Sermons on cultural decline:

An Overview Of Ephesians Series

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Nov 19, 2009

Ephesus was a modern-day New Orleans, filled with voodoo, occult practices and mysticism. Paul carried out his most dramatic ministry in this city.

An Overview of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Christians at Ephesus ________________________________________ Historical/Grammatical Method of Interpretation requires us to first look at the historical context in which Paul wrote the letter of Ephesians and in which the Christians in that city ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14, Ephesians 5:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

How Paul Might Have Practiced Contextualization In A Cross-Cultural Ministr

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 25, 2001

HOW PAUL MIGHT HAVE PRACTICED CONTEXTUALIZATION IN A CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRY

HOW PAUL MIGHT HAVE PRACTICED CONTEXTUALIZATION IN A CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRY Introduction - Paul believed in the POWER of the gospel to transform lives. Yet he also appreciated the COMPLEXITY of this process. He resisted any attempts to submit to the indoctrination process of Pharisaicalism. He ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:8-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Answering Our Culture #3: "You Can't Trust The Bible." Series

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 26, 2002

Third in a series on answering the objections people raise against Christianity.

Answering Our Culture #3 – “You Can’t Trust the Bible Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35 August 4, 2002 Introduction Before we get started, I just want to warn you that we will not get all the way through our outline today. I printed out the outline, hopeful that I would be able to cover everything ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:35, Isaiah 40:8

Denomination: Wesleyan

How Decision-Making Styles Affect Cross-Cultural Evangelistic Methods

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 11, 2001

Helping people make decisions is at the very heart of evangelism. This made me wonder why nearly all of Christ’s evangelism endeavors varied to best suit the hearer’s decision-making processes? In each case Jesus took into consideration the patterns of th

HOW DECISION-MAKING STYLES AFFECT CROSS-CULTURAL EVANGELISTIC METHODS Introduction - Helping people make decisions is at the very heart of evangelism. This made me wonder why nearly all of Christ’s evangelism endeavors varied to best suit the hearer’s decision-making processes? In each case ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Culture Of Appreciating What Bears Fruits For You And What Doesn’t

Contributed by Richard Papafio on Mar 20, 2019

Not all things bear fruits. Know what does and what doesn't so you don't use your time chasing the wind

May the peace of the Lord be with you. *DAY 13 OF LENT* Our reflection for today is on the 11th Kingdom Culture from the parable below: *THE BARREN FIG TREE* Luke 13:6-9 King James Version (KJV) 6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-9

Denomination: Charismatic

The Need For Church Life Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 9, 2023

This sermon introduction discusses the decline in church attendance in America, attributing it not to a decrease in believers, but to less consistent worship and participation.

No one disputes that church attendance has been in decline in America for the last number of years. But it’s not as straightforward as it seems. According to Thom Rainer, the former CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, “The number one reason for the decline in church attendance is that members ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:17-18, Hebrews 10:25

Topics: Church Attendance, Active Membership, Consistent Worship

Sermon Series: The Easter Challenge

Living Below Provision Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 9, 2006

Sermon contrasts victories experienced by God’s people with later defeats and what caused the decline.

Living Below Provision Series: Lessons from Judges Judges 1:1-2:20[1] 7-17-05 The book of Judges begins with some wonderful victories for the people of God. God has given Israel Canaan land and told them to possess the land. In Deuteronomy 7:1-6 He told them to utterly destroy the Canaanites. ...read more

Denomination: Charismatic

Hurry Up And Wait

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 25, 2010

Funeral message for Thelma Harper Brown, who exhibited extraordinary patience during a long decline.

What must it feel like to spend every day waiting? Just waiting. Not going anywhere, not keeping appointments, not concerned about a schedule, but just waiting. Waiting through interminable days and dark nights; waiting to be fed, to be turned, to be spoken to. What must it feel like just to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-39

Denomination: Baptist

Paul's Sermon At Athens: The Historical Background

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on May 31, 2021

This is the first of a series of messages centering on the sermon that the Apostle Paul gave before the groups of philosophers in Athens, and how it is a perfect model for Biblical apologetics and evangelism.

People today tend to sidestep, ignore, deter, apologize for and question the concept of reality in a world which gladly embraces the concept that reality, truth, and fact are not absolute but just a matter of opinion, experience, or personal interpretation. We have become terrified of the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-21, 1 Peter 3:15, Luke 12:12-15, John 16:8-15, Acts 4:12, John 14:6, Colossians 2:1-3, 1 Corinthians 1:24  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Danger Of Fundamentalism

Contributed by David Zimmerman on Oct 18, 2000

Ephesus was a wealthy, cultured city.

Ephesus was a wealthy, cultured city. But it was also a mor-ally corruptcity. In many ways, you could compare it to Wash-ington D.C., Dallas, Texas, Chicago, Boston, Amsterdam, or Ber-lin. If we could transport Ephesus into modern times, it would have its skyscrapers and snarled expressways. It ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: *other

Breaking Down Walls

Contributed by Robert Robinson on Aug 13, 2003

For people so greatly advancing in technology as we are, we seem to be declining at the same rapid pace morally.

This morning we are going to take a look at Breaking Down Walls, I will be reading from Ephesians 2:11-22; Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- that at that time you were without ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22, 1 Peter 2:5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Call For New Missional Initiatives -- Acts 11: 19-26

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Aug 7, 2011

Do you long to be able to share your faith with others but have great difficulty doing so? It might surprise you that even Apostles such as Peter, James and John had some difficulties with cross-cultural communication. What is the way forward for a Chu

A CALL FOR NEW MISSIONAL INITIATIVES -- Acts 11: 19-26 INTRO Yesterday -- the first Saturday in August -- is reckoned to be the happiest day of the year. To be even more specific: 7pm is the happiest moment of the happiest day of the year. The statistics are based on a study of more than 9,000 ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Risk Of Not Being Quiet

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Mar 19, 2024

Christians need to speak up against woke culture. We need to be brave as John the Baptist

The Risk of Not Being Quiet Luke 3:18-20 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Luke 3:18 So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people. 19 But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:18-20

Denomination: United Methodist

The High Cost Of Low Living Series

Contributed by Johnny A. Palmer Jr. on Dec 9, 2011

The godly line of Seth is now intermingling with the ungodly line of Cain.

Intro: 1. Tozer, "The rise of a new religious spirit in recent years is marked by disturbing similarities to that earlier "revival" under Constantine. Now as then a quasi-Christianity is achieving acceptance by compromise. It is dickering with the unregenerate world for acceptance and, as ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Land Of Narnia Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 5, 2005

Increasingly Christ has been pushed out of Christmas... but there is a deeper struggle and a higher objective for us who love Jesus. No matter how successful the world may be in removing Christ from Christmas... our Jesus is "on the move."

OPEN: On December 10th we’ve reserved the local movie theatre for a private viewing of “The Tale Of Narnia – The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” It’s the story of 4 children in war ravaged WWII London who are sent to the country, to the home of a rich relative where 1 of their only pastimes ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:19-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ