Sermons on Church Maturity:

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

The Praying Church Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Apr 21, 2009

The church did not pray for the easing of persecution, but for greater courage and more miracles. They recognizes God’s sovereignty and pray for God’s will to be fulfilled.

CONTEXT • Peter and John healed a crippled beggar in Chapter 3. It drawn the attention of the crowd. • Peter took the opportunity to preach Jesus and forgiveness of sin in Jesus’ Name. At least 5000 men were saved (4:4). • The priests and religious leaders were not happy that they were preaching ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Harvesting Church

Contributed by Tim Hbc on Apr 30, 2009

The type of Church the Spirit forms. A Church that harvests the nations.

Two stories... A young boy is at church with his mother. He is a good little boy, quiet & well behaved. He doesn’t cause any problems. But sometimes he stands up in the pew, turns around, and looks at the people behind him. He smiles a great big smile at them. His smile is infectious. Soon ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

Church Relationships

Contributed by Richard Cook on Aug 25, 2009

This sermon teaches us how to act and interact with people within the church.

Imagine that we are putting together a 1,000 piece puzzle. In turn we each put pieces into place; slowly the beauty of the picture begins to take shape. As we continue putting the puzzle together we talk about what it would be like to be a part of the scene before us. As the final pieces are being ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:6-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Is The Church? Series

Contributed by Stephen Sheane on Sep 8, 2009

Jesus said He would build His church. What did he say about it’s foundation, function, fruit and future?

WHAT IS THE CHURCH? A man bought a new hunting dog. Eager to see how he would perform, he took him out to track a bear. No sooner had they gotten into the woods than the dog picked up the trail. Suddenly he stopped, sniffed the ground, and headed in a new direction. The inexperienced dag had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-19

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Compromising Churches Series

Contributed by David Welch on Sep 8, 2009

Seventh in a series on Revelation dealing with the churches in Pergamum and Thyatira

The Revelation of Jesus Christ “The Compromising Churches” Review John wrote this book under direct orders from Jesus. Jesus appeared to him and commissioned him to write what he saw, what was and what was about to take place. This forms a simple outline of the book. John wrote during a time of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-29

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Sleeping In Church Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Jan 8, 2009

This continues in my expository series through the book of Acts.

There’s no getting around the fact that today’s text contains a part that strikes us as humorous, and the fact of the matter is that sometimes, we can do some funny things in church. A preacher was completing a temperance sermon: with great expression he said, “If I had all the beer in the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:7-16

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Faking It For The Church

Contributed by Mark Jones on Jan 8, 2009

There is a fear of standing before God almighty and hearing him say, almost you were a child of God. I am sorry,but I was never fooled.

Fakes in the church!! Matt. 10:1-4 OPEN: One night a woman dreamed that she was having a conversation with God. She was angry about all the suffering and evil she saw around her, so she complained to the Lord. “God, why don’t You do something about all this?” God gently replied: “I did. I created ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

A Church For Today

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Jan 9, 2009

This message calls the church, collectively and individually, to be "up to date" in their mission of reaching people.

“A Church for Today” 1 Corinthians 9:19-24 * Among the church culture in America it has become common to identify local churches with some troubling terms; “Contemporary or Traditional.” Why do I say these terms are troubling? Because the meaning of these words in this context has little to do ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

Church And Eucharist Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 10, 2009

the Church is able to celebrate and worship the mystery of Christ in the Eucharist “precisely because Christ first gave himself to her in the sacrifice of the Cross.

January 12, 2008 Sacramentum Caritatis Through His Divine Son, the Father created the world. Through the same Son, He also recreated the world, once Jesus had been made–in the words of the letter to the Hebrews–perfect (complete) through suffering. “The Fathers of the Church often meditated on ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20

Denomination: Catholic