Sermons on Barriers To Growth:

Getting Serious About Spiritual Formation

Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on Feb 27, 2025

Spiritual growth is a journey requiring patience, faith, and surrender. Jesus' parables remind us that becoming more like Him is a gradual process. This message explores the challenges of spiritual formation and how we can trust Christ to complete His work in us.

Scripture: Galatians 4:19 - "My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!" Introduction • Growth often requires patience, care, and persistence. Example: a garden, a dream, or a relationship. Growth requires attention and ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:19, Colossians 1:27, Hosea 11:8-9, Philippians 2:13, Philippians 1:6, Mark 4:19, Hebrews 12:11, John 15:2, Revelation 2:4, 1 Peter 2:9, Romans 8:13, Galatians 5:16, Joshua 1:8, Hebrews 10:24-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Church Of God

Vintage Wine

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Aug 22, 2023

Don’t let your faith turn to vinegar. Keep it fresh by letting the newness of Jesus Christ flow through you continually.

How many of you remember the 60’s? Some of us lived through that period, some of us have heard or read about it, and for some of us it’s as distant as the American Revolution. The 60’s were a kind of revolution too, complete with ideology and pamphleteers and civil unrest and rather more bloodshed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:36-39

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Gospel Is For All (Church Expansion In Antioch) Series

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on May 26, 2023

This text shows what can happen when believers follow the Holy Spirit, recognizes the value in all people, and use their gifts, strength and influence to carry out God’s plan. The Gospel is for whosoever will believe!

Sermon: The Gospel is For All (Church Expansion In Antioch) Scripture: Acts 11:19-30 “Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. 20 However, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-30, Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:20

Denomination: Methodist

Milk And Meat For Spiritual Maturity

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Jul 13, 2023

There are two kinds of Christians that you will find in every church. These two kinds are…

(1) Those who have been saved for many years but they have not grown spiritually one iota! Illus: Do you remember the story of “Peter Pan?” He was a boy who refused to grow up. Growing old is not always synonymous with becoming mature. The tragedy of the church today we have come to accept ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-17

Denomination: Baptist

Be Imitators Of God - Living In The Light, Living By The Spirit’s Power, And Living In Spirit-Guided Relationships! Series

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Jul 13, 2023

Paul reminds us to give thanks for God in all things, the submit yourselves, your identity, your position in life and then submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Who you are in Christ supersedes and guides your actions in every area of life.

Sermon: Be Imitators of God - Living in the Light, Living by the Spirit’s Power, and living In Spirit-Guided Relationships! Scripture Ephesians 5:1-2 “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-32, John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Denomination: Methodist

Children Dedication Series

Contributed by Senior Pastor Ndayiragije-Misigaro Joel on Jul 24, 2023

Children's dedication refers to the act of formally committing a child to a specific religious or spiritual path. It often involves a ceremony or ritual where parents or guardians make promises to raise the child according to their beliefs and values.

CHILDREN DEDICATION Written by Senior Pastor Ndayiragije Misigaro Joel, July 24, 2023 "And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord." Luke 2:22 INTRODUCTION Children's dedication ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22

Denomination: Pentecostal

How Do We Grow In Our Ability To Worship God?

Contributed by Luke Vasicek on Feb 22, 2024

We Grow in our ability to worship God by worshiping in the midst of tragedy, through music, and by doing good to others!

How to Grow in Worshiping God 1. We Practice Worshiping Well When _Tragedy_ Strikes (Job 1:20-21). A. Job had _terrible_ tragedy impact his life (Job 1:1-19). B. Job responded with grateful _submission_ (Job. 1:20-21). C. The text closes with Job saying “blessed be the name of the Lord.” ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, Hebrews 13:8

Denomination: Bible Church

The Parable Of The Mustard Seed Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Mar 5, 2024

What did Jesus mean by this parable and how can I grow in the Kingdom through His words

Dr. Bradford Reaves CrossWay Christian Fellowship Hagerstown, MD www.mycrossway.org There is an ongoing trend in the Church today that I am constantly aware of and continually speak out against, and this is the apostate church. This is not about personal preference or stylistic differences that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:18-20

Denomination: Brethren

The Fig Tree Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 14, 2024

A sermon in the Lenten series "If Trees Could Talk." In this sermon we hear from the fig tree.

March 13, 2024 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church John 1:35-51; Luke 13:6-9 The Fig Tree Good evening, friendly humans. It’s such a pleasure to be with you here this evening. Thank you for inviting me as a guest speaker in your Lenten series. May I introduce myself? I am Fig Tree. I ...read more

Scripture: John 1:35-51, Luke 13:6-9

Denomination: Lutheran

Two Scary Words That Could Change Your Life Forever - 2 Peter 1:8 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 13, 2025

Are You Truly Effective for Christ? How would you define an impactful, productive life? Peter gives a definition that wouldn’t even occur to most people. But it’s a definition that gives hope to everyone, regardless of your age, health, skills, or any other factor.

2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, having made every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:8

Nurtured By Grace SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 10, 2023

An uplifting sermon for the dawn of a new year or a church anniversary, reminding us of the nurturing and sustaining power of God's grace.

Traditionally, the New Year is a time of new beginnings. It's when we make commitments to do better in the coming year than we did in the previous one. We sit down and make a list of how we can improve ourselves and our church. We say, "Out with the Old and in with the New." We make resolutions, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-9

Topics: Grace, Growth, New Year, Church Anniversary

Count The Cost Of Discipleship Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 9, 2023

This sermon explores the concept of discipleship, emphasizing that while salvation is a free gift, it requires total commitment and surrender of one's life to Jesus.

Welcome church! How many of you here today have ever been students before? Probably most, if not all of us have been students at some point in our lives and so we have some understanding of what it takes from our time in elementary, middle, and/or high school. Whatever type of student you were in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Topics: Cost Of Discipleship, Eternal Life, Faith Growth

Plant Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 9, 2023

This sermon emphasizes the importance of preparing one's heart as fertile soil, so the seed of the Gospel can take root and grow, urging individuals to consciously adjust their lifestyles to foster a growing relationship with God.

As the congregation arrives, offer them each a seed of some sort to take and keep in their hands during the worship experience. Consider the size of the seed that you want. Choose one that is large enough to not drop and lose. Begin your message by giving a personal story about a time you planted a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, Matthew 13:18-23

Topics: Gospel Seed, Heart Condition, Spiritual Growth

Sermon Series: Rooted

The Heart Of Heaven (Come Close) Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 9, 2023

This sermon introduction sets the stage for a series on Following Jesus, aiming to help listeners either connect with Jesus for the first time or deepen their existing relationship, using the analogy of how perspective changes with distance.

I’m excited to be kicking off this Following Jesus series. Over this series, we’re going to lean into 4 key themes found in the Bible and in the Following Jesus book. It’s our desire and goal that over the next few weeks you’d either connect with Jesus for the first time or you want to deepen your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:50-51, Luke 15:11-24, Luke 19:1-10

Topics: Following Jesus, Spiritual Growth, Divine Perspective

Sermon Series: Following Jesus

Revival: Stronger Than Ever - Where To Turn In Your Darkest Moment Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 9, 2023

This sermon explores where to turn during our darkest moments, using a personal anecdote from the pastor's childhood as a metaphor for finding oneself in unexpected and challenging situations.

One of my most vivid childhood memories is of an afternoon in sixth grade, when a friend and I decided to swing on a newly-installed bar hanging over the walkway on our way out of school. The bar was about 8 feet off the ground, just low enough for the two of us to reach if we jumped. So on the ...read more

Topics: Overcoming Challenges, Faith In Crisis, Personal Growth

Sermon Series: Revival: Stronger Than Ever