Sermons on Cultural Decline:

The Purging Church Movement

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 17, 2016

It is past time to purge the emerged Church

What we need is not an emerging church movement for the Church emerged on the Day of Pentecost. What we need is a purging Church movement where we purge the worldliness from the Church that has emerged in the last hundred years but particularly the last forty or so years. We need no more isms, just ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

Whose Beauty Standards?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Mar 29, 2016

Who gets to determine if you are beautiful, yoo, the culture or God?

Christian ladies, put down your Cosmo or whatever else you use as a mentor to tell you what beauty is and how you should look. So many ladies try to match those standards and if they do not they are depressed and may do some pretty drastic things to try and achieve the unnecessary. They nay become ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:13

Denomination: Baptist

A New Way Of Thinking

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Apr 22, 2021

This sermon focuses on Paul's command to "be transformed by the renewing of our minds" as our "spiritual act of worship" and how it plays out in our everyday lives.

OUTLINE BOOK OF ROMANS BACKGROUND ROMANS 12:1-2 (BREAKDOWN) o “Therefore” – a Transition word o “I urge you brothers” – an encouragement to come along side o “In view of God’s mercy” – Mercy summarizes first 11 chapters e.g., Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10) o “Offer your bodies a living sacrifice holy ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Christian Church

Daniel 1: Living In A Strange Land Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Sep 3, 2020

How can we thrive in an ungodly environment? 1) Stand up for who we are, 2) Excel in what we do. In exile, Daniel was excelled, without losing his identity.

LIVING IN A STRANGE LAND—Daniel 1, 1 Peter 2:9-12 Read Daniel 1:1-20. ***My first days in a college dorm were a rude awakening, for a guy who had led a pretty sheltered life. Bob Dylan was blasting out, “Lay, Lady, Lay” on the stereo down the hall. (Yes, I am ancient!) The Beatles were singing ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-21, 1 Peter 2:9-12, Philippians 2:14-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Christian Parenting: Parenting Amidst Chaos

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jul 6, 2023

It is a challenge to raise children or even be a person of faith in a culture that is filled with chaos that leads us to forget God and offers many false paths to a good life.

CHRISTIAN PARENTING: PARENTING AMIDST CHAOS Deuteronomy 6:1-25 | Ephesians 6:1-4 #parenting INTRODUCTION… sympa.com/insights/blog/company-culture-in-chaos [adapted] Chaos is complete disorder and confusion. Chaos is behavior that is unpredictable due to small changes in conditions. I was doing ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-25, Ephesians 6:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Generosity #1 Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Oct 16, 2019

Generosity can flow from a heart that has been transformed by God

Developing a culture of generosity doesn’t happen overnight. It happens over the long haul with consistent attention toward growing through faith which requires commitment and discipline. One way we can grow is through our giving. The generous life is something God desires for us. Giving is God’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Deuteronomy 8:18, Malachi 1:6-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ark I Saw Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Oct 28, 2019

Jesus, as Noah, is about an odd task, building a church community of servants in an often hostile culture.

1. Some of you have been to the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY Ark Encounter is a Christian religious and creationist theme park that opened in Grant County, Kentucky in 2016. The centerpiece of the park is a large representation of Noah's Ark based on the Genesis ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-22, 1 Peter 3:18-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

All Is Not What It Seems Series

Contributed by Andy Stanley on Sep 18, 2009

A sermon bringing to light the "unseen" worlds that impact our lives and how the truth is sometimes hidden behind the trappings and events of this twisted world.

In the late 1800s, doctors and scientists believed in something called spontaneous generation. Spontaneous generation . . . the idea behind spontaneous generation was that living organisms could suddenly pop up anywhere from non-living organisms, and this pretty much explained, in the late 1800s, ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-58

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Moral Makeover; Reshaping Our Thinking

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Jul 21, 2009

This country is in deep trouble morally. There has to be people willing to stand in the gap for a moral makeover in this country. Will you do it?

Moral Makeover; Reshaping our Thinking Jeremiah chapter 6:16-23 Please rate this sermon so I know how I am doing for you. Introduction- Turn to Jeremiah chapter 6 I want to talk a moment about change. I want to talk about doing what is right. I want to ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 6:16-23

Denomination: Nazarene

Characteristics Of A Revived Church

Contributed by Carl Kolb on Jan 10, 2008

Challenges a declining or plateaued church to begin the process of revival.

Acts 2:40-47 “Characteristics of a Revived Church" Most churches in America are either plateaued or in decline. Between 7000 & 8000 churches close each year in America. One of the greatest needs of the churches in America today is revival. How do we know whether our church is alive and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:40-47

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Churches Are In Trouble.

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Oct 24, 2024

The Church is declining in the US for many reasons. These are just a few.

Why churches are in trouble. 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Many in the Church do not taste of the milk because they are not saved. They are there for many reasons, but not to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2-3, Hebrews 5:11-14, 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, John 3:16, John 11:35, Romans 8:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Committing To Sunday School

Contributed by Neal Gracey on Dec 1, 2023

Sooooooooooo, exactly what is the problem? The heart of the problem, is not declining numbers, it’s declining commitment! As membership becomes less meaningful, commitment naturally decreases. Friends, the heart of the problem is the heart!

Happy “Members” Weekend, Everyone! For my devotional this week I’ll be going “Off The Grid.” Yes, we are in Ruth this Sunday and I will have the pleasure of teaching that class, but something that God has impressed on me several times in the past few weeks has come to the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Esther - Series Intro Series

Contributed by E. True Neilson on Jan 29, 2015

Though God is never mentioned in this book, his fingerprints are all over the story of the heroic Esther and Mordecai. Study along as we discuss the ins and outs of living for God in a godless culture.

Esther: Living For God, in a Godless Culture Esther 1:1-9 INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER -For 60 years in a row the percentage of Christians in every American state has been decreasing. -Some modern day prophets see this decline as evidence that the end is near…perhaps they’re right. -Some ...read more

Scripture: Esther 1:1-9, Esther 4:14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stop The Snooze

Contributed by Jeremy Farmer on Dec 4, 2002

Laziness is the number one cause of church decline in the last decade.

“Stop Hitting the Snooze” 1 Thessalonians 5 1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28

Denomination: Pentecostal

Using Biblical Parables To Craft Compelling Accounts Across Cultures

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 11, 2001

USING BIBLICAL PARABLES TO CRAFT COMPELLING ACCOUNTS ACROSS CULTURES

USING BIBLICAL PARABLES TO CRAFT COMPELLING ACCOUNTS ACROSS CULTURES Introduction - Everyone craves an experience when they can listen to an account that will make the illusion of anothers’ reality seem like their own. Africans particularly appreciate a teacher who can heighten their sense of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational