Sermons on Downs:

Message In 1peter – Number 7 – Shepherding The Flock Of God – Message For Pastors, Ministers, Elders, Shepherds – 1peter 5:1-3 - Part 1 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 19, 2023

Where has church leadership failed? How should all pastors (shepherds) behave towards the flock of God? We look at Peter’s requirements for this high position. Remember the words “accountability to the Chief Shepherd”.

MESSAGE IN 1PETER – NUMBER 7 – SHEPHERDING THE FLOCK OF GOD – MESSAGE FOR PASTORS, MINISTERS, ELDERS, SHEPHERDS – 1Peter 5:1-3 - PART 1 [A]. SHEPHERD THE FLOCK OF GOD What grazier (rancher) would ever entrust his animals on agistment (feeding livestock at a designated location) to a farm ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-3, John 21:15-17, John 10:14-15, 1 Peter 5:4, Revelation 1:9, 1 Peter 4:17, Ephesians 4:11-12, Isaiah 40:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

All The Church Has Is Jesus Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 21, 2013

What makes sheep? Sheep make sheep. And we are his people and the sheep of His pasture. So how do we go about making more sheep for His flock?

In a large city there was once a prominent church building. It was a beautiful four story structure that dominated the city block on which it stood. It was well known in the community for its beautiful building, it’s dignified and well educated preacher, a choir with professional quality, and a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Beginning And The End Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 25, 2020

Jesus said He was the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the 1st and the Last. What does that mean for us and how can that change our lives?

Back in 2008, there was a surprise best selling book entitled: “Not Quite What I Had Planned - 6-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure” Notice the first SIX words of the title. “Not Quite What I Had Planned.” The book essentially asked people to sum up their lives in 6 words. Amongst ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:13-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Most Important Part Of The Race

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 24, 2019

The Bible tells us we should "Run in such a way as to get the prize." But there's one part of the race that's crucially important for us. Do you know what that is?

I love this church. It’s so great to have this kind of worship where our Hispanic and Anglo congregations can get together, pray, sing praises and study God’s Word together. I’ve preached for about 24 years now, and every couple of years or so, I’ve preached the type of sermon I’m going to preach ...read more

Scripture: John 3:34-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Set Your Feet Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 24, 2019

1st Peter talks about holiness and says we should "set our hope on the grace." What does that mean and how can we know when we've done it?

Henry Ward Beecher was a fiery preacher in the 1800’s and was a strong opponent of slavery. Early in his life, there’s a story about how he became the kind of man that he did. When he was a boy, there was a story about something that happened at school. According to the story… his teacher asked ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fruitful Life On The Vine Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 5, 2020

Jesus said "I am the vine, you are the branches. Apart from me you can do nothing?" But that doesn't make any sense... or does it?

OPEN: About a 35-minute drive SW of London is a tourist attraction that was once a royal palace. It’s called Hampton Court. It was built over 500 years ago and was a favorite residence of Henry VIII. A couple hundred years later, during George III's reign (the King who had problems with the ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-10, John 15:12-13, Matthew 7:24-27, 1 Corinthians 15:58

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Mark Of A True Christian Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 17, 2013

Jesus said we should love one another. But why bother to tell us to do it? Shouldn't it come naturally to us? Apparently not. So, what do we need to understand in order to obey this command that Jesus gave us?

OPEN: Several years ago there was an Olympics held in Seattle Washington. And the special event that was talked about for years afterward was the 100 yard dash. Lined up on the starting line were 9 contestants, waiting for the gun to go off. At the gun, the started their run… kind of. For ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35, John 13:31-34, Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:11-35  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Preparing For The Adventure Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 15, 2016

Within 3 years of its launch, the early church faced persecution and death. And yet the church not only continued to survive, but thrive. How did it manage to do that?

OPEN: April 11, 1970, 3 men set off on an adventure. They were the Apollo 13 crew, and their adventure was to be the 3rd manned moon-landing. Their spacecraft look like this artists drawing (We put a picture of the spacecraft on the screen). • The main module (the Odyssey) was designed to be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:36-42

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Getting Through Customs Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 23, 2014

The Bible tells me I can't get into Heaven if I have sin in my life. But how do get rid my sin? How can I make myself acceptable enough to God so that God will let my through Customs at the Pearly Gate?

How many of you have ever traveled to a foreign country? For those of you have not, there’s an arm of the government that you’ll encounter on the way back in to the states. Does anybody know what government agency we’re talking about? It’s called the U.S. Customs and ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Wrath Of The Lamb Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 25, 2016

Revelation 6 talks of God's vengeance upon the evil of this world. But it also speaks as if there's no hope of repentance for those who are mentioned here. Can that really be true? Can man reach a point where he can't repent?

OPEN: O, Sinner Man, Where You Gonna Run To? (sung by Leon Bibb - https://youtu.be/uTuy101LcPs) How many of you have ever heard this song? What you just heard was an old Negro Spiritual and I heard it way back when I was a teenager. It has been so popular over the years that it’s been sung ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Fruit Of The Tree Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 19, 2020

The Sycamores of the Middle East are highly prized. And it was one such highly prized and valuable tree who's limbs held a despised and sinful man. Why was he despised and what difference did Jesus make in his life?

OPEN: The story of Zacchaeus only occurs in the Gospel of Luke. It seems to me that its possible that, as Luke interviewed people for his Gospel, he may have spoken with Zacchaeus - and the man’s story stood out to him. It’s also possible, given that Zacchaeus’ name is used here, that he was known ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Day I Tore Up The Bible Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 11, 2017

No, I didn't actually tear up a Bible, but my audience didn't know that. Find out why I pretended to do that, and what that means to those who actually do tear pages from Scripture.

Last week I said that we’re going to make one statement over and over throughout this series: We don’t have to APOLOGIZE for our faith. We don’t need to rally to God defense. Our God is bigger than we are – and doesn’t really need our help. But in spite of that… God calls us to contend for the ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:3-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Escaping Your Prison Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 2, 2020

As Christians we're supposed to live a different life than those around us. But how can we do that when we're surrounded with so many temptations to do things we know we shouldn't do?

Back in the 14th century, in the region we now call Belgium, there was a duke by the name of Raynald III. Raynald had a nickname – Crassus. Crassus means fat, and he was fat because he really liked to eat. He liked to EAT … a lot! In the course of time, he had a violent quarrel with his younger ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Just Like Dad Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 7, 2019

God calls us to be holy as He is holy. But how can I do that? There's no way I can even begin to become like God.

OPEN: A woman was preparing to cash her husband’s paycheck when she realized her husband, hadn't signed it. So, she sent 4-year-old daughter upstairs to "get Daddy's name on the back of it." Her daughter came back downstairs and proudly handed the check back to her mom, and said, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:14-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Resurrection Of Christ Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Oct 18, 2017

To establish that another work of the Holy Spirit was to resurrect the body of Christ from the dead; and to be the quickening power in our resurrection on the “last day.”

INTRODUCTION Outline. Resurrection of Christ Remarks. 1. In this lesson we will discuss the Holy Spirit’s work in the resurrection of Christ. Jesus and our heavenly Father also, had a part in the “resurrection of Jesus’ body.” 2. It was the death, burial and resurrection of the body of Jesus that ...read more

Scripture: John 10:17-18, Romans 8:11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ