Sermons on Joining A Church:

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

Remember Who You Are What You Stand For And Be Home By 11 Series

Contributed by Denny Feasby on May 21, 2008

A series to call the Baptist Church back to its fundamental root.

Remember Who You Are What You Stand For And Be In By 11 (Knowing Your Heritage) Rev 2:1-5 Intro: We had a good year last year we were able to regain some financial footing, many of us can say that we grew spiritually last year as a result of the Discovery Project and we added new members as well ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Reset How You See The Church PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 12, 2025

The sermon calls us to embody genuine care, unity, and service within the church, using our gifts to build up and honor one another as family.

Some of you come in today with hearts that feel heavy. Some of you come in humming with hope. All of us come in needing grace. You are seen. You are loved. You are welcome. And the God who calls us into His family is here. When God thinks of His church, He doesn’t picture a cold institution. He ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Topics: Church, Community

Can I Really Believe In The Church? Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 4, 2003

The five purposes of the church, as displayed by 5 images Jesus used to describe the church, and how Christians fit into the picture.

Ephesians 4:1-16 – Can I Believe in the Church? I’m told that in a museum in Greenwich Village, Detroit, MI, there is a huge steam locomotive. Beside this complicated machine, there is a sign showing boiler pressure, size, the number of wheels, horsepower, lengths, weight and so on. The bottom ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Being A Diverse But Christ Focussed Church

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Jan 26, 2014

Being a Christian church means following Jesus command to make disciples of people of all nations, which means we will be a community of diverse people. We explore why this is important, what it means for us and how to live with differences in our church

There is something important for everyone in our congregation to think deeply about. Do you see differences as a blessing or a problem? How you answer this question is important, as it will influence how you live and act. It will influence how you be part of the church. The church in Corinth had a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Denomination: Lutheran

The Missing Link In Understanding Leadership In The Church

Contributed by Patrick Usifo on Jun 4, 2020

Many in our community find it difficult to understand that a Christian leader serves those that he leads differently from the world concept.

Today, in our world, the most important subject hardly discussed among believers is the reign and the governing rule of Christians with Christ in the present dispensation and the future to come.  In fact, a good number of believers shy away, not wanting the hot seat of talking about the role ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:22-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lost In Wonder, Love, And Praise

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 26, 2008

We have a tendency to get lost in activities, especially church activities. The church that is worthy of getting lost in focuses on Christ, serves people, and calls for specific new commitments.

The other night I caught a TV show that featured people showing off the peculiar talents of their pets. One man brought a tiny little dog and proceeded to wind up its tail, sort of cranking the tail, much as you used to have to wind up a mechanical toy. Then he let go and the poor puppy ran round ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Responsibility Of The Body Toward The Elders Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Feb 13, 2012

The body is responsible to respect, compensate, protect, rebuke, submit to and pray for the elders.

This morning we’ll be looking at the third of four messages that deal with the Biblical model for church leadership that we are attempting to implement the very best we know how here at TFC. Since each of these messages builds on the previous ones, let’s take a moment to review what we’ve learned ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:17-22

Denomination: Baptist

What Happens When We All Put Our Hands Together

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 17, 2011

Meant to help people hear the importance of being an “active” member in the Body and to make sure that they are participating as fully as they possibly can. A "diamond sermon," to be interspersed with songs, drama, testimony, and participation Dominan

Story – A loaded station wagon pulls into the only remaining campsite. Four youngsters leap from the vehicle and begin feverishly unloading gear and setting up a tent. The boys then rush off to gather firewood, while the girls and their mother set up the camp stove and cooking utensils. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Basis For Our Covenant Series

Contributed by George Bannister on Aug 19, 2010

Introductory message of series on the Church Covenant.

SERIES: The Church, a Body in Covenant” TITLE: “The Basis For Our Covenant” TEXT: 1 Corinthians 12:18-27 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:18-27

Denomination: Baptist

Followship - The Essence Of True Fellowship Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Nov 6, 2010

Jesus calls us to join HIM, He does not seek our invitation for Him to join us... the road to discipleship is a hard road of persecution, pain and suffering... it is a road that requires great discipline, absolute submission and complete obedience... howe

Sermon Brief Date Written: November 3, 2010 Date Preached: November 6, 2010 Where Preached: Oak Park Baptist Church (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: Reaching Our Community – TRUE Fellowship – Sermon 6 Sermon Title: Followship – The ESSENCE of TRUE ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-39

Denomination: Baptist

I Will Save The Unity Of Our Church Series

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Dec 30, 2003

The sermon introduces the series and stresses the importance of protecting the unity of the church that Christ died to give us.

Somerset Membership Covenant I Will Save the Unity of Our Church Ephesians 4:3 January 4, 2004 Intro: A. [illustration] A visitor to a mental hospital was astonished to note that there were only three guards watching over a hundred dangerous inmates. He asked his guide, “Don’t you fear that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God’s Method For Church Growth

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Aug 30, 2022

In this sermon I want to show you GOD’S METHOD FOR CHURCH GROWTH.

Please notice, I said God’s Method For Church Growth. Before we get into God’s Method of Church growth let me talk to you about two MAN MADE METHODS FOR CHURCH GROWTH that is being used by liberal churches all over this nation. There are many ideas today about church growth, but some of these ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Looking For The Perfect Church: Part One Series

Contributed by Mike Rickman on Jan 11, 2003

If you are looking for the perfect church just close your eyes and pretend there is nothing else going on in the world. Jonah did and look where it got him.

January 12, 2003 Morning Service Text: Jonah 1:1-17 Subject: Running from God Title: Looking for the Perfect Church: Part One There are people out there who move from church to church to church hoping that someday they will find just the right one. It will be the one where everything is just ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God