Sermons on Belonging:

Was The Early Church Socialist, Even Communist? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 13, 2021

Some commentators and politicians who belong to the Superficialist School of Bible Interpretation really mess up when they say Christians should be socialists because the early Church was.

Jesus told His disciples, "Blessed are you poor" as Luke records it, and Matthew writes "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Filled with the Holy Spirit, the early Christians, or many of them, decided to take Jesus literally. They pooled their resources, as Luke records in the Acts ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:32-35, Acts 5:1-11, Romans 15:25-26, 1 Corinthians 16:1-3, Luke 6:20, 1 Timothy 5:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Kindred Spirits

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Jan 13, 2021

God has designed the created order with the foundational communities of the family and church. They reflect his gracious providential care, especially through the blessings of love, grace and a sense of belonging.

Matthew 12:46-50 [Read text] The cover photo from the Mother’s Day issue of a Christian magazine showed a neatly groomed and well dressed little brother and sister serving their mother an artistically arranged breakfast in bed on a silver platter. In a subsequent letter to the editor, a mother ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:46-50

My Body Is All About God Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jan 24, 2022

Ultimately everything and everyone belong to God. This includes our lives and our bodies. Christians must dedicate their bodies to God and must use them only as God wills.

A. The practice of house-sitting and house-sitters has been around for a long time. 1. Perhaps you have used a house-sitter or been a house-sitter. 2. People often use house-sitters if they have pets or plants that they want someone to look after when on vacation. B. But there’s a newer ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Romans 6:12-13, Proverbs 23:20-21, Philippians 3:19, Ephesians 5:18, Proverbs 20:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Finding Family Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Nov 3, 2015

Ruth is a foreigner who finds belonging among God's people. "Where you go I will go, your people will be my people, your God will be my God.

Ruth 1:1-17 “Finding Family” INTRODUCTION Stories are a powerful force in our lives. They do more than merely entertain. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a powerful, gripping anti-slavery novel that was first published in 1852. It solidified the abolitionist movement. When President ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Retaliation Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jul 19, 2022

The spirit of retaliation is natural to the unregenerate mind. It belongs to the animal part of our nature. It creeps into our earliest feelings as little children. And it is one of the most difficult of evils to overcome.

Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5:38-42 (Retaliation) MATTHEW 5:38-42, NIV 38 You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Denomination: Baptist

Envy - A Perverted Love

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Nov 13, 2022

This message is about how we sometimes find ourselves desiring something that belongs to someone else and in the process becoming resentful of the one who has what we desire.

Envy – A Perverted Love Scripture: Genesis 4:1-8; Proverbs 14:30; Mark 7:20-23; Luke 6:45 The title of my message this morning is “Envy – A Perverted Love.” Let me tell you a story. There was a man who had a brother whom you would assume that he loved. One day both brothers brought an offering ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-8, Mark 7:20-23, Luke 6:45

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Unmerciful Servant

Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on Dec 2, 2025

Unlike parables about the kingdom's structure or future, this one challenges us personally. It asks, “What is the character of someone who belongs to God’s kingdom?”

Introduction • Today, we’ll explore “The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.” • Unlike parables about the kingdom's structure or future, this one challenges us personally. It asks, “What is the character of someone who belongs to God’s kingdom?” • At its heart, this parable addresses the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Church Of God

2 Corinthians Series: Yoking Not Yolking Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Sep 3, 2025

We are in the world and need to push, pull, and travel through this life with those who follow Christ. Our closest companions and partners and influences should belong Him; not of this world.

2 CORINTHIANS SERIES YOKING NOT YOLKING 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1-18 2corandmore PERSON FROM CONGREGATION READS 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1-18 (ESV) “Working together with Him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don’t Rob God

Contributed by Allan Quak on Jun 2, 2025

God calls us to test Him in our giving so that we do not rob Him of the opportunity to use what belongs to Him for the ministry benefit of His people.

You can listen these this sermons, and other sermons, at https://www.npbc.org.au/podcasts/media NORTH PINE BAPTIST CHURCH Sunday 1st June 2025 Malachi 3:6-12 “Don’t Rob God” The text for this morning is Malachi 3:6-12 As I was preparing this sermon it became evident that we were going to jump ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:6-12

Denomination: Baptist

Go! And Crucify The Flesh: Living The New Life In Christ Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Oct 8, 2025

To belong to Christ means our old nature, our sinful desires, have been nailed to the cross — put to death so that we may live new lives through Him.

Go! And Crucify the Flesh: Living the New Life in Christ Galatians 5:24 (NLT) — “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.” Introduction: The Call to the Cross There’s an old story of a missionary who once ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:24, Romans 8:9, Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:6, Galatians 5:25, Romans 8:13, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 10:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Gives The Growth

Contributed by Evelyn Weston on May 9, 2006

ROGATION - Spring Farm Blessing - Some may think that it’s our efforts that produce growth, but the credit really belongs to God. Includes three jokes related to farming!

Additional texts: Ezekiel 34:25-31 Psalm 65 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 Gospel text of your choosing Grace to you and peace, from God our Father,and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ. Amen One spring, a farmer purchased an old, run-down, abandoned farm. The fields were grown over with weeds, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

Denomination: Lutheran

God In His Proper Place Series

Contributed by Nathan Johnson on May 30, 2008

Sometimes, we do not have a right perspective of the Christian life because we do not have God where He belongs in our lives. He is not in His proper place.

God in His Proper Place Griffith Baptist Church – 6/15/08 P.M. Service Text: Psalm 33 Main Verse: Psalms 33:13 - The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. The Introduction A man was driving in the country one day and he saw an old man sitting on a fence rail watching the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Manifestation Gifts - Tongues

Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Mar 22, 2013

Spiritual gifts are manifestations of the Holy Spirit. These gifts belong to the church and are supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit and are manifest through Spirit-filled believers. These manifestations are visible expressions of the Holy Sp

The Manifestation Gifts - Tongues 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 - But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Denomination: Charismatic

The Manifestation Gifts - Interpretation Of Tongues

Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Mar 22, 2013

Spiritual gifts are manifestations of the Holy Spirit. These gifts belong to the church and are supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit and are manifest through Spirit-filled believers. These manifestations are visible expressions of the Holy Sp

The Manifestation Gifts - Interpretation of Tongues 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 - But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Denomination: Charismatic

The Manifestation Gifts - Gift Of Prophecy

Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Mar 22, 2013

Spiritual gifts are manifestations of the Holy Spirit. These gifts belong to the church and are supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit and are manifest through Spirit-filled believers. These manifestations are visible expressions of the Holy Sp

The Manifestation Gifts - Gift of Prophecy 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 - But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Denomination: Charismatic