Sermons on The Local Congregation:

When Church Seems Like A Fly-By-Night Operation Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 27, 2020

It's easy to look at your local church and be underwhelmed by what you see. Jesus' words here point us toward a higher vision of the Kingdom that He is inaugurating.

AMATEUR HOUR: Sometimes the church can seem like a fly-by-night operation. - We all have stories of churches behaving poorly. We all have stories of churches who were laughably bad at what they were doing. - I remember as a young Christian being preached at by my pastor that we should bring our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

In Memoriam Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 29, 2021

Is the Lord's Supper an act performed by rote, or do we worship the Lord through this act? The Meal is designed to actively bring to mind the sacrifice of our Saviour, bring us to the point of worship.

“I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Denomination: Baptist

How Shoud We Handle Theological Differences? Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on May 26, 2015

This sermon teaches why theology is important and how we should treat those who disagree with our understanding of the Truth.

There was once a man in San Francisco walking along the Golden Gate Bridge, and he saw a second man about to jump over the edge. He stopped him and said, "Surely it can't be that bad. You know God loves you." The man about to jump got a tear in his eye. He said, "Are you a Christian or a Jew or a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:3-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spiritual Gangrene: Necrosis Of The Body Of Christ

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Sep 3, 2020

Paul warns Timothy to avoid godless chatter because it will spread like gangrene. Sin, like gangrene, has a way of spreading and causing division in the congregation.

When it comes to the church, church growth is naturally related to church health. Healthy churches, like healthy people, must grow. In his book, The Purpose Driven Church, Pastor Rick Warren says that if our church is healthy, attendance will be the least of our problems. He writes that ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-2

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Women Preachers And The Word Of God Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 26, 2013

Women and men are spiritually equal before the Lord; however, women are debarred from occupying the role of elder within the congregation of the Lord.

“Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:9-15

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Announces His Mission, From Which We Can Announce Our Own.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Jan 25, 2016

This is a subtle sermon to motivate and thank the congregation, based on why Jesus chose his own readings in the temple; and how the church can gain from that announcement?

This sermon was delivered to St Oswald’s in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 24th January 2016; St Oswalds is a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries. Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4:14-21 Psalm 19 “Please be seated, and join me ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:14-21

Denomination: Episcopal

Fulfilling God's Vison By Connecting With Our Community

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Jan 16, 2007

In this passage in Luke Jesus makes it clear that His Vision for His followers and the church is to connect with the surrounding community.

Fulfilling God’s Vision by Connecting with Our Community Luke 9:1-6 In this passage in Luke Jesus makes it clear that His Vision for His followers and the church is to connect with the surrounding community. Jesus sent out his twelve apostles and gave them power and authority to cast out demons ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:1-6

Denomination: Free Methodist

Wayfaring Strangers A Study Of 1 Peter , Part 1 Introduction

Contributed by Randy Edwards on Feb 13, 2018

Part one of our 1 Peter study

Wayfaring Strangers A study of 1 Peter Part 1 1 Peter 1:1-2, 6 John 16:33 Introduction How many of you have been somewhere in your life? Where you just did not feel comfortable You did not feel that you belonged there? Maybe it was a place, a bad situation maybe even a relationship ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

6 Extend Your Vision - Include The Whole World!

Contributed by Jerald Scott on Aug 7, 2024

Is your understanding of God's plans too limited?

Maximum Impact # 6 “Live for maximum impact! Make a difference!” is what the Lord has been saying to me this month! In this series of messages, we have considered the new identity that God offers to each of us in Christ, about the reality of God’s Presence all around in daily life. We ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Our New Life In Christ Series

Contributed by Steve Ferber on Jan 7, 2006

Jesus called John the Baptist the greatest man who ever lived. What made John so great, and how can we live life to the fullest by following his example? John’s first love, his passion, and His Lord, was Jesus Christ.

*A few weeks ago I read that scientists were going to add another second to the clock on New Year’s Eve. They called it a leap second, something that happens every few years because of the gradual slowdown in the earth’s rotation. That leap second gave each of us a whole extra second to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:4-11

Denomination: Lutheran

True Greatness

Contributed by Christopher Martin on Sep 20, 2009

A sermon for Pentecost 16B/Proper 20 preached September 20th, 2009 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Audubon, Iowa. It talks about greatness in the Kingdom of God vs. greatness in the eyes of the world.

I’d like for you to imagine the following scene, and tell me what you think about it. You’ve just been told by a doctor that you have an incurable disease. This disease is fatal. You know you have a short time until you die. The doctor describes in detail how the disease will progress and rob you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-37

Denomination: Lutheran

Unity In Christ

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 23, 2014

What do the words "community", "immunity" and "opportunity" have in common? This sermon was preached at a combined English/Hispanic service in English and Spanish and emphasized the unity we have in Christ.

OPEN: A mother looked out a window and saw Johnny playing church with their 3 kittens. He had them lined up and was preaching to them and the mother smiled and turned around to do some work. But, just a short while later she heard meowing and scratching on the door. She rushed to the door and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:2-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Cross

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Sep 24, 2022

The message of the cross is a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are being saved it is the wisdom of God. Do we have a "cross centered" view today?

THE CROSS Text: 1 Corinthians 1:17-25, 1 Corinthians 2:1-6 OPEN WITH PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING I love studying God’s Word. I absolutely love it. I would rather study God’s Word than watch football or go to a UFC fight, which is saying a lot, because I enjoy both of those things. I would rather ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17-25, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sharing The Load Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 22, 2014

Recently we had an incident in worship that inadvertently evoked some strained relations within the congregation. This lesson deals with HOW to treat one another in such instances.

1. Teamwork A traveler was driving along one day and had an accident. He drove his car into a ditch in a desolate area. A local farmer came by to help with his horse named Buddy. Well, the farmer hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn't move. Once more the farmer ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Church's Obligation To Its Elders Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on May 27, 2022

1 Timothy 5:17-25 gives us practical instruction for the church's obligation to its elders.

Scripture Paul understood that there was a crisis of leadership in Ephesus. In chapter 4:1-5, Paul pointed out some of the distinctive emphases of the false teachers. In chapter 5:11-16, he focused on the younger widows who seemed to have fallen under the influence of the false teachers. Then in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:17-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed