Sermons on Nature Of The Church:

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

The Message Of The Church Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Sep 4, 2019

Having shared much in regard to establishing a firm foundation for the church, Paul emphasized the priority of the church - sharing the Gospel, above all else. Grace brings salvation, and then enables us to live for Christ. Transformed lives are the goal of the church.

The Message of the Church Titus 2: 11-15 Paul had already provided much insight for Titus in regard to establishing a firm foundation upon which to build the church. He had instructed him to ordain elders in every city, those who would be able to aid in the leadership and ministry of the church. ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

Church As An Icu Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 6, 2020

Jesus came to heal those sick with sin. That means the church is meant to be a hospital for those weighed down with guilt. But what can a church do better heal those lost in their shame?

A Russian soldier was wounded and was ordered to go to military hospital for treatment. When he arrived he found two doors: One was marked, ‘For the slightly wounded,’ and the other, ‘For the seriously wounded’. Well, he wasn’t seriously wounded so he entered through the first door and found ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:16-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Deliberate Church Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

One law professor said that without lying and bragging, half the pickup lines in bars across the country wouldn’t exist. Churches are deliberately places where bragging is non-existent (about ourselves) and where grace is paramount.

Today is Super Bowl Sunday. CBS is hoping for more than 100 million people watch the game today. The Super Bowl represents the best two teams and the best 106 players competing for bragging rights. There is little humility on the field today. They’ll talk about thankfulness and offer moderate words ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Denomination: Baptist

The Future Of The Church

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 10, 2021

What is the future of the church and kingdom? Who is responsible for it? Purpose: Let’s understand the unstoppable growth of both kingdom and church. Plan: Let’s look at some optimistic riddles of the future of both in Mark 4:26-34.

Prelude What is the future of the church and kingdom? Who is responsible for it? Purpose: Let’s understand the unstoppable growth of both kingdom and church. Plan: Let’s look at some optimistic riddles of the future of both in Mark 4:26-34. Scatter Seed Mark 4:26 And He said, “The kingdom of God ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:26-34

Denomination: Baptist

The Persecuted Church

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 18, 2020

THE BEATITUDES: These teachings are not just suggestions, but the COMMANDS of Christ our Lord about what every disciple ought to be. One of the things that the Church will be in the last days is......PERSECUTED.

THE PERSECUTED CHURCH “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is Church

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Aug 22, 2020

We want us to look into God's Word and wonder at the beauty, the mystery, the glory, and the greatness of the church.

What is the Church In whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. - Ephesians 2:22 Who needs the church? Well, the answer is: if you're a child of God, you need the church. I need the church. We all need the church. And when we say the word ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:21-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sleeping Church

Contributed by Tesh Njokanma on Apr 2, 2015

Divine opportunities pass us by when we are not watchful, when we are not alert. Wrong decisions are taken when we are not watchful, when we are not discerning. The church strays from her mission and God ordained purpose when we are not watchful.

Introduction During Jesus’ last days on earth something worthy of attention happened at the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew 26:36 tells us that Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane. Then He told them to sit down at a particular spot while He goes to pray. Jesus then ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Glorious Church!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on May 6, 2015

Paul talks about a radiant, glorious church. Just what would it take for us to be a radiant, glorious church? What are the characteristics of a glorious church?

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church & gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Winsome Church

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on May 28, 2015

A winsome church does God's work God's way for the sake of God's world.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL recently published a report indicating that “the U.S. now has a bigger share of people who don’t identify with any religion than those who do. In the last seven years, the number of people unaffiliated with either Roman Catholic or mainline Protestant churches ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-42

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Go Church!

Contributed by Greg Nance on May 30, 2015

We have a job to do as God's people. Today we face challenges that remind us that this is serious business.

Matthew 16:13-20 Jesus promised to build His church. He promised that the gates of Hades would not be able to stand against His church. He built His church on rock. Ray Vanderlaan’s video series: That The World May Know, has an section on this passage in Matthew 16 where he gathers with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Sleeping Church Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Oct 7, 2014

In the past 50 odd years we have seen moral compromise in the body of Christ and our nation. Put another way, when did the church fall asleep? What caused the church to fall asleep? Are we to remain sleeping or wake up the sleeping giant? I don't have ...

Opening illustration: Where was the church when prayer was taken out of schools in 1962? Or when abortion was legalized in 1973? Or when same-sex marriage started to gain momentum to the point that Christian businesses are persecuted for refusing to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple? Put ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:10-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Scandal In The Church Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Oct 19, 2014

A Scandal in the Church - PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info

SERMON OUTLINE: Dealing with Disgrace (vs 1-5) Explaining the Expulsion (vs 6-8) Clarifying some Confusion (vs 9-13) SERMON BODY: Ill: • Somebody sent this anecdote into Readers Digest: • One afternoon in the hospital operating room where I am a nurse, • I heard one of our ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Denomination: Brethren