Sermons on Membership Drive:

The Myths Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Jan 13, 2014

This is the second in a series of 4 messages designed to help create a new focus on Purpose/Vision/Mission. Thanks to the writings of Dr. Gene Mimms, Dr. Rick Warren, & Dr. Thom Rainer for the 'extra' readings to complete this series.

“The MYTHS” Purpose living for a New Year - #2 of 4 Jerry Watts MATT 16:13-19 • Shortly after I became your pastor I took a trip to Saddleback for 2 conferences in one week. One conference was “Preaching for Life-Change” and the other was “The Purpose-Driven ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-19

Denomination: Baptist

You Reap What You Sojourn

Contributed by Matthew Everhard on Sep 1, 2004

How does the church escape the "Adding Members" model and revert to a biblical definition of evangelism? This message uses Jesus’ challenge that "the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" in incite compassionate outreach.

“You Reap What You Sojourn” by Matthew Everhard. Originally preached on Sunday Morning, July 4th, 2004 at Hudson Presbyterian Church. Words 2205 Their primary concern was membership. Specifically, that membership was on the rise. Well, either that or member PLEDGES-- those were equally important. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Faith And Favouritism Series

Contributed by Timothy Enns on Oct 31, 2014

Looking at favouritism in the world and in the church and seeing it for what it is...a sin!

[ILLUSTRATION] There’s a story about a Chicago bank that once asked for a letter of recommendation on a young Bostonian being considered for employment at the bank. They wrote the Boston investment house where he had worked and they could not say enough about the young man. They wrote ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Denomination: Nazarene

Recognizing Jesus Series

Contributed by Tim Diack on Apr 9, 2013

As the two men walked along the road to Emmaus they met with the risen Jesus. Scripture tells us that they were "kept from recognizing Him." Why were they blinded to the reality of who He really was? How did they respond when they finally saw Him for w

Recognizing Jesus - Luke 24:25-35 - April 7, 2013 Series: Testimony and Membership In the 4th chapter of the book of Hebrews we read this: “Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:25-35

Denomination: *other

The Danger Of Fundamentalism

Contributed by David Zimmerman on Oct 18, 2000

Ephesus was a wealthy, cultured city.

Ephesus was a wealthy, cultured city. But it was also a mor-ally corruptcity. In many ways, you could compare it to Wash-ington D.C., Dallas, Texas, Chicago, Boston, Amsterdam, or Ber-lin. If we could transport Ephesus into modern times, it would have its skyscrapers and snarled expressways. It ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: *other

Correcting And Forgiving

Contributed by Claud Owens on Aug 5, 2002

What to do when a brother or sister in the faith sins.

CORRECTING AND FORGIVING SIN Scripture Reading: Psalm 103: 1 - 7 Gospel Reading: Matthew 18: 15 - 35 In today’s gospel reading Jesus addresses the question of what to do when you find a member of the congregation in sin. Our English translations of the bible have it, "When a brother sins ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-7, Matthew 18:15-35

Denomination: Church Of God

Unity Despite Diversity

Contributed by Thomas Wilson on May 21, 2004

Am individual Congregationalists view of Corinthians 1

1 Corinthians 1 The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians Salutation 1. Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2. To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all ...read more

Denomination: Congregational

A Place To Belong Series

Contributed by Dennis Lawrence on Jan 30, 2004

Are you a church attender or a church member? Does it matter which you are, or which you choose to be?

A Place to Belong Purpose Driven Life #17 Cornwall/Montreal December 6, 2003 Are you a church attender or a church member? Does it matter which you are, or which you choose to be? Maybe you’re not sure, right now, what you want to be and are exploring to decide what you want to be. It does matter ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42, Romans 12:12-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Place To Belong Series

Contributed by Jeffrey Kellum on Feb 25, 2004

The level of commitment you see in new members depends on how much time, prayer and intentional effort you put into their growth.

INTRODUCTION: NEED: To Develop a plan to turn attenders into members (for a similar perspective see Warren, Purpose Driven Church, Chapter 17) If our goal is to get people to come down that isle and tell us they will join this church, our plan can be rather simple. 1. Make them comfortable when ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22

Denomination: Baptist

Get Along Children Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 7, 2007

People of God make up a family, and families sometimes ’feud’. Jesus lays out some helpful rules for restoration - 1. Personal Effort 2. Plural Effort 3. Public Effort - Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint.

Get Along Children Matthew 18:15-35 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/GetAlong.html The beginning of this chapter tells us how to enter the family of God...by humbling ourselves as little children before the Lord. The rest of the chapter tells us how to get along with all the other children in our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-35

Denomination: Baptist

Choose Faith, Not Fear

Contributed by Scott Carmer on May 14, 2007

The story of Lydia, who responded to Paul’s leadership by being baptized.

Choose Faith, Not Fear Acts 16:9-15 May 13, 2007 Mother’s Day Today is Mother’s Day. It is a day that we are all familiar with because we all have had mothers at one time or another. I have a feeling (Now I could be wrong about this. Maybe other men don’t share my perspective. But I have a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:9-15

Denomination: Methodist

Let's Do Church Right Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 6, 2005

very church has failings and challenges, but good churches strive after excellence as God defines excellence.

Let’s Do Church Right (Philippians 1:1-11) 1. Paul and Timothy: The Apostle Paul wrote this letter in about 63 AD to his close friends, the Christians in Philippi, from his Roman house arrest described at the end of Acts (Acts 28:30-31), waiting for his court appearance before Caesar (around the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Cherish Your Spiritual Heritage

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Aug 29, 2010

Cherish Your Spiritual Heritage 1) It’s only yours through faith 2) It’s only yours by grace

When I worked on a thoroughbred ranch in northern Japan, I knew which horses I needed to take extra care of simply by looking at the placards that hung above each of the horse’s stalls. These placards recorded equine bloodlines. Mr. Wimpy might not sound like a promising racer but if he was ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran

Forged For Commitment Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Oct 15, 2019

If a person's service to the Lord is a covenant with God, shouldn't it be a priority over everything else?

As Christians, we are called to live a very distinctive way. Being a Christian is a calling to the hard work of shaping the metal of our lives (our character) into a form that expresses God’s masterpiece within all of us. The whole letter focuses on Christian virtue and character and how ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We're Doing Life Together Series

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Aug 21, 2016

It’s one thing to believe God brings us together as the body of Christ for His glory, and it is another to act upon what you believe. We can believe all the right stuff, but faith without works is still dead right? Let's walk together in covenant.

Learning to Live in Covenant - We’re Doing Life Together Amos 3:3 Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? Introduction: We've all watched Charlie Brown try to kick that football, but every time Lucy pulls it away. Would Charlie be better off without having Lucy as a friend, ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Denomination: Assembly Of God