By Stan Cox, on July 2nd, 2008
As Christians we have duties and obligations with regard to membership in a local congregation. Our attitude in carrying out those duties is important. We should be enthusiastic, industrious, positive and persistent.
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
By Stan Cox, on June 7th, 2008
When I moved to Fort Worth from Odessa in 1989, I remember one of the members here asking me if I was used to preaching for such a small church. I assured them that “small” is relative. I grew up in a congregation that numbered about 30-40 for Sunday morning worship. I cut my teeth preaching for a group in Monahans that would have 15 present on a good day. So, West Side seemed to me to be a big church!
Regardless, there is a big difference between a congregation of 100 and a congregation of 200-300 or more. While many would advocate that bigger is better, I would assert that there are actually some benefits to being a member of a small congregation.
Continue reading » The Benefits of a Small Church
By Stan Cox, on September 30th, 2007
I recently came across an interesting sermon outline by Mark Copeland with the above title. There were five major points in the sermon that I thought were very good, and wanted to share with you in article form.
In Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, the Lord wrote letters to seven different churches, some of which could be categorized as weak, and some as strong. One church in particular serves to make an important point. The church at Sardis, (cf. Revelation 3:1), was admonished by our Lord, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” A congregation can have a nice building, have many members, can have a lot of “program”, and can run smoothly and still be dead.
The better way of gauging the relative strength of a church is by determining whether the congregation has the characteristics of the church as revealed in the New Testament. There are terms such as “body”, “family”, “temple”, “kingdom”, “bride”, that establish principles which are the foundation of strength among God’s people.
Continue reading » The Measure of a Strong Church
By Stan Cox, on July 15th, 2007
It is important that a local church grow spiritually and numerically, but it is equally important that such growth be the byproduct of submitting to God’s will. Collectively and individually we have responsibilities we must fulfill as a precursor to growth.
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
Comments are closed 