Sermons on church growth and development:

Defining The Church

Contributed by Christopher Roberts on Dec 14, 2001

What exactly is the church ... A community center, a social action organization, or a gathering of people set apart from a sinful world and set apart to a life devoted to God’s calling? Peter, the rock, helps us define the true purpose of the church.

Please e-mail me with any comments or if you use any part of this at your church at Mail4ChrisR@aol.com. I would love to hear about it. God Bless! - Chris To define the church there is no better place in the Bible to look than at the 16th Chapter of Matthew and Peter’s confession at Caesarea ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Methodist

A Happy Church! Series

Contributed by Tim George on Jan 15, 2002

It probably surprises you to learn that a book like Revelation begins with the word blessed. How in the world can this prophetic book make us happy? Revelation makes Christ’s Church happy because it reminds us that our King is on His throne.

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:3-7

Denomination: Baptist

A Church On Fire

Contributed by Alton Coleman on Jan 16, 2002

What does it take to be a church on fire for God?

A Church On Fire Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Scripture Text: Matthew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:1-3, Matthew 3:11

Denomination: Church Of God

Church In Sardis

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Oct 30, 2005

The message to the church in Sardis and it’s relevance to us today

Over the last few weeks in the United Reformed Church, we’ve been looking at the stories of some churches, and seeing what they might have to say to us today. These stories are in the book of Revelation, and they take the form of letters that were written to these churches. Like all of the book ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Church In Philadelphia

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Nov 25, 2005

The sixth of the seven churches - what might it have to say to us today?

And so we come to the sixth of the seven letters to seven churches, the letter to the church in Philadelphia, which is of course in Asia, not the USA. What do we know about the city? Philadelphia was a strong fortress city, strategically located on the road from Rome to the east. It was a city of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Church In Laodicea

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Nov 29, 2005

What was said to the Church in Laodicea - the seventh of the seven churches - and what it might mean for us today.

Laodicea was a very, very wealthy city, founded by Antiochus II and named after his wife Laodice. The city was strategically located, where three major roads converged, so it was highly commercial. It was well known for its banking industry, its manufacture of black wool, and a medical school ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Busy Church Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 12, 2005

How does busyness hurt our ability to witness for Jesus? How does ministry sometimes change our focus from loving the Messiah? Learn how to avoid the trap of busyness from Jesus’ critique of the Ephesian church.

I do some writing professionally. I haven’t had much published - but it’s a craft I care about and work on seriously. One of the best tools a writer has is not spell check - but gut check. By that I mean a critique group. A critique group reads what you’ve written - gives you some things they like ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Church Zoo

Contributed by Phil Dyar on Mar 26, 2005

THE LOCAL ZOO IS NOT THE ONLY ZOO I HAVE BEEN TO, I HAVE BEEN TO THE CHURCH ZOO.

MATTHEW 7:15-20 LETS READ INTRO. BEFORE I PREACH ON THE CHURCH ZOO LETS NOTICE THE TWO"S FOUND IN THIS CHAPTER A. MAT.7:13 TWO GATES -STRAIT AND WIDE. B. MAT.7:13-14 TWO WAYS-BROAD AND NARROW. C. MAT.7:13-14 TWO CLASSES-MANY AND FEW. D. MAT.7:17 TWO TREES-GOOD AND CORRUPT. E. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:15-20

Church 101 Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 19, 2005

God’s template for church gatherings is straightforward. Let’s look at four focuses that describe what a church should accomplish internally, though not always all at once, but through its overall ministry.

Church 101 (Acts 2:40-47) 1. Sometimes people do not like to think too much: A fellow stopped at a gas station and, after filling the tank on his car, he paid the bill and bought a soft drink. He stood by his car to drink his cola and he watched a couple of men working along the roadside. One ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:40-47

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Devil In The Church

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 12, 2005

There’s a bullseye atop our churches which the prince of the power of the air sees as he roams, seeking whom he may devour. His method of harming the church is "infiltration." Link included to Formatted Text and Powerpoint Template.

The Devil in the Church Eph. 6:11, 12 [Hundreds of free sermons and Powerpoints at website...link at bottom!] “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Church In Ephesus Series

Contributed by Douglas Dudley on May 17, 2005

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHURCH FORGETS ITS FIRST LOVE? THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE.

The Church In Ephesus Text: Revelation 2:1-7 This morning I want to go back to the series I’ve been preaching on the last 6 weeks—“The Lord’s Church”. I hope you have enjoyed these lessons as much as I’ve enjoyed preparing them. I believe they have brought me back to “my roots”. They have ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Spirit And The Church Series

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on May 17, 2005

Pentecost is the Birthday of the Church. This sermon looks at what we were born for.

Knowing The Holy Spirit May 15, 2005 Pentecost The Spirit and the Church Acts 1:1-11, 2:1-47 You may remember what I’ve been saying about how the Trinity is involved in the creation. How the Father and the Son work together to form the whole of creation, and how the Spirit, who is the ...read more

Denomination: *other

Sex And The Church Series

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Aug 30, 2004

The Church needs to talk as much about sex as the Bible does.

Sex and the Church Hot Potato #4 that the Church won’t touch My mentor/instructor Richard Dobbins was a pastor for 25 years and a Christian Counselor for over 25 years was asked to teach a seminar on Sex for a pastor friend. When he arrived at the church he found an ad for the seminar ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 5:18-20

Denomination: Wesleyan

Suicide And The Church Series

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Aug 30, 2004

What does the Bible say about suicide?

Suicide and the Church Hot Potato the Church Wonft Touch #3 I donft think there is anything in this life more heartbreaking than suicide. It affects much more than the one life lost. The family, friends, acquaintances, community and generations to come are affected by the choice to die of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:3-5

Denomination: Wesleyan

Unity In The Church

Contributed by Robert Baldwin on Sep 8, 2004

Paul has finished with the doctrinal part of his letter to the Ephesians. He begins I therefore, in light of what I have just said, there is unity

Unity In The Church Eph 4:1-6 Intro. Chapter three of Ephesians is filled with verses of love. Then Paul speaks of God’s abundancy toward us. I. Therefore: The word therefore refers back to earlier verses. Ephesians like all of Paul’s writings is broken into two parts, doctrine, and practice. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist