Sermons on First Steps:

How We Grow

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Sep 27, 2015

Most folks want their church to grow, but what are the practical steps to make that happen? This message addresses three areas that need to be prepared if we are going to see growth in our churches.

Growing the Church You ever think about Church Growth? You ever wonder about whether or not Cornerstone is growing? Does it every cross or mind, is it even relevant in your life? There are some folks at Cornerstone who honestly never think about church growth, they attend, they enjoy the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:2-10

Denomination: Wesleyan

Bubbles Or Living Water?

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on May 16, 2019

This sermon is about the man being healed at the Sheep Gate. It is a miracle that steps away from being stuck, stumbling and staring into the waters and allowing Jesus to bring us to a life of victory!

Scripture: John 5:1-9 Bubbles or Living Water? John 5:1-9 New King James Version (NKJV) A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda 5 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-9, Joshua 24:2-3

Denomination: Nazarene

Letter To The Church In Pergamum

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Jun 10, 2020

Pergamum was the first city of Asia to openly support the imperial cult or emperor worship, and therefore was considered the chief seat.

Letter to the Church in Pergamum Rev. 2:12-17 As we begin our study and draw some application to present day, let’s look back historically to get an idea what was happening 19 centuries ago. We find that Pergamum was the capital of Asia, and had been the capital city of Asia for almost 400 years. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Demonic Attack 101--Church Conflict Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Sep 18, 2007

Exposition of Acts 6:1-7, first of two about how the Jerusalem church dealt with internal conflict.

Text: Acts 6:1-7, Title: Demonic Attacks 101—Church Conflict, Date/Place: NRBC, 9/23/07, AM A. Opening illustration: see illustrations page, Acts 6 ill in ill file B. Background to passage: We left Acts 5 with the church still moving on the mission at hand. Reminder: our mission is ever before us, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Part 4 - The Belt Of Truth Series

Contributed by Rev. Bruce A. Shields on Oct 6, 2004

Part 4 of this series begins to look at the armor itself, begining with the first part mentioned, the belt of truth.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE & THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD (SERIES) 4 – The Belt of Truth Rev. Bruce A. Shields First Baptist Church of Tawas City Michigan www.TawasBaptist.org  Scripture Reading – Ephesians 6:14 (NIV) PRAYER  Satan’s Plan is three fold 1. Deceive 2. Divide 3. Destroy How ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:14

Denomination: Bible Church

Joseph The Faith-Action Hero Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Dec 23, 2012

A first-person narrative from Mary's perspective on what made her husband a faith-action hero.

Noah. David. Daniel. Are these the people that come to mind when you think of faith-action heroes? Spending your life’s savings to build a boat that may never see water seems like a pointless waste. Staring up at an armed and angry nine-foot giant while packing nothing more than a few stones ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Lutheran

Four Shouts From A Leper

Contributed by Doug Houck on Dec 22, 2020

First-person account of a thankful healed leper. Thanksgiving helps us grow in our relationship with God.

Allow me to introduce myself. I’m a businessman from the city of Ginae, in the country of Samaria. I believe you would call it the West Bank now, but back then the Romans were in power. Lovely wife, two smart kids. You can just call me Sam. It all started one day with a little red sore on my ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Believe In Jesus (John 20:24-31) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Apr 21, 2022

The goal of the gospel: step up, and be strengthened in your faith. Here, Jesus shows kindness to Thomas, and gives him what he needs to come to full "belief."

Let's start today by rereading last week's passage. John 20:19-22. This is the moment Jesus first reveals himself to all his disciples after rising from the dead: (19) Then, when it was evening on that day-- the first day of the week, and the doors having been shut where the disciples ...read more

Scripture: John 20:24-31

Hey, Preacher. Leave Those Weeds Alone. Series

Contributed by Larry Turner on Mar 16, 2013

We live in a world where wheat and weeds live together. How we live can convert the weeds to wheat. This sermon looks at a four step program to accomplish this.

Last week we acknowledged the existence of two spiritual kingdoms. There is the kingdom of sin that established itself in rebellion against God’s rule. And there is the Kingdom of Jesus that is crying out for us to rise up against the kingdom of sin. We also acknowledged the fact that we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Denomination: Foursquare

When Faith Doesn't Make Sense Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on May 14, 2015

A first sermon message in which Elijah is transported to a modern day congregation to share how God shaped him.

“Getting Into Shape: When Faith Doesn’t make Sense” 1 Kings 17:1-16 Good morning. I suppose I should tell you a little about myself. Oddly, in the Scriptures I have no introduction – I just all of a sudden appear in what you know as 1 Kings 17. My name is Elijah – ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Father's Day - He Did What God Asked

Contributed by Melvin Newland on May 1, 2015

We want to talk about a step-dad who was given the tremendous responsibility of raising God's Son. His name was Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK Today is known as Father's Day, & the commemoration of this special day began back in 1910 in Spokane, WA. Necktie & shirt manufacturers have rejoiced ever since. ILL. Then a few years later, as the celebration began to catch on, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Are You Spiritually Ashamed? Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Mar 11, 2010

Are you afraid? Do you fear failing in your walk? Are you ashamed of who you serve? Are you ready to shed the shame and step up to Courageous Christian Character?

Sermon Brief Date Written: March 11, 2010 Date Preached: March 14, 2010 Where Preached: Oak Park (AM) Sermon Details: Sermon Series: The Great Adventure – Rediscovering the Adventure Sermon Title: Are You Spiritually Ashamed? Part 6 of 6 Sermon Text: John 14:12; ...read more

Scripture: John 14:12

Denomination: Baptist

When Trials Come, We Remember Our Good & Great Shepherd – Part 2 Series

Contributed by Ed Taylor on Dec 22, 2008

Every single circumstance that comes to us is first sifted through the hand of the One who loves us.

1. Paul has taught us to ‘glory in our tribulations’ & James said: James 1:2-3 (NKJV) 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 2. We have a serious problem with that don’t we? • It definitely doesn’t make a lot ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One For The Road

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 16, 2025

God meets us when the journey is too long and provides grace for every step, but His grace is never permission to remain the same; it is power to move forward in joyful obedience.

Introduction – When the Trip Feels Too Far Have you ever started on a trip and realized part way through that you just didn’t plan for how long or how hard it would be? Maybe you packed light for a hike and then found the trail twice as steep as the guidebook said. Maybe you took a family ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 14:24-26, Matthew 19:8, Acts 17:30-31, Romans 12:2, 1 Peter 1:15-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Mar 23, 2022

A short message to officers after their first year of service at their review. This was the basis for the message with further contribution and other additions.

Psalm 100, NIV Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his[a]; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:10, James 1:2

Denomination: Salvation Army