Sermons on The Local Congregation:

What Does The Bible Say About Racism?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 18, 2020

Americans are a facing a deep, long-standing issue of racism. While 90 percent of Protestant pastors say their congregation would welcome a sermon on racial reconciliation, only 26 percent say leaders in their church have encouraged them to preach on the subject.

What is racism? • Racism is prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or a group of people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized. • Racism is the belief that different races possess ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Galatians 3:28, 1 Samuel 16:7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fooled By A Prophet Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 19, 2021

Prophetic messages on the Internet are abundant posing new challenges as well as possible benefits. Pastors must equip their congregations to test these messages using biblical principles. This series teaches principles for doing that. This message uses lessons from the story in 1 Kings 13.

Intro Last week we taught on the subject of testing prophecy. How do we know that a dream, a vision, a word that someone is sharing is truly from the Lord? And even if it is from the Lord, are we interpreting it correctly and applying it wisely. We found that all three aspects of a prophecy must ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:7-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-22, Hebrews 8:1-13, 1 Corinthians 14:1-40, Revelation 2:7-29, 2 Timothy 3:10, Acts 13:1-3, Acts 19:6, Hebrews 5:11, John 16:13-14, John 10:27, Jeremiah 31:31-34, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 2 Kings 23:15-18, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20, 1 Kings 13:1-34  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

The Double Life Of King Asa

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Nov 5, 2025

Many make the mistake of thinking that all the things in the Old Testament no longer apply to our modern age. Even some preachers in their sermon preparation choose to preach out of the New Testament, because they feel that the New Testament is more applicable to today’s congregations.

While much of the Old Testament did deal with Israel and the ceremonial laws that were given to them, a great deal of it is for us today. For example, we are to learn from the examples of the lives of the characters in the Old Testament. Paul said in Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 15:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

Who Was Afraid Of Jesus? Series

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Feb 9, 2021

Jesus Christ has all authority over both the natural and supernatural world. He brought freedom to a tortured soul, stirred a local crowd into anger, and calmed a raging sea. His ministry brought grace, mercy, love, hope, and for some, fear. Why would anyone fear Him? You would be surprised.

Chapter 4 of Mark's Gospel presented to us the authority that Jesus had over the forces of nature by rebuking a storm on the Sea of Galilee. He and His disciples were in a boat heading to the eastern shore of the Sea when a violent storm erupted, which was a common occurrence according to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, Mark 5:1-20, 1 Peter 3:15

Denomination: Baptist

Characteristics Of Healthy Churches (1 Peter 5:1-5) Series

Contributed by Greg Brown on Aug 2, 2014

Exposition of 1 Peter 5:1-5

Characteristics of Healthy Churches To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Accursed Thing

Contributed by James May on Apr 10, 2005

The Accursed Thing must be removed from the camp of the church before we can expect God to give us the victory over our enemy.

THE ACCURSED THING by Pastor Jim May Joshua Chapter 7 Joshua 7:1, "But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Perilous Times Series

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Sep 5, 2003

Here are three very practical survival strategies for the perilous, difficult, dangerous days in which we live.

Perilous Times II Timothy 3 You’ve probably heard the old joke about the fellow who was told, “Cheer up. Things could be worse.” So he said, “I did as I was told. I cheered up, and sure enough, things got worse.” That in a nutshell is the message of II Timothy. The Apostle Paul, writing from a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Rich Man - Poor Man

Contributed by Tim Vamosi on Jan 7, 2011

wealthy or poor - Each group has its own problems – Real Wealth is a Matter of Understanding Sufficiency in Christ

"Rich Man - Poor Man" James 1:9-12 OPEN: So we are continuing our journey through the book of James and one of the things we've noted right from the beginning is that James is a man who thinks in a way that is vastly different from the norms we run into in normal society. (whatever that is) If ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Let Us Not Grow Weary Of Doing Good

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

This is how we live as God’s people. 1.) We help restore those caught in sin. 2.) We help carry one another’s burdens. 3.) We support our pastor and the work of this congregation. 4.) We do what is good.

Intro Why do we as a people want to support public schools, various health programs, water and sewer services, and Social Security? You might be thinking, “Well, it’s because I have to pay taxes.” Or on a day like today, July 4th, you might say that you are doing your patriotic duty as an ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Our Tawdry Little Secret

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 24, 2011

As we fulfil the Great Commission, we will reach out to women who have had abortions. How shall we treat them? Within our congregations are women who have aborted. How will we minister to them? The message is a plea to deal boldly with sin.

“Uriah said to David, ‘The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.’ Then David ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

Liberated For Loyalty Series

Contributed by Gregory Mc Donald on Feb 10, 2010

This morning I want to look at Acts 4:32-5:16 because it is the best possible way to communicate what the Holy Spirit wants to enable our congregation to do - before He can guide us on to all that He intends us to do in the world.

LIBERATED FOR LOYALTY ACTS 4:32-5:16 This morning I want to look at Acts 4:32-5:16 because it is the best possible way to communicate what the Holy Spirit wants to enable our congregation to do - before He can guide us on to all that He intends us to do in the world. In the previous chapter we ...read more

On Being Hospitable Series

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Jun 19, 2009

Part II of the Four-Part Vision: God instructs his people to practice hospitality. What does this mean as we receive guests in our congregations? Are we ill-prepared to welcome our guests? Or do we receive them as the blessing and gift that God intended?

Congregations are families. The longer that they are together, usually the harder it is to let other people become part of the inner circle of the church. And yet, we know that – just as we are to be hospitable as families – we are also called to be hospitable as groups of believers. The writer ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:2

Denomination: Lutheran

God's Own Among God's Strays

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 13, 2008

For the anniversary of the Lai Baptist Church of Gaithersburg, a Burmese congregation. You came as strangers, but God has made you His own. Now we American Christians, who have strayed from what we once were, need your passion among us.

Sometimes people of differing cultures fail to understand one another. Sometimes people with differing backgrounds cannot grasp what others are all about. So they end up hurting one another, when, really, they need one another. If you do not understand your neighbor, and if your neighbor is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-25

Denomination: Baptist

Why I Don't Have A "Vision" Or "5 Year Plan" For Our Church

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jun 13, 2018

This is an abbreviated sermon used after my annual pastor's report to the congregation explaining why we do not have a written "business plan" for church growth. Instead it lays out the 3 foundational steps the Lord has put in my heart as I serve here.

If you would, please stand as we say together our memory Scripture for this quarter: Romans 12:4-5 “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-8, Jude 1:1-4, 1 Corinthians 3:6-8

Denomination: Nazarene

Hiding In The Church House Unnoticed Series

Contributed by Dr. Dave Hartson on Aug 7, 2021

We tackle the group that Jesus refers to in the Sermon on the Mount as wolves in sheep's clothing. These are the one who work their way into the church congregation, get places of authority and then start sharing lies or half-truth about God or His Word for the purpose of deceiving you.

Introduction: Today, we are going to look at the final group of players whose purpose is to deceive you and me as we approach the end times. In previous weeks, we looked at the scoffer who gets the Christian to question God. And then we saw last week that Satan uses lawlessness to his advantage to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-8

Denomination: Baptist