Sermons on The Local Congregation:

Arrows Of Truth # 23 - What Is The 2nd Cord Of Connection To The Local Church? Series

Contributed by Louis Posthauer on Mar 25, 2022

A weekly series to help believers engage with loved ones, friends and neighbors who are dropout believers to restore them to the church - the Body of Christ.

Arrows of Truth # 23 - What is the 2nd cord of connection to the local church? We are considering the concept of connectedness as the goal of the local church for every believer (including restored dropout believers). Last week we looked at the first ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:12, Colossians 3:12-14

Is Official, Or Formal Church Membership In A Local Church According To Scripture? – Part 1 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 2, 2025

This begins a 4 part study of local church membership in the New Testament. Is a formal church membership biblically required in our churches? Was it required in the first century churches? We will examine scriptures and practices for those answers.

IS OFFICIAL, OR FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE? – PART 1 What is church membership? What does the New Testament teach about church membership? Is this a requirement for us in local churches or must we submit ourselves to a practice of man and denominational ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Ephesians 5:29-30, Acts 2:47, Acts 2:44, Romans 12:4-6, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Philippians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, Colossians 1:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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

Addition, Multiplication, Division & Subtraction

Contributed by Charles Newman on Aug 27, 2006

“It’s all about math,” a teacher once said. Can everything be reduced in its simplest form to mathematics? Weather patterns at this time of year can be fairly predictable; hot, steamy and frequent afternoon showers. The weather forecasters use mathematics

“It’s all about math,” a teacher once said. Can everything be reduced in its simplest form to mathematics? Weather patterns at this time of year can be fairly predictable; hot, steamy and frequent afternoon showers. The weather forecasters use mathematics to predict our weather. Now we even have a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6, John 17:21-23

Denomination: Methodist

Architecture Of The Church

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Aug 24, 2023

Jesus establishes Peter as the first building block of the Church upon his confession that Jesus is the Son of God. We, too, have that same opportunity to become a building stone in the Church.

CHURCH! THAT WORD, ALONE, BRINGS ABOUT MANY DIFFERENT IDEAS AND UNDERSTANDINGS. I HAVE HEARD IT DESCRIBED AS JUST A BUILDING OR AS A PLACE CHRISTIANS GO ON SUNDAY. PERHAPS, THOSE DEEPER IN FAITH WOULD CALL IT A GROUP OF BELIEVERS. WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS OF WHAT “CHURCH” MEANS TO US. IF WE ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20, Ephesians 2:19-21, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 2 Samuel 22:2-3, John 20:30-31  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Free Methodist

Wars And Fightings And Some Of The Reasons Why! Series

Contributed by John Wright on Feb 1, 2010

James teaches on things that are responsible for wars and fightings, however the wars and fightings in this passage primarily refer to brethren not getting along with one another, due to worldly and devilish wisdom instead of the wisdom from above being p

INTRODUCTION #17 1. Open your bible to James 4:1&2. 2. This passage reminds us that many people in the church don’t know how to get along with each other and that many don’t know how to get along with their self. 3. Let’s begin our discussion of the things that James sets forth ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bigger Hearts For Lost People

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Feb 6, 2007

What was it that transformed a semi-defeated Bible study group meeting in an upper room in Jerusalem into this highly energized, Holy Spirit empowered, life-giving local church? The inundation of 3000 new converts on Pentecost Day.

Building Bigger Hearts for Lost People I would like to start with a multiple-choice question: Which of these would most likely transform the average sleepy, tradition-bound local church into a dynamic, fired-up, community of faith? Which of the following events? A) Burning the hymnbooks, and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Becoming One

Contributed by Michael Luke on Dec 3, 2015

Satan's key tactic is divide and conquer. The church should remain united – focused on the task ahead instead of the trivialities of disagreement.

“Becoming One” John 17:16-23 OPEN In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn't. Linus asks, “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” Lucy replies, “These five fingers. ...read more

Scripture: John 17:16-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Who's In Your Family

Contributed by Thomas Hypes on Jun 5, 2005

A look at covenant relationships with God and the local church body as an introduction to membership into the local church.

Who’s in Your Family? - Amy and I went to Church Financial Seminar - Many churches are happy to hear this so Leadership is spending the church money wisely - Part is teaching Biblical practices for finances to people in church so they are not robbing from God what he commands to support the ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Are We Here?

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Nov 24, 2008

This sermon examines the mission of the local church.

Do you ever find yourself wondering about your purpose? As a church we should be continually considering that thought. Why are we here? I would like for us to consider this question today. This is a vitally important question. Sometimes churches misunderstand their task. Someone wrote a list of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Study Of The Organization Of The Church Series

Contributed by Dr. William D. Poovey on Jul 21, 2015

The Study Of The Organization Of The Church

The Study Of The Organization Of The Church Philippians 1:1 (KJV) 1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Christ built the church (Matthew 16:18). That church is made up of the called out, the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1

Denomination: Foursquare

How Pride Destroys A Church Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Mar 2, 2023

This is the seventh message in a series we're doing on 1st Corinthians. Today we're talking about how a little leaven will leaven the whole lump, and how Church discipline not only keeps the integrity of a congregation, but how it is actually a loving act to the sinning member.

Text: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 OPEN WITH PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING Now we've been in 1 Corinthians for a while, and we've seen Paul address a few of the issues that were going on in that Church. And I don't know about all you, but I'm thankful that God chose to add this book to the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 1 John 1:9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"The Church – The Body Of Jesus On Earth”...... "The Mission Statement Of Jesus”

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Jan 20, 2022

The home coming of Jesus is similar to a 25th or 50th class reunion. Old playmates wanted demonstrations in their village, not the message of salvation. Leonard Sweet said: “Jesus is on earth today but not as an individual. He is here in the form of the “ekklesia”, the church.

In Jesus Holy Name January 23, 2022 Luke 4:18-19 Epiphany IV “The Church – The Body of Jesus on Earth” “The Mission Statement of Jesus” Over the weekend at our church campout the topic came up regarding high school and college reunions. The very first thing that happens when you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:18-19, Luke 4:22-30

Denomination: Lutheran

The Body Of Christ, And You

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 12, 2007

Encouragement for Christians who wonder what their role is in the church of the Living God.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:27 THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND YOU “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” Many Christians know what the Bible teaches, but this knowledge does not necessarily mean that we who bear the Name of the Master eagerly embrace the instruction of the Word. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:27

Denomination: Baptist