Sermons on 21st Century Context:

Is Official, Or Formal Church Membership In A Local Church According To Scripture? – Part 1 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 2, 2025

This begins a 4 part study of local church membership in the New Testament. Is a formal church membership biblically required in our churches? Was it required in the first century churches? We will examine scriptures and practices for those answers.

IS OFFICIAL, OR FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE? – PART 1 What is church membership? What does the New Testament teach about church membership? Is this a requirement for us in local churches or must we submit ourselves to a practice of man and denominational ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Ephesians 5:29-30, Acts 2:47, Acts 2:44, Romans 12:4-6, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Philippians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, Colossians 1:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Maundy Thursday: Even If He Does Not

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 3, 2007

Maundy Thursday. Short, to the point: Even though God does not intervine, though he can, He is Lord, He is God, He is our salvation. I also in context of the events that happend that nigh in addition to ps 27.

Psa. 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? These words had to be going through Jesus’ mind on this night; On this cold, dark, long and desperate night. This couldn’t have been easy for our Lord Jesus. Now ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

James: An Exposition Of James 2 Series

Contributed by David Wilson on Feb 26, 2009

A look at James Chapter two encouraging the reader to view the book of James in full context with practical applications for the believer. This entire series is available as an ebook entitled "James: Who has Superior Faith" via the ibook store (itunes)

Introduction James is my favorite book of the Bible. I have always been drawn to its practical approach and straightforward method of approaching the subject of living one’s faith. James doesn’t spend a lot of time discussing doctrine, though the book is full of doctrinal concepts. Instead, ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

Finances Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 14, 2011

Proverbs gives us the proper context for giving. Without saying the word Tithe it reveals to us that we are to honor God with the first and best of all our increase, substance, weath, money. Your faithfulness will never be an issue of percentage it will

Intro: Why should we spend time studying what the Bible says about finances? Because the way we handle our resources is one of if not the clearest indicators of our hearts spiritual condition. Of the 38 parables that Jesus taught 16 are about how we handle our money. So why should we study ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Our Wonderul Counselor Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Dec 3, 2011

We find the name WONDERFUL COUNSELOR in Isaiah 9:6 given in the context of a troubled nation that was trusting in everyone else but God. This sermon will examine the life of Judah's king Ahaz as we are encouraged to trust the Lord in our circumstances.

Today, we begin a new sermon series for Christmas that we will call “A.K.A. JESUS.” This series title originated when I asked our pastors to think of a title for a series on the Names of the Savior. Pastor Frank, who worked in a prison for many years came up with the idea. “In ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Denunciation Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 15, 2018

The Judaizers, who were a legalistic Jewish party, tried to combine Christ’s message of salvation within the context of the Mosaic Law. Immature Christians believed their distorted teachings, which demanded more than justification by faith alone.

August 17, 2013 The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians Tom Lowe I. Introduction (1:1-10) Chapter I.B Denunciation (1:6-10) Galatians 1.6-10 (KJV) 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Journey Of The Christian Life

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 2, 2021

The Christian life is much more than a single decision to follow Jesus. It's a lifelong journey with Jesus. Jesus is with us on this journey. The journey is his classroom; it provides the context in which we learn to be like him.

Today we’re just about at the end of the Christmas season and we’re going to move on from our Christmas themes. We’re starting a new series in the gospel of Luke and we’ll mostly continue in Luke until Easter. But before we start to look at our passage I want to explain why it’s so important that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-62

Denomination: Baptist

A Painful Visit

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 10, 2009

For Martin Luther King Sunday. Misunderstanding comes about because we do not hear one another, we do not have the context to understand, or someone deliberately creates distance. Racial understanding needs to take all this into account.

Misunderstanding is an inevitable part of life. Just because we are human, just because we have limitations and are imperfect, we are going to misunderstand one another. And the sooner we accept that as a part of life and learn to deal with it, the better off we’ll be. There are several reasons ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Your Past May Explain You, But It Does Not Excuse You - 2 Corinthians 5:17 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Sep 26, 2024

Each one of us carries a story shaped by experiences, choices, and circumstances that often explain who we are. However, while our past may provide context, it cannot serve as an excuse for how we live today.

Your Past May Explain You, But It Does Not Excuse You - 2 Corinthians 5:17 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) – “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Introduction As we gather today, we must confront a powerful truth about our ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 3:23, 1 Timothy 1:15, Colossians 3:2, Romans 12:2, Galatians 6:5, Luke 15:11-32, 1 John 1:9, Philippians 3:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Call Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Oct 22, 2024

Psalm 66 is a corporate Psalm of Thanksgiving or Praise in response to the work of God in the lives of the people of Judah. This introductory message looks at the first four verses and the summons to praise - reflecting on the context of praise, the command to praise, and the content of our praise.

Psalm 66:1–4 ESV Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 66:1-4, Exodus 14:21, Joshua 3:14-17, Philippians 4:6, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, James 2:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Forging Our Faith

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Sep 4, 2025

"Forging our Faith" involves the ways in which trials, demands, delays, and daily dependence on God shape and reinforce our reliance on His promises and power. Faith is not developed in a vacuum but in the context of real-world challenges ...

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Imagine a blacksmith forging a sword. The process begins with raw, unshaped metal. The blacksmith must heat this metal to extremely high temperatures, making it malleable enough to be hammered, shaped, and ultimately refined into a strong, sharp blade fit for ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Prepared Are We, Really?

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Oct 24, 2020

In the parable of the 10 virgins, the whole point is being ready - truly ready - for coming face to face with Jesus - either when He returns or when we go to Him. This message, which relies heavily on William Barclay for context and content in the first part, explores this theme.

How Prepared Are We For Jesus? If we look at this parable with western eyes, it may seem an unnatural and a "made-up" story. But it actually telt tells a story that could have happened at any time in a Palestinian village and which could still happen today. A wedding was a great ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Profitable Servant Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 20, 2012

I want to be a good servant for Jesus, but in this passage Jesus says I can do all kind of great ministry and still be an "unprofitable servant." What two things does Jesus say can stop me from being the profitable servant for Chris that I want to be?

OPEN: The KJV translates Luke 17:10 this way: “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.’” I don’t want to be an “unprofitable servant”. I want to be a profitable servant for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:3-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Belong (Part 2 Of 4) Series

Contributed by Tim Melton on Mar 1, 2021

In Christ, we find the place of belonging that we all long for, the place of perfect truth, endless grace, and unconditional love. In the body of Christ, we find the human belonging that we need. It is in the context of belonging that we grow in our faith and are made like Christ.

Take a moment and think of where you have felt the strongest sense of belonging? Was it because of the location. . . or the people. . . or about the memories. . . or maybe it was the safety. . . or the familiarity? Maybe it is at home in your country, with your people and your culture. Maybe it is ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:26-28, 1 Corinthians 12:26, Romans 8:1

Melchizedek And The Messiah

Contributed by Ken Alford on Nov 25, 2001

In the days of Abraham, the man called “Friend of God” encountered a mysterious Priest called Melchizedek. His name in history was a masterpiece of God. Centuries later allusion to his connection with the coming Messiah was indicated in the 110th Psalm.

MELCHIZEDEK AND THE MESSIAH Hebrews 7:1-3 INTRODUCTION: 1. In 1664, the Dutch master artist Rembrandt painted Lucretia, the Roman heroine who took her life as a result of Roman desecration. Two years later Rembrandt painted a second picture of Lucretia in a different pose. For over 300 ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 7:1-3

Denomination: Baptist