Sermons on Open Up:

Is Official/Formal Church Membership In A Local Church According To Scripture? – Part 3 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 7, 2025

Regarding this matter of formal church membership, it is examined alongside mainly Ephesian verses. The subject is opened up to understand the New Testament practice of being members of one another and the equality in the Body of Christ. Membership of Christ’s Body covers it all.

IS OFFICIAL/FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE? – PART 3 Part 3 (there are 4 parts) continues to look at various scriptures in this study of formal church membership over and above the one membership that unites all believers into one Body, and makes them all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:26-28, Ephesians 2:13-16, Ephesians 2:19-22, Ephesians 3:5-6, Ephesians 4:3-7, Ephesians 4:11-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Show Me Your Glory

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 4, 2022

When God chooses to open up the flood gates and rain down His showers of blessing, we usually don’t realize it until after we are completely drenched. This message brings encouragement to those who are facing trials and difficulties.

This morning’s message is entitled, “Show Me Your Glory,” and I want us to look at God’s blessings today. I want to open by having us consider how the Lord’s blessings are similar to a jet aircraft flying at supersonic or near-sonic speeds. Did you ever hear a jet fly overhead and you looked ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:18-23

Denomination: Baptist

Giving Up To Go Up

Contributed by Mike Fogerson on May 30, 2007

In God’s Kingdom you must give up to go up.

Giving Up to Go Up 1 Sam. 16:1 May 20, 2007 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor Introduction A Eye of the Tiger cliches 1 They are meant to inspire, encourage, & spur to victory. a Winners never quit & quitters never win; only the strong survive; winning ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Puffed Up Or Built Up Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on May 4, 2023

In First Corinthians chapter 8 Paul addresses the liberty we have in Christ, but that liberty is never license to sin, or to do harm to our fellow believers.

Puffed Up or Built Up Text: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Now it’s been a little while since we’ve been in 1st Corinthians, and that’s because I wanted us to see what Habakkuk had to say about faith, and I felt that was important considering our worlds current situation… but this morning we’re going to go ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-3, 1 Corinthians 13:1-5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Pick Up Your Cross And Follow Me Series

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Jan 19, 2001

Examines the call to vocation of everyone, whether to the priesthood to be a Christian in Society. Written for a young audience in a very open style.

How Does the Gospel Affect Our Lives? Given at the Chichester Diocese Youth Summer Camp, August 2000. Texts: Romans 12: 1-13; Luke 9:23-28 Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all, `If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me’. Well, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-28, Romans 12:1-13

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Pay Up Or Pack Up Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jul 27, 2003

Parables of Eternal Life, Part 7 of 9

PAY UP OR PACK UP (MATTHEW 21:33-44) US News and World Report (3/31/97) polled 1,000 people several years ago on who they thought were people “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to go to heaven. The person most likely to go to heaven was none other than Mother Teresa, who garnered 79 percent of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:32-46

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Pay Up Or Pack Up Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 22, 2007

Parables for Seekers, Pt. 8

PAY UP OR PACK UP (MATTHEW 21:33-44) US News and World Report (3/31/97) polled 1,000 people several years ago on who they thought were people “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to go to heaven. The person most likely to go to heaven was none other than Mother Teresa, who garnered 79 percent of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:32-46

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Give Up To Go Up Series

Contributed by Steven Dow on Jul 31, 2004

Part 1 of 3 in the series "Going For The Gold." The messages is about what it takes to make the sacrifices necessary to become a world-class Christian.

GIVE UP TO GO UP GOING FOR THE GOLD: How to be a World-Class Christian Hebrews 12:1a August 1, 2004 Series Introduction: This month the Olympic games will be returning to their origins in Athens, Greece. Once every four years the best athletes from all around the globe gather for competition. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1

Ambassadors With Wide Open Hearts

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 3, 2001

The cross teaches us to allow ourselves to be misused in the name of giving so that others might find salvation; the alternative is to hoard and thus to lose.

The woman answered a knock on her door, and found there a homeless man who said that he was looking for odd jobs to do so that he could earn a little money. “Well,” she said, “around the back of my house I do have a porch that needs painting. Can you handle a paint brush?” He said that he could, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Schoolyard Violence (Opening The Circle)

Contributed by David Swinney on May 11, 2001

The only Biblical, Christian response to the violence of our society is to let the love of Jesus be the rule for the way that we treat others.

Schoolyard Violence (Opening the Circle) Matthew 5: 21-26; 38-48 Sunday Morning, March 11, 2001 Introduction: The Bus Ride Home The boy was already a little worried when he walked up the stairs to of the school bus. He was running late that afternoon, and the front seats, the ones near the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-22, Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Toughen Up

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Jan 6, 2025

Proverbs 24:10 The message Bible says, if you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn't much to you in the first place. The intent of that verse is not to condemn us for being weak, but to exhort to toughen up, to stir us up to the action of building ourselves up in the Lord.

Proverbs 24:10 KJV If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Proverbs 24:10 MSG If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn't much to you in the first place. I am sensing something in my spirit that may not make sense in the natural, but that is usually how the prophetic ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:10, 2 Timothy 2:1-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

Study In Revelation 13 Who Can Open Open The Book Series

Contributed by James Lee on Oct 23, 2009

Study of Revelation, using "the Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible" as a guide. Includes work sheet for participants. boxes & underlined blanks may be missing

STUDY IN REVELATION 13 Who Can Open The Book? Revelation 5: 1-14 Chapter four runs right into chapter five, with no break. John sees God holding a book in His right hand. The book is sealed and has never been opened. The book is the key to understanding the rest of Revelation, it is the official ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Growing Up And Building Up

Contributed by Ed Warfield on Mar 4, 2008

This message is designed to prepare believers for ministry, to promote spiritual growth, to see that they become like-hearted and to help them find what their gifting is and use it for the glory of God and the building up of His church.

Growing Up and Building Up Intro.: "Why does the church exist? What is our purpose?" In Acts 2, the church began with 3,000 members, by Acts 4 it had grown to 5,000 men plus women & children. The Lord added to the church daily "those who were being saved." Their concern was, "How do we take care ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

Denomination: Charismatic

On The Up And Up: Jesus'ascension Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 7, 2008

esus’ Ascension is connected both to the Resurrection and the Second Coming of Christ. It is an extension of the Gospel and a foundational belief that has important ramifications.

On the Up and UP: Jesus’Ascension (Acts 1:9-11) 1. It can be tough to say “Goodbye.” 2. It was hard when our daughter moved to Washington or our son went away to Bible College. 3. Indeed, if you are like me, you will probably ever see most of the people with whom you graduated high school, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:9-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Give Up Or Get Up?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 8, 2009

Never consider anyone hopeless. Pray intensely, watch out for the naysayers or for your own negativity, and then participate in the redemption Christ wants to bring.

He’s just hopeless! She is beyond redemption! I am never going to make it! They have no future whatsoever! They are hopeless! Are you ever tempted to speak like that? Do you ever feel that way about somebody, maybe even about yourself? Hopeless? Watch out. Because there is nothing more ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-56

Denomination: Baptist