Sermons on Natural Church Development:

The Persecuted Church Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 16, 2011

(Preached on July 4th): This message focuses on the first church-wide persecution in Acts. Attention is given to the implications the Gospel has for believers as members of both God's kingdom and a country.

* The difficulty in approaching a July 4th message: - We sometimes "read" America into Scripture when we shouldn't - Bible doesn't reference America as a country of predict the events of July, 1776 * If we're not careful, we end up using today to exalt a nation instead of Christ - We do not worship ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Divisions In The Church

Contributed by Kerry Dunn on Mar 31, 2011

Christ requires unity in his body.

>>Divisions in the Church<< 1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? Here it shows that division is carnality. this is forbidden in the bible. We must be able to agree on the truth then apply it. Joh ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:17-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

The First Church Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 14, 2011

Characteristics of the first church.

The First Church Chuck Sligh TEXT: Acts 2:37-47 INTRODUCTION Many Christians today are playing church. In this age of affluence and pleasure-seeking, some come to church once-a-week to salve their conscience so that they can go back and do their own thing the rest of the week. This is the age of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Sound Church

Contributed by Chad Bolfa on Oct 1, 2010

Tonight from this passage we will learn what obedient membership looks like, as far as how we relate to each other, and how we should treat one another, which makes up a sound church, not only sound doctrinally, but also sound in how we teach, and what we

Will The True Church Arise Part 3 A Sound Church Titus 2:1-10 Introduction We began this series with the idea of learning what a biblical church looks like, then comparing the way we do church, and if there are any differences, then take steps to bring our church closer to the biblical mark. We ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Church's Challenge Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jan 12, 2011

The church can turn its problems into opportunities for growth if it meets needs by mobilizing people so the leaders can maintain the priority of prayer and the word.

Some time ago, wolves were picking off the livestock of ranchers at an alarming rate, so the state offered a bounty of $5,000 for every wolf killed. It turned Sam and Jed into fortune hunters. Day and night they searched the mountains and forests looking for their valuable prey. Exhausted one ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Description Of The Church

Contributed by Kevin Jones on Jul 18, 2009

Paul tells us how the church should look, behave and operate.

Paul’s Instructions Today I want to look at the church as Paul instructed it to be. You see it is easy to get caught up trying to grow a large church when it is reality we should be growing a strong church. A church that is lined up with the plan of God as He intended it to be. This is what I ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:6-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Church Discipline Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Mar 6, 2010

In many churches around the world today, the subject of church discipline is marginalised, downplayed or ignored. Many modern churches worried about the excesses in church discipline that have occurred throughout history, have regrettably allowed a severe

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11 In many churches around the world today, the subject of church discipline is marginalised, downplayed or ignored. Many ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Ekklesia - The Church Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Mar 10, 2010

The 9th sermon in our series on the Baptist Faith and Message

Ekklesia – the Church (BFM #9) Text: Ephesians 4:4 By: Ken McKinley (Read Text) Well we are continuing our study of the BFM and today we are on article 6, the article on the Church (Read BFM article 6 – the church). I think that the doctrine of the church is one of the most misunderstood, and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Obedient Church

Contributed by Chad Bolfa on Oct 29, 2010

Tonight we will learn about being an Obedient church, and what an obedient church looks like, again it is my desire that compare our church to this biblical model and see how we measure up, and again the challenge will be, if there is any area where we do

The Obedient Church Pm September 20th 2009 Titus 1:5-16 Introduction Last week we began a six part series through the book of Titus, the title of this series is “Will the true church arise”. The purpose for this series is to compare our church to the biblical model for church and see ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:5-16

Denomination: Baptist

A Careful Church

Contributed by Chad Bolfa on Oct 29, 2010

Tonight from this passage of scripture the apostle Paul reminds Titus that the Church of Jesus Christ needs to be careful, so tonight I want us to learn why and what we are to be careful of.

A Careful Church Pm October 11th 2009 Titus 3:1-8 Introduction We are continuing our series in the book of Titus, “will the true church arise”, tonight is part five, a Careful church. So far we learned five calls of the church, we learned that we are to be an obedient church, we ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Letters To The Churches

Contributed by Joshua Hetrick on Nov 20, 2010

Letters to the Churches

Letters to the Churches Revelation Two Introduction: 1. Letters to the Churches a. The Lord is making certain command on these first century churches. b. Christ is the head of these churches c. Each Church was to read what was said to the others 2. Spiritual threats to the Churches a. Paganism ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-29

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We The Church Series

Contributed by Tom Owen on Dec 7, 2010

Learning how to be the church in today's world through learning from the book of Acts.

[Basket experiment: slips of paper, Describe yourself, good and bad, no names.] Basically, [2] this is our church. Who we are as people is who we are as a church. The church isn’t just a name or a building or even a worship service. The church is God’s people together trying to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:40-47

Denomination: Baptist

A Church With Favor Series

Contributed by Tom Owen on Dec 7, 2010

Learning how to be the church in today's world through learning from the book of Acts.

[Computer comparisons – slow vs. fast.] You know churches can be a lot like those two computers. Some churches can be so cluttered with stuff and so outdated that they don’t operate efficiently. They’re more frustrating than joyful. They take so much effort to do what ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:40-47

Denomination: Baptist

Beginning With The Church

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Dec 11, 2010

God is angry with sin and indifference. The church cannot afford to reralize that God will bring us to account for how we live before a lost world.

Beginning with the Church Ezekiel 9:1-11 Introduction: In Jerusalem, the Temple was to be a sanctuary, a place that was to be set apart, consecrated, dedicated and purified. It was to be a place that radiated the presence of God to Israel and would send ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 9:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

"Church Life"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Dec 16, 2010

Spiritual life in the true church is much simpler than we try to make it

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Church function has taken many forms in time and many rituals and practices have been implemented. They have then evolved for the good or the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Denomination: Orthodox