In Sermons:

Rocky Iv - The Comeback Kid Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 25, 2003

Acts 4 presents Peter as a confident, powerful preacher of Christ... but not two months earlier he had been a cowering coward. What made the difference?

OPEN: In the 70’s there was runaway hit movie starring Sylvester Stallone, entitled "Rocky." Many people, including myself were unaware that the movie was based on a real life boxer named Chuck Werner - otherwise known as the Bayonne Bleeder (because he bled so easily and freely throughout his ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rocky Iii - Ko'd Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 19, 2003

Peter is often depicted as a weak and unreliable disciple, but was that really his problem... or was there something else that lay behind his denials of Christ in the High Priest’s Courtyard?

OPEN: Nearly 30 years ago on October 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman squared off in the boxing ring in Zaire. Ali had dubbed it “The Rumble in the Jungle.” Foreman was heavily favored, and was considered to be the hardest puncher in heavyweight history. Foreman was fairly confident he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-62

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rocky Ii - The Real Mccoy Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 12, 2003

Why did Jesus take Peter, James and John up to the Mount of Transfiguration? Because there was something that He could only teach in that place and in that way. Find out what that means to us.

OPEN: The real McCoy really wasn’t... That is, the real McCoy wasn’t really a McCoy. His real name was Norman Selby. Raised on a farm in Indiana he left home around 1890, and after year in training, emerged as a boxer with the name "Kid McCoy." In a day of bare fisted boxing, the Kid was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rocky - Preparing For The Fight Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 5, 2003

Why did Jesus take His disciples to Caesarea Philippi? Why go to a pagan, idolatrous city to ask His disciples the most important question of His ministry?

OPEN: I read once the story of a young black man in the ghettos. He was fortunate in that he had both of his parents, and they struggled to make ends meet. But for his birthday that year they had scraped together enough money to pay for a brand new bicycle. A few days later someone stole it. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Surely This Was The Son Of God (Whose Line Is It?) Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 27, 2003

Something happened the day Jesus was crucified that turned a callous Roman Centurion into a worshipper at the cross. It was something he "saw" and something he "heard." But what?

OPEN: Years ago when I was in Bible college, a movie premiered in the movie theatres that some friends of mine and I wanted to attend. What struck me as I watched, were the powerful images of Christianity in the movie. The movie? It was called "The Poseidon Adventure." How many of you have seen ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:33-39

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let Him Save Himself (Whose Line Is It?) Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 20, 2003

The Chief Preists and Teachers of the Law challenged Jesus to save Himself, come down off the cross... then they’d believe in Him. Why didn’t He do that?

OPEN: April 15th was just this past week, and I ran across this bit of information about the IRS that I wanted to share with you this morning. According to the "Newhouse News Service:" Over the past 193 years, the federal government has received approximately $4 million in unsolicited funds from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:39-43

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Remember Me (Whose Line Is It?) Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 11, 2003

The story of the thief on the cross is one of the most powerful in all the Gospels. But it is possible to get some wrong impressions from what this teaches us.

OPEN: A minister was talking to a professing Christian and asked him if he was active in his local Church. The man responded, "No, but the dying thief wasn’t active in a local Church and he was still accepted". The minister then asked if the man had been baptized. He said, "No, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:38-43

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hail, King Of The Jews! (Whose Line Is It?) Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 6, 2003

The insults, tauntings and cruelty the soldiers inflicted on Jesus makes many angry. It also hurts us when people in our own day attack Jesus. How should we respond to those who insult and mistreat our Jesus?

OPEN: (TRUE STORY) A detective, was investigating a church burglary. But he had a problem: the suspect (who he just knew had committed the crime) wouldn’t admit to it. Finally, the preacher of the church stepped in and asked to speak to the suspect alone. Within minutes, the preacher emerged and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:15-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

His Blood Be Upon Us (Whose Line Is It?) Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 28, 2003

The crowd called for the blood of an innocent man to be upon them and their children... what were they thinking?

INTERESTING ANSWERING MACHINE MESSAGES: * Hello, you are talking to a machine... I am capable of receiving messages... My owners do not need siding, windows or a hot tub, and their carpets are clean. They give to charity at the office and don’t need their picture taken. If you’re still with me, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:16-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Moment Of Truth (Whose Line Is It?) Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 23, 2003

Pilate questioned Jesus’ version truth, but he’s not the only one who ever questioned "truth?" What lay at the heart of his objections is the same reason many reject truth today.

OPEN: Two psychiatrists were at a convention. As they visiting, one asked, "What was your most difficult case?" The other replied, "I had a patient who lived in a pure fantasy world. He believed that an uncle in South America was going to die and leave him a fortune. All day long he waited for a ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Guilty Of Innocent Blood (Whose Line Is It?) Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 16, 2003

Was Judas a good man or bad? What can his actions warn us of in our own walk with God?

OPEN: When a couple caught an intruder in their bedroom, the thief pulled a gun and announced, "Now that you’ve seen me, I’m going to have to shoot you." He pointed his gun at the woman and said, "I like to know the names of my victims. What’s your name?" "Elizabeth," the woman replied. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Question That Condemned Jesus - (Whose Line Is It?) Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 9, 2003

There was one phrase that Jesus never used of Himself... but when others used it, dramatic things would happen. What was that phrase?

OPEN: A Jewish father was concerned about his son. He had not truly raised him to be grounded in the faith of Judaism… So, hoping to remedy this he sent his son to Israel so the boy could experience his heritage. A year later the young man returned home. He said, "Father, thank you for sending ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:57-68

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Take With Broccoli (Whose Line Is It?) Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 2, 2003

Caiaphas was allowed to give one of the most powerful prophecies regarding Jesus’ mission to earth. And yet, Caiaphas was a ruthless, ungodly and illegitimate High Priest. Why would God use him for this purpose?

OPEN: A mother shared this incident about taking her son to the doctor: “Because of an ear infection, my young son, Casey, had to go to the pediatrician. I was impressed with the way the doctor directed his comments and questions to my son. When he asked Casey, "is there anything you are allergic ...read more

Scripture: John 11:33-54

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rx For The Soul - Peace For The Mind Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 25, 2003

Jesus promised a peace unlike that offered by the world. What was the difference between the two, and how can we lay hold of God’s peace?

OPEN: Several years ago, I visited the historic site of Appomattox and heard an amazing story. As I remember it, our guide told of Wilmer McLean who owned a home near Bull Run. His house was seriously damaged during the opening battle of the Civil War, and so, falsely believing he would be safer ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rx For The Soul - The Cure For Loneliness Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 16, 2003

The general belief is that if we can find that "special someone" we can cure our loneliness. Genesis 2 tells us why that isn’t true.

OPEN: Being as this is the Valentine Weekend I wanted to share a few quotes by children about love: - Glenn, age 7 - If falling love is anything like learning how to spell, I don’t want to do it. It takes too long. - Tom, age 5 - Once I’m in kindergarten, I’m going to find me a wife. - Kenny, age ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ