Sermon Central
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Baptist Foundations
Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 2, 2008 (message contributor)
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1. Challenges Facing Baptists In The Twenty-First Century
Contributed on Jul 2, 2008
Baptists have brought distinctive truth to the circle of the evangelical faith. However, there appears to be a danger of being of losing the Baptist identify which must be recognised and resisted.
PHILIPPIANS 4:8, 9 BAPTIST FOUNDATIONS CHALLENGES FACING BAPTISTS IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy ...read more
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2. Why I Am A Baptist
Contributed on Jan 2, 2011
Exploring the biblical basis for the Baptist Faith.
Jesus said to the Jews who were seeking to kill Him, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not deemed true. There is another who bears witness ...read more
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3. More Than A Denomination: Challenges Facing Baptists In A New Era
Contributed on Jan 9, 2011
The defining truths that make Baptists a distinct people, and the dangers of neglecting those truths, is explored.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in ...read more
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4. Biblical Authority
Contributed on Jan 30, 2011
Our authority for faith and practise is the written Word of God. This becomes the standard by which we conduct our lives.
“As for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and ...read more
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5. The God-Breathed Book
Contributed on Feb 5, 2011
The Word of God is the foundation for faith and practise. We have received it as inerrant and infallible. Therefore, when we read this Word, we are reading the very words God intended for our benefit.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” For the past several weeks, the distinctive doctrines defining a Baptist congregation have been ...read more
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6. The Living And Eternal Word
Contributed on Feb 18, 2011
Faith and practise are determined by what we accept as authoritative for our life. Baptist accept the written Word of God as authoritative for faith and practise.
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for ‘All flesh is like grass and all ...read more
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7. Preach The Word
Contributed on Feb 27, 2011
To qualify as worship, our corporate religious activities must include sound preaching. To fail to include this vital aspect of worship is to condemn our congregations to an insipid presence in the midst of a hostile world.
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will ...read more
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8. God’s Enduring Word
Contributed on Mar 3, 2011
The message is a study of the permanence of God’s Word.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Among the many comforting words spoken by the Master for the encouragement of His people, the words of this text must assuredly rank among the most precious. Many Christians consider them seminal assurance. The comfort ...read more
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9. A Regenerate Church
Contributed on Mar 19, 2011
The doctrine of the church reflects our view of Christ and His Word.
“Many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and ...read more
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10. A Regenerate Church Membership
Contributed on Mar 26, 2011
The congregation of the Lord is to be composed of redeemed individuals.
“Those who received [Peter’s] word were baptised, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. ”They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through ...read more
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11. Keys To The Kingdom
Contributed on Apr 2, 2011
Binding and loosing have served to divide many of the saints of God. What did Jesus mean by "the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven?" The questions seek an answer.
“When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter ...read more
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12. Why Belong
Contributed on Apr 9, 2011
Those who believe are taught the value of church membership.
“Those who accepted [Peter’s] message were baptised, and that day about three thousand people were added… And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.” , Charles Spurgeon told of his intense desire to be a member of a local church during one particular sermon. ...read more
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13. Baptism Commanded
Contributed on Apr 15, 2011
Those who are saved, and only those who are saved, are commanded to identify with the Master in baptism.
“When [those listening] heard [Peter’s command] they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will ...read more
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14. Baptising Disciples
Contributed on May 14, 2011
Christ our Master has commanded us to baptise disciples rather than baptising rebels to make them disciples.
“Jesus came and said to [the disciples], ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, ...read more
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15. The Biblical Mode Of Baptism
Contributed on May 21, 2011
Does the mode of baptism matter? If Scripture is our guide, how we are baptised, as well as why we are baptised, is extremely important.
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule ...read more
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16. United With Him
Contributed on May 29, 2011
What was confessed through baptism reflects your understanding of relationship to Christ.
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in ...read more
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17. Water Wars
Contributed on Jun 4, 2011
Exploring the reason for Baptist insistence on immersion of believers as baptism.
“An angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. ...read more
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18. A Royal Priesthood
Contributed on Jun 11, 2011
We Christians are a privileged people, given awesome responsibilities to fulfil until the Master returns.
“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you ...read more
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19. A Kingdom Of Priests
Contributed on Jun 25, 2011
What has Christ done for us, and what responsibilities do we now bear? This is the subject of our study.
“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: “Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. “To him who loves us ...read more
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20. Freedom And The Christian Life
Contributed on Jul 3, 2011
An exploration of what it means to be free in Christ.
“Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, “You will become ...read more
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21. Christians In The Modern State
Contributed on Jul 10, 2011
The sermons is a study of the role of Christians in the modern state. The biblical emphasis is on a submissive spirit as honouring the Master.
“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of ...read more
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22. Limits On The Authority Of The State
Contributed on Jul 16, 2011
Exploring the limits of government authority through study of God’s Word.
“Pilate said to [Jesus], ‘You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?’ Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the ...read more
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23. Authority
Contributed on Jul 23, 2011
Who has authority for faith and practise? The state? The Word? The message explores the continuing tension between government and church.
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Throughout their long history as a people of faith, Baptists have consistently opposed any diminution of the rights of the individual to seek ...read more
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24. Must Caesar Always Be Obeyed?
Contributed on Jul 30, 2011
What are the limits of obedience owed to the state when state and church are in conflict?
“Whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement.” The Book of Judges concludes on a gloomy note. The last verse of the book reads, “In those days there was no king in Israel.” Then, this dark assessment is appended “Everyone did what ...read more
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25. The Power Of The Sword
Contributed on Aug 4, 2011
Exploring the relationship of church and state from the biblical model presented by Paul in his Letter to Roman Christians.
“Rulers are not a cause of fear for good behaviour, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for ...read more
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26. Christian Conscience And The State
Contributed on Aug 14, 2011
What role does conscience play in Christian citizenship? That is the study presented in this message.
“One must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.” How many sermons have you ever heard concerning the conscience? I confess that I have been in service to the churches for almost forty years, and on only two previous occasions have I ever preached ...read more
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27. Changing Government, One Prayer At A Time
Contributed on Aug 20, 2011
We are commanded to pray for all people, even for kings. Were the people of God to obey this command, we could change our world, and in the process, honour God.
“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all ...read more
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28. Religious Liberty
Contributed on Aug 27, 2011
Without religious liberty, there can be no true worship of God.
“Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” “You were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Religious liberty is not simply an ecclesiastical truth ...read more
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29. My Role In The Church
Contributed on Sep 4, 2011
Why should you join a local congregation when you become a Christian? The message explores your vital role in the assembly where God places you.
“There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through ...read more
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30. Congregational Polity
Contributed on Sep 10, 2011
Exploration of the congregational government in the apostolic church.
“In these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up ...read more