Sermons on Church Newcomers:

Is Official Or Formal Church Membership In A Local Church According To Scripture – Part 2 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 3, 2025

Formal church membership that involves special membership and voting rights is contentious. In this Part 2, I open up the matter to show how out of sync the matter is with the membership of the one Body of Christ, and the discrimination. We delve into some scriptures to bring this out.

IS OFFICIAL OR FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE – PART 2 In Part 1 we looked at the practice some churches have of there being an official local church membership that divides “members”, adherents and attendees into “MEMBERS” and “NON-MEMBERS” depending if one has ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10, Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 6:15, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, 1 Corinthians 12:24-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Official/Formal Church Membership In A Local Church According To Scripture? – Part 3 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 7, 2025

Regarding this matter of formal church membership, it is examined alongside mainly Ephesian verses. The subject is opened up to understand the New Testament practice of being members of one another and the equality in the Body of Christ. Membership of Christ’s Body covers it all.

IS OFFICIAL/FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE? – PART 3 Part 3 (there are 4 parts) continues to look at various scriptures in this study of formal church membership over and above the one membership that unites all believers into one Body, and makes them all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:26-28, Ephesians 2:13-16, Ephesians 2:19-22, Ephesians 3:5-6, Ephesians 4:3-7, Ephesians 4:11-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Official/Formal Church Membership In A Local Church According To Scripture? – Part 4 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 7, 2025

This is the final part and we look at a numbers of issues here as well as two statements from Internet sites on why membership is important. Over and over I am opposing this notion that commitment is connected with official membership. It is judgemental and untrue. I hope this is of some value.

IS OFFICIAL/FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE? – PART 4 We have been looking at some passages of scripture from Paul’s writings and in vain, do we look for even the slightest suggestion that a church has official membership that discriminates among the Christians ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:29-30, Philippians 4:1-3, 3 John 1:9, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 2 Corinthians 2:6, Hebrews 13:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Formula For Success Series

Contributed by Steve Smith on Jan 19, 2010

There is a common desire within every person to feel successful isn’t it? Nobody wants to fail whether it’s in life, their business/employment, or their church. And sadly, we often measure our worth on the basis of how successful we are. As we will be re

There is a common desire within every person to feel successful isn’t it? Nobody wants to fail whether it’s in life, their business/employment, or their church. And sadly, we often measure our worth on the basis of how successful we are. By the world’s standard, success often ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:6-9

Denomination: Baptist

Pauls Passionate Apostolic Ministry Series

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Feb 9, 2009

PAULS APOSTOLIC MINISTRY IS THE THE CHURCHES MINISTRY - TO TEACH - TO EVANGELISE AND TO REACH THE UNREACHED, LETS DO IT!

ROMANS 15:14-33. PAULS PASSIONATE MINISTRY FOR THE CHURCH TO EMULATE. WE CAN EASILY FORGET THAT THE BOOK OF ROMANS WE ARE GOING THROUGH IS A PERSONAL LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN ROME. AS WE HAVE TRAVELLED THROUGH THE BOOK OF ROMANS WE HAVE SEEN IT IS FULL OF DEEP THEOLOGICAL AND DOCTRINAL TRUTHS: ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:14-33

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon Series: Creating A Shared Vision: "What Business Are We In?" Series

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Feb 11, 2009

Sermon #3 on creating a shared vision.

Matthew 16:13-20 “What Business Are We In?” By: Rev. Ken Sauer, Pastor of Grace UMC, Soddy Daisy,TN www.graceumcsd.org Back in 1992 Ross Perot was running for President. It was the first time I voted in a Presidential election, and Ross was my man! When he spoke, I could relate. I thought ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: United Methodist

Building Blocks

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Jul 12, 2008

Building the church takes discipline. It takes everyone in the body of Christ

BUILDING BLOCKS ACTS 6:1-7 Disclaimer: This sermon was gleaned from sources from sermon central and private study INTRO- THERE IS A BOOK CALLED “WHAT’S A PASTOR TO DO” - IT COVERS THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT IN MINISTRY. (ONLY 140 PAGES) IT ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Nazarene

Fellowship, More Than Pot-Luck

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Jul 28, 2008

This sermon examines the meaning of churh fellowship.

Tonight we are going to share a pot-luck meal. Everyone is asked to bring dishes of their favorite foods. Pot-luck suppers are wonderful. We enjoy the food. We enjoy the laughs. We enjoy the time of sharing with others. These are special times. We tend to refer to them as fellowships. However, to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25

Denomination: Baptist

How To Kill A Church Without Trying

Contributed by James Roberts on Jun 26, 2009

How to kill a church without doing a thing.

HOW TO KILL A CHURCH WITHOUT TRYING Ephesians 3:20-21 Revelation 3:1-3 Paul is telling us that through the church God is to get glory. Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages. The church was instituted by Christ to further the Gospel story and to give all glory to God ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21

Denomination: Baptist

I Will Build My Church (Pt. 1) Series

Contributed by John Butler on Jul 14, 2009

The first mention of the "church" in scripture states that Christ would build it. This series explores His blue print for His church.

******SERMON OUTLINE******* I Will Build My Church – Part 1 I. Christ Will Build His Church... Praise the Lord! Turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew 16:18-19. Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18-19

You've Got Mail: Thyatira Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Dec 2, 2009

The fourth in a series of seven. This is an expository, alliterated sermon with practical application based on the letter to Thyatira in Revelation. PowerPoint is avialable if you e-mail me.

You’ve Got Mail: Thyatira Scott Bayles, preacher First Christian Church, Rosiclare, IL Sometimes, the contents of a single letter can change a person’s life forever. Whether it’s the college applicant hopefully opening an envelope from a prestigious school wondering whether it’s a letter of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Christian Church

Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Flattery Series

Contributed by Neil Olcott on Sep 10, 2009

Paul continues on contrasting the life of an unbeliever over against a Christ follower. The point is there should be a difference! We are not to mimic those who are far from God, but rather, we should imitate God.

Eph. 5:1-20 Imitation is called the sincerest form of flattery! But we sometimes need to be careful who we are imitating! A new missionary recruit went to Venezuela for the first time. He was struggling with the language and didn’t understand a whole lot of what was going on. Intending to visit ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Way We Were, Pt 1 (Intro) Series

Contributed by Joe Hayes on Sep 10, 2009

The Way we were is about how church was meant to be according to God’s Desire in Acts, you can also listen to this message at www.preaching.co.nr

“This is How Church Should Be,” is often influenced by denominational traditions, personal preference and sometimes cultural and generational demands. Some people want church loud; some want it quiet; some want it short; some want more worship, more prayer, more love, more social action, more ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Membership Matters Series

Contributed by Ralph Juthman on Jan 26, 2012

Membership is a COVENANT made between fellow Christians to establish and uphold one another in our journey as Christ’s disciples.

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Ephesians 2:19 INTRODUCTION One of the most recognizable advertising motto’s says “MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGES” Some of you carry a couple of cards in your wallet that give you certain privileges not available to the “general public.” One card ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19

Denomination: Pentecostal

Why Do You Go To Church Series

Contributed by Archie Norman on Oct 27, 2014

relationships

Why Do You Go To Church Hebrews 10:24-25 1. I am here for observation - consider A. Discover weakness B. Discover struggles C. Discover needs 2. I am here for confrontation - provoke A. To motivate someone to love B. To motivate someone to good works 3. I am ...read more

Scripture: James 10:24-25

Denomination: Baptist