Sermons on Natural Church Development:

The Matter Of Your Sin Nature – Real Or Imagined? Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 25, 2025

We take up the matter of the sin nature to combat an error. How do the righteousness and justice and forgiveness of God interact? Do I actually have a sinful nature causing me to sin, or is the world responsible for sinfulness?

THE MATTER OF YOUR SIN NATURE – REAL OR IMAGINED? [A]. PART 1. THE REASON BEHIND THIS A Christian wrote to me from the United States with a biblical question because she was confused with a posting by someone on Facebook. This is what she explained, [[“He said that Jesus' death on the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7-10, Mark 3:28-30, Psalm 51:5, Romans 6:6, Galatians 5:13-21, Romans 7:18-20, 1 John 2:16-17, Luke 4:9-11, Psalm 91:11, 2 Corinthians 5:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Developing And Maintaining Spiritual Disciplines - Part 3 Series

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Nov 3, 2020

Today, I'll be speaking on the topic of prayer...

Review - The Purpose of this Series: The Bible says that developing and maintaining spiritual disciplines is God’s will for you. "...that you may become mature Christians and may fulfill God's will for you." So far in this series we have looked at the topics of “How to Get a Grasp ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Church Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 18, 2009

What is the purpose of the church? It’s 3 fold: • To magnify the Lord thru worship and the Word. • To move believers to maturity and ministry. • To make Jesus known to our neighbors and the nations. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint

Church Ephesians 3:1-5 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Church.html Now we enter the church age, the “Dispensation of Grace.” What is a dispensation? It is a time period. In the Bible it is a specific period of time during which God administers His rule over the world in a certain way. And over ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Church Health, Part 2 Of 3 Series

Contributed by Joey Nelson on May 4, 2006

Sources; Characteristics of a Healthy Church -- Willow Creek; Ten Characteristics of a Healthy Church Vision -- New England; Characteristics of a Healthy Church -- Sonlife Ministries -- Dann Spader; Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches-- Natural

See Part 1 for Introduction; 5. Empowering Leadership The proof of a good leader is creating another leader, not more followers. Develop servant-leadership by strategically mentoring, teaching and serving the believers. A true leader’s measure of success is when they have succeeded in helping ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:2-11

Let Your Righteousness Exceed Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 11, 2016

Our righteousness is measured against that of Jesus–who loved us all the way to the cross and challenged us to follow His love.

5th Sunday after Pentecost 2016 A Reading from the first Epistle of St. Peter Beloved: All of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. 9 Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:20-25

Denomination: Catholic

Globalization Guided By Charity In Truth Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 23, 2010

Globalization is neither inevitable nor evil,but must be guided by charity in truth

Conversion of St. Paul January 25, 2010 Caritas in Veritate Today’s feast of the Conversion of St. Paul also concludes the week of prayer for Christian Unity. The Scriptures remind us that nothing is impossible for God. The great persecutor of Christians becomes the Apostle to the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:21-22

Denomination: Catholic

Biomedical Developments Require Advanced Ethical Reflection

Contributed by Frederick Meekins on Aug 13, 2014

Biomedical Developments Require Advanced Ethical Reflection

With advances in medical science, the line between when doctors should intervene to save a life and when they should step back to allow nature to take its course has become increasingly blurred. Since life sustaining support systems can be financially burdensome and because the average person ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Church Of The Open Door - Philadelphia Series

Contributed by Graham Kettle on Dec 19, 2017

Philadelphia always stayed faithful to the Christian faith until the end of its history, a powerful testament to the nature of a church for which Jesus had no admonition nor condemnation. God grant that we, too, may have that faithfulness to the end.

THE CHURCH OF THE OPEN DOOR READING Rev 3:7-12 1. HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia/Alesehir is located approximately 80 miles east of Smyrna/Izmir and 26 miles southwest of Sardis. It stands on the Cogamis River, a tributary of the Hermus river. Philadelphia always stayed faithful to the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-12

Denomination: Church Of God

Dealing With Tensions And Conflicts In Churches And Church Organisations – Part 1 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 14, 2024

Every church at one time has tensions in it, but what causes them and importantly, how can we deal with them? I have chosen a number of problem areas gathered from my experience in churches and we examine them. I hope they are of some help.

DEALING WITH TENSIONS AND CONFLICTS IN CHURCHES AND CHURCH ORGANISATIONS – AS I UNDERSTAND IT OVER 65 YEARS – PART 1 [A]. INTRODUCTION This coverage will apply not only to the church fellowship of believers, but also to any committee, business meeting, or ministry operating in or by a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:2-3, Galatians 5:16-19, James 4:1-3, 1 Timothy 3:1-8, Titus 1:5-9, Titus 2:3-5, Revelation 18:4, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Squelching The Sinful Nature (April 6, 2014).

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Aug 14, 2020

As Christians, we have to work to tune into the Spirit and tune out the flesh to successfully walk with God.

SQUELCHING THE SINFUL NATURE Text: Romans 8:6- 11 How many times have we heard of the self-made man? Frank Sinatra once sang about how he did his way------“I did it my way …”. What is it in human nature that drives us? What is it that motivates us and propels us? From reading this passage ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:6-11

Denomination: United Methodist

The Particulars Of Christian Character Development - Part One Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Feb 16, 2005

Developing character qualities that have to do with my relationship with the God above me.

Christian Character Development: "The Particulars Of Christian Character Development" Part One 2 Peter 1:1-11 God’s people get in trouble when they fail to act like they are God’s people! That’s why Peter wrote in our passage for today about Christian character development. Two Sundays ago, we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Healthy Bodies Pt 3 Series

Contributed by David Welch on Aug 15, 2018

This is the third of six message on the nature and health of the church.

“HEALTHY BODIES Part 3” One of the most expressive analogies to express the nature and function of the church of Jesus Christ is the human body. I felt directed to spend some time on the three key principles of body life and the corresponding commands that reinforce them. Several weeks ago we ...read more

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Church At Pergamum: A Compromising Church Series

Contributed by Dean Rhine on Nov 3, 2016

The church at Pergamum

The Church at Pergamum: A Compromising Church - Revelation 2 - 1/24/10 Turn with me this morning to the last book in the Bible, the book of Revelation, chapter 2. We want to continue on today, looking at the question, “What does God think of His church?” Here in Revelation 1, we ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Intentional Faith Development - Five Practices 2 Series

Contributed by Spencer Homan on Nov 19, 2009

This sermon is based on the book by Robert Schnase, focusing on the second chapter - Intentional Faith Development.

Philippians 2:1-5 NIV If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Developing And Maintaining Spiritual Disciplines - Part 5 Series

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Nov 5, 2020

Today, I will be speaking on the topic of fellowship...

The Habit of Fellowship - Participating in God's Family Why Don't We fellowship? Fellowship is one of the five purposes for the church, however, there is an obvious failure on many in the body of Christ to fellowship. Why then do we not fellowship? One reason is that the isolation ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25

Denomination: Independent/Bible