Sermons on Preference Driven Church:

What Keeps A Church From Growing?

Contributed by Bob Briggs on Dec 12, 2000

Often we want to see church growth, but have we looked to see what we need to do to sustain growth?

I have asked myself the question over the past two years, what is it that has kept the churches from having sustained growth, what has kept them from keeping pastors for any length of time, what is it that has such a vise over Northeastern Washington preventing the excitement and revival other ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-17, Revelation 2:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Three Names For The New Testament Church

Contributed by Jerry Stepp on Apr 28, 2008

How to identify who the Church is.

Three Names for the New Testament Church I Timothy 3:15-16 KJV Intro: I would like to look at another passage and use it for our introduction today. Lets look at Acts 2:41-42 and see what is in that text today. Acts 2:41-42 says…. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Movement Of God Through Pain In The Church Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Oct 15, 2012

LAST WEEK AS A CHURCH WE FACED OUR MUTUAL HURT. IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT ALL WHO WERE HERE THEN AND ARE HERE TODAY HURT IN VARIOUS DEGREES. WE DIVERTED FROM OUR SERIES HERE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS TO ADDRESS THIS THE ISSUE OF OUR HURT AND THE WHY WE HAVE OUR

THE MOVEMENT OF GOD THROUGH PAIN IN THE CHURCH ACTS 8:2-8 GODLY MEN BURIED STEPHEN AND MOURNED DEEPLY FOR HIM. 3 BUT SAUL BEGAN TO DESTROY THE CHURCH. GOING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE, HE DRAGGED OFF MEN AND WOMEN AND PUT THEM IN PRISON. 4 THOSE WHO HAD BEEN SCATTERED PREACHED THE WORD WHEREVER THEY ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:2-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Essential Practices Of The New Testament Church

Contributed by Michael Luke on Oct 2, 2011

A message about what happens in a congregation that relies on the power of the Holy Spirit and is obedient to God's word.

“ESSENTIAL PRACTICES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH” ACTS 2:42-47 OPEN A paramedic was being interviewed on a local Dallas TV news program. The host asked, “What was your most challenging and unusual 911 call?” The paramedic said, “It happened recently. We ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Crossroads: Are You A Missionary Series

Contributed by Kevin Litchfield on Nov 1, 2008

Keys to being a church that causes God to smile

Over the last few weeks we have worked together on a series entitled Crossroads: A church in transition. We have talked one the peace of God, the intersection of listening to and obeying God of which we could have camped for a whole year. This morning though I want to focus upon another pivotal ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:1-33

Denomination: Baptist

Sound Church Equals Sound Believers

Contributed by David Jenkins on Jul 30, 2004

Sound Church equals Sound Believers

Acts 2:42, "They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer." An essential in every sound biblically based church will be the devotion to God’s Holy written Word. It is sound theology that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Worship: What It Is, What It Isn't

Contributed by Michael Mays on Aug 30, 2021

For all the notions and preferences, there's no replacing what is good for God that what He has said in His book.

What is worship? Worship is our entire service to God, not just music (Rom. 12:1 — “I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”) Worship is not just a “worship service” we ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1, 1 Samuel 15:22, Psalm 96:8-9, Revelation 19:10, Jeremiah 10:23  (view more)  (view less)

Post-Modernism Is Dead, Jesus Is Alive

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 30, 2021

I could never accept the curious suggestion by modern philosophers that the meaning of life breaks down to my own personal preference.

“These are exciting times. When I finished the Epilogue to Darwin on Trial in 1993, I compared evolutionary naturalism to a great battleship afloat on the Ocean of Reality. The ship's sides are heavily armored with philosophical and legal barriers to criticism, and its decks are stacked with ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:8

Denomination: Salvation Army

Lessons For The Materializing Church -- Part 2 Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Nov 3, 2009

Frank Mead has said, “The best protection one can have from the devil and his schemes is a humble heart. Nowhere is this more apt than when we look into the area of our personal security. James, in his letter deals with this situation – personal securit

THE BOOK OF JAMES LESSONS FOR THE MATERIALIZING CHURCH -- PART 2 James 1:9-11 – TRIALS INTRODUCTION: Frank Mead has said, “The best protection one can have from the devil and his schemes is a humble heart. Nowhere is this more apt than when we look into the area of our personal security. James, ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Burns You Up? Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 17, 2002

We have a choice: we can either learn from the real Jesus of Scripture, or the Jesus we’d prefer to believe in.

What Burns You Up? (John 2:13-22) Introduction 1. Imagine attending a church service in 50A.D.. The small congregation of Jewish believers has opened up the meeting for sharing, and one a man about 60 stands up to share…. 2. I came to believe in Yeshua last year, though I met him in the Temple ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-22

Denomination: Independent/Bible

New Expressions Of The Church Lesson 4 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Dec 8, 2025

All believers in the church are intimately identified/indwelt with Jesus.

A. INTRODUCTION: ORIGINAL EXPRESSION 1. Gathered. “Where two or three gather . . . I am there” (Matt. 18:20). 2. House to house (Acts 2:46; 5:42). 3. Divided and grew. “The church . . . grew in numbers” (Acts 9:71). 4. Other places. “River bank” (16:13), “Synagogues” (17:2, 10), “public ...read more

Scripture: John 14:20

Denomination: Baptist

Here's The Church

Contributed by Ed Young on Jul 6, 2022

In this sermon, Pastor Ed Young teaches that despite the far less than optimal conditions, Jesus is still building His church! He went on record and said, “...I will build My Church."

HERE’S THE CHURCH SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2022, 11:15AM ED YOUNG I don't know if you realize it or not, but during these tumultuous times, there's a shortage of building supplies. Have you heard about that? Maybe you're trying to build your dream home and you're realizing, "Woo, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:15, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:42, Ephesians 3:10-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Are The Body Of Christ The Church Series

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Feb 17, 2016

The church is supposed to encourage one another until Jesus returns by getting together regularly. But instead of spurring one another one toward love and good deeds many people who have been involved with a church have only felt the spurs and not the love

We are the Body of Christ - The Church What is the church and why does it matter? Is the church a human institution or a spiritual body made by God? What is the church supposed to be doing here on planet earth? If the church is important why don’t more people belong to it? Will the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:34-40

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Style & Rhythm Of An Excellent Church

Contributed by Tobi Adelusi on Mar 11, 2022

Planting a church with a deliberate intention to capture the emerging youth/generation for God is a burden on the mind of God because of the culture shift and peculiarities of the new generation, hence the need to look to the word of God for wisdom from above.

5 STAR YOUTH CHURCH (The Style & Rhythm of an excellent church)... This was what I was asked to speak on today to people looking forward to pastoring youth churches and the Lord inspired me on Lessons from the fisherman...in Luke 5 Having established that the bulk of Jesus' Disciples were ...read more

40 Days Of Purpose: Week 6: Evangelism: You Were Made For A Mission

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Aug 30, 2004

“Jesus calls us not only to come to Him, but to go for Him.” -Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life

Review: Six words 1. Purpose: God has a plan for us. 2. Worship: bring pleasure to God. 3. Fellowship: living with others. 4. Discipleship: becoming like Jesus. 5. Ministry: serving others. 6. Evangelism: sharing the good news. MEMORY VERSE “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:17-26

Denomination: Baptist