Sermons on The Local Congregation:

Don’t Be Confused About The Task Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Nov 7, 2010

Confusion about the church exists in large measure today and is seen in the projected assignement of the church

Don’t be Confused – about the task Matthew 22:34-40, Matthew 28:18-20, John 20:21, Acts 1:8 * Some years ago, I read a speedboat driver who had recently survived a racing accident. He said that he had been at near-top speeds when his boat veered slightly and hit a wave at a dangerous angle. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

Me-Firstology

Contributed by Daniel Austin on Dec 23, 2009

When we truly put the kingdom of God and others before ourselves, then the Lord will see to it that we have the things that we need.

Me-firstology: The “Me First” Mentality 04/30/06 AM Reading: Luke 9:57-62 Introduction [Note: This lesson is adapted from an article entitled “The Me First Syndrome” by Wayne Jackson Christian Courier: Penpoints 11/14/05.] As Jesus went about His earthly ministry, people either wanted to follow ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sacrificial Giving Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Sep 23, 2023

These two are pleasing sacrifices to God. The fruit of the lips, the fruit of the hands. Both are outward expressions of the inner heart. The words of the lips and the deeds of the hands have come from the bottom. Your inner heart is expressed through your outer face.

Text: Hebrews 13:15-21 Theme: Sacrificial Giving Greetings: The Lord is good and his love endures forever! Illustration: Today, I would like to leave with you three spiritual principles based on Hebrews 13:15-21. The pleasing sacrifices, pleasing lives, and pleasing works of a believer in ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:15-21

Denomination: Methodist

The Acts Of The Apostles. The Church In Motion. Acts 1

Contributed by David Cramer on Dec 17, 2024

The Apostles did many things to start sharing the mission that Jesus sent them on. This message is to encourage us to do the same.

The Acts of the Apostles. The Church in Motion Acts 1 Stand and raise up your Bible and repeat after me. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I can do what it says I can do. I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be. Today I will learn more of the word of God. The ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Church That Serves Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Mar 5, 2008

Congregations are not spiritual spas. They’re places where needs are met and people are served.

SERIES: “LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH” TEXT: ACTS 6:1-7 TITLE: “A CHURCH THAT SERVES” OPEN: A. A number of years ago, a team of white-jacketed scientists marched with clipboards in hand into the barnyard and sat down outside the chicken coop. They were there to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Choose Godly Leaders Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Jun 6, 2016

One of the most important thing for a growing church is their need for godly leadership.

Last Sunday, we began this new series of messages called Grow, Church, Grow! We’re spending the next several weeks studying Paul’s letter of instruction for his young protégé named Titus – the person for whom the writing is named. Titus is ministering on an island ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:5-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Christian Faith Series

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on May 1, 2021

To be a Christian is to belong to Christ; to whole-heartedly submit yourself by faith into the will of the Father. To be a Christian is to belong to Christ’s family.

The Christian Faith “For a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” - Acts 11:26 In the earliest days of the Christian movement, the followers of Jesus were not called Christians. They were called ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do Not Forsake Coming To Church

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Nov 6, 2021

Making a habit of coming to church is more important than ever.

Do not Forsake Coming to Church Hebrews 10:10-25 Introduction In many places, church attendance has been on a serious decline for some time. this had been accelerated by the Coronavirus pandemic. churches were ordered to close or severely limit attendance as being “non-essential.” Of course, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:10-25, Hebrews 10:11-14, Hebrews 10:15-18, Hebrews 10:19-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Different Stages Of Christian Growth Series

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Sep 22, 2009

This message examines the different stages of Christian growth.

People have the tendency to use word pictures to help others understand difficult concepts. This is quite common in the church. The church has often been compared to a business, a farm, a team, a school or a hospital. However, none of these analogies have the ability to adequately convey what God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:4-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Essential Practices Of The New Testament Church

Contributed by Michael Luke on Oct 2, 2011

A message about what happens in a congregation that relies on the power of the Holy Spirit and is obedient to God's word.

“ESSENTIAL PRACTICES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH” ACTS 2:42-47 OPEN A paramedic was being interviewed on a local Dallas TV news program. The host asked, “What was your most challenging and unusual 911 call?” The paramedic said, “It happened recently. We ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Do You Connect With Your World Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 14, 2003

To reach the world you need to speak to it on its terms, in its language and with integrity

In the early 1940s a young graduate of Wheaton College went to a small Baptist church in a Chicago suburb. His name was Billy Graham. Although he felt his gifts were more in the area of evangelism, he agreed to give it a go. Within several months, the church was growing, and so was his popularity. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:20-22, Acts 17:16-34

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Are You Arrogant Or Ignorant? God Has The Cure

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Jan 18, 2002

How Paul dealt with the arrogant yet ignorant members of the Corinthian congregation.

January 20, 2002 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way -- in all your speaking and in all your knowledge ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Denomination: Lutheran

When God Lends A Hand Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Aug 7, 2001

This is the first sermon in the series, "Becoming A Contagious Congregation, A Study of the Church at Antioch".

Notice Acts 11:21 from our scripture reading - "And THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS WITH THEM and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord." The church at Antioch was a CONTAGIOUS CONGREGATION. The fact that "a great number believed, and turned to the Lord", gets our attention. I want to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Church God Favors Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Aug 9, 2001

This is the second sermon in the series "Becoming A Contagious Congregation, A Study of the Church at Antioch".

There was something special about the church at Antioch. We’ve already seen (in the first sermon in this series) that God’s hand was on them because they were a praying, Spirit-filled congregation. Notice what Luke says about the way Barnabas perceived the church at Antioch. In Acts 11:23 it ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-30

Denomination: Baptist

Touch And Remember--An Easter Lesson Outline

Contributed by Don Hawks on Mar 30, 2002

This outline is for the congregation to follow to accompany the full text of the message by the same title.

TOUCH AND REMEMBER The 2002 Easter Lesson Pastor Don Hawks Bethany Church (All Bible readings from The Message Translation unless indicated) Luke 24:1-8: At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-8

Denomination: Methodist