Sermons on Formal Church:

Is Official, Or Formal Church Membership In A Local Church According To Scripture? – Part 1 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 2, 2025

This begins a 4 part study of local church membership in the New Testament. Is a formal church membership biblically required in our churches? Was it required in the first century churches? We will examine scriptures and practices for those answers.

IS OFFICIAL, OR FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE? – PART 1 What is church membership? What does the New Testament teach about church membership? Is this a requirement for us in local churches or must we submit ourselves to a practice of man and denominational ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Ephesians 5:29-30, Acts 2:47, Acts 2:44, Romans 12:4-6, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Philippians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, Colossians 1:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Official/Formal Church Membership In A Local Church According To Scripture? – Part 3 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 7, 2025

Regarding this matter of formal church membership, it is examined alongside mainly Ephesian verses. The subject is opened up to understand the New Testament practice of being members of one another and the equality in the Body of Christ. Membership of Christ’s Body covers it all.

IS OFFICIAL/FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE? – PART 3 Part 3 (there are 4 parts) continues to look at various scriptures in this study of formal church membership over and above the one membership that unites all believers into one Body, and makes them all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:26-28, Ephesians 2:13-16, Ephesians 2:19-22, Ephesians 3:5-6, Ephesians 4:3-7, Ephesians 4:11-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Official Or Formal Church Membership In A Local Church According To Scripture – Part 2 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 3, 2025

Formal church membership that involves special membership and voting rights is contentious. In this Part 2, I open up the matter to show how out of sync the matter is with the membership of the one Body of Christ, and the discrimination. We delve into some scriptures to bring this out.

IS OFFICIAL OR FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE – PART 2 In Part 1 we looked at the practice some churches have of there being an official local church membership that divides “members”, adherents and attendees into “MEMBERS” and “NON-MEMBERS” depending if one has ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10, Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 6:15, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, 1 Corinthians 12:24-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Official/Formal Church Membership In A Local Church According To Scripture? – Part 4 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 7, 2025

This is the final part and we look at a numbers of issues here as well as two statements from Internet sites on why membership is important. Over and over I am opposing this notion that commitment is connected with official membership. It is judgemental and untrue. I hope this is of some value.

IS OFFICIAL/FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE? – PART 4 We have been looking at some passages of scripture from Paul’s writings and in vain, do we look for even the slightest suggestion that a church has official membership that discriminates among the Christians ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:29-30, Philippians 4:1-3, 3 John 1:9, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 2 Corinthians 2:6, Hebrews 13:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Baptsts And Church Membership Series

Contributed by Nathan Eyland on Mar 14, 2005

This is a fictional account of a young lady, Michelle Peterson. The purpose of this story-preaching is to try and demonstrate some of the reasons why Baptists developed a formal church membership along the lines that they did.

This is a fictional account of a young lady, Michelle Peterson. The purpose of this story is to try and demonstrate some of the reasons why Baptists developed a formal church membership along the lines that they did. Michelle Peterson was born in London, August 5th 1615. Her parents were traders. ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:8-13

Denomination: Baptist

About Formalism In Worship.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 31, 2023

It is not good when our worship is nothing more than a formality, rather than an engagement with the One whom we are supposedly worshipping.

ABOUT FORMALISM IN WORSHIP. Psalm 50:7-15. Taken as a whole, the content of this Psalm appears as a court case, with El Elohim Yahweh, “the Mighty God the LORD” (cf. Psalm 50:1) presiding as Judge (cf. Psalm 50:6) - and God’s covenant people in the dock (cf. Psalm 50:5). Here the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:7-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer And Formal Requests

Contributed by Steven Boyns on Feb 4, 2006

For the last few weeks we’ve been sharing with you a series of messages on one of the most crucial practices of every Christian – that of prayer. And we said from the beginning, that the action of prayer ought not be viewed as an option for the Christian

For the last few weeks we’ve been sharing with you a series of messages on one of the most crucial practices of every Christian – that of prayer. And we said from the beginning, that the action of prayer ought not be viewed as an option for the Christian, but as an obligation. And prayer, as it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Church For The Churched

Contributed by Steve Hereford on Aug 25, 2006

Who is the church for? Believers or unbelievers? Or to use more contemporary terms - churched or unchurched. Listen today as Pastor Steve addresses who is the church in the midst of the seeker-sensitive movement.

Recently I was invited to attend a church planters conference in Lake Yale. At that conference I was exposed to various teaching and methods for reaching the unchurched. As I sat there and listened and took notes, I couldn’t help to think how we have somehow missed it when it comes to the purpose ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

House Churches PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 12, 2023

Explore the role, value, and effectiveness of house churches in the New Testament era, and how we can apply these principles to our own faith communities today.

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ. I am excited today to dive into a topic that is close to my heart - the role, value, and effectiveness of house churches in the New Testament era. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, "I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Topics: House Church, Home Group

Church Discipline Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Mar 6, 2010

In many churches around the world today, the subject of church discipline is marginalised, downplayed or ignored. Many modern churches worried about the excesses in church discipline that have occurred throughout history, have regrettably allowed a severe

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. Hebrews 12:11 In many churches around the world today, the subject of church discipline is marginalised, downplayed or ignored. Many ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Church At Sardis Series

Contributed by John Mccurry on Nov 28, 2007

The Church at Sardis, a name that said it was alive but Christ said you are dead

Wednesday, March 29, 2006 The Church of Sardis The Church with a Name that is Alive, but was Dead Rev 3: 1- 6 Dates for those interested in Church Age, 1520 – 1790 Many believe that as this Church pictures the Church of Reformation that began in 1520 believe that it continues until this day, the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Devil In The Church

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 12, 2005

There’s a bullseye atop our churches which the prince of the power of the air sees as he roams, seeking whom he may devour. His method of harming the church is "infiltration." Link included to Formatted Text and Powerpoint Template.

The Devil in the Church Eph. 6:11, 12 [Hundreds of free sermons and Powerpoints at website...link at bottom!] “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

Women, Worship, And Church Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 15, 2012

We consider the role of women in worship and the church.

Introduction We now close up the section about worship. Our passage leads us to consider the role of women in worship and the church. Text As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:33-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Why Is It Unwise To Underestimate People With Less Formal Education?

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

In this passage we read, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13) There is a tendency for the formally educate

In this passage we read, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13) There is a tendency for the formally educated to look down on those without formal ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:13-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Triumphant Joy Defended Series

Contributed by Derrick Strickland on Mar 19, 2016

Paul reminds us that our Joy must be defended against things that rob of us of Joy.

NTRO: 1. So far Paul has taught us that it’s important for us to understand or define triumphant Joy, then he revealed to us how we can refine or develop that Joy… but tonight Paul sees it important to remind us that our joy must always be defended. 2. It may came as no surprise for ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-21

Denomination: Pentecostal