Sermons on Church Maturity:

Why The Devil Goes To Church

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Oct 22, 2002

This sermon is meant to help us evaluate how we worship and to warn us to avoid Satan’s influence even at church.

Every time Jesus met someone demon-possessed He kicked the demons out! This case is unusual because of where it took place - in the very house of God! Why in the world would a man possessed by demons even be interested in going to the house of God? Why would the devil want to go to church? 1. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Rapture Of The Church (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Eddie Snipes on Oct 23, 2002

The rapture of the church.

The Rapture of the Church Even though many groups deny the rapture, the Bible clearly teaches that there is a rapture of God’s people when Christ returns. I can understand why there is a debate as to when the rapture will occur, but I can’t identify with groups who deny the rapture will happen at ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:50-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Rapture Of The Church (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Eddie Snipes on Oct 23, 2002

The Rapture of the Church

The Rapture in Revelation There are several foreshadows of the rapture in the book of Revelation. To grasp the picture of the raptured church, we must understand the vision of John. We have already looked at the throne of God, but we will re-examine what is applicable here. Look at the first ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7-8, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Rapture Of The Church (Part 3) Series

Contributed by Eddie Snipes on Oct 23, 2002

The rapture of the church.

Judgment of Sodom When God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He sent His angels to gather His people out of the city before His judgment rained down. Lot and His family were forced out of the city when the time of judgment came. They sent word to their neighbors and the rest of their family but no one ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:12, Matthew 24:36-39

Denomination: Baptist

Anchor Points For Church Growth

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Jul 10, 2002

In light of a desire for church growth many abandon the anchoring points that bring God’s blessing.

ANCHOR POINTS FOR CHURCH GROWTH ACTS 2:41-47 Introduction: If we desire church growth, it would be good for us to look at the pattern set by the early church in Jerusalem following the Day of Pentecost. The church experienced phenomenal growth and had the power of God flowing through virtually ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Baptist

Pentecost - The Lord’s Church

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jul 30, 2002

Two very different churches, aren’t they? Both are very busy in what they are trying to do. But one is dying. Why? What is the church supposed to be? And what is the church supposed to do?

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2013) ILL. In one of my sermons 2 years ago I told you about the Broadway Presbyterian Church in Upper Manhattan, New York. Their story was reported in the January 26, 2002, issue of World Magazine. That article said that in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-41, Matthew 16:15-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Message From A Dead Church

Contributed by Tim Byrd on Aug 19, 2002

A message atfer preaching at a church in St Louis during the SBC. This was once a thriving, soul winning church.

A MESSAGE FROM A DEAD CHURCH Date: June 23, 2002 Place: Allendale Baptist A.M. Service Text: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Introduction Over a month ago I was asked to preach in a church in the St. Louis area while we were there for the Southern Baptist Convention. I spoke with a man from the church several ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Watchful Church-Part 2

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jan 14, 2003

Part 2 of a 3-part sermon. Jesus rebuked the church in Sardis for maintaining a mere semblance of life in Christ. The church of God must exhibit a vitality inherent to life in Christ. What does a watchful church exhibit? The Watchful church exhibits...

THE WATCHFUL CHURCH-II—Revelation 3:1-6 Jesus rebuked the church in Sardis for maintaining a mere semblance of life in Christ. The church of God must exhibit the vitality inherent to life in Christ. The church of God must exhibit more than a semblance of life in Christ. How does a church exhibit ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

2003 State Of The Church Address

Contributed by Clyde Grimes on Jan 28, 2003

This is a call to hear what God is doing and calling our particular church to be and do. I submit it as a sample of how one might go about communicating God’s vision to the congregation.

2003 State of the Church Address (Topical) I. God Is Doing a New Thing II. Based on His Eternal Plan III. To Move Us Toward Embracing Our True Identity IV. So, Where Do We Go from Here? A. A commitment to a corporate lifestyle of dependency B. A commitment to becoming healthy C. A commitment to ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 43:18-19

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

10 Characteristics Of Healthy Churches

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Jan 29, 2003

The characteristics of a healthy church compiled from nine of the most significant church health studies to date.

During the last 20 years there has been a tremendous focus on church growth. Unfortunately this has created a tendency to be more analytical than prescriptive, more quantitative than qualitative. Rick Warren writes in “The Purpose-Driven Church”; (Zondervan) "the key issue for churches in the ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:2, 3 John 1:1-2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Yes The Church No?

Contributed by David Parks on Jan 30, 2003

Many claim to love Jesus but despise his church. Is this bilblical or logical?

JESUS, YES! THE CHURCH, NO? INTRODUCTION: 1 We are living in an age that has seen the rise of license and the decline of responsibility. 2 Today many seem to be desperately looking for some strange type of Utopia in which there is happiness without responsibility. 1) Many children expect their ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:16-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Requirements For Successful Church Ministry

Contributed by Martin Wiles on Apr 29, 2002

The sermon shares beliefs we must have if we are to see the need of evangelization.

INTRODUCTION A. Woman who felt the tug of God on her heart one night at a church service. 1. Responded and accepted Christ as her Savior. 2. Had a past that involved drugs, alcohol, and prostitution. 3. Became a faithful member of the church. 4. Involved in ministry and taught young ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

God's Church Is Called Christian

Contributed by Timm Meyer on May 8, 2002

EASTER 6(B) - May 5, 2002 - God’s church is called Christian because it is given good news for all and it is given a ministry for all.

GOD’S CHURCH IS CALLED CHRISTIAN Acts 11:19-26 - May 6, 2002 19Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-26

Denomination: Lutheran

The Message Of Bayview Baptist Church

Contributed by Cary Paulk on May 9, 2002

An basic evangelistic sermon based on Paul’s declaration of the gospel in I Corinthians 15:1-3

The Message of Bayview Baptist Church (I Corinthians 15:1-5) Introduction: There has never been a greater need in our country to know what our message is. The message of a church, an organization, or a country is what drives its mission. When the message and mission are clear, it can cause ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

A Church Member Who Cares

Contributed by Ed Wood on May 30, 2002

What kind of church member are you? If you had to fill out a resume for church membership what would it look like?

A CHURCH MEMBER WHO CARES Acts 4:32-37; 9:26-27; 11:27-30; 15:36-39 INTRO: If you could examine a resume of the New Testament character of Barnabas, it would look something like this: NAME: Barnabas (son of consolation, son of encouragement). RESIDENCE: Cyprus. BACKGROUND: Levite, a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist