Sermons on Church Decline:

Philadelphia: The Church Of The Open Door Series

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Apr 2, 2008

Here was a cutting edge church! They were the original Bb4D church! Is your church a Be Before Doing church?

Revelation 3:7-13 Philadelphia: The Church of the Open Door The Mandate for the City 7a Philadelphia had four directives. First, their mission was to promote Hellenism. Their intent was to advance the culture and civilization of ancient Greece, especially in the period after Alexander the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

Who Cares About Church? Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Apr 8, 2008

Too often we think of salvation only in terms of our "personal salvation." But Jesus not only saves us as individuals, He saves us to be part of His local body. Jesus cares enough about His local churches that He is pictured as walking in our midst. How

1. Jesus is intimately involved in His local church as our mediator 2. Jesus is intimately involved in His local church as our purity 3. Jesus is intimately involved in His local church as our judge 4. Jesus is intimately involved in His local church as our authority I am as excited as I have been ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

Christ Will Build His Church Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 12, 2008

Jesus points to seven features & characteristics of the church that He builds. He speaks of its 1) Foundation, its 2) Certainty, its 3) Intimacy, its 4) Identity and Continuity, its 5) Invincibility, its 6) Authority, & its 7) Spirituality.

Two Anglican parishes and the Diocese of Niagara have been in court recently to try to sort out the messy business of who ultimately owns church property. The two Niagara churches, along with eight more across the country, have recently voted to leave the Anglican Church of Canada and put ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18-20

Denomination: Other

The Church That Wins Its World Series

Contributed by Tim Huie on Apr 18, 2008

Acts 2 describes the qualities that allowed the early church to reach its world for Christ.

1. Illus. of my grandson Michael • Not quite a year old. • Didn’t get to see him last weekend. • He has grown 6 inches and gained a hundred pounds! • Not really, but it seems like it! • But that is what you want! Babies are supposed to grow! 2. I want to talk to you today about growing churches. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:43-47

Denomination: Baptist

Four Characteristics Of A Healthy Church

Contributed by Ray Searan on Feb 21, 2007

If we observe the days, times, and seasons that we live in there are many things that we as a church family can come to conclude. One conclusion that I have come to is that if there has ever been a time that the church must be genuinely healthy, now is th

Four Characteristics of a Healthy Church Text: Acts 2:37-47 Introduction: If we observe the days, times, and seasons that we live in there are many things that we as a church family can come to conclude. One conclusion that I have come to is that if there has ever been a time that the church ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:37-47

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Church Has Left The Building! Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Feb 23, 2007

God’s plan for the church to "go" so the unchurched will see that they are not outsiders.

We’re in the series "Be Contagious!" We’re talking about how and why those of us who have experienced the amazing grace of God (and we know how fantastic it is to follow Christ) want to encourage others to accept God’s great love for them too! It’s only natural we would want others to share this ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Paul's Words To Every Church

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Mar 6, 2007

Paul ended his statement to the Ephesian elders with some intensely personal remarks. They are applicable to every church and every believer down through the centuries.

Passage: Acts 20:28-38 Intro: There are statements people make that are listened to very carefully. 1. some of the most powerful are departing statements. Il) “dying declaration” definition. 2. now Paul is not dying here, but he will never see these men again on earth. 3. and so he is “passing the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:28-38

Denomination: Evangelical Free

In What? Christ's Network - The Church Series

Contributed by Mark Green on Mar 8, 2007

The participant will be inspired to embrace life in the local church and choose one life question to begin asking in their life.

Maybe it’s been a while since you have experienced the joy of throwing rocks in a lake. But if you think back you will remember how fun it is. I know my sons and I can hardly walk by a lake without stopping to throw stones in it. And being boys, it quickly escalates to seeing who can find and throw ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Because I Love The Church... Series

Contributed by Jason Cole on Mar 12, 2007

If we say we love the church what exactly does that mean? If we love the church than how should we show it?

“Because I Love the Church…” Introduction: I think that I shall never see A church that’s all it ought to be: A church whose members never stray Beyond the strait and narrow way; A church that has no empty pews, Whose preacher never has the blues, A church whose deacons always deak, And none is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Breathing New Life Into The Church

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Mar 19, 2007

There are churches (and individual Christians) who look at the trouble and hardships their dealing with and feel that God has forsaken them. They feel like their spiritual life is being sapped right out of them, and are on the brink of giving up.

BREATHING NEW LIFE IN THE CHURCH A. How is your WALK with Christ? 1. I think most Christians will answer that question with, "It’s good." COMMENT: Deep down, however, something is MISSING. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but the JOY you once had in Christ is DIMINISHING. ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An "Under The Sun” View Of Church Series

Contributed by John Hubert on Mar 23, 2007

Using the criticisms of the disillusioned church goer in Ecclesiastes, this message presents how Christians can grow as individuals and as a church.

Ecc 5:1-7 (ESV) Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. (2) Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Principles In Financial Giving To The Church

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on Mar 26, 2007

This is a review of some Scriptural principles that apply to our participation in the Church Offering or Collection.

Of all the items of worship, the one that gets the least of attention is the Offering. I think that is the case for a couple reasons - First, we do not place much emphasis on the Offering because we do not want to be grouped together with other churches and religious ministries that focus a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Happy Home And A Cooking Church Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Mar 28, 2007

To have a "Happy Home" and a Church which cooks...requires us to do it God’s way.

* Years ago my dad taught me a lesson which I remember till today. As usual, I had to learn it the hard way. As I recall, he sent me into the yard to remove a rose bush. Instead of doing what he said and “digging it up”, I cut it off just below the ground and roughed up the dirt like I had dug ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

Making Church More Interesting

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Mar 29, 2007

What if Jesus showed up where we live?

Making Church More Interesting Mark 1:21-28 (LA Times Article: "Religion abounds at YMCA) Many people today are not dinging church interesting or relevant. That’s strange, because when Jesus lived on earth, the most common reaction was amazement. Sometimes people were upset or angry, and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What About The Christian Church? Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Mar 31, 2007

The independent Christian church came out of the Restoration Movement of the 1800’s. What does that mean and how does that make us distinctive?

(based on a message by Paul Snoddy) SERIES: “IMPORTANT QUESTIONS” TEXT: JOHN 17:20-23 TITLE: “WHAT ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH?” OPEN: A. Jn 17:20-23 – “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ