Sermons on Secular Distortions:

Rendering Unto Caesar

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Sep 13, 2010

Jesus is showing how citizens have both civic and moral obligations; we obey secular law yet we owe everything to God, Who deserves our primary allegiance.

An IRS agent contacted a taxpayer to conduct an audit. He noted, “Our records show that you still have some money left over after paying your taxes. How do you account for that?” Another taxpayer told his attorney that when he dies, to place his ashes in an envelope and mail it to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:20-26

Denomination: Congregational

The True Solution To Violence Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 7, 2021

These are times that try our souls. When the secular parts of our world collapse under the weight of theft, fraud, lying and disrespect, violence solves nothing, and brings only more violence.

Baptism of the Lord Jesus 2021 Reading St. Mark’s account of the baptism of Jesus, which is the shortest of the three Gospel accounts, I am struck by the language used just before the Father’s voice is heard from heaven. We heard that Jesus “saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:7-11, Genesis 8:11, 1 John 5:1-9, Isaiah 12:2-6, Isaiah 55:1-11, Acts 1:4-8, Isaiah 4:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

God Manages His Vineyard Well

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 18, 2025

Jesus reworks the old parable of the vineyard to fit the new barbarism. He directs the moral at the human vineyard managers, the religious and secular men who treat the Law and Temple as their personal fiefdom.

Friday of the Second Week of Lent 2025 St. Matthew’s Gospel is moving toward its climax, which is called Holy Week. Frequently we see Jesus crossing swords verbally with his adversaries. Jesus was an out-of-towner, considered a religious zealot and “hick” by the secular and religious authorities ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:22, Genesis 37:3-4, Genesis 37:12-13, Genesis 37:17-28, Psalm 105:16-21, Matthew 21:33-43, Matthew 21:45-46, Matthew 21:44, John 11:49-51  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Producers Of A Hostile Environment-7 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Mar 2, 2010

Part 7 of a 7-part sermon. The Apostle Paul, revealed to Timothy that a hostile(antagonistic) environment will characterize the last days. But why? A(n) Hostile(antagonistic) environment is produced by, a Distortion of….

PRODUCERS of a HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT-VII—2Timothy 3:1-9 The last days will be characterized by a hostile(antagonistic) environment. The Apostle Paul, revealed to Timothy that a hostile(antagonistic) environment will characterize the last days. A(n) hostile(antagonistic) environment will ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Part 3 - Matthew 12:9-14 -Deformities Of The Heart And Hand Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Sep 19, 2010

The CLAWED FINGERS of their law system were DISTORTED AND MALFORMED and particularly difficult to uproot. It is not at all surprising that Jesus uses a man with a DEFORMED HAND to illustrate what needed to be done if ever they were to be healed of their D

Part 3 - Matthew 12:9-14 -DEFORMITIES OF THE HEART AND HAND Yesterday, with the encouragement of my wife, I got rid of some THORNY WEEDS growing like trees in the back garden. The thorns were now like razor sharp nails and so it was difficult to get to the roots without punctures, scratches and a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:9-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ten Commandments: No False Images Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Jan 8, 2019

False (mostly mental) images of God distort him, and harm us. Recognize how false images might come to us, and replace them with a true image of God from the Bible, especially Christ.

NO FALSE IMAGES—Exodus 20:4-6, 32:1-6 (I began with a children’s sermon: “Can you draw God? Why not? God is more than we can describe!”) Read Exodus 20:1-6. (Note to preacher: NIV 1984 has the unfortunate translation “idol” not “image,” which sounds more like a different god. NIV 2011 more ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:4-6, Exodus 32:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Battles Chosen Series

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Mar 3, 2016

Message four in this exposition of First Timothy describes the gnostic error in the early church that was distorting the New Testament faith. Preaching against them our purposes are to purify the faith and to lead false teachers to Christ

Message 4 THE BATTLES CHOSEN B. The Faith Protected “Command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer.” (1:3) “Fight the good fight, holding on to faith”(18,19). Paul uses strong words. He doesn’t tell Timothy to suggest that false teachers stop, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:18-19, 1 Timothy 1:3

Denomination: Baptist

Conformity Is This World’s Sheep Dog Trials – A Very Serious Matter Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 26, 2022

Conformity is the rule these days under increasing totalitarianism, but that will present problems for the Christian. One stands firm or compromises. To be faithful means holding fast to God’s word, not yielding our faith to distorted values so that we “fit in.” This is a difficult area.

CONFORMITY IS THIS WORLD’S SHEEP DOG TRIALS – A VERY SERIOUS MATTER INTRODUCTION TO CONFORMITY The sheep dog trials found in sheep breeding countries is a competition where sheep dogs round up a group of sheep and ensure they are penned. The winner is the fastest. Australia, New Zealand and ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:4, Romans 8:29, Romans 12:1-2, Philippians 3:10, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Peter 1:14, Galatians 2:11-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"who Do You Think You Are?" Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Aug 15, 2021

Jesus criticized the Pharisees for their inability to discern the signs of the times (Matthew 16:3). The signs of our times seem to be indicating an increasing hostility toward Christianity, which has lost its place as the nation’s primary guiding ethic.

You can run but you can’t hide. That’s certainly true today, amen? They not only know where you live and work, but probably know what kind of car you drive, when you take a shower, what’s your favorite flavor of ice cream or your favorite show on TV, what station you listen to in the car. They ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5, 1 Corinthians 4:9-13, 2 Timothy 3:12, 2 Corinthians 12:10

Denomination: United Methodist

St Anselm Patron Of American Bishops

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 21, 2012

The Church is Incarnational, and must have both a sacred and secular existence, and yet must not become subservient to the state, whether kings or democratically elected tyrants who would make us do evil.

St. Anselm Day April 21, 2011 If today’s lesson from Acts chapter 6 has any historical meaning at all, it is a confirmation that there have always been little fissures forming in the living stones that make up the Church. Early in our history, Greek-speaking converts to Judaism were ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Catholic

One Nation Under God

Contributed by Pastor Randall Timblin on May 17, 2017

Is our nation still a nation "Under God?" Was it ever a nation "Under God?" Some would have you believe that it was founded on secular principles but they are wrong and you can tell them so.

What does “Under God” mean anyway? As a country, have we forgotten? Did it once mean that we were under His control? Were we under His protection? Were we in His Spirit? Does it yet describe us as a nation? For the most part, we are living to see our country be destroyed from within. In 1 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:19, Proverbs 11:2, 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: *other

Christian Education Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 28, 2021

Wisdom is the ability to make right choices in life. Folly is the making of wrong choices. The goal of education in both the secular and sacred realm is to give to people the knowledge and awareness they need to make wise choices.

The Jews loved to tell stories about the importance of choices. Nathan Ausubel tells one of the wealthy Jewish merchant who took his slave on a long journey leaving his only son behind. On the journey the merchant became very ill, and at the point of death he made a will leaving all this ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:18-24

The Top 7 Lies You’ll Hear At College

Contributed by John Gaston on Sep 8, 2014

Many young people go to college as Christians, but due to the secularism and the anti-Christian propaganda force-fed them, they become agnostics or atheists.They must become knowledgeable of the foundations of their Christian faith.

THE TOP 7 LIES YOU’LL HEAR AT COLLEGE INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: WHAT AISLE IS THE POLISH SAUSAGE ON? 1. People today over-react, especially about politically correct topics. There was a customer who asked, "In what aisle could I find the Polish sausage?" 2. The clerk asked, "Are you Polish?" ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Managing Self-Awareness Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 26, 2023

Secular psychologists have developed methods for dealing with Low Self-Esteem. But what does the Bible teach concerning this matter? This message offer three principles for dealing with self-esteem based on Scripture.

Intro Last week we introduced the subject of self-awareness. Self-awareness is a fact of life. God made us in such a way that we are aware of self, aware of our interaction with God, aware of our interaction with other people, and aware of our interaction with our environment. The self-awareness ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 25:27, Jeremiah 17:9, Proverbs 12:15, James 1:23, Hebrews 12:1-2, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 23:12, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-12, Genesis 2:1-15, John 4:34-36, Matthew 25:14-30, 2 Timothy 4:6-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Thunder And Love Part 2 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 22, 2025

Today we are going to focus – maybe refocus on Love – John was called the apostle of Love and He knew love and truth had to be linked together to be able to live in a world which distorted both love and truth!

Thunder and Love part 2 – John the Apostle of love! Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21: 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Love – biblical love comes from God Those who love are born of God and they personally know God. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21, John 13:34, Ephesians 3:15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational