Sermons on Natural Church Development:

The Yemptation Of Asceticism

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Sep 14, 2015

This is a Bible Study on some of the different ways the Church can withdraw from a missional focus and develop into a closed group of believers.

THE TEMPTATION TO ASCETICISM MATTHEW 17:1-9 LET’S BEGIN BY A DEFINITION OF WHAT ASCETICISM IS. NOUN 1. THE MANNER OF LIFE, PRACTICES, OR PRINCIPLES OF AN ASCETIC. 2. THE DOCTRINE THAT A PERSON CAN ATTAIN A HIGH SPIRITUAL AND MORAL STATE BY PRACTICING SELF-DENIAL, SELF-MORTIFICATION, AND ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

When The Church Is On Fire Series

Contributed by Dean Rhine on Aug 5, 2019

What a Spirit-Filled Church looks like

When the Church is on Fire - Acts 4 - 2/12/17 Turn with me this morning to the book of Acts, chapter 4.  Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts - the 5th book of the NT.  If I asked you what an ideal church looked like, what would you say?  We might start thinking about what type of ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Waht It Means To Be Church"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jun 2, 2007

The meaning of relationship and community within the church.

Acts 2:42-47 “What It Means to be Church” by: Rev. Ken Sauer Grace United MEthodist Church, 9833 Hixson Pike, Soddy Daisy, TN www.gbgm-umc.org/grace-sdtn Have you ever felt lonely, even when you are surrounded by a large crowd of people? Have you ever moved to a new town or headed off to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: United Methodist

The Church As A Devoted Community Series

Contributed by Galen Hackman on Mar 1, 2003

First in a series of 5 sermons on the Core Characteristics of the Church basoed on Acts 2:42-47. In this sermon we explore what it means to be a devoted community.

The Church as a Devoted Community (Second in the series: The Core Characteristics of the Church) Acts 2:36-47 In Matthew 13 Jesus tells a series of stories (actually, parables) about the nature of the kingdom of heaven. One of them is called the Parable of the Mustard Seed and it goes like ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-32, Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Brethren

The Church As A Caring Community Series

Contributed by Galen Hackman on Mar 7, 2003

This is the 3rd in a series based on Acts 2:42-47 looking at the core characteristics of the church. This sermone deals with community.

The Church as a Caring Community Acts 2:45-46 Acts 4:32 – 5:11 (Third in the series “The Core Characteristics of the Church) I have just read the most riveting story in the Book of Acts. The traumatic and sudden death of Ananias and Sapphira has caused both the casual reader of the Bible and the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Brethren

Church Conflict Resolution Series

Contributed by Greg Nance on Nov 27, 2004

When God brought the Gentiles in it was a major hurdle for some of the Jewish Christians. How did they deal with the divisive fall out? How can we practice what God taught them?

We really need to review where we’ve been to appreciate where we are in Acts 15. Here it is in a nutshell. Just before he ascended back to heaven, Jesus commissioned the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for power from God to accomplish the witnessing work of bringing the gospel to the whole world. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-29

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Aspects Of A Vibrant Church

Contributed by Greg Barron on Aug 21, 2007

To illustrate six aspects that should be present in every vibrant church.

Paul and his team had come to Troas when Paul had received a vision at night in which he saw a man from Macedonia pleading with him to come and help them. Immediately they went to Macedonia concluding that the Lord had called them to preach the gospel to them. They went through Philippi where ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Separation Of Church And State

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jul 9, 2014

How does all of this "Separation of Church and State" fit in with what the Bible teaches? Should we as Christians lay aside our beliefs if and when the Lord calls us to serve in the government of our nation? God forbid!

Suppose your nation was fighting a war. And … there were great and talented leaders in charge. Your nation had never lost a war and was a dominant power in the world. However, in this nation public opinion was turning against the war and the elected officials who were worried about their ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 17:18-21

Denomination: Nazarene

Jesus Addresses The Churches Series

Contributed by David Welch on Apr 24, 2018

Message 12 from Revelation summarizing Jesus' message to the churches.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ “The Message of Jesus to the Church” INTRODUCTION From the message to the seven churches of revelation… We get a clear picture of Jesus Christ the head of the church walking among us. We get a feel for what Jesus appreciates. We understand what bothers Jesus about ...read more

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Church: The Salt Of The Earth Series

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Jun 21, 2019

SALT WAS A VERY SPECIAL COMMODITY DURING JESUS' LIFETIME. TO BE COMPARED TO IT MAKES THE CHURCH VERY SPECIAL AS WELL, AND WITH A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

THE CHURCH: THE SALT OF THE EARTH MATTHEW 5:1-13 TODAY WE COME TO THE END OF A SERIES ON THE SIGNIFICANCE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHURCH. JESUS USED A NUMBER OF SYMBOLS TO DESCRIBE THE CHURCH AND THE LAST ONE WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT IS SALT. SALT IS SOMETHING THAT IS READILY AVAILABLE IN ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Church And Its Call Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Vivek Gundimi on Jul 30, 2019

What is the call of the universal Church?

The Church and Its Call (Matthew 16:21-28) Introduction: We live at a time where the whole world is in a revolution. Nations are in debt, and with every terrorist attack there is more evidence that the world is moving from civilization into chaos! But the core question this morning is: Can the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Denomination: Methodist

The Letter To The Church At Philadelphia Series

Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Nov 5, 2018

A sermon examining Jesus' letter to the Church at Philadelphia.

THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA Revelation 3:7-13 Dwight L. Moody once said: “Show me a church where there is love, and I will show you a church that is a power in the community. In Chicago a few years ago a little boy attended a Sunday school I know of. When his parents moved to another ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

Concerning Christ And The Church.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 11, 2023

The whole Psalm.

CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. Psalm 45:1-17. The mysterious word in the title of this Psalm, ‘Shoshannim’, may refer to a six-stringed instrument, or to the scattering of roses or lilies around the nuptial bed: what we might call confetti today. The word ‘Maschil’ may be a musical reference, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

(7) The Church At Pergamos

Contributed by John Lowe on Dec 28, 2016

Worldliness has swept into the church. There are some who still hold to the truth of separation, but the majority are content, like Lot to seek the best of both this world and the one to come.

By: Tom Lowe Date: 5-12-2015 Lesson 7: The Church at Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17) Revelation 2:12-17 (NIV) 12 “To ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

Marks Of A Contagious Church Series

Contributed by Darryl Klassen on Feb 15, 2007

Last in a series on encouraging the local church to remember Christ’s call to spread the gospel. This sermon asks what a church looks like that is willing to be Christ’s beacon in our dark world.

MARKS OF A CONTAGIOUS CHURCH There is a story told about a hunter walking through the African jungle who found a huge dead elephant with pygmy standing beside it. Amazed, he asked, “Did you kill that elephant?” The pygmy said, “Yes.” The hunter asked, “How could a little bloke like you kill a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Denomination: Mennonite