Sermons on Pastor Stephen Maas Lutheran Church:

Loving The Church When It Hurts

Contributed by David Scudder on Sep 27, 2010

The command to love each other tends to bring up images of church members smiling and having fun together. We may think of joyful worship, relaxing picnics, or even exciting Bible studies, but what about conflicts and misunderstandings? What about persecu

Purpose: To show that loving believers requires determination and hard work. Aim: I want the listener to decide to love the body of Christ no matter what. INTRODUCTION: The Bible talks a lot about loving other believers in Christ’s body, the church. Here is a sample: Listen to Jesus: John ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Church - Where God Lives Series

Contributed by Thomas H on Oct 4, 2010

There are many ideas out there of what the church is or what it ought to be. In this passage Paul tells us what God's idea is of the church - and God's idea is, is what counts!

Ephesians 2:19-22 The Church Where God Lives What is the church? What is a church? Is it a building? An institution? I grew up as a Catholic. We were taught that the Catholic Church is The Church. It is an elaborate institution, with churchs, cathedrals, basilicas and the Vatican, which is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22

Denomination: Baptist

Love Your Church Family Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Oct 19, 2010

Yield to God the Holy Spirit, love your family starting with your immediate family, then your church family, then the world!

Last week we noted from Romans 12:1-3 that we are not to be Christian Zombies, but be WAMBs: Worship God with our attitudes, our Minds, and our Bodies! How many of you had zombie moments last week? How many of us Christians had moments during the week when we didn’t think or act godly?? - notice ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:4-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When Outsiders Come To Church

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 24, 2010

The impact of spiritual worship on outsiders is reviewed. It is the proclamation of the Word and not the frenzied attempts to awe and inspire outsiders that result in salvation of the lost.

“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, ‘By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.’ Thus, tongues are a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:20-25

Denomination: Baptist

Curing Church Conflict-1

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Feb 21, 2011

1 of 3. James revealed the solution for conflict within the local church body. There is a known cure for conflict within the local church. But how is it challenged ? The cure for church conflict is challenged by....

CURING CHURCH CONFLICT—I—James 4:1-17 Attention: *Our own behaviors can circumvent the very cure we need. Need: The tensions in my church are are obvious. As soon as you step on the property you know it. Visitors sense it. The community talks about it. Everybody hates it. We’re losing ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Why You Need The Church Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 7, 2011

This sermon explains three reasons why every believer needs the church

* The church doesn’t need us in order to be the church nearly as much as we need the church in order to be the person God created us to be. * The importance of the church is based upon its mission * Wrong question: "What can the church do for me?" // Right question: "What can I do for the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Baptist

A Changed Church Changes The World Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 7, 2011

This sermon explains a few lessons about how a changed church can change the world

* Change: to make the form, content, future course, etc., of something different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone; a transformation or modification; alteration * Change is often resisted in the church. Yet one could sum up a church’s purpose with one word: change - We must ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Curing Church Conflict-3

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Mar 8, 2011

3 of 3. James revealed the solution for conflict within the local church body. There is a known cure for conflict within the local church. But how is it challenged? The cure for church conflict is challenged by our....

CURING CHURCH CONFLICT—III—James 4:1-17 Attention: A zookeeper wanted to get some extra animals for his zoo, so he decided to compose a letter. The only problem was that he didn’t know the plural of "mongoose." He started the letter: "To whom it may concern, I need two mongeese." No, that wouldn’t ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 9: Sin In The Church Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Nov 8, 2010

Handling sin in the church has become very difficult from both angles - in our PC world much bad behavior is actually celebrated, but Christians are also wounding each other over weakness instead of supporting and helping. We'll try to walk the fine line

In Chapter 5 we move from pride of surface appearance over internal substance to pride over major sin in the body. It's issue two on Paul's mind as he writes to the Corinthians. It's a tough subject—sin in the church. This chapter can easily be misconstrued in several ways and I want to try ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

God’s Kind Of Church Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Nov 14, 2010

what kind of church would God design? How does it match up with the 21st Century, Americanized church? Give it some thought.

God’s Kind of Church 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 * If you have ever built a house for your family, then you know a little about decisions, frustrations, and more. In the process, you may well discover that ‘what you want is beyond your ability to provide. We lived in Yazoo City, Mississippi, for a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Sailing, Speaking, And Sleeping In Church

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 22, 2010

Eutychus raised from the dead. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: Acts 20:1-12: • In 1 Corinthians 15:32, the apostle Paul makes a cryptic, • Yet incisive reference to his time in Ephesus: “I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus” • That was his description of the frenzied riot he and his companions, • Had just endured in chapter 19 verses ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:1-12

Denomination: Brethren

The Church Under Pressure - Symrna Series

Contributed by Graham Kettle on Dec 4, 2010

Afflicated and poor yet incredibly rich. The church would do well to look at what God calls rich and not hold to the world's opinion of riches. Even in the face of persecution, these Believers hold steadfast.

THE CHURCH UNDER PRESSURE – SMYRNA READING Rev 2:8-11 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Church Of God

The Church At Satan's Seat - Pergamum Series

Contributed by Graham Kettle on Dec 4, 2010

In Satan's camp they hold fast to Christ are commended for this. But, even such people have let errant teaching slip through and have not stood firm on sexual sin. Thank God for His mercy provided we repent.

THE CHURCH AT SATAN'S SEAT - PERGAMUM READING Revelation 2:12-17 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live--where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Church Of God

"Growing The Church” - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Aug 26, 2009

What are the biblical characteristics of a growing church?

Last time, as we focused on verses 11 and 12, we made note of the two essentials of church growth - gifted leadership (v. 11) and committed membership (v. 12). A church will never rise higher than the skills of the leadership and will go no farther than the commitment of the membership. Gifted ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16

Denomination: Baptist

What Is The State Of This Church - 2011

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Jan 10, 2011

This "State of the Church" is framed in many questions...the conclusion is that the ’State of this Church" is directly related to the "State of the Member’s Hearts."

The State of the Church – 2011 (What is the State of this Church) * This morning I begin with a true story. A man wakes up about 1am and is having difficulty breathing. He can breathe, but not take a deep breath. In fact, it almost feels Like someone is sitting on his chest. What does he do? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Denomination: Baptist