Sermons on Barriers To Growth:

Seven Habits The Church Needs

Contributed by Richard White on Aug 25, 2005

Steve Covey wrote a book about the habits of Successful people. The Church needs to have these type of habits. What attracts people to churches, it is habits of people that they find attractive.

Seven Habits Churches Need Romans 15:1 ff RO 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Salvation Comes

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Nov 3, 2007

Salvation comes to us when we are willing to breakdown the barriers that separate us from God.

Luke 19: 1 – 10 / When Salvation Comes Intro: Randy Newman wrote a song some time ago called “Short People.” The lyrics go something like this: “Short people got no reason to live. They got little hands and little eyes and they walk around tellin’ great big lies. They got little noses and tiny ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Top Five Answers On The Board

Contributed by Jason Jones on Jun 3, 2024

Our ministry of reconciliation and sharing our faith has barriers. Going to deal with the most common.

Background to passage: after the idea of immense suffering in our lives, Paul talks about heaven. Please make sure you define heaven in biblical ways. Same with Jesus. Since he was talking about heaven, he noted that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, therefore we persuade ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Wonder Of God's Leading Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 2, 2020

Go breaks down barriers, set up divine appointments and directs when it matters most.

Good morning. We are going to look at a very exceptional encounter today, in Acts 8. • Philip was led to share the Gospel with a man from Ethiopia in a divine appointment. • That’s THE WONDER OF GOD’S LEADING. Have you ever experienced a blackout? You are walking about in your house at night ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Second And Third Post Resurrection Of Jesus In John's Gospel Series

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Apr 24, 2020

The barrier to faith for the disciples was fear and for Thomas Doubt. A word from Jesus overcame fear and doubt

Story: The late Dr Billy Graham told this story based in the 19th Century Auguste Comte (19 January 1798 – 5 September 1857), the French philosopher, and Thomas Carlyle, (4 December 1795 – 5 February 1881) the Scottish essayist met and started to have a discussion. Comte said he was going to ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Anglican

Security Systems Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

Our security in the face of an awesomely holy God is no longer in elaborate rituals and barriers but in Jesus Christ.

As you all know I flew to Minneapolis between Christmas and New Year’s. And since the terror alert is at orange, inspections are more thorough and lines are longer. Also both the Minneapolis and Philadelphia airports have X-ray machines for the checked baggage. Fortunately the standards aren’t so ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How To Jump Start Spiritual Growth - 2 Peter 1:9a Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 16, 2025

Is there anything more frustrating than those stubborn character flaws that you can't change? You’ve tried everything—prayer, accountability, discipline—but the changes never last. Peter shows us the surprising path to lasting change.

2 Peter 1:8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:9

Living By The Book, Part 2 Series

Contributed by Mike Rickman on Aug 8, 2003

"Can’t we all just get along" is the social cry of the world. The fact is, we could all get along if we all walked in the light.

Morning Service Text: Matthew 5:7-12 Subject: More Beatitudes Title: Living With One Another Last week we looked at the first beatitudes and if you look closely at them you can notice that the first four deal specifically with one’s relationship with God. 1. The poor in spirit recognize their ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

You Were Fashned For Serving God

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on Nov 20, 2003

Fourth message on how we are shaped for God’s purpose adapted from Rick Warren "Purpose Driven Life."

YOU WERE FASHIONED FOR SERVING GOD Eph. 2:20 Did you know that in 1977 Elvis Presley died of obesity and drug dependency at 42? An interview with his wife, Priscilla, she said: “Elvis never came to terms with who he was meant to be or what his purpose in life was. He thought he was here for a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:20

Denomination: Wesleyan

Build Your Relationship Series

Contributed by Gary Landsberg on Oct 5, 2006

Building Pure Relationship with Jesus Christ, should be the most important striving of Every Christian’s life.

CHRISTIAN DISCIPLINE “BUILD YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS” INTRODUCTION 1. What a wonderful day, the sun is shining, the temp is great. I am so glad, and grateful to our Creator. You see, I have reason to be happy and excited. My mighty God that takes care of me. 2. I serve a risen Savior, ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Praise The Lord Anyway! Series

Contributed by Darrin Hunt on Jun 4, 2007

Part of a series in Philippians, we’re encouraged to praise the Lord no matter what.

Praise the Lord Anyway! Phil. 4:4-7 Little Johnny and Susan proudly walked into the house with a new house plant they had bought for their mother. “We even used our own money,” Johnny said. But then, Susan, with a sad face replied, “There was a bouquet that we wanted to give you that was real ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Great Commandments And The Local Church (Part 2)

Contributed by Ken Pell on Aug 11, 2008

The Great Commandments give the church a clear and workable pattern for discipleship & spiritual development of the Saints.

THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS AND THE LOCAL CHURCH: Discipleship and Spiritual Growth Part 2 Mark 12:28-34 Sermon Objective: The great commandments provide MOTIVE, MANDATE, MISSION, AND A MEASURABLE PROCESS for the local church. Supporting Scripture: Matthew 28:17-20; Ephesians ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Nazarene

Stewardship Of The Body Are You Building Or Breaking Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 22, 2009

Paul is chastizing the Corinthians for thinking they are spiritually mature when in fact they are still in need of the milk or basics of God’s word. The question this should cause us to ask ourselves is are we building or breaking!

Intro: Why did Paul write this letter? He wrote it because the conduct of the Corinthians did not match their confession of Christ. Division, strife, incest it sounds like a soap opera gone bad. We have to remember many of the Christians that Paul minister came out of a corrupt and selfish ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Tendancy When Left To Itself--- Degeneration

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 27, 2016

There are many spiritual laws we need to acknowledge. One such law is the TENDANCY OF DEGENEARTION WHEN ANYTHING IS LEFT TO ITSELF. We must develop a plan to grow and improve.

TENDANCY WHEN LEFT TO SELF... DEGENERATION By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I. GROWTH AS A GOAL? ARE WE GROWING? GROW: To become larger, to increase, TO BECOME BETTER, improve, develop, mature, to change from childhood to adult... GROWTH HAS 3 GOALS: 1. PHYSICAL 2. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:30-32

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"Are You One Of Those Born Again Christians I Hear About On Cnn?"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Feb 14, 2008

To be born again is not a stopping place, but just the beginning!

John 3:1-17 “Are You One of those Born Again Christians I Hear About on CNN?” by: Rev. Ken Sauer, Pastor, Grace United Methodist Church, Soddy Daisy, TN www.graceumcsd.org In their book Justice in the Burbs: Being the Hands of Jesus Wherever You Live authors Will and Lisa Samson write: “a ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: United Methodist