Sermons on Local Outreach:

Dead End Series

Contributed by Sam Peters on May 4, 2007

A contemporary message for the "Make a Fresh Start" Series inspired by Outreach. This is part one of a four part series. It’s focus is on the hope we have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was given on Easter Sunday night.

Make a Fresh Start Series Are You at a Dead End? Remember when you were a kid and you’d play some game and something would happen while you were playing that messed you up and you’d cry out “do-over”. Well, in life sometimes we’d like a “do-over”. We’d like to make a fresh start. Do you remember ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:10-31

A God-Led People Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jul 8, 2015

After weeks of study and planning, the leadership of our congregation is launching our Vision and Mission statements to the congregation. This boils down to: Being God-Led; Outreach-Centered; and Church Equipping. This lesson deals with the first aspect.

1. Pioneering Vision About 350 years ago a group of immigrants landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness. In ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bigger Hearts For Lost People

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Feb 6, 2007

What was it that transformed a semi-defeated Bible study group meeting in an upper room in Jerusalem into this highly energized, Holy Spirit empowered, life-giving local church? The inundation of 3000 new converts on Pentecost Day.

Building Bigger Hearts for Lost People I would like to start with a multiple-choice question: Which of these would most likely transform the average sleepy, tradition-bound local church into a dynamic, fired-up, community of faith? Which of the following events? A) Burning the hymnbooks, and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Precious Saints Of God

Contributed by Vernon L Caruthers on May 1, 2005

There are some precious saints in our local churches that are blessings to both the pastor and the membership of the church. We give God thanks for these precious people who serve God.

Precious Memories: Text: Philippians 1: 3-8 " I thank my God upon every rememberance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy. For your fellowship in the gospel from this day until now. Being confident of this one thing, that He which hath begun a good work in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-5

The Ministry Of The Church - Pt. 2 Series

Contributed by Dan Thompkins on Sep 16, 2002

If you desire your Church to become more effective, then let’s follow Nehemiah’s example and raise the gates of ministry in each of our local assemblies.

The Ministry of the Church – Pt. 2 SHM – 1/6/02 - Nehemiah Series We must allow the Lord to raise up the builders in the local assembly for the ministry of Compassion, Cleansing, and Refreshing. By doing so, we will start seeing His blueprint for the church unfold before our eyes. Let’s do our ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 3:13-15

Denomination: Pentecostal

Unity And Purpose In The Church

Contributed by Anthony Lacy on Feb 23, 2011

A short message for any time of the year (but would be useful as a new year message) that draws the attention of believers to their responsibility to demonstrate the message of Christ in their local church.

Unity and Purpose. I feel drawn this morning to give a short message on Unity and Purpose in the Church of Jesus Christ. When thinking about this topic it prompted me to think about the word “Unity” and ask myself what it means. The dictionary defines unity as Concord; harmony; ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: *other

My Role In The Church Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 4, 2011

Why should you join a local congregation when you become a Christian? The message explores your vital role in the assembly where God places you.

“There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Manifestations

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 14, 2019

What kinds of epiphanies do we experience in a local church? Are spiritual enhancement of intellectual words, deeds of faith and foreign language skills manifestations of the Holy Spirit?

What kinds of epiphanies do we experience in a local church? Are spiritual enhancement of intellectual words, deeds of faith and foreign language skills manifestations of the Holy Spirit? Let’s see how God’s glory was revealed in spiritual gifts given to an ancient church by exploring 1 Corinthians ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Free Indeed!

Contributed by Michael Brown on Jun 22, 2025

I wrote this message to share at the local Assisted Living home. Chose to give a message on freedom because I will be preaching shortly before the 4th of July

Free Indeed! Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was a man who delivered a speech that conveyed a powerful message to the nation at a time when it was needed. On August 28,1963, he gave his I Have a Dream! speech. That speech concluded with the topic we are going to discuss. Let me read for you the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1, John 8:36

Denomination: Baptist

Help Wanted Series

Contributed by Richard Goble on Dec 30, 2007

Our outreach suffers because too many church members sit in the pew expecting their pastor to do all the work. Here we find three biblical concepts that will challenge us to reconsider our expectations of the pastor as well as our own level of involvement

Title: Help Wanted Series: The Harvest Is Ripe Text: Matthew 9:35-38 Theme: The outreach of many churches suffers because too many church members sit in the pew expecting their pastor to do all the work. In this passage, Jesus reveals three biblical concepts that will challenge us to reconsider ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Denomination: Baptist

A Church Without Walls

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 29, 2021

A study of the first congregation of the Lord provides us with the example of a church without walls. The members did gather for worship, but they were compelled to penetrate their world to tell others of Jesus. We must do the same in this day.

“There arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

What Happens On Mission With God?[*]

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 18, 2019

God yearns for His people to be on mission with Him. And when we are revived, we will enter into mission with Him. The study of the great revival during the early day of Hezekiah's reign serves as a model of what happens when we are on mission with God.

“On mission with God.” The phrase is often heard among evangelical Christians! Or if it isn’t heard, it should be heard. But, what does it mean for a Christian to be on mission with God? Were I to state that every Christian is expected to be on mission with God, each listener would no doubt ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Identity Crisis

Contributed by Derrick Bunnell on Nov 15, 2005

The speaker laid out a four part process to effective outreach programs. The first step in the process was to develop an identity. This got me thinking about the identity of the Adventist church and more specifically this church. Identity is much more t

I met with the pastor this week to discuss the mission and purpose of the church. We discussed many things to help the church grow and to make known to the world that Jesus is coming soon. We mulled over outreach ideas, mission statements, etc. One of the things that stood out in my mind was a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:5

Denomination: Adventist

To The Excluded: Lord Of The Nations Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 11, 2009

December 1989: Jesus is building His kingdom, and some who presume they are included are missing it, while some we think unworthy will be included. This is a day in which we must stretch our outreach to include all persons.

The folks who are into real estate will tell you that there are only three factors which enter into the value of a piece of property. Those three factors determine how much you should pay for that dream home, how much you should ask when you have decided to sell out and move up, and how loud you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-30

Denomination: Baptist

Committed To Ministry

Contributed by Bob Ashcraft on Sep 29, 2002

If the Spirit of God is being poured out on the end-time church, why is it not operating with more effectiveness? One key element is commitment to the local church. Are we committed to ministry?

09/29/2002 Committed To Ministry * What is God saying to the "end time church" * As Joel prophesied, in the last days, the Spirit of God would poured out..." * So why do we not see churches operating with greater effectiveness? * I believe is in part due to our commitment to ministry * The ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational