Sermons on Reasons To Join A Church:

Is Official Or Formal Church Membership In A Local Church According To Scripture – Part 2 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 3, 2025

Formal church membership that involves special membership and voting rights is contentious. In this Part 2, I open up the matter to show how out of sync the matter is with the membership of the one Body of Christ, and the discrimination. We delve into some scriptures to bring this out.

IS OFFICIAL OR FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE – PART 2 In Part 1 we looked at the practice some churches have of there being an official local church membership that divides “members”, adherents and attendees into “MEMBERS” and “NON-MEMBERS” depending if one has ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10, Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 6:15, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, 1 Corinthians 12:24-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Church Discipline – Spanking Ourselves So God Doesn’t Have To – Part 4

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Sep 28, 2020

My first experience with church discipline…

My first experience with church discipline… My first experience with church discipline came in the mid 1980’s when my family and I were members of a church where we were asked to pray for a sister who had left her husband and young daughter to live with her lover. Each month during communion we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Can I Really Believe In The Church? Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 4, 2003

The five purposes of the church, as displayed by 5 images Jesus used to describe the church, and how Christians fit into the picture.

Ephesians 4:1-16 – Can I Believe in the Church? I’m told that in a museum in Greenwich Village, Detroit, MI, there is a huge steam locomotive. Beside this complicated machine, there is a sign showing boiler pressure, size, the number of wheels, horsepower, lengths, weight and so on. The bottom ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Being A Diverse But Christ Focussed Church

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Jan 26, 2014

Being a Christian church means following Jesus command to make disciples of people of all nations, which means we will be a community of diverse people. We explore why this is important, what it means for us and how to live with differences in our church

There is something important for everyone in our congregation to think deeply about. Do you see differences as a blessing or a problem? How you answer this question is important, as it will influence how you live and act. It will influence how you be part of the church. The church in Corinth had a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Precious In His Sight

Contributed by Larry Wise on Feb 24, 2010

We are people who are special to God.

What it means to be “precious in His sight.” I Peter 2:4-10 A guy had been feeling down for so long that he finally decided to seek the aid of a psychiatrist. He went there, lay on the couch, spilled his guts then waited for the profound wisdom of the psychiatrist to make him feel ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-10, Isaiah 43:4-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Hope Of Christmas

Contributed by Gregory Mc Donald on Sep 6, 2011

Jesus is the reason for the season...and the reason He came was to give us eternal life.

THE HOPE OF CHRISTMAS LUKE 2:7; 21:27 Danish Philosopher Soren Kierkegaard tells the following story: Once there was a king who was very rich. His power was known throughout the world. But he was not happy because he wanted a wife. Without a queen, his vast palace was empty. One day, while ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:7

Pastors: God Called And Church Called

Contributed by Kevin Higgins on Mar 7, 2005

Consider the pastor’s call and a church’s response to that call

God’s Glorious Church Pastors: God Called or Church Called? 1 Timothy 1:11 Woodlawn Baptist Church March 6, 2005 Introduction Have you ever received one of those chain letters that tells you to send a copy of the letter to several other people, add your name to the list, and so on? There’s a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

Revelation 3

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 31, 2020

As we study the last of seven churches, let’s notice how much they look like some modern churches.

As we study the last of seven churches, let’s notice how much they look like some modern churches. Sardis Revelation 3:1 This church is not indicted for corruption, nor harassed by persecution. It was far worse. It was dead or almost dead, as are many modern western churches. As faith without ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Want The Church To Grow?

Contributed by Fr. Rian Adams on Jan 20, 2020

This is a sermon on evangelism that is tied to Jesus's call to the apostle Andrew. Andrew 1) grows in discipleship and 2) grows the church. The sermon tells people that they can be excited and happy about their faith, and share it with other people.

Do you want the church to grow? Andrew wasn’t the popular kid in class. His name is only mentioned in twelve verses in the Bible, and eight of those describe him as "Peter's little brother." Even though he was one of the first two or three followers of Jesus, Peter was still the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29-32

Denomination: Episcopal

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

Principles, Practices, And Steps Of Church Growth

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 13, 2001

Jesus said, ``I will build my church and the gates of hell (all evil opposing forces) will not prevail against it!’’ (Matt. 16:18) Since, the church is Christ’s body, it is His work to see that it grows qualitatively and quantitatively. We can belief,

Using Principles, Practices, & Steps of Church Growth & Planting Principles, Practices, and Steps of Church Growth and Church Planting Learning Objectives 1. The students will be able to explain how the Holy Spirit helps the church grow. 2. The students will be able to state five mission ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Big Picture Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Aug 31, 2009

This message focuses on the BIG PICTURE for the church. Where should our priorities be? What sould be our focus? How do we get there? In this message I describe a process being implemented in our local church.

Seeing the Big Picture” Acts 2:37-47 My wife enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles. Me? Not so much. But she really does. For about 25 years I have collected Coca Cola memorabilia and several years ago we bought a 2000 piece Coke puzzle and she put it together for me, glued the pieces ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:37-47

Denomination: Baptist

Remember Who You Are What You Stand For And Be Home By 11 Series

Contributed by Denny Feasby on May 21, 2008

A series to call the Baptist Church back to its fundamental root.

Remember Who You Are What You Stand For And Be In By 11 (Knowing Your Heritage) Rev 2:1-5 Intro: We had a good year last year we were able to regain some financial footing, many of us can say that we grew spiritually last year as a result of the Discovery Project and we added new members as well ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

"What's The Big Deal About Church?” Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Jun 16, 2009

Paul explains how the church is a really "big deal" in the plan of God and how it should, therefore be a "big deal" to us.

A word that Paul uses in our passage for today is one that he also uses elsewhere in this book. That word is “mystery. The word “mystery,” is used by Paul in verses 3, 4, 6, & 9. What is Paul referring to when he uses this word? The word, “mystery” might make us think of Agatha Christie, Sherlock ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Of The New Testament - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Feb 7, 2018

Part 2 - The origin of the church of the first century.

This 13-part series of classes has been many years in the making. About 25 years ago I began in earnest to examine the features, character and characteristics of the church as it existed in its earliest years. As I sometimes do, I kept my notes all along the way, and this series of classes is to a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:47, Exodus 12:6, Nehemiah 8:9-12, Luke 2:41, Acts 2:1-4, John 16:8, John 14:16, Acts 1:4, Luke 24:49, Exodus 34:23-24, 1 Samuel 2:19, 1 Samuel 1:7, Deuteronomy 16:9-12, Mark 9:1, Numbers 28:26-31, Leviticus 23:15-22, Exodus 23:15-16, Deuteronomy 16:1-8, Numbers 28:16-25, Deuteronomy 27:7, Matthew 16:13-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ