Sermons on Gregory P Elder:

The Office Of The Pastor

Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Mar 15, 2013

The pastoral ministry is one of the five perfecting ministries God gave to men so that Christians may come to spiritual maturity. Apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and pastors are the governing body of the church. The office or ministry of the pa

The Office of the Pastor Ephesians 4:11-16 - And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

Denomination: Charismatic

Faithful Followers

Contributed by Paul Apple on Oct 18, 2000

Big Idea: FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS HELP THE PERSECUTED CHURCH STAND STRONG IN THE GRACE OF GOD H.

Big Idea: FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS HELP THE PERSECUTED CHURCH STAND STRONG IN THE GRACE OF GOD H. Gordon Selfridge built up one of the world's larges department stores in London. He achieved success by being a leader, not a boss. Here is his own comparison of the two types of executives: The boss drives ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Snake On The Pole

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 8, 2010

Let nothing--nothing!--turn your attention from your snake on the pole--let nothing distract you from your Savior on the cross. Through such seemingly silly ways, God gives to you--not a snake on the pole--but His Son on the cross.

Introduction That whole snake-on-a-pole thing must have sounded insane to some of the Israelites. Stare at a bronze serpent and you’ll be healed? That sounds ridiculous. It must’ve sounded just silly enough that some Israelites started looking for more reasonable solutions to the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 21:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran

The Unity In The Church: Antioch To Help Jerusalem Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 14, 2017

The Antioch Christians saved up and assisted the Judean Christians when the famine struck. Paul and Barnabas were chosen to take the offering to Jerusalem.

May 29, 2014 Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles By: Tom Lowe Lesson: III.E.4: The Unity in the Church: Antioch to Help Jerusalem (11:27-30) Note: The Revised Standard Version is used throughout, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:27-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Prodigal Who Stayed Home

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Jun 16, 2005

How do you know if you are inching away from a relationship with God? The story of the Prodigal Son features two sons - this is the one who don’t often hear about. Yet he usually bears the closest resemblance to those in the church.

The Prodigal Who Stayed Home Luke 15:1, 2, and 25-32 "Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such despicable people - even eating with them!" These two verses from ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Church Growth

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 27, 2001

More ideas on what it will take to make a church grow.

CHURCH GROWTH Acts 18:7-8 INTRO.- ILL.- Top 10 Ways You Know You’re In A Bad Church 10. The church bus has gun racks. 9 . The church staff consists of Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor and Socio-pastor. 8. The Bible they use is the "Dr. Seuss Version." 7. There’s an ATM in the lobby. 6. The choir ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:7-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Prodigal Who Stayed Home Series

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Jun 22, 2015

This message speaks of the son of interest to Jesus in his most well-known story - not on the prodigal who left home, but the prodigal who stayed home. Of particular interest is the difference in this son's response and the Fathers to the other.

The Prodigal Who Stayed Home Luke 15:1, 2, and 25-32 "Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such despicable people - even eating with them!" These two verses from ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Life Is Like A Baseball Game

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Sep 1, 2004

1- We’re on a team, so be a team player. 2- We have a coach, so listen to him. 3- We may get hurt, so what? Play anyway.

INTRO.- Everyone should have a goal in life. Goals give motivation to our lives whether it’s the game of baseball or the Christian life. ILL.- A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball and bat: "I’m the greatest ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:14, 1 Timothy 4:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Real, Old-Fashioned Church Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Mar 7, 2003

Paul says four things need to be present for the building up of the church. The two we generally ignore are the ones where we listen to God directly.

Real, Old-Fashioned Church: Becoming A Festival pt. 5 March 1/2, 2003 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 Intro: We have spent the past four weeks talking about worship, and about our vision for worship depicted by the idea of a festival. I¡¦ve been excited to see the Spirit of God moving in our midst, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:26-33

Denomination: Baptist

When Heaven Is Silent

Contributed by Chris Talton on Jan 15, 2002

What do we do when even with all our prayers and all our begging of God, heaven is silent?

September 30, 2001 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 “When heaven is silent” INTRODUCTION We love stories about answered prayer. We get a thrill hearing accounts of God’s miraculous interventions in people’s lives, even as God intervened in Ryan Williams’ life. It motivates us to be more diligent about ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Before The Impartial Judge

Contributed by Duke Jeffries on Oct 18, 2000

A. Introduction 1.

A. Introduction 1. The apostle Paul was one of the great thinkers of his day. His reputation as a scholar, theologian, and philosopher extended far beyond the confines of the Christian community. The Epistle to the Romans has stood the test of time as the greatest single exposition of the Gospel ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:1-16

Like Your Labor

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Sep 1, 2001

A Labor Day message about work and learning to like it.

LIKE YOUR LABOR Col. 3:23-24 INTRO.- ILL.- When John F. Kennedy was campaigning for the presidency in the late 50’s, he visited a coal mine in West Virginia. One coal miner said, “Mr. Kennedy, is it true that you’re the son of one of the wealthiest men in America?” Kennedy said, “yes, it ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Have A Purpose (Part 2) Series

Contributed by David Owens on Oct 14, 2008

We need to discover our specific SHAPE so that we will know what kinds of service God has ordained for us.

A. The story is told of a little boy named Johnny who had trouble pronouncing the letter “R”. 1. To try to help him with the problem, his teacher gave him this sentence to practice at home: “Robert gave Richard a rap in the rib for roasting the rabbit so rare.” 2. A few days later the teacher ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pain Has A Purpose

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Mar 13, 2006

We all know pain is going to be a part of life. The main question is "why". If I understand God’s purpose for pain I can deal with it.

March 12, 2006 Second Sunday in the Season of Lent -------------------------------------------------- Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: United Methodist

He Chose The Nails Series

Contributed by Jonathan Mcleod on Oct 2, 2006

Since Christ was fully devoted to us, is it too much for Him to expect full devotion from us?

In the distance I see a cross. This is not an unusual sight. Crucifixion is the Roman’s favorite method of execution. I have walked by many crucifixions at this same spot. But a larger than normal crowd has gathered to witness this cross. I wonder why so many people are interested in the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:13-15

Denomination: Baptist