Sermons on Barriers To Growth:

What Counts Is Your Life. Is It Green And Blossoming?

Contributed by Colin Thornby on Dec 5, 2010

Real change and growth means working with God to allow God to change your life, which requires acknowledging brokenness and sin.

John the Baptist tells it like it is. God’s kingdom is here and now, and you need to change your life. You’ll remember that we’re looking at Matthew’s Gospel through the lens of the question ‘how do we deal with change?’. This reading is all about change. Change ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Denomination: *other

Are You Devoted To Fellowship? Series

Contributed by Jason Cole on Feb 22, 2004

Fellowship was such an important part of the first century church and was part of the reason for its exponential growth. We too need to be doevted to fellowship.

“Are You Devoted to Fellowship” Introduction: Three pastors met and were talking over conditions at their churches. The first pastor said, "You know, since summer started, I’ve been having trouble with mice in my church. I’ve tried everything----noise, spray, cats---nothing seems to scare them ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Place To Belong Series

Contributed by Jeffrey Kellum on Feb 25, 2004

The level of commitment you see in new members depends on how much time, prayer and intentional effort you put into their growth.

INTRODUCTION: NEED: To Develop a plan to turn attenders into members (for a similar perspective see Warren, Purpose Driven Church, Chapter 17) If our goal is to get people to come down that isle and tell us they will join this church, our plan can be rather simple. 1. Make them comfortable when ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Nearsighted? Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 25, 2010

Are you serious about growing in the Lord, are you nearsighted? If you actively pursue growth, you are on the road to great spiritual blessing.

Are You Nearsighted? (2 Peter 1: 5-11) 1. One of my favorite riddles is this one Q: What did the near-sighted porcupine say when it backed into a cactus? A: Pardon me, honey! 2. If you are near-sighted, you see objects that are near, but distant objects are blurry or unclear. To put is simply, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Holding Hands In The Church

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Aug 31, 2020

When it comes to the church, church growth is naturally related to church health. Healthy churches, like healthy people, must grow.

When it comes to the church, church growth is naturally related to church health. Healthy churches, like healthy people, must grow. In his book, The Purpose Driven Church, Pastor Rick Warren says that if our church is healthy, attendance will be the least of our problems. He writes that ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Are You A Baby In Christ Or A Child Growing In The Grace Of God? Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Aug 20, 2015

Are you a Baby in Christ or a Child Growing in the Grace of God? We can experience real joy through our spiritual growth.

Are you a babe in Christ or a Child Growing in the Grace of God? Straight into the question: Are you perfect? In Matthew 5:48 Jesus says “you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Did Jesus really say that? Did Jesus really mean what he said? Over the years ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:11-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Challenging Gift Of Prophecy

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 27, 2022

Jesus exercising the gift of prophecy did not always bring about immediate growth in the population of the kingdom of God, and it will seldom do that for us.

Thursday of the 3rd week in Lent When one commits himself to Christ in Baptism, three gifts come along with that commitment. Just as Jesus was, the Holy Spirit anoints the Christian to be priest, prophet, and leader. Jesus Himself was a priest according to the order of Melchisedek, not Levi or ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:36-38, Ezekiel 18:31-32, Jeremiah 7:23-28, Luke 11:14-23

Denomination: Catholic

Living Creatively

Contributed by Gerald Manning on Oct 9, 2021

Living Creatively is letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in you, harvesting a crop of real life, eternal life.

Galatians 6:1-8: (THE MESSAGE) "Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-8

Denomination: Nazarene

Broken Walls PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 4, 2023

Explore the themes of personal growth and rebuilding in our spiritual lives, drawing parallels from the story of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

Good morning, Church family! We've got a powerful message to share with you today, and I'm excited to dive in together. You know, Desiderius Erasmus once said, “By a Carpenter mankind was made, and only by that Carpenter can mankind be remade.” Now ain't that the truth? We're all works in progress, ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:11-19

Topics: Rebuilding, Broken

No Compromise PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 29, 2023

To warn against rejecting God's Word in favor of self-serving teachings, emphasizing the importance of understanding and obeying the Scripture for spiritual growth.

Good morning, church family. As we gather today, I am reminded of the words of A.W. Tozer, a respected Christian author who once said, "The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection." Today, we find ourselves navigating the path to spiritual ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:3

Topics: Gone Too Far, Other Direction

The Need For Church Life Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

Regularly gathering together as a church is essential for our growth, unity, and purpose, as well as for worshiping God and carrying out the mission of the Gospel.

Today, we're going to talk about the need for church life. You might have noticed that church attendance sometimes goes down, but that doesn't mean we should give up on it. In fact, we need each other more than ever to grow in our faith and make a difference in the world. To help us understand this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:17-18, Hebrews 10:25

Topics: Community Worship, Spiritual Growth, Fellowship, Biblical Teachings

"unshakeable - Forging Strength In The Fires Of Adversity"

Contributed by Bishop, W. F. Houston, Jr. on Jul 29, 2024

In a world filled with challenges and trials, we are called to stand firm in our faith, finding joy and growth even in the midst of hardship.

Focal Scripture: James 1:2-4 (CSB) "Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Denomination: Other

Sermon On Cognitive Development

Contributed by William Meakin on Jun 27, 2025

Cognitive development is regarded as an integral factor of life, primarily referring to the growth of a child's ability to think, reason, and understand.

Morihei Ueshiba, a Japanese martial artist once remarked: “Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also learn from holy books and wise people. Everything - even mountains, rivers, plants and trees - should be your teacher.” Isaiah 1:18 reminds us: “Come now, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:7, 2 Peter 3:18, Proverbs 18:15, Hosea 4:6

Holy Habit #6: Brotherly Kindness Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jul 25, 2025

“Loving one another is not optional in the Christian life. It is the evidence of it.” (John Piper) This is where all our spiritual growth leads.

HOLY HABIT #6: Brotherly Kindness 2 Peter 1:5-7 Introduction “Loving one another is not optional in the Christian life. It is the evidence of it.” (John Piper) This is where all our spiritual growth leads. The Holy Habits of 2 Peter 1 begin with faith and end with love. That journey transforms ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Growing Pains PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 31, 2023

Explores the early church's approach to community grievances, growth, and the importance of prayer and preaching, offering guidance for our faith journey today.

Good morning, my dear friends in Christ. We are here today, gathered in His love, to share, to learn, and to grow in faith. We are here to listen to His word, to understand His teachings, and to seek His guidance. Our scripture today is from Acts 6:1-6, "In those days when the number of disciples ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6

Topics: Serving, Roles, Church