Sermons on Fourth Century:

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

Faith To Follow

Contributed by John Dobbs on Oct 2, 2020

Everything they did in this text was in preparation for the coming of the Lord. Centuries later we read this from the other side of the cross. We see Jesus prefigured throughout this text. Five truths that define our Faith Journey.

FAITH TO FOLLOW EXODUS 12:3-13 Introduction For the past few weeks we have followed the theme of faith through in the Bible. Adam and Eve found new beginnings through Faith. Abraham followed God by Faith when he looked at the heavens and believed. Joseph had a Faith that lasted through tough ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:3-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Divisions Over Spiritual Gifts

Contributed by Phillip Smith on Sep 11, 2024

Many divisions have occurred in Christian assemblies for centuries. Understanding or misunderstanding Spiritual Gifts given by grace to mankind from God has been the cause for divisions. Are these gifts still present today? Are they utilized properly?

Most of the time, assemblies of persons desiring to worship Almighty God will be filled with those who had been introduced to God by attending an assembly with their parents and grand-parents. However, some may be in attendance who never knew much concerning God and spiritual things. Now they are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-14, Ephesians 2:12, Isaiah 55:8-11, 1 John 4:1-3, Romans 12:6-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Antichrist Identified

Contributed by Richard Bowman on Sep 19, 2023

The word "antichrist" means "against Christ. John writes that Antichrist is in the world in the first century. There are many antichrist. To focus on the final antichrist while ignoring the antichrists among us misses the point.

THE ANTICHRIST IDENTIFIED Warsaw Christian Church, Richard Bowman, Pastor Text: 1 John 2:18-22: Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:18-22

Go! And Pray In The Spirit Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Dec 3, 2025

The 21st century believer is bombarded on every side — temptations, anxieties, cultural pressures, distractions, spiritual deception, and the subtle erosion of biblical conviction. Into this battlefield Paul gives us a clear command to pray in the Spirit.

Go! And Pray in the Spirit Introduction – Gripped by a Call to Battle Church, if there were ever a time when the people of God must awaken to the reality of spiritual warfare, it is now. The 21st century believer is bombarded on every side — temptations, anxieties, cultural pressures, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, Matthew 26:41, Colossians 4:2-3, Hebrews 4:16, Romans 10:13, Ephesians 2:1, Isaiah 59:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Rediscover Love Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Dec 21, 2020

Love breaks down every barrier that divides us. Nothing illustrates that better than the Christmas story itself.

Rediscover Love 1 John 4:7-16 Good morning. Please turn in your Bibles to 1 John 4. While you are finding 1 John, let me tell you a story. There were once two old farmers. Their farms shared a property line, and for generations their families had lived next to one another. Both farms benefitted ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-16, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Power Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Feb 13, 2025

James is going to end his book with a call to pray in all circumstances and encourage us to confess our sins to each other

James: Practical Faith (Part 2)  James 5:13-20 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church  02-09–2025 Gumball Theology I love gum balls. If we are somewhere that has gumboil machines, Maxine will make sure to have quarters for me. But what if I just stood there, staring at ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

A Farewell Message Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Jun 7, 2025

Acts 20:13-38 teaches us that God sovereignly preserves his church through faithful elders.

Introduction Toward the end of his second term as the first U. S. president, George Washington announced his retirement from office in a letter addressed to the American people on September 17, 1796. Though many people feared a United States without Washington, the address assured the young ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:13-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Father, Forgive Them Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

So what do we learn about Jesus? First, prayer was at the heart of Jesus’ life. The second thing we learn is that no person is beyond hope. Third, don’t stop praying. Fourth, don’t forget the mission

“Father, forgive them” Luke 23:33-38 The last words of a person’s life are a mysterious thing. Some last words reveal a lot about the personality of the person. They can speak volumes about their heart and who they are. P. T. Barnum, d. 1891 “How were the receipts today at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:33-38

Denomination: Methodist

Narnia: Life Without Value Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on Dec 4, 2005

We value life because Jesus has made the difference through history.

WHAT IF JESUS HAD NEVER BEEN BORN? LIFE WITHOUT VALUE Genesis 1:27 S: Jesus’ Importance in all of Life C: The essentiality of the Incarnation Th: What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? Pr: WE HAVE VALUE. ?: How? How is it observed? KW: Issues TS: Because we have God-given value, we will consider ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:27

Denomination: Baptist

Forsaken By God? Series

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Mar 11, 2018

In his fourth word from the cross, Jesus expresses being forsaken by God. He points out to the exchange that happened that day: our sin on him, God's forgiveness on us. Our right response is to live thankful lives that count the cost of sin.

Forsaken by God? Seven Last Words from the Cross Part 4 * Matthew 27:45-46 Have you ever been in a God-forsaken place? Maybe it was a TDY trip to the middle of nowhere. Worse yet, maybe it was a PCS! And the word “permanent” in permanent change of station becomes a curse. Or maybe your ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:16-18, Matthew 27:45-46

Denomination: Baptist

The Holy Spirit's Community Series

Contributed by Gregg Strawbridge on Apr 12, 2003

In leading to this first community produced by Jesus through the Spirit, we have seen that Pentecost is likened to the Shekinah glory: As the glory of the Holy Spirit filled the earthly tabernacle, and then the Jerusalem temple, the church born at Penteco

INTRODUCTION The great church historian, Phillp Schaff, whose library is here in Lancaster said: "As to the numerical strength of Christianity at the close of the first century, we have no information whatever. Statistical reports were unknown in those days. The estimate of half a million among ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jul 30, 2003

Jesus: Friend of Sinners, Part 2 of 7.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN (LUKE 7:36-50) I had known for quite a while an elderly man who had two sons. The older son was the valedictorian of his school, a researcher at a Forbes 500 company and a visiting professor at a graduate school. The younger son paled in comparison; he was an average ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Drama Of Christma

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Feb 6, 2007

Matthew presents what Fred Craddock calls "the hard side of Christmas." But in a world that is getting increasing smaller and tremendously more urban, its message may be more relevant to us than the others for Matthew has a Christmas message for the city.

The Drama of Christmas Matthew 1-2 In our day there is a cultural and social battle over the meaning of Christmas. The battle has extended from the schoolyard to the courtyard. However, the battle over Christmas has not only impacted schools and public places. The struggle over the meaning of ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Crucifixion Series

Contributed by David Owens on Dec 3, 2007

In this sermon I review the events leading up to the crucifixion, talk about the significance of Jesus’ death, and then talk about our response.

Introduction: A. It was a day when the world seemed to stand still. 1. The date was November 22, 1963. 2. President John F. Kennedy sat in the rear seat of an open limousine as it traveled down the streets of Dallas, Texas. 3. At 12:30 p.m., the cars approached an expressway for the last leg of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:6-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ