Sermons on The Local Congregation:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

Vision Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Nov 9, 2005

Vision is a God thing. It has to do with finding out what God is up to in our world and then joining Him in doing it.

This is our 4th and final message from Proverbs. Behind each of the sayings in this book is a vision of a community committed to living God’s way. This ideal community contradicts the foolish, immoral tendencies of the world, encouraging us to live productively and harmoniously to carry out the ...read more

Denomination: Brethren

An Effective Treatment Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Sep 17, 2009

The concluding message of the series on the Local Church.

An Effective Treatment I Corinthians 3:1-11 * Over the past couple of months we have been in a series of messages entitled; the local church, dead, dying, or dynamic. Think about it, which condition do you prefer for HBC? It is my belief that most, if not all of us desire this to be a Dynamic ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The New Testament Church (Church Organization)

Contributed by Nathan Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1) Couple of weeks ago, we began a ("first principles") study titled "The Church"  A) In it we concluded there is a True Church! -- & the way we go about identifying it is by looking to scripture & properly interpreting what we read.

1) Couple of weeks ago, we began a ("first principles") study titled "The Church"  A) In it we concluded there is a True Church! -- & the way we go about identifying it is by looking to scripture & properly interpreting what we read. 1) Since Jesus Christ is the "head over all things to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Prayer Of Faith ! Series

Contributed by John Wright on Feb 2, 2010

James teaches that when the sick call for the elders that the elders are to pray "the prayer of faith", which was prayed by elders that had had the apostles to lay their hands upon them and they would be praying with miraculous power, which is not possibl

INTRODUCTION #35 1. Please open your bibles to James 5:15. 2. In a previous lesson, from James 5:14, we discussed three different instructions that James gave to those who were sick and living during the days of miraculous healing of the sick. Those three instructions were first to be applied ...read more

Scripture: James 5:15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Loving God With All Your Strength

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jan 24, 2010

Message regarding loving God practically through service in the church.

Loving God with All Your Strength Mark 12:30 January 24, 2010 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT IS FROM ANDY STANLEY'S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Me: This is part one of a two-parter on this whole idea of loving God with all our strength. Today I want to lay some groundwork, and then ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:30

Denomination: Wesleyan

Woes To Unfaithful Church Leaders

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 14, 2018

Jesus’ stern warning to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:13-39 is also important for church leaders today. A Year D sermon.

It is such a privilege to be a church leader, especially in kind and loving churches. It is a grave responsibility to feed God’s sheep and guide people that we are privileged to call our friends, on their journey to eternity. Overseers of churches are far from perfect, but some mistakes are worse ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-39

Denomination: Baptist