Sermons: Church
The most important organization on earth is an organism. It is a body of saints joined together by their love of Jesus Christ, submitted to the rules of the New Testament, and committed to love and serve one another until He returns for them. The Spirit of the living God inhabits this organization and moves its individual members, thus it is an organism – a living thing with Jesus Christ its head, and the Holy Spirit its animating, convicting, teaching, and empowering Presence.
What Is a Church?
A local church is much more important than most Christians think, especially today. David loved the O.T. house of God, and you ought to love the house of God in a true local church. This study will surprise you by what the Bible teaches are the glorious roles and traits of each local church.
What Is a Great Church?
David wanted to build an exceeding magnifical temple for God. An ordinary building would not cut it. Paul outworked the other apostles to build churches. A local church is a great blessing – you should want to make it the best. Here are some of the scriptural traits that make a church great.
True Worshippers
Jesus told a woman of Samaria that her nation did not know what they worshipped, and He prophesied there would be no true worshippers in Jerusalem either. God wants a certain kind of worshipper. Do you know what kind? Are you one of them?
Higher Ground
David and Solomon built God a temple, and He honored it with His glorious presence. The N.T. church exceeds any O.T. temple. Zealous Christians will want to make their church the best possible by Bible standards. You must forget all past successes and press forward to win the race.
The Day of Pentecost
How did the first church get started? After Jesus ascended, God gave Him authority and gifts for His victory, and He gave them to the church. This event changed the course of the world, explains many things about the gospel, and describes the character and conduct of a Spirit-filled church.
Lesson of the Locust
Some people are loners. They dislike crowds and want to worship God in private. But God chose group worship, so they need to find a church and become an active part in it. God made a little creature that transforms itself from solitary to gregarious for the benefits and power of society.
Musical Instruments in the Church
Here is a great subject to test your submission to scripture. Loud music is one of the key features of mega churches today. What does the Bible say? Can you throw off your conditioning that thinks instruments have a role in church worship to follow scripture only. There is a much better way.
Why Wear Pretty Shoes?
Why is much money spent for a variety of attractive shoes? Because feet are ugly! God and Paul compared a church to a human body. It has beautiful parts that do not need to be covered. It has ugly parts like feet that we hide in beautiful shoes. Do you fulfill this covering role in your church?
Exceeding Magnifical
Does this strange combination of words catch your attention? This is how David described what kind of temple needed to be built for the worship of God. How much are you like David in making your church the very best possible?
Christian Liberty
What do drinking beer, birth control, bungee jumping, and tattoos have in common? They cause heartburn in the church! Why? Ignorance or unwillingness to allow freedom in things God ignores. The gospel promotes freedom, but it guides your liberty for the benefit of all. Enjoy this fascinating study for peace in your heart and church.
Church Discipline
Most churches do not discipline their members. One reason is the lack of a systematic process to do so that satisfies all references in the New Testament. But if a local church is the temple of God and body of Jesus Christ, it should be disciplined. Here is the systematic process taught in the N.T.
Ancient Landmarks
Churches today are changing rapidly in doctrine, practice, and worship from their fathers. Are the changes right? Should there be changes, since the Bible declared the truth once for all no matter the generation reading it?
Pillar and Ground of the Truth
God designed churches for many good purposes, but one of them is to support and defend the truth. As the world turns farther away from Bible Christianity, true churches must stand up and earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.
A Preaching Service
What should a real preaching service be like? God recorded the details of one in the Bible in which the attitude and response of the hearers and the method of instruction by the teachers are full described. What a great day! Let’s celebrate!