Sermons on Heart For The Church:

Message 1 - 1thessalonians Chapter 1 - A Church You’d Like To Belong To Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 27, 2022

Paul had such a refreshing memory of the Thessalonians and they were dear to his heart. In part, Paul recounts his time among them, and their wonderful testimony and their waiting for the Lord. There are 2 separate messages for Chapter 1.

MESSAGE 1 - 1THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 1 - A CHURCH YOU’D LIKE TO BELONG TO {{1Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.”}} INTRODUCTION The opening verse of 1Thessalonians is so typical ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Acts 26:14, Acts 17:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:17-21, Malachi 3:2-3, 1 John 2:28-29, 1 Corinthians 15:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Jesus Will Build His Church

Contributed by Jerry Smith on Aug 31, 2011

Expansion of the phrase Jesus said "I will build My church".

Our son Jeremy loves building things with Legos. Now he is a project manager for a commercial construction company. When he started college his major was as an architect. During the Christmas break we were talking and he came to the conclusion that he wanted to build things and not draw them. Where ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Denomination: Baptist

Fellowship, More Than Pot-Luck

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Jul 28, 2008

This sermon examines the meaning of churh fellowship.

Tonight we are going to share a pot-luck meal. Everyone is asked to bring dishes of their favorite foods. Pot-luck suppers are wonderful. We enjoy the food. We enjoy the laughs. We enjoy the time of sharing with others. These are special times. We tend to refer to them as fellowships. However, to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Right Church For The New Christian To Join

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 29, 2010

The right Church for the new Christian to join (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: Acts chapter 2 verses 42-47. Ill: Sign on a Church notice board. • When you were born, your mother brought you to church. • When you were married, your wife brought you to church. • When you die, your friends will bring you to church. • Why not try ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Brethren

Guarding Against The Enemy's Schemes Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Mar 16, 2025

In this sermon, we will explore biblical examples of individuals who guarded their minds, hearts, and actions, and remained under the cover of God's protection.

The Bible warns us that the devil is like a roaring lion, seeking to devour those who are not prepared to resist his attacks (1 Peter 5:8). Sin, whether secret or open, can give the enemy a foothold in our lives, leading to destructive consequences such as broken relationships, anger issues, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:4, Job 1:21-22

What A Church Should Be: Why Is Church So Often So Boring? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 19, 2009

True or false: God loves to party?

A Common Problem: Church is boring. - Why is church so often a joy-less affair? - Ask for participation on boring services they’ve been to. My story: the guy in Louisville who fluffed up his jacket, laid down in the pew, and went to sleep. - Further, why are Christians so often long-faced, ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

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 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/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

Moving Toward Spiritual Discernment-4

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Sep 15, 2020

4 of ? The apostle John sheds light on the need for Spiritual Discernment in the Church. Spiritual Discernment is a necessity in the Church. •But How is it to be achieved/accomplished? Moving(yourself, the Church, & others) toward spiritual discernment recognizes...

MOVING TOWARD SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT-IV—1John 3:10--4:21 Attention: I have a west-facing window in my office that looks over across 1st St. If something I find interesting happens outside, I put on my glasses because I am near-sighted. I do that so I can clearly see what is transpiring. I might ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:14

Denomination: Baptist

God's Symphony PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2023

Explore God's unconditional love, our responsibility to love and correct each other as church members, and the transformative power of forgiveness.

Good morning, beloved family of God! As Max Lucado once said, "God loves you simply because He has chosen to do so. He loves you when you don't feel lovely. He loves you when no one else loves you. Others may abandon you, divorce you, and ignore you, but God will love you always. No matter what." ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20

Topics: Church

The Devil In Pew Number Seven

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 1, 2012

Pastors are to fulfil the ministry God has assigned with the help of strong, godly leaders from within the congregation.

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:28-32

Denomination: Baptist

You Can Be Sure About The Church

Contributed by David Hersey on Mar 26, 2015

There are a lot of churches out there to choose from. Jesus only promised to build one, He only bled for one, He only died for one and He is the head of only one. Since Jesus established only one, how can we be sure we are members of that one church?

Recognizing the Church (You can be sure part 2) Jesus promised to build only one church. Matthew 16:18, "and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." Jesus shed His blood and died for only one church. Ephesians 5:25, "Husbands, love your wives, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 4:4-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Upon This Rock PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Dec 18, 2023

This sermon emphasizes our identity as part of God's prevailing church, built on Christ's foundation, invincible, and a beacon of hope in the world.

Greetings, beloved family of God. It's such a joy to be gathered here today, united in faith, bound by love, and fortified by the eternal truth of God's Word. We are here, not by accident, but by divine appointment. Our gracious Father, in His infinite wisdom, has drawn us together to consider a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Topics: Church

Back To The Basics - Prayer Series

Contributed by Mark Engler on Sep 28, 2017

Here is my challenge to you this week. It is 2 part. Part 1 — When you pray, don’t skip the details. Express to God your heart and your mind. Express your concerns and your joys. Express you compassion and love. He wants to hear the details.

Back to the Basics - Prayer ME Today is supposed to be devoted to talking about prayer and I promise that I will get to that but I cannot just come back from Haiti and not talk about that at least a little bit. I do plan to put together a presentation to talk about it more at a latter date. As ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47, Luke 22:39-46, James 5:14-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ