Sermons on Rich Churches:

The Open Church

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Sep 12, 2002

We come to church not as consumers of religion, but as a community of faith that is open to God, to one another, and to outsiders

The Open Church 1Peter 2:9-10 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-12

Denomination: *other

Why Is There Church?

Contributed by John Beehler on Sep 24, 2002

What is the purpose of "church"?

Why is There Church A young man & friend were driving to a football game when they were hit by a semi. Both were knocked out and the car was thrown into the ditch. When the driver woke up, he realized he wasn’t too badly injured, but his friend was bleeding and in serious trouble. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:22-25, Psalm 78:1-4

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Church - A Body

Contributed by Troy Harkey on Apr 16, 2003

We have a problem today. Our body is missing parts. We have hands and feet, eyes and ears, arms and legs that are missing from this body.

We have a problem today. Our body is missing parts. We have hands and feet, eyes and ears, arms and legs that are missing from this body. (Eph 5:25 NKJV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, The Church is a BODY. It is a body that has parts ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25

Denomination: Baptist

The Church - A Family

Contributed by Troy Harkey on Apr 16, 2003

When we think of the church, we most often think of a place like this where we come to worship and to study and be taught God’s Word, but before the church was the institution, as we know it today, the church was a family.

THE CHURCH – A FAMILY (Mat 12:47-50) 47, Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48, But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49, And he stretched forth his hand toward his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:47-50

Denomination: Baptist

The Church - A Lighthouse

Contributed by Troy Harkey on Apr 16, 2003

I have had many supporting churches, as a missionary, that the word “lighthouse” was a part of their name. The Bible makes it very clear that we as a church body are to be a lighthouse to the world.

THE CHURCH – A LIGHTHOUSE This will be our final message in this series on the church. (Mark 16:15 NKJV) And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mat 5:14-16 NKJV) "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:15, Mark 16:14-18, Mark 16:9-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Church - A Hospital

Contributed by Troy Harkey on Apr 16, 2003

To take a quote from last Sunday, one writer has said, “We are all healers who can reach out and offer health, and we are all patients in constant need of help.”

THE CHURCH IS A HOSPITAL (Isa 61:1 KJV) The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; (Isa ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Zoo

Contributed by Phil Dyar on Mar 26, 2005

THE LOCAL ZOO IS NOT THE ONLY ZOO I HAVE BEEN TO, I HAVE BEEN TO THE CHURCH ZOO.

MATTHEW 7:15-20 LETS READ INTRO. BEFORE I PREACH ON THE CHURCH ZOO LETS NOTICE THE TWO"S FOUND IN THIS CHAPTER A. MAT.7:13 TWO GATES -STRAIT AND WIDE. B. MAT.7:13-14 TWO WAYS-BROAD AND NARROW. C. MAT.7:13-14 TWO CLASSES-MANY AND FEW. D. MAT.7:17 TWO TREES-GOOD AND CORRUPT. E. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:15-20

The Uniqueness Of The Church

Contributed by Dr. Phillip Paschal on Dec 30, 2004

There’s No Place Like The Church.

THE UNIQUENESS OF THE CHURCH PSALMS 122:1 I. INTRODUCTION THE CHURCH, WITH ALL OF HER DIFFERENT AUXILERIES AND MINISTRIES, IS A UNIQUE ORGANISM THAT HAS NO PEERS. NO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE THE CHURCH IN ALL OF THE WORLD. EVEN WITH HER VARIOUS MAN MADE DOCTRINES, THE ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:1

Denomination: Baptist

The Ceo Of The Church Series

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Jan 4, 2005

Jesus gave a different self-portrait to each of the 4 churches addressed in Revelation 2.

INTRODUCTION: On two occasions I have visited the White House and taken a tour of the downstairs rooms. One thing I remember is that the walls are lined with impressive portraits of all the Presidents. There have been 40 presidents in our 230-year history as a nation. But in the church’s ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-29

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Welcoming Church Series

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Jan 10, 2005

Church is a foreign, strange enviroment to seekers. How can we develop into a place of welcome as the church? What habits can we adopt that will make us the place of welcome that God wants us to be?

I owe thanks to Pastor wes Richard for the basic outline of this sermon. As well, Steven Covey, who was Wes’ inspiration, served as a starting point for me as well. ______________________________________ Sermon for CATM January 9, 2005 - The Welcoming Church - Romans 15:1-7 A few days ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Purpose Of The Church

Contributed by Dean Rhine on Jan 11, 2005

seeing evangelism as the purpose of the church

Intro: We have started talking about the purpose of the church. I hope you came out to church on purpose this morning. If so, for what purpose? We mentioned last week that the church exists to celebrate the presence of God: Worship. But, there are other purposes as well. What would you think ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Dead Church Series

Contributed by Jason Cole on Feb 26, 2004

Jesus addresses several churches in the nook of Revelation. One of the churches is called a dead church. The question we need to consider is are we a dead church? Are we dead spiritually?

"A Dead Church" Introduction: Each week in America, paramedics arrive on the scene of an accident where the victim has crossed the barrier between life and death. There is no heartbeat. Breathing has stopped. All the vital signs of life are absent. But the paramedics do not accept this death as ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Compromising Church Series

Contributed by Jason Cole on Feb 26, 2004

What type of church are you a part of? What type of Christian are you? We live in a world of compromise, Christians today compormise in their dcotrine and their lifestlye. What does Jesus have to say to a compromising church?

What Type of Church Is This? A Compromising Church Introduction: According to the Homer’s Iliad, the Greeks besieged the city of Troy for ten years without success. After the death of the warrior Achilles, many wanted to give up the fight. But the king of Ithaca, Odysseus, came up with a plan to ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Club Or Church?

Contributed by Allan Quak on Dec 28, 2005

The church is very different from a club. In these verses Paul teaches us four distinctive ways in which the church ought to be different.

1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 Club or Church? The church is very different from a club. In these verses Paul teaches us four distinctive ways in which the church ought to be different. Congregation in the Lord, If someone was to ask you, “What is the difference between a church and a club?”, what ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Of Ephesus Series

Contributed by Randall Lavere Ii on Jan 3, 2006

A powerful in-depth look into the characteristics, rebukes, exhortations, and promises to the 7 churches of Revelation.

The seven churches (1 Ephesus) Randall LaVere II God has truly laid the burden upon my heart, and I believe of many others to pray for a true Revival. This message has been pressing on my spirit for over a year now, and after much prayer and study we are going to dig in deep into the word of God. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Charismatic