Sermons on Embrace Sinners:

Our Standard Of Living

Contributed by Michelle Holsinger on Mar 8, 2008

Our we living the life God has called us to live.

Our Standard of Living The standard of living refers to the quality and quantity of goods and services available to people, and the way these goods and services are distributed within a population. It is generally measured by standards such as income inequality, poverty rate, real (i.e. inflation ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stewardship Of A "Patchless” Life Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 3, 2010

The Pharisees lived by a "patches" theology - if they could patch over the sin in their lives, the hole didn’t exist anymore. But Christians are not called to patch our old way of life. Do you know what we’re to do instead?

OPEN: I’ve noticed over the years that kids love jokes that are plays on words. For example, when I was a kid (now I never did this myself, you understand), but I’ve known kids who would call a neighbor and ask: “Is your refrigerator running?” (pause). When the person on the other end of the line ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:27-39

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Mark Of A Servant Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 5, 2012

The servant in Deuteronomy 15 accepted a special mark in order to belong to the master he loved. Is that true for us as well? How can we be marked for Jesus? And how does that mark change who we are as servants of the most high God?

OPEN One night a teenage girl brought her new boyfriend home to meet her parents, and they were appalled by his appearance: leather jacket, motorcycle boots, tattoos and pierced nose. Later, the parents pulled their daughter aside and confessed their concern. "Dear," said the mother ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 15:12-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Believe And Be Baptized Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 1, 2023

Mark 16:16 seems to be a forthright desciption of how to become a Christian, but of the centuries people have "rearranged" the words to fit their theology. How have they done that, and why does it matter?

The Bible tells us that… at the tower of Babel, God confused the people’s language so they couldn’t understand each other. Language is how we communicate with each other, and how we communicate is VERY IMPORTANT. How we say things; the kind of words we use; and even the punctuation we use in our ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:15-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Word To The Wise On Fearing God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 5, 2013

Fear God? Seriously? I thought that was "so" Old Testament. But 18 times Proverbs repeats the theme that wise people will "fear the LORD". Can fearing God actually be a good thing?

OPEN: A policeman was walking his beat. I don’t know if he was writing a ticket or watching a suspicious individual, but he was distracted enough that he barely felt the tug on his coat. He turned, and there stood a little girl. “Can I help you?” the policeman asked her. “My mommy told me that if ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christmas - A Time Of Lights Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 10, 2007

John was the witness to the Light. What was that light, and what does John’s testimony tell us about our role in Christmas?

OPEN: A Nashville grandfather took his four-year old grandson out in the woods to select a Christmas tree. They tramped all over, but the boy couldn’t find a tree that suited him. Finally, it began to get dark and cold, and the grandfather shook his head and said: "We’ll HAVE to take the next ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Retribution Of God And Combatting Injustice – The Delicate Balance Of Judgment And Mercy – Part 3 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 11, 2023

For human beings the delicate balance between judgement AND mercy is very hard to maintain and we err one way or the other. God has it absolutely correct. Part 3 looks at that problem, as well as the vengeance and retribution of God. We cover various aspects. “Vengeance is Mine.”

THE RETRIBUTION OF GOD AND COMBATTING INJUSTICE – THE DELICATE BALANCE OF JUDGMENT AND MERCY – PART 3 THE DELICATE BALANCE OF JUDGMENT AND MERCY – CAN HUMAN BEINGS HANDLE IT? One of the mysteries we only partly understand as Christians is what I might call the balancing of the judgment of God ...read more

Scripture: James 2:13, Ephesians 2:3-6, Psalm 17:6-9, Psalm 35:4-5, Psalm 31:3-4, Psalm 9:16, Psalm 7:14-16, Deuteronomy 32:35, Hebrews 10:30, Psalm 137:7-9, Revelation 6:9-11, Revelation 6:16-17, Psalm 139:19-20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Home Of The Healthy Parent Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 25, 2022

What can a healthy parent do that will help their children have all that God wants them to have?

One teenager was talking to his friend: “I'm worried to death about my parents. My dad slaves at his job, pays all the bills & sees to it that I never have need of anything. He is putting away money for my college education. My mom just works day and night washing my clothes and preparing ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Will All Good People Be Saved? Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Nov 4, 2015

To establish that all good people will be saved only due to their faith and obedience to God. Cornelius’ religious piety and righteousness did not save him. He had to hear, believe, and obey the gospel of Christ.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 1. Cornelius’ Character 2. Cornelius’ Commendation 3. Cornelius’ Conversion Remarks. Introductory Remarks. 1. In this gathering, we will discuss the theme: “Will all good people be saved?” It is not our purpose to deny anyone entrance into the kingdom of God. However, God ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:1-48, Acts 11:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Finding The Faith Of Our Heroes - Part 9: Never Give Up On God! Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Oct 21, 2023

Never give up on God because... 1. He can break giant barriers down (vs. 30). 2. He can turn sinners into saints (vs. 31). 3. He can turn us into godly heroes (vs. 32-35a). 4. He gives us strength when we suffer (vs. 35b-38). 5. He promises us a perfect ending (vs. 39-40).

Finding the Faith of Our Heroes Part 9: Never Give Up on God! Hebrews 11:30-40; Joshua 2:1-13; Joshua 5:13-15; Joshua 6:1-5 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared October 21, 2023) BACKGROUND: *We have been going through Hebrews 11 to study the faith of our Old Testament heroes. And through them all, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:30-40, Joshua 2:1-13, Joshua 5:13-15, Joshua 6:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

A Man After God's Own Heart? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 14, 2018

David committed adultery, and murder by proxie. And God brought a terrible but just judgment upon him that was rightly deserved. But then in Acts 13 we read that David was a man after God's own heart. How can that be?

This sermon series is what I call “Comeback Kings.” It describes the lives of people in Scripture who had had potential for greatness, but whose lives were shattered because of something they or others had done. Ultimately, though they achieved victory from lives of defeat and became “comeback ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Acts 13:22, 2 Peter 3:9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Friends In High Places Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 18, 2014

What impressed Jesus in this story was the faith of the men who'd brought their friend to him - a friend who was crippled and lived in a low place of life. The phrase is "Jesus saw their faith." What does that mean? And what can it mean to us?

A few years back, Garth Brooks came out with a popular Country and Western song called: “I’ve Got Friends In Low Places” How many of you have ever heard the song? (when most of them raised their hands, I stage whispered: “Pagans”) It has a catchy tune, but it is NOT a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:17-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rules Are Rules Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 1, 2014

The Pharisees of Jesus' day died long ago. But their spirit lives on in congregations across the land. How can we recognize if we have become like the Pharisees, and what did Jesus teach us about what we need to know to avoid becoming like those men?

(Before reading the text I noted that the stories in this section of Mark detailed the conflict between Jesus and a religious group known as the Pharisees… and I emphasized the word "Pharisees" as I read through the text) OPEN: Back in the 1980’s, the Minnesota Twins had this ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Kiss Of God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 11, 2013

Warren Buffett believed his donation of $37 billion dollars to the Gates Foundation would buy him a place in heaven? Is that possible? Can we buy our way into heaven? Can we work our way in? Or is there another way?

OPEN: A man and wife were sitting in their living room when they noticed their neighbor across the street pull up in to his drive. He stepped out of the car with flowers in his hand, met his wife at the door and laid a passionate kiss on her. As they watched all this play out across the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Playing God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 15, 2023

There are 1000s of different churches with their various views on baptism. Can they all be right? Probably not, but why aren't they all "right"?

There was an antique collector passing through a small village when he saw an old man chopping wood with an ancient ax. “That’s a mighty old ax you have there,” he remarked. “Yep,” said the villager, “it once belonged to George Washington.” “George Washington??? Not really!" gasped the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-39

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ