Sermons on Early Church Growth:

Baptism And The Church Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 15, 2014

A sermon on how baptism relates to the church (Material adapted from Daniel Overdorf's book, Rediscovering Community, chapter 10 Sacramentally Participating pg. 241- 254)

HoHum: How can one be baptized without the church? Christians are the church. If not a Christian then not part of church, if a Christian then part of church. We have no record of anyone in the NT baptizing themselves. Imagine someone coming to the point of wanting to be baptized, they come ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Church: An Obligation Series

Contributed by Larry Turner on Oct 10, 2012

Five reasons we should be involved in our church

We all know people who find themselves in debt “up to their eyeballs.” The majority of the time it is due to their own foolish lifestyle. They seem to be constantly expecting someone to bail them out without any sacrifices on their part. Some feel that the sole purpose of the church is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:11-15

Denomination: Foursquare

How God Uses Circumstances For Our Growth

Contributed by Bill Burnett on Feb 27, 2003

How does God use circumstances to help us fulfill and release God’s dreams for our lives

HOW GOD USES CIRCUMSTANCES TO HELP US REACH OUR DREAMS Going To The Next Level Series We’ve been talking about dreams for the last four weeks. I believe that every person in this room has a dream hidden in you somewhere. It is our desire that we help you find and release God’s dreams for your ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 42:8-28

Denomination: Foursquare

Killing God !

Contributed by Anthony Smith on Feb 24, 2006

We have seen churches burned sense the early times of mans existence. Time after time, the ungodly take it upon themselves to try to change the course of mankind’s involvement with God.

Killing God ! COLUMBUS, Ohio - A church that burned to the ground earlier month was deliberately set on fire, officials announced Wednesday. The fire took place on Feb. 10 at the Full Gospel Sons of God Church, located at 1200 Vera ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 6:18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Biblical Christianity: The Centrality Of Christ Series

Contributed by Dan Cale on Aug 22, 2005

This is the second of a 4 part series comparing the early church of Acts 1-5 to today. This message looks at the idea of making Christ the center of our lives and the things that keep us from it.

Biblical Christianity Pt 2 ¡V The Centrality of Christ Colossians 3:1-17 Acts 2:43-47 - Acts 4:31-35 Tell me this morning ¡V do these passages describe the church of the 21st Century? Is it ok that we don¡¦t look like the early church? Is that alright with you? I confess as I did last week that I ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-17

Denomination: *other

Favored But Fruitless

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Jul 31, 2002

A crying shame in the church today is to be the favored and the blessed of God and yet be spiritually barren.

MAT.1:20 1 SAM. 1:1-11, 19-20 Ephraim,=.double fruit, fruitfulness, to bear fruit. To be or make fruitful to grow increase) Elqanah-Elkanah = "God has possessed" or "God has created"; God has obtained KJV-- Hannah. from 2603;= favored: Peninnah = Jewl ( Pearl ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-11, Matthew 1:20

Denomination: Pentecostal

"Letters From Prison" Series

Contributed by Phil Anderson on Aug 6, 2004

A general challenge to look at the way Paul initially challenged the church of Philippi and to respond to it

“Letters From Prison” Philippians 1:3-11 PHP 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"Grownup Christians”

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 13, 2006

What are the marks of a mature Christian believer or the mark of a dynamic, mature Christian church?

Biblical Text: Philippians 1:3-11 “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Mayor And The Tramp

Contributed by Melvin Shelton on Jul 25, 2003

The house is almost full because there are three ways to fill up a Baptist Church.

THE MAYOR AND THE TRAMP James 2:1 -- 13 It’s homecoming Sunday morning. The service is about to begin. The house is almost full because there are three ways to fill up a Baptist Church. A fight, a feast and a funeral. Today is feast day. At the door, two men arrive for the service. One of ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Living Church Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 26, 2011

The Living Church" manifested: 1) Spiritual Life (Acts 2:42) & 2) Spiritual Attitudes (Acts 2:43-47a). The result was 3) Spiritual Impact (Acts 2:47b).

A study presented Tuesday at the American Physical Society meeting in Dallas noted a steady rise in the percentage of residents in Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland who claim no religious affiliation. The researchers ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Other

God’s Idea Of Church Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 2, 2011

Church Consultants probably wouldn’t have started a church like God did... but His worked. How can we do Church today like He did back then?

How many of you have ever read the magazine called “Reminisce”? Several years ago there was an article in that magazine by a woman who told of her father having returned from the war. He, like many men, wanted to buy tools for his worksho, and one of the tools he wanted was a drill press. But ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The World In The Church Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 31, 2021

The church to whom the Epistles were written were already far from the ideal. The battle with the world in the church began immediately, and it was just this battle that was the cause for much of the New Testament to be written.

Theodore Reik tells of how an Austrian Jew was trying to find a refuge from Hitler. He went to a travel office to select a place to which he could flea, and with the help of the clerk he began to consider the possibilities. But each country had some difficulty connected with it. In one you needed ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-2

Liberal Theology In The Churches – Address Number 1 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 19, 2022

This first talk in a short series is about Liberal Theology and beliefs. The Church is under the greatest attack since the early times with so much denial in an already evil world, also the enemy of the Church. Liberal thinking of denial and rejection is entering the churches.

LIBERAL THEOLOGY IN THE CHURCHES – ADDRESS NUMBER 1 There is a collection of messages I did with our small church fellowship 7 years ago on the matter of Liberal Theology. Some dangerous ideas and teaching were surfacing among churches (including social aspects), here nationally, and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-7, 2 Peter 3:3-7, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, Acts 17:10-11, 2 Timothy 3:13-14, 2 Timothy 3:14, 2 Timothy 3:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Luke 4:10-11, Psalm 91:11, 2 Peter 1:19-21, Acts 3:22, Luke 24:25-27  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Acts Of The Apostles (9 Of 39)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 14, 2022

In chapter 5, we discovered that the Lord had to purge the early church of hypocrisy.

The people learned to fear the Lord, and those who loved Him went on serving Him faithfully, filling all of Jerusalem with their doctrine. Look at Acts 5:28, We read, “Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Is Not By Accident

Contributed by Larry La Douceur on May 30, 2006

When the body of Christ is functioning according to the will and purposes of God we show the world the perfect plan God intended for you and me. We also set the example for those who come behind us.

The Church is NOT by Accident Suggested reading; Early Christians Speak, Dr. Everett Ferguson, Abilene Christian University Press Thirteen Lessons on Church History, Morris Womack, College Press Publishing Company Introduction In Genesis Chapter 2 we read, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ