Sermons on Barriers To Growth:

God The Gardener

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on May 6, 2012

God wants us to grow. Like plants, if we actually want to grow, we’ve got to be pruned. God’s discipline is always loving. Accepting it is the key to becoming who God means us to be.

In Hampton Court near London (start video-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxzG6C-jrwE), there is a grapevine under glass; it is about 1,000 years old and has but one single root which is at least two feet thick. A formidable root. Some of the branches are 200 feet long. Without careful tending, ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Bible Can Be Studied And Understood Lesson 7 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Feb 6, 2019

What Bible study will do

A. INTRODUCTION: WHAT BIBLE STUDY WILL DO 1. Before examining what Bible study will do for you, ask, “Why people don’t study Scriptures.” a. Not know what it offers. “Have ye not read the law?” (Matt. 12:4). b. Blinded. “They couldn’t believe, as Isaiah said . . . God has blinded their eyes . ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:38, John 5:39

Denomination: Baptist

Corinthians: Church Matters (2)

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Mar 7, 2019

We can learn a lot from the Corinthian's mistakes. In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul says the church should grow in three ways: spirituality, size, and service!

Church Matters: Correcting the Corinthians (2) Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 11/16/2014 One Sunday morning a little girl sat on the bathroom counter watching her daddy shave in the mirror. After gazing intently at their reflections for some minutes, she said, “Daddy, did ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-15

Denomination: Christian Church

Lent 2: God Is Heavy: Carrying The Weight Of God

Contributed by Fr. Rian Adams on Mar 8, 2019

Second Sunday in Lent. This sermon focuses ar​oun​d the idea of God as s​hiel​d but God as heavy to carry as Lent requires reflection and repentence​.

“Carrying the Weight of God.” The Rev. Rian Adams Second Sunday of Lent, Year C The Genesis reading says God spoke to Abram and said, “I am your shield.” A shield has one job… the difference between life and death is how well a shield does that job. A shield's vocation is to protect the one ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-12

Denomination: Episcopal

Growing Up Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on May 25, 2018

In Ephesians 4:15-16 we learn one more way Christ grows his church.

Scripture We are currently in a series of sermons in Ephesians 4:1-16 that I am calling, “Unity in the Body of Christ.” In this section of Scripture, the Apostle Paul has been teaching the church to maintain unity, to use their spiritual gifts, and to grow in spiritual maturity. In other words, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:15-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Devil's Drugstore

Contributed by Rob Watts on Jun 7, 2018

We need to examine ourselves as believers. Are we in the Devil's Drugstore, or in God's?

2 Corinthians 13:5 (GW) 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are still in the Christian faith. Test yourselves! Don't you recognize that you are people in whom Jesus Christ lives? Could it be that you're failing the test? This afternoon I want us to examine ourselves. A little different ...read more

Arise And Build Series

Contributed by David Welch on Jun 18, 2018

Message 5 in our exposition of Nehemiah observing Nehemiah's proactive attitude toward solving a problem.

Chico Alliance Church "Arise and Build" REVIEW The book of Nehemiah is the journal or an ordinary person who became a significant leader because he had a passion to pray for the burdens of others. We have been tracing the tracks recorded by Nehemiah in his journal. Nehemiah is a book in which we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:25-26

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

First Timothy Chapter Four Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Jun 17, 2019

This is a verse by verse look at First Timothy chapter four.

1 Timothy Chapter 4 (What you will find here are my notes from a Bible Study I attended on 1 Timothy. I hope they will prove helpful. The text that I am using in the New American Standard Bible. Here are other Bible translations that were used: KJV – King James Version. AMP – Amplified Bible. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Road To Bitterness Series

Contributed by Kirby Lloyd on Jul 15, 2019

We are going to look at how we can become bitter over time

The Road To Bitterness James 3:14-16 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find ...read more

Scripture: James 3:14-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Paralyzed By Grace Series

Contributed by John Oscar on Aug 8, 2019

A sermon about people who only go as far as salvation but never grow in Christ

Are You Paralyzed by Grace? Grace Series CCCAG July 28th, 2019 Week Two: “God’s Grace: Are You Paralyzed By Grace?” Scriptures: Matthew 11:28–30; Hebrews 10:1–3 Prayer The second week in our four-week series on God’s grace. Last week, we discovered that God’s grace means so much more than ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, Hebrews 10:1-3

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Saving The Local Church And Pastor From Extinction. Series

Contributed by Jan Oosthuizen on Aug 18, 2019

More and more people are leaving local institutional churches and pick and choose their spiritual diet on social media. Evangelism, and belonging to a local body of believers is on the increasing decline!

When the smallest cell in the body is under attack, it brings the demise of the whole. For as long as I can remember, there has always been a tension between the local church pastor and the staff of parachurch organisations. Parachurch organisasions work outside and across denominations to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Health Check 2020

Contributed by Dwight Davis on Jan 9, 2020

Just as the physical and mental health crisis continue to worsen in this country, another health crisis is growing at an alarming pace, and yet it doesn't even make the news. I'm talking about our spiritual health crisis--the true "silent killer."

Some of you may remember that in my last sermon I talked about how this time of the year is the time we typically look back on our lives and consider just how much God has blessed us and our families. And despite the hustle and bustle of this holiday season, I hope you've taken the time to do ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-21, 1 Peter 1:13-16, Romans 8:29, 2 Peter 1:3-11, Acts 20:24, 2 Timothy 4:6-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Jesus Was Baptized "to Fulfill All Righteousness" Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 12, 2020

We might make the mistake of thinking that Jesus stopped growing in the Spirit at His baptism.

The Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ 2020 In today’s Gospel the words of John the Baptist could just as well have begun “Jesus, this makes no sense!” He rightly senses at the Jordan River, as he did three months before he was born, when Mary visited his mother Elizabeth, that he is in the presence ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:52, Isaiah 42:1-7, Matthew 3:13-17, Matthew 5:3-4, John 19:30  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Flour Power

Contributed by Henry A Roso on May 15, 2023

Growing from Fear to Faith

I’d like to speak this morning about faith. We are people of faith, amen? However, there are times when some of us struggle with not having enough faith. A broken relationship, news of a life-threatening illness, loss of a job, or your house burns to the ground, a normal response is to feel ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Evidences Of Christ’s Living In The Believer

Contributed by Christopher Arch on Jun 16, 2023

Series in Philippians

Title: “Evidences of Christ’s Living in the Believer” Scripture: Phil. 1:27-30 Type: Expository/ Series Where: GNBC 6-11-23 Intro: Dwight Pentecost was a pastor, author, and professor. Taught at DTS for nearly 60 years before death in 2014. Told the story of preaching at a conference in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

Denomination: Independent/Bible