Sermons on Leaving Church:

The Equipping Factor Series

Contributed by Lance Hostetter on Apr 15, 2013

This sermon examines how Jesus prepared his disciples after the resurrection and prior to the ascenion.

“The Equipping Factor” Luke 24:36-49 Introduction: Asking a man or woman to go to war to fight and possibly die for a cause is one thing. Sending someone to battle with the right training or tools to defend themselves is a whole other thing. Illustartions from the Korean War: NO ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:36-49

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Near Death Experiences - Can A Person Die, Leave Their Body, And Then Return For A Second Chance?

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Mar 30, 2025

The belief that human beings have an eternal spirit and that it will return to a place in the afterlife known as Heaven or Hell are from Judeo-Christian teachings found in the Bible.

"Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living." (Genesis 2:7 NIV) The word “breathed” (Heb: ‘ruwach”) means wind or spirit. "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-4, Matthew 27:52, Acts 7:60, 1 Corinthians 7:39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Will Build My Church (Pt. 1) Series

Contributed by John Butler on Jul 14, 2009

The first mention of the "church" in scripture states that Christ would build it. This series explores His blue print for His church.

******SERMON OUTLINE******* I Will Build My Church – Part 1 I. Christ Will Build His Church... Praise the Lord! Turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew 16:18-19. Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18-19

First Love

Contributed by Dewayne Bolton on Jun 21, 2012

Often people become so involved in good and ligitimate things that they allow themselve to be pulled away for what is really their first love. It is intended to help us be careful lest we like the Ephesian church leave our first love thus loose it.

REVELATION 2:1-5 FIRST LOVE INTRO: A. John had been banished to the Island of Patmos and while there he was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit while worshipping God. a. Being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit he was shown thing which must shortly take place. b. I do not have time to elaborate on those ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-5

Denomination: Holiness

I Don't Need Church!

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Oct 7, 2015

What is the church? Is it necessary for a Christian to be connected to a local church if at all possible? What are the functions and benefits of the church? Why does the Lord think so highly of the Church if we don't?

We often say that context in reading Scripture is everything. But, getting the right verse is pretty important as well. At a wedding one of those involved was supposed to read 1 John 4:18 NASB which says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

Don't Let The Lord Have To Cut You Down

Contributed by John Johnson on Nov 10, 2008

This is a parable of the unbarren fig tree

Last Week we spoke about the parable of the weeds. This week we will be talking about the parable of fig tree. How many of you remember what we said a parable was last week? A parable is a earthly story with a heavenly meaning. The reason Jesus spoke in parables so that we might get a better ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-9

Denomination: Baptist

Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Flattery Series

Contributed by Neil Olcott on Sep 10, 2009

Paul continues on contrasting the life of an unbeliever over against a Christ follower. The point is there should be a difference! We are not to mimic those who are far from God, but rather, we should imitate God.

Eph. 5:1-20 Imitation is called the sincerest form of flattery! But we sometimes need to be careful who we are imitating! A new missionary recruit went to Venezuela for the first time. He was struggling with the language and didn’t understand a whole lot of what was going on. Intending to visit ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Whats That Smell?

Contributed by Richard Laraviere on Aug 9, 2008

Each believer is leaving a spiritual scent. What kind of secent are you leaving? One of death or one of life?

What’s that smell? Opening: 1. Have you ever thought of what do you smell like to those around you? 2. We ALL emit a scent or smell – if you don’t believe it, lean over to your neighbor and have a whiff 3. How good is your sniffer anyway? Human nose – good Dog nose – 300 times more ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Denomination: Mennonite

The Essential Practices Of The New Testament Church

Contributed by Michael Luke on Oct 2, 2011

A message about what happens in a congregation that relies on the power of the Holy Spirit and is obedient to God's word.

“ESSENTIAL PRACTICES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH” ACTS 2:42-47 OPEN A paramedic was being interviewed on a local Dallas TV news program. The host asked, “What was your most challenging and unusual 911 call?” The paramedic said, “It happened recently. We ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Keep God In The Calculations

Contributed by David Nolte on Jul 18, 2022

People often figure out what to add to, or subtract from, their lives. They try to multiply, or divide, pursuits in life. They often leave God out of the calculations.

Perhaps it began with marks in the dirt, then progressed to piles of stones, and then somewhere along the line came the abacus, but men have always had a means of calculating debts, payments and other quantities. These days we have desk calculators, computers, smart phones and even watches that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:16-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Jesus Gathering

Contributed by Mark Engler on May 19, 2015

When Jesus said He would build His church did He have in mind putting on a Sunday service or did He have in mind His people coming together in authentic relationship with each other? Is the church today doing what He intended. Not so sure we are.

The Jesus Gathering Matthew 16:13-20 INTRO: The church. That can mean a lot of different things today. It can mean the building in which we come to on Sunday mornings. It can mean the institution of the church. It can speak of a denomination. The Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What A Survey May Not Show

Contributed by Monty Newton on Jan 20, 2014

Despite all that is broken, the Church is called to be God's holy people in whom and through whom God is at work.

Title: What a Survey May Not Show Text: I Corinthians 1:1-9 Thesis: Despite all that is broken, the Church is called to be God’s holy people in whom and through whom God is at work. Introduction An airline pilot brought his plane down onto the runway out at DIA… actually he hammered ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dead Men Talking

Contributed by Mitchell Leonard on Dec 12, 2025

A sermon to adults on the message they will leave behind.

Dead Men Talking. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-6

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

God's Body Building Program Part 2 Series

Contributed by Greg Carr on Nov 20, 2013

A study about the church and a challenge to be a part of it.

Two friends were coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door as he always is to shake hands. He grabbed one of the friends by the hand and pulled him aside. The Pastor said to him, "You need to join the Army of the Lord!" The person replied, "I'm already in the Army ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Pentecostal