Sermons on Congregational Autonomy:

God The Father

Contributed by Maurizio Cianci on May 1, 2007

Have you ever wondered why God is addressed as ’Father’ in the Bible? I have and I’ve been ’thinking aloud’ with our congregation...

GOD THE FATHER Today we honour fathers. But I contend that I cannot be the father/grandfather my family needs me to be if I don’t let my Creator God be to me the Father He desires to be. Eph 3:7-21 I have become a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:7-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Do It Yourself Message

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Jun 5, 2007

Adapted from a message heard 17 years ago by Dr. Ed Young...A Great way to give the entire congregation a witnessing tool.

“A DO IT YOURSELF MESSAGE” John 3:16 (For the accompanying powerpoint - http://www.hueytownbaptist.com/pastorspage/sermondownloads.html) > Tonight we begin what should be one of the most exciting weeks in the year for the HBC family. The focus is children. We should be ready at all times to ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Prepare To Meet...isaiah Series

Contributed by Darryl Klassen on Oct 23, 2007

This is a preview sermon to help prepare the congregation for the upcoming sermon series on Isaiah. It contains some historical and socio-political information to put Isaiah into context.

PREPARE TO MEET…ISAIAH If I say that “the Lord spoke to me” one might understand that I heard an audible voice. For some that might be the case but for me it means that God puts thoughts in my head when I pray. When I was praying this week the Lord spoke to me. He said, “Plow deeply.” A picture ...read more

Denomination: Mennonite

Close Encounters Of The Jesus Kind

Contributed by Carl Greene on May 10, 2008

A sermon challenging each member of the congregation to answer Jesus’ question... "But what about you? Who do you say I am?"

A Close Encounter of the Jesus Kind Matthew 16: 13-16 —William Willimon, “Who do you say that I am?” August 22, 1999, Duke Chapel Web Site, chapel.duke.edu. A student came to me and asked me to explain to her the difference between Christianity and Judaism. She is in love with a student who is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-16

Denomination: Methodist

Be Opened

Contributed by Daniel Haas on Aug 7, 2009

Jesus has told us to be opened to the fact that he can heal us, to be opened in our personal lives and to be opened in our congregational life

Mark &:31-37 They asked on behalf of the man - pray for others - not for yourself They begged him to lay his hand on him - they requested a show - a visible sign of his power - so everybody can see He spat at him - gesture of blessing - Big Fat Greek Wedding knows two magic remedies: Windex and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:31-37

Denomination: Congregational

Lessons In Evangelism From The Woman At The Well

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Dec 2, 2013

A short talk for our Christmas Pensioners' Praise service but it works for all adult congregations. Some lessons about life and evangelism for all Christians

I’m going to pick out three snippets of conversation that caused shock in the 1st Century Land that Jesus walked; three bits of conversation that could change the course of the church in Billericay in our time. 1. The Samaritan woman said to Jesus, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-42

Denomination: Anglican

Giving To Church Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Oct 20, 2009

Giving is a challenge and a privilege. God offers us a way to be among the blessed as we give in response to God’s grace through our congregation.

Acts 4:32-27 “Giving to Church” INTRODUCTION During the month of October, we are hearing stories of how our brothers and sisters in Christ have discovered the joy and blessings of giving. Shelley Krispin, Carol Baker and now Steve and Deb Weber have shared their journeys. They have seen ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:32-37

Denomination: Lutheran

The Beat Up Church Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Aug 8, 2011

The Church at Smyrna is a church which received no criticism from the Lord but much abuse from both the culture and the "congregation" (those who ’say’ they are Jews)

The Unveiling The “Beat Up” or “Bloodied” Church Revelation 2:8-11 * From my observation we live in an increasingly violent culture. Hardly a day passes when we don’t hear of someone being killed or attacked. An honest look at our entertainment would indicate that America has bought into ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Giving: An Act Of Worship

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Jan 28, 2014

Tithing is not merely a duty; it's an act of worship. This final sermon in the Prove God series challenges the congregation to make a money back guarantee with the church.

Giving as an Act of Worship Series: Prove God Stewardship Series, Sermon (#3 of 3) Chuck Sligh January 28, 2014 This sermon is adapted from a sermon by Jeff Strite by the similar title at SermonCentral.com. TEXT: Please turn in your Bibles to Proverbs 3. INTRODUCTION Illus. – In 21st ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Love And Being Christ's Bride

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

The love described in 1st Corinthians chapter 13 helps heal and restore unity to a divided and bickering congregation to live out the unity of the faith.

Intro If there’s ever been a part of the Bible that we’ve used--and abused!--it’s 1st Corinthians chapter 13. We’ve understood that chapter in so many different ways that we’re not even sure what point Paul is making, except that it’s something about love. To ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Lessons From Superman Series

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Oct 11, 2010

To encourage the congregation to realize who they truly are through the Salvation that has been given through Jesus and become the heroes that God call each to be.

Lessons from Superman Scripture: 1 Peter 2: 11-12 Date: 10 October 2010 Purpose: To encourage the congregation to realize who they truly are through the Salvation that has been given through Jesus and become the heroes that God call each to be. There are some areas in life that I am grown up ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-12

Denomination: Other

Kingdom Of Heaven (Part 7) Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Aug 31, 2015

What does the desire to be number one indicate from our faith perspective? Whether it is the USA? A congregation, or an individual? Is it wrong to try to be the best at something?

Opening illustration: One of our favorite teachers in elementary school was my third grade teacher, Miss Titus, an “old school” teacher who maintained a strict sense of order in class but who genuinely cared about each of us. On the first day of school she asked us to line up for lunch ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

More Than Cheerleaders Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 27, 2015

This is the gift that greases the gears of the church. Without this gift a congregation becomes lifeless and empty. What is this gift, and why is it so important to God's church family.

OPEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnVuqfXohxc I’ve been waiting months to use that clip. It’s clever. It’s cute. And whether you realize it or not – it is deeply theological. Think about it… what did it show? It showed lot of animals that don’t ordinarily ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Who Is Causing The Trouble?

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Feb 4, 2022

There are many things a congregation of this size will disagree on, but one thing we all would agree on is that we live in a world that has a lot of trouble.

What we need to do is find out WHO IS CAUSING ALL THE TROUBLE! For example, we constantly hear about the TROUBLE we are having in our schools in America. Consider the shootings, cursing, fighting, rebellion, and low academic achievements. This may sound simplistic, but anyone with common sense ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

God's Plan Is Bigger Racial Reconciliation Part 2

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jan 25, 2021

THis message deals with God loving all of humanity and is preached to a congregation predominantly white by and African American as we did a pulpit exchange on the topice of race

God’s Plan is Bigger Genesis 9:1-16 Ephesians 2:11-22 I thank you for the opportunity to be with you this morning as we continue our theme of Racial Reconciliation. Today we consider, a view from the other side. This past week we had the privilege of observing the inauguration of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:1-16, Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed