Sermons on The Local Congregation:

Paul's Exemplary Qualities

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jan 6, 2007

Paul’s ministry affirmingly worked through insiders in the growth of each local church. Paul wrote, “I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.”

Ephesians 4:11-16 Paul’s Apostolic Principles and Practices 1. Paul was an apostle (missionary). An apostle is one who is sent out by Christ to preach the gospel. God only had one Son and he sent Him as a missionary. The man who God has used more than any other as a missionary was the apostle ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Is Your Epaphras?

Contributed by Johnny Knight on Jan 26, 2010

I have often said the greatest gift God has given to us (second only to Jesus) is the Church. There are so many benefits to being not only a part of the body of Christ on the earth, but a part of a local body of believers. There is encouragement and help,

WHO IS YOUR EPAPHRAS? Text: Colossians 4:12 “Epaphras, who is one of you, says ‘hello’. What a trooper he has been! He’s been tireless in his prayers for you, praying that you’ll stand firm, mature and confident in everything God wants you to do. I’ve watched him ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Praying Church Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 19, 2008

We have an example in this text of the Local N.T. Church in Jerusalem in prayer during a time of crisis in their church. And we can see also in this text that their prayer was miraculously answered. Anytime a church is not experiencing souls being saved o

Illustration: There was a tenant in an apartment building who was a widow woman who loved God dearly. Her landlord on the other hand despised God and her faith. One day she ran out of food and money and with no one to help she turned to God in prayer. She prayed, “Oh dear God please help me in my ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do Your Best: Scout Sunday

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Aug 27, 2013

This expository sermon, written for a special Scout Sunday service attended by a troop of local Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, encourages Scouts (and Christians) to do their best in service of Jesus so they will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Do Your Best: Scout Sunday Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 2/3/2012 Most of you are probably familiar with the Boy Scout motto—always be prepared. You might not be as familiar with the Cub Scout motto though, which is—do your best! That’s not just good ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Christian Church

The Seven Churches

Contributed by Glenn Dale Pease on Aug 29, 2014

When John in verse 4 addresses the 7 churches in Asia, he is addressing the total church, or all churches for all time. These 7 actual churches of his day are representative of all the local churches that will exist through all of history.

THE SEVEN CHURCHES Based on Rev. 1:4 By Pastor Glenn Pease A math teacher asked one of her less enthusiastic students, "If I take 23 away from 30, what is the difference?" He responded, "That's what I say, what's the difference?" In other words, it made no difference to him. Not everybody ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4

Denomination: Baptist

Apostle; James The Great Series

Contributed by William D. Brown on Apr 1, 2014

Today local churches send missionaries. -- it is best to call them missionaries, to keep some folks from being confused, if they were referred to as apostles, some folks might think of them as being like the Twelve Apostles, and the Apostle Paul.

#6~ APOSTLE; JAMES THE GREAT 1-11-14 * JAMES -- name of four men in the New Testament: 1~ James, the son of Zebedee brother of John, both were apostles. 2 ~ James, a son of Mary, half brother of Jesus, he was not a member of the apostolic band, and not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-21

Denomination: Baptist

—it Takes Vision.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Mar 6, 2022

This word helped many saints within our local body. Dreams stop famine—Dreams give legs to faith, Dreams build buildings, Dreams save souls, Dreams give us reason to get back up again.

—It Takes Vision. Habakkuk 2:2-4NKJV Larry lived and breathed golf. As a teenager he was ranked in the top 16 golfers in the nation. In his senior year he was in car accident, his left arm was amputated just below the elbow. He would be fitted with a prosthetic hand, and with a lot of ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 2:2-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Spirit Of Festival Laws Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 22, 2021

Ancient Hebrews used a lunar-solar calendar, easy to observe in the sky as a new moon began a new month. Throughout the calendar year there were ritual observances of locally relevant harvests and commemorations of notable events. How is this relevant for Christians?

The ancient Hebrew year was observed using a lunar-solar calendar with 12 and 13 months over a 19 year cycle. This was easy to observe in the sky as a new moon began a new month. Throughout the calendar year there were ritual observances of locally relevant harvests and commemorations of notable ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:23-25, Romans 14:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

Vote Biblically

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Apr 27, 2006

VOTE BIBLICALLY How should a Christian Vote? Should we just vote the party line or does God hold us to a different standard than the Democrats and Rebulicans? Let’s learn to let God direct us at the ballot box.

VOTE BIBLICALLY How should a Christian Vote? Philippians 3:20—Ephesians 2:19 As a Christian we have a dual citizenship. I believe all of us here today are US citizens (some who live in the US still retain citizenship of their home nation such as Canada, Mexico or other nations). However, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Knowing Your Gifts Series

Contributed by Robert Higgins on Oct 10, 2006

What you don’t know can hurt you and certainly won’t help anyone else. The Apostle Paul said that he didn’t want us to be "ignorant" about our spiritual gifts. So why are we?

1. Overview and Introduction a. Promise of Power – do you want a religion that is just that…a religion? Or do you want to experience the Supernatural power of God in daily life? b. Would you like to experience the promise of Pentecost which isn’t found in works and the power of what we can do, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:11

Denomination: Baptist

Leading The Church Of God Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Jun 4, 2005

Essentials of leadership given by Paul to the elders of Ephesus

SERIES: “LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH” TEXT: ACTS 20:17-32 TITLE: “LEADING THE CHURCH OF GOD” INTRODUCTION: A. Acts 20:17-32 – “From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: ‘You know how I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:17-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Church That Was Built By Christ

Contributed by Herman E. Wesley Iii on Sep 10, 2010

It is indeed a fact that Christ built the church. That is undeniable in its biblical and spiritual premise. However, when considering this subject in a contemporary prism, I feel it necessary to make a comparison through an illustration of modern home

EVANGELIST HERMAN E. WESLEY III The Church That Was Built By Christ Matthew 16:13-18; Psalm 127:1 PRELIMINARIES I think it necessary that when we come together for functions such as this that we spend time sharing lessons that will have a meaningful impact on our ministries and on our service. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-18

Before You Eat

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Jan 28, 2001

I got concerned that every time I took communion, I might be risking my life. What would happen if I ate the bread or drank the cup in an "unworthy manner"?

Teddy Roosevelt, the man who would become the 26th President of the United States, was afraid to go to church when he was a child because of a creature he called "The Zeal." His mother eventually realized the reason for Teddy’s fear was a Scripture verse he had heard the pastor read, John 2:17, "It ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Denomination: Baptist

Before You Eat

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 25, 2000

The Lord's Supper: the wonderful privilege we as Christians have in coming to the Lord's Table together

Teddy Roosevelt, the man who would become the 26th President of the United States, was afraid to go to church when he was a child because of a creature he called "The Zeal." His mother eventually realized the reason for Teddy's fear was a Scripture verse he had heard the pastor read, John 2:17, "It ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Denomination: Baptist

Why Will We Eat In Heaven?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 19, 2005

A sermon on church fellowship meals and the wedding supper of the lamb. Warning: the congregation will want to eat after this one. (Some material taken from an article on the web about reasons why we eat)

Evening Service for 8/14/2005 The Wedding Supper of the Lamb Introduction: A. (Rev 19:6 NIV) Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. (Rev 19:7 NIV) Let us rejoice ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:6-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ