeking the truth about a subject of interest or topic of discussion. They are not so immovable in their thinking to where they refuse to consider anything else ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21, Numbers 24:4-10, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Isaiah 45:22, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Pharisees Confront Jesus: What Does It Mean To Be A Hypocrite? An Issue Of The Heart Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jul 10, 2023

The Pharisees today are often regarded as hypocrites, mean, nasty, people who killed Jesus, and it’s true that they plotted against Jesus. But in general these were not bad people. These were religious leaders trying to help the people live according to God’s ways.

A lot of the scriptures that we look at, I feel like we get to understand another piece of the puzzle about who Jesus really is. It’s like we dive into a moment in history and we get to look over the shoulder of Jesus and see what he does, and why he does it, and we’re amazed. We want to live like ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-5

Denomination: Salvation Army

America Today: Calling Evil Good And Good Evil Updated

Contributed by Lee Houston on Feb 26, 2024

Being an old man, I have lived through many changes, changes that caused Americans to disagree, but never have I seen anything like the division and outright hatred we see today. As a pastor, I see our basic problems as religious.

America Today: Calling Evil Good and Good Evil Being an old man, I have lived through many changes, changes that caused Americans to disagree, but never have I seen anything like the division and outright hatred we see today. Here are a few of the things that are causing the division: ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:20-21

Deceitful Religion

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 5, 2025

Jacob's sons distorted the Faith; the Shechemites attempted to co-opt the religious practices of the Israelites to enrich themselves. Both groups attempted to use religion to obtain their own ends, resulting in death and destruction. Deceitful religion always leads to ruin and destruction.

“Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 34:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

Is One Way To God Really Fair

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Sep 26, 2006

Last week the unquestionable and unavoidable claims of Christ…this morning I want to address a concern that often arises from the sidelines of such claims… Is one way to God really fair? It’s a big world…with many following religious traditions within t

Last week the unquestionable and unavoidable claims of Christ…this morning I want to address a concern that often arises from the sidelines of such claims… Is one way to God really fair? It’s a big world…with many following religious traditions within their own culture…isn’t Christianity a bit too ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational