Sermons on Church Decline:

Why Church?

Contributed by Kyle Gray on May 20, 2009

How God can use the local church to change the world.

100 million in U.S. don’t go to church at all. 2050 – 10% will attend! My grandkids generation… Instead of spending our time on what the church has become, let’s look at what it’s supposed to be. What it was designed to be. The early Christian church was heavily persecuted, but they stuck ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Corrupt Church

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 23, 2009

Thyatira is a corrupt church. They do many great works, but God does not even address them as His children. It’s still here today and is key to the end of the world. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

READING SOMEONE ELSE’S MAIL Thyatira: The Corrupt Church Rev. 2:18-29 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Corrupt.html [map] In the 1700’s there lived a mighty evangelist that was greatly used of God to shake this country…his name was George Whitfield. Years before, at the age of 16, he came under ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Baptist

Crippled Church

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 13, 2009

Sardis is the dying or dead church. It could be our church. The problem and the prescription to fix it and make it once again the Lord’s Church. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

READING SOMEONE ELSE’S MAIL Sardis: The Crippled Church Rev. 3:1-6 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Sardis.html Take your next vacation in London, and you could visit the Metropolitan Tabernacle. The tour guide would tell you that this is the place that the great Charles Haddon Spurgeon used to ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Praying Church

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 19, 2009

Jesus called the temple a "House of Prayer". Is the church a house of prayer today? Do we believe prayer is still powerful? Nothing is more powerful than a church that prays together.

“A Praying Church” Acts 4:23-31 May 17, 2009 Today I would like to share with you about what is probably the most important activity of each Christian and the church as whole, prayer. I know for a fact that some Christians only pray at meal times and it’s often a repetitive, shallow one. Maybe ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-31

Commended Church

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 26, 2009

Of all 7 churches of Asia Minor, here’s the one we want to emulate -- Philadelphia: 1. Highly commended 2. Deeply challenged 3. Greatly compensated - Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

READING SOMEONE ELSE’S MAIL PHILADELPHIA, the Commended Church Revelation 3:7-13   http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Philadelphia.html Yazoo, MS…in the 1930’s…the Great Depression.  People didn’t have extra money / children especially had no extra money for candy / people would go to general store and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

Description Of The Church

Contributed by Kevin Jones on Jul 18, 2009

Paul tells us how the church should look, behave and operate.

Paul’s Instructions Today I want to look at the church as Paul instructed it to be. You see it is easy to get caught up trying to grow a large church when it is reality we should be growing a strong church. A church that is lined up with the plan of God as He intended it to be. This is what I ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:6-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Great Church

Contributed by Richard Cook on Aug 10, 2009

This sermon should encourage our listeners to become a great church for the kingdom of God, admonishing them to be devoted or dedicated to the Lord’s service.

A Great Church Story: There was a college professor who challenged his class with this question. "Did God make everything there is?" One student bravely answered, "Yes!" "Everything, young man?" "Yes, he ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-46

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Church Alive Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jul 5, 2010

What are the characteristics of a Church that's alive? See what Paul prays for.

Philippians 1:1-11 Paul had some tough times as he traveled around the Mediterranean telling people about Jesus. He faced opposition from various sources: from the Jewish leaders who were worried that he was taking people away from their Jewish worship, from Roman authorities who were concerned ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-11

Denomination: Anglican

Injustice In The Church Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jul 5, 2010

Why is the Church so guilty of injustice and does it rule out faith in God as a valid life choice?

This is a series based on and heavily dependent on Timothy Keller’s Best Seller "The Reason For God" for which I’m deeply grateful. It uses much of his argument though with various additions by myself or the other preachers of the series. I’m going to begin today with a short ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:1-7

Denomination: Anglican

Church Worship

Contributed by Rodney Langley on Jul 29, 2010

A description of New Testament Worship in the 1st Century Church

FUNCTIONS OF THE CHURCH: WORSHIP INTRODUCTION Two weeks ago we looked at the nature of worship in the early church. We saw from John 4:23-24 that their worship was in spirit and truth and from I Corinthians 14:40 that it was to be done decently and in order. Today we will examine the acts of ...read more

Scripture: John 4:23-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Glory In The Church Series

Contributed by Patrick Nix on Aug 10, 2010

Paul’s prayer (Ephesians 3:14-21) begins with “your glory” (v. 13b) and ends with “glory” (v. 21) This is a simple passage on how to pray for each other. These four things give God the glory He deserves/desires:

Paul’s prayer (Ephesians 3:14-21) begins with “your glory” (v. 13b) and ends with “glory” (v. 21) This is a simple passage on how to pray for each other. Reminder: The Church is not the building, nor the services, but the people (v. 15) These four things give God the glory He ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

A Prosperous Church

Contributed by Mike Rickman on Dec 23, 2010

God wants His church to prosper. What is holding you back?

December 26, 2010 Morning Worship Text: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Subject: Giving Title: A Prosperous Church: Part 1 in the Benefits of Giving Series I pray that everyone survived the busyness of Christmas. I also pray that you all took the time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Espionage In The Church

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Dec 28, 2010

Although, because of its vulnerability, the church is constantly under the threat of siege by infiltration, it is not defenseless. It can preserve the faith from corruption and destruction by recognizing and properly dealing with impostors. Those of us wh

Robert "The Master Spy" Hanssen A high-ranking FBI counterintelligence agent, Hanssen caused more damage to U.S. national security than any other spy in our history. According to a key Soviet defector, the information provided by Hanssen was so damaging that the U.S. would have lost WWIII, had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 11:3

Denomination: Baptist

The Ministry Of The Church

Contributed by Jim Erwin on Dec 29, 2010

The ministry of the church includes signs and wonders (the easy part) and also witnessing (the hard part).

The Ministry of the Church Acts 5:12-42 THE EASY PART: WONDERS AND SIGNS (5:12-16) The church triumphed over Satan. They were still: Unified (5:12) Magnified (5:13) Multiplied (5:14) - the first mention of women coming to salvation in Acts. Wonders and Signs authenticated the ministry of the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:12-42

Denomination: Baptist

Servants In The Church

Contributed by Jim Erwin on Dec 29, 2010

Deacons are called to serve the church.

Servants in the Church Acts 6:1-7 THE SETTING: The church is experiencing “growing pains” THE PROBLEM: Pastors taking on secondary tasks In other words, the pastors (apostles) needed to delegate acts of ministry to other people. In those days, as the number of the disciples was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist