Sermons on Local Church Conference:

Who Needs The Church?

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Jul 4, 2001

For anyone who wants to know God, the church is essential.

Let’s imagine it’s sometime this afternoon. You’re at home, working in the front yard, and you see a moving van stop a couple of houses down the street. Two men get out of the truck and start unloading furniture. Then you see a minivan pull up to the curb, and a family gets out. You want to be a ...read more

Scripture: John 15:4-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Shepherd, The Sheep, And The Church

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Jul 7, 2001

This sermon speaks of the relationship between Christ and His church as that of the Shepherd and sheep. It looks at some of Satan’s pitfalls in the church, as thieves and robbers, and relates the sheepfold to the church.

The Shepherd, The Sheep, And the Church Introduction: I believe that of the many images that Jesus identifies Himself with in the New Testament, one that brings solace to many is that of the shepherd. Many stained glass windows in our churches portray Jesus as ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Culturally-Relevant Church Series

Contributed by Bob Hostetler on Jul 11, 2001

Casting the vision for a culturally relevant, twenty-first century church

The Catalytic Church: The Culturally-Relevant Church Scripture Reading: Acts 17:16-34 Dave and Diane had just moved, because of Dave’s job, to the small town of Catoosa, Oklahoma. The young couple had been struggling in many ways before, but the move made things worse. Diane had no ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Member-Run Church Series

Contributed by Bob Hostetler on Jul 11, 2001

Casting the vision for a member-run church, promoting the identity of every believer as a priest and minister of our God

The Catalytic Church: The Member-Run Church Scripture Reading: Isaiah 61:1-6a Maybe you’ve heard about the two women who stood side by side on the sidewalk in the middle of the night watching the only church in the neighborhood burn to the ground. And as they stood there, one woman ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Becoming A Church Of Greatness Series

Contributed by Adam Cruse on Jul 23, 2001

What does a great church look like and how can we have one?

Leadership Magazine carried a story about 4 young men, Bible College students, who were renting a house together. One Saturday morning someone knocked on their door. And when they opened it, there stood this bedraggled-looking old man. His eyes were kind of marbleized, & he had a silvery stub of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Rules Of A Pentcostal Church

Contributed by Rick Macdonald on Aug 8, 2001

As we look at spiritual gifts, we need to first look as love.

Title: The Rules of a Pentecostal Church Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 Date: November 5, 1995 By: Pastor Rick MacDonald Introduction: Life is governed by rules. Without rules - absolutes - we become people who have no boundaries and therefore are controlled only by our urges. As a result we live ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Church God Favors Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Aug 9, 2001

This is the second sermon in the series "Becoming A Contagious Congregation, A Study of the Church at Antioch".

There was something special about the church at Antioch. We’ve already seen (in the first sermon in this series) that God’s hand was on them because they were a praying, Spirit-filled congregation. Notice what Luke says about the way Barnabas perceived the church at Antioch. In Acts 11:23 it ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-30

Denomination: Baptist

Hindrances To The Growth Of The Church

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 13, 2001

Hindrances to the Growth of the Church

Hindrances to the Growth of the Church Learning Objective The students will be able to explain some of the major hindrances to the qualitative and quantitative growth of the church. Introduction - When a child is not growing we look for causes. The child may not be growing because he is not ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Qualifications Of A Church Planter

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 13, 2001

Qualifications of a Church Planter

Qualifications of a Church Planter I. Spiritual Characteristics A. Committed to Christ, the Church, and to the great commission of Matthew 28:19,20. B. Possessing the gifts, callings, and leading to plant and grow a church. C. Filled by the Spirit of God to love people who may not be ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Well Balanced Church

Contributed by Carl Willis on Apr 14, 2001

God’s word shows us the essential ingredients for a vibrant, healthy church.

A Well Balanced Church Acts 2:44 - 47 1. A balanced diet leads to good health A. The church is the Body of Christ B. A healthy body naturally grows C. A healthy body is not as succeptible to disease D. If any one element is too dominant the body is out of balance 2. The elements that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:44-47

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Human Church Signs

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Apr 17, 2001

What the lives of individual followers of Christ are saying about Christ and the church to the world around them.

Recently we were thinking about getting a new church sign. The old one doesn’t communicate well. It’s not only out of date, it just doesn’t stand out. The impression it makes doesn’t create curiosity and interest in our church to passers by. Made me think about our lives as believers in Christ. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

What's Right With The Church

Contributed by Don Hutto on May 3, 2001

Anybody can tell what’s wrong with the church but we need to emphasize what’s right with the church.

What’s Right With The Church Matthew 16:13-18 I. Introduction My wife and I had the opportunity to be out of town this last weekend, and we visited another church. As soon as service was over I caught myself pointing out what was wrong with the church. Their bulletin was different than ours. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

Why The Church Is Important Series

Contributed by Michael Demastus on Oct 22, 2001

Deals with the first chapter of 1 Timothy.

The Message of the Pastoral Epistles: #2 – Why the church is important. 1 Timothy 1 Introduction: *Truth without love is dogmatism. Love without truth is sentimentality. Speaking the truth in love is Christianity. *As we dive into this series, this first chapter is short…only 20 verses long. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Church-Bethany Style

Contributed by James Groce on Nov 25, 2001

Bethany represents UNFULFILLED POTENTIAL

------------------------------------------ Luke 10:38-42 38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman namedMartha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha ...read more

Scripture: John 11:43-44

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Power Of God In The Church

Contributed by Dr. Phillip Paschal on Nov 27, 2001

The controlling power of God in His people and in the church.

THE POWER OF GOD IN THE CHURCH EPHESIANS 3:20-21 ONLY GOD’S POWER CAN TRANSFORM THE CHURCH INTO WHAT HE WANTS THE CHURCH TO BE. IT IS HIS POWER THAT QUICKENS US, JOHN 6:63 TEACHES, “IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT QUICKENETH.” WE ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF DIVINE POWER. THEREFORE, ONCE WE ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21

Denomination: Baptist