Sermons on Toxic Religion:

"The Religion Police"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Aug 28, 2010

Our value as a person has nothing to do with having our name on the up in lights. God loves us; we can’t improve on that! You don’t have to try and prove you are worthwhile by sneaking your nametag a little higher up on the table. And praise God for that!

Luke 14:1-14 “The Religion Police” By: Ken Sauer, Pastor of East Ridge United Methodist Church, Chattanooga, TN Luke opens chapter 14 by telling us that Jesus “went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee,” on the Sabbath and that “he was being carefully ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-14

Denomination: United Methodist

Challenging Our Religion Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Jan 5, 2011

So Jesus came to challenge and to change the way people think. And as He continued to challenge religion His ministry led Him to a variety of places. We see two of them today.

“Challenging our Religion” Matthew 12:1-14 Eventually the ministry of Jesus was sure to cause great controversy. After all, Jesus challenged all of the religious leaders of the day. The Pharisees, the Saducees, anyone who was teaching tradition over truth. Jesus was never ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

"Religion The Right Way”

Contributed by Andy Grossman on May 26, 2009

Reveals how you can know what religion God approves of.

“Religion the Right Way” May 31, 2009 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22-27

Denomination: Holiness

Religion Gone Bad

Contributed by Monty Newton on Nov 12, 2012

Religion goes bad when our lives are not marked by genuine humility and heartfelt generosity.

Title: Religion Gone Bad Text: Mark 12:38-44 Thesis: Religion goes bad when God is not the object of our devotion. Introduction (Disclaimer… this introduction may not be for the faint of heart.) I am fascinated by some of the reality programming on the Discovery Channel. One of the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Consequences Of Bad Religion

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 24, 2013

THE JEWISH NATION HELD A PRIVILEGED STATUS WITHIN THE ROMAN EMPIRE, AND THE SANHEDRIN FEARED THAT JESUS WOULD GAIN A LARGE FOLLOWING, CAUSE A CIVIL UPROAR, AND ANGER THE GOVERNING ROMAN EMPIRE. IF THAT HAPPENED, these religious leaders would lose their...

5-16-2004 Title: Consequences of Bad Religion Text: John 11:47-48, 53 Scripture Reading: John 11:45-53 Introduction CHRIST DIED DURING Passover week in Jerusalem. It was the HIGH HOLY WEEK ...read more

Scripture: John 11:45-53

Denomination: Baptist

The Cure For Wearisome Religion Series

Contributed by Ron Tuit on Feb 22, 2014

Jesus came so that we could step off the treadmill of "law" and into the glory of His Grace.

Law and Gospel: The Cure for Wearisome Religion Matthew 11:25-30 I have never cared to much for exercising on a treadmill: I think it may be my overwhelming desire to be practical, even with effort and exercise; I hate to walk in one ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30

Denomination: Baptist

Losing My Religion Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Mar 2, 2013

God is head over heels in love with you!

LOSING MY RELIGION An Introduction to the Sermon Series, “The Misunderstood God**” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Big Idea: God is head over heels in love with you! INTRO: In a few minutes we will be reading from 1 Corinthians 13. But, may I ask you a few questions first? • How many ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Denomination: Nazarene

Economics, Politics, And Religion Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Oct 15, 2008

Exposition of Mark 12:13-17 about Jesus’ confrontation with Pharisees over the taxes issue

Text: Mark 12:13-17, Title: Economics, Politics, and Religion, Date/Place: 10/12/08, PM A. Opening illustration: Lots of really dumb things have been carried out in the name of these three B. Background to passage: this is during Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem, and He has just told the parable ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

"Getting Real Religion" Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Sep 8, 2008

Fourth sermon in a series on the use and abuse of the tongue.

It should be the goal of every Christian to make sure that they avoid the tragedy of having a saved soul, but living a wasted life. This is the subject of our passage for today. James speaks to us about getting "real religion," that is, how to make sure we live out our faith in such a way that our ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-27

Denomination: Baptist

Why Religion Stinks Series

Contributed by Stephen Collins on Jan 6, 2009

Part 3 of our "Being the Church" series, this one focusing on the need for an authentic, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and how "religion" does not meet that need.

Stephen N. Collins Millville – 06/22/08 Being the Church Part 3: Why Religion Stinks Acts 4:1-22 Icebreaker: The kindergarten teacher asked the students in her class to bring something related to their families’ religions to class the next day. She asked for volunteers to show what they had ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-22

Denomination: Church Of God

Freedom From Religion Series

Contributed by Wade Allen on Oct 3, 2007

A challenge to avoid being Pharisaical in the church.

The Apostle Paul had an interesting style of ministry. Paul would travel to a city, get to know a few people, plant a church, then stay around as long as it took (usually a couple years) until the church was self-sufficient. Then he would pack up and move to a new city and start the process all ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Religion Without Christ Series

Contributed by David Scudder on Apr 7, 2008

Many today are teaching that Christ is only one way to God. This passage reminds us that religion without Christ is worthless.

Religion Without Christ Hebrews 6:1-3 Purpose: To call religious people to trust fully in Christ. Aim: I want the listener to be fully surrendered to the Gospel. INTRODUCTION: “Retro” styles are now in. Wikipedia defines “Retro” this way: “Retro is a term used to describe aspects of modern ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:1-3

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Second-Hand Religion

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Mar 2, 2011

Faith in Jesus allows us to have a real personal relationship with God.

Focus Passage: Exodus 33:7-23 KEY VERSE 18 “Show me Your glory” Supplemental Passage: John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Introduction: References to second hand clothing or other items, or ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:7-23

Denomination: Baptist

Losing My Religion Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

To be able to break away from tightly held beliefs, there has to be a conversion of the heart and mind

Losing my Religion Acts 10-11 After several years of trying to bring about change from the inside, former President Jimmy Carter announced that he’s severing his ties with the Southern Baptist church over its treatment of women. “I have been a practicing Christian all my life and a ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Sunday Morning Religion

Contributed by Adrian Rogers on Feb 15, 2012

There’s nothing wrong with Sunday-morning religion, but the problem is that so many people have only a Sunday-morning religion.

The curse of the 20th Century is Sunday-morning religion. Now, there’s nothing wrong with Sunday-morning religion, but the problem is that so many people have only a Sunday-morning religion. Somebody wrote these words: “They’re praising God on Sunday, but they’ll be all ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:16-24

Denomination: Baptist