Sermons on Local Church Purpose:

Living With Purpose

Contributed by Benjamin Sharpe on Aug 16, 2002

God has a specific goal and purpose for his Church and for each individual Christian. Satan’s intention is to cause the Church and the individual Christian to deviate from that destiny and, in so doing, to thwart the will and design of God.

Luke 4:1-13 Living With Purpose The temptation of Jesus was for the purpose of distracting him from his ultimate goal and purpose in life. And that goal, that destiny, was to go to the cross as the atoning sacrifice for humanity. Satan’s intent in the wilderness was to defeat God’s purpose for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Definition And Biblical Basis Of The Church Series

Contributed by Clyde Grimes on Jun 25, 2003

3 of 18 messages on moving toward greater health as a church.

Definition and Biblical Basis of the Church (NTC4T-3) I. The Church Defined A. What it is not 1. A denomination 2. To be confused with Israel 3. The same as the kingdom of God B. What it is 1. Universal Church 2. Local body II. The Biblical Basis of the Church A. A covenant relationship with ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, Romans 11:11-20

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Church Zoo

Contributed by Phil Dyar on Mar 26, 2005

THE LOCAL ZOO IS NOT THE ONLY ZOO I HAVE BEEN TO, I HAVE BEEN TO THE CHURCH ZOO.

MATTHEW 7:15-20 LETS READ INTRO. BEFORE I PREACH ON THE CHURCH ZOO LETS NOTICE THE TWO"S FOUND IN THIS CHAPTER A. MAT.7:13 TWO GATES -STRAIT AND WIDE. B. MAT.7:13-14 TWO WAYS-BROAD AND NARROW. C. MAT.7:13-14 TWO CLASSES-MANY AND FEW. D. MAT.7:17 TWO TREES-GOOD AND CORRUPT. E. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:15-20

What Every Church Should Be

Contributed by Dean Morgan on Sep 8, 2004

some churches are closer to the NT ideal than others. The church at Thessalonica was in that category.

TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 TITLE: WHAT EVERY CHURCH SHOULD BE No doubt you have heard people say, “If you ever find the perfect church, please don’t join it. If you do, it won’t be perfect any more!” Since local churches are made up of human beings, saved by God’s grace, no church is perfect. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

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 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

Characteristics Of The Early Church

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Jun 4, 2003

To look at characteristics of the early church in order to become more like them

Characteristics of the Early Church Acts 4:13,27-33 Purpose Statement: To call the church to renew it’s vision to be a New Testament Church Introduction Many of the characteristics of the church in America today were not seen in the days of the early church. We need to look back to see what ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:13-33

Denomination: Baptist

Essentials For A Powerful Church

Contributed by David Dewitt on Jun 18, 2003

This was my June devotional for the Leadership team meeting that examines the powerful qualities of the Antioch church.

Essentials for A Powerful Church Acts 11:19-21 Leadership Board Meeting June 10, 2003 Introduction What does it mean to have a powerful church? What does a powerful church look like? Do we have a powerful church? AC 11:19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-21

Denomination: Church Of God

The Start Of A New Church Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jul 4, 2003

Imagine a cold dark prison. You see a prisoner hunched over writing a letter. He is writing a love letter from his prison cell. This love letter is to a church that he loves dearly. You see this man in prison is the Apostle Paul. He is writing this letter

Read: Philippians 1:1-2 Imagine a cold dark prison. You see a prisoner there chained to the guards. This prisoner is unassuming in appearance and for the moment is very quiet. He is hunched over and completely absorbed in a letter he is writing. He is writing a love letter from his prison cell. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-2, Acts 16:11-40

Denomination: Baptist

The Church As A Prophet Of God

Contributed by William Baeta on Jul 5, 2003

“I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘thus says the Lord God.’ As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse – for they are a rebellious house – yet they will know that a prophet has been among them” Ez. 2:4-5.

Theme: The Church as a prophet of God Text: Ez. 2:1-5; 2 Cor. 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-6 We have been watching and listening to what has been going on at the National Reconciliation Committee meetings and I believe God is using this forum to speak to us as Ghanaians. As Ghanaians the allegations coming ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6, Exodus 2:1-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Church's Main Business.

Contributed by Melvin Shelton on Aug 23, 2004

Any organization, institution or business justifies its existence only in so far as it carries out the purpose for which it was founded.

The church’s main business. Matthew 28:16 -- 20. 08/15/04 In your opinion, what is the church’s main business? Why has this church been sitting in Sandy Ridge for a number of years? Any organization, institution or business justifies its existence only in so far as it carries out the purpose ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Denomination: Baptist

What's Right With The Church

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Feb 14, 2003

Often we hear folks talk about what’s wrong with the church...but that which is RIGHT with the church is what we need to share with the world.

What’s RIGHT With the Church! "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:46-47

Denomination: Baptist

The Church As A Filled Community Series

Contributed by Galen Hackman on Mar 1, 2003

Second in a series of 5 sermons on the Core Characteristics of the Church. Acts 2:42-47 describes the nature of the Early Church and in this sermon we see how God filled their daily lives and how he desires to fill ours.

The Church as a Filled Community (Second in the series: The Core Characteristics of the Church) Acts 2:43 John 14:15-21 For our Lenten emphasis this year we are embarking on a journey that takes us inside the early community of believers, asking the question, “What made these people able to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47, John 14:15-21

Denomination: Brethren

The Church With The Open Door

Contributed by Mike Turner on Dec 26, 2003

A sermon on the church at Philadelphia. What does a open door mean ?

THE CHURCH WITH AN OPEN DOOR Revelation 3:7-13 Letter written to Church at Philadelphia(brotherly love) Written by Christ who has the keys to unlock doors that are locked..and lock doors that are open. This shows his sovereignty, and superiority over the church. If Jesus desires for something to ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Spirit-Filled Church

Contributed by Chris Talton on Jan 14, 2004

When a church possesses all the characteristics of a Spirit-filled church, it will attract new people to God and to the church

January 11, 2004 Acts 2:42-47 “The Spirit-filled church” INTRODUCTION Have you ever noticed how much time and energy we as a society spend on being attractive to one another? To get an idea, it only takes a quick trip into Wal-Mart. One very large section is labeled beauty aids. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Baptist