Sermons on Early Church Growth:

Persecution & Growth (Acts 12)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 26, 2025

Do persecution and church growth sometimes go hand in hand?

Does the word of God continue to grow even under sometimes severe persecution? Let’s look at Acts 12. Was James murdered by Herod? Was Peter imprisoned? Are Christians still murdered for their faith in places like Nigeria, North Korea, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, China, India, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Hallmarks Of A Growing Church

Contributed by Paul Tipton on May 8, 2008

The seed for this sermon came from one I copied and read from SermonCentral but I did not copy the contributors name and do not know who to give the credit

HALLMARKS OF A GROWING CHURCH ACTS 2:41-47 Introduction: If we desire church growth, it would be good for us to look at the pattern set by the early church in Jerusalem following the Day of Pentecost. The church experienced phenomenal growth and had the power of God flowing through virtually ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Baptist

Is The Church Archaic And Obsolete? Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on May 27, 2008

God changes us so that the church can awe and bless the world.

Scripture Introduction Driving home Thursday a provocative announcement on National Public Radio caught my attention. The Templeton Foundation was promoting a discussion of: “Does science make belief in God obsolete?” Such a question would not have been asked 50 or 100 years ago; we all expect it ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:37-47

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Why Growth Groups? Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Sep 6, 2008

This sermon explores why believers should participate in Growth Groups.

Scripture It can never be said that Adele Gaboury’s neighbors were less than responsible. When her front lawn grew hip-high, they had a local boy mow it down. When her pipes froze and burst, they turned the water off. When the mail spilled out the front door, they called the police. The only thing ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Troubled Church Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on May 28, 2008

Paul begins dealing with the many problems in the carnal Corinthian church

Someone: “The church is like Noah’s Ark: If it were not for the storm on the outside, no one could stand the stench on the inside.” The message of First Corinthians is written to a troubled church. Corinth was full of problems. Paul is writing to that church in order to deal with all of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

A Church Of Maximum Impact Series

Contributed by Troy Walliser on Nov 10, 2020

Christian missions at its most basic level is one BEGGAR telling another BEGGAR where to find BREAD.

A Church Of Maximum Impact Acts 11:19-30 Several years ago Time magazine carried a story about a controversy that once raged in a Waterloo, Iowa courthouse over a perplexing question. The question at hand was this: “What is a Christian?” It all started when a local doctor who had been very wealthy ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-30

Denomination: Baptist

Is Transubstantiation During Communion Supported By The New Testament Or Early Church History?

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Nov 21, 2024

The Holy Communion Eucharist is at the center of Christian worship.

The Holy Communion Eucharist (Gk: ‘eucharisteo’ = give thanks), also known as the Lord’s Supper, commemorates the Last Supper Jesus shared with the Disciples before His crucifixion during their observation of the traditional seder meal served on the 15th and 16th of the month of Nisan in Jewish ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:26-29, John 6:53-58, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lessons For The Materializing Church -- Part 5 Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Feb 15, 2010

Up to this point in the text James has been sharing issues regarding how we are to respond to trials and temptations. With trials, we are to embrace them as being from God and for our benefit. With temptations, they are the opposite, not from God and da

DETAILING OUR LIVES FOR JESUS JAMES 1:21-27 INTRODUCTION: Up to this point in the text James has been sharing issues regarding how we are to respond to trials and temptations. With trials, we are to embrace them as being from God and for our benefit. With temptations, they are the opposite, not ...read more

Scripture: James 1:21-27

Denomination: Baptist

Proper Usage Of The Church Treasury

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on Sep 5, 2002

This is an examination of how the early Church used the monetary funds contributed by its members. The practice of the early Church, under the directions of the Apostles, gives us a pattern to follow today.

Proper Use of the Church Treasury It is proper and perfectly Scriptural for Christians in a community to put money in a common fund. There has never been a great deal of disagreement among brethren over this matter. Christians generally agree that it is right to contribute to a general fund to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Spiritual Corrections For The Modern Church

Contributed by Stephen Funderburk on Dec 10, 2006

Paul’s corrections of the church in Corinth

Intro: an amazing fact about the letters of Paul to the churches that most people want to over-look, is the fact that a lot of what he said was corrective in nature. I know he had mushy intro’s and long gooshy good-byes, but the meat of the letter was instruction, and reproof and correction. Since ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Is Jesus Christ The Lord Of This Church? Series

Contributed by Douglas Bryan on Aug 1, 2005

I once saw a package of plastic shark teeth that were labled as "genuine imitation shark teeth." I wonder if we aren’t guilty of being genuine imitation Christians at times. As Paul begins his letter he points out that the Colossians were 3D Christians-

SERIES: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD...SERIOUSLY! SERMON: IS JESUS CHRIST LORD OF THIS CHURCH? Colossians 1:1-8 INTRODUCTION: This church will be what it ought to be when our members become what they should be. I am beginning a new series of messages this morning from Paul’s letter to the church in ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Seven Habits The Church Needs

Contributed by Richard White on Aug 25, 2005

Steve Covey wrote a book about the habits of Successful people. The Church needs to have these type of habits. What attracts people to churches, it is habits of people that they find attractive.

Seven Habits Churches Need Romans 15:1 ff RO 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Relating Or Rebelling: Church Authority

Contributed by Doug Morrell on Jun 17, 2005

Learning to relate in the right way toward God ordained authority is an important part of spiritual maturity. In fact, you cannot walk in the anointing of God, Who is the head of all and from Whom the oil of anointing flows, if you are not submitted...

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Heb. 12:11) Learning to relate in the right way toward God ordained authority is an ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paul's Understanding Of The Ministry Of The Church Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Jun 14, 2004

The 5th message of 13 in an expository series on the book of Colossians.

Paul’s Understanding of the Ministry of the Church Colossians 1:23b-29 23bThis is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. 24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:23-29

Denomination: Baptist

My Prayer For Our Church

Contributed by Kevin Keeling on May 8, 2004

Introduction Why then did Paul write the Colossian church?? He wrote them because of the heresy in the Church

Paul Prayer for the Colossians Church 1 Knowledge of God’s will (vs. 9) 2 To Walk Worthy of God’s Will (10 3 To Be Strengthen by His Will (11 4 To rejoice in His Will (12 (1) God Desires YOU "To be ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9-14

Denomination: Baptist