Sermons on First Communion:

We Are The Temple Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 4, 2020

What does it mean that we are the "Temple of God?" Why would God refer to us that way and what can it teach us about how we should live our lives?

OPEN: In the heart of Kentucky is a facility dedicated to housing hundreds of bars of pure gold --- weighing more than 4,600 tons. Does anybody know what that facility is called? (Fort Knox) When we think of Fort Knox we often visualize it as being nothing more than the vault that holds that gold, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Want To Be A Pharisee Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 5, 2014

Jesus despised the Pharisees. But why? These guys were simply trying to please God by honoring His rules. What was it about them that angered God so much and how do we avoid becoming like them?

About the worst thing you can call somebody in Church is to say they are a “Pharisee”. The Pharisees were THE “bad guys” in scripture and seemed to always be the main group that Jesus singled out as examples of who His followers were NOT to be like. I don’t want to be ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Gift That Redeems Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 18, 2021

Anna told others that "the redemption of Jerusalem" had come. And that's what Jesus had come to do - redeem the lost. But what does "redeem" mean, and why should it matter to us?

OPEN: Christmas is a busy season for most people. There are the decorations, bright lights, Christmas caroling, and all kinds of family gatherings, Church and school activities it can wear a person out. One woman, for example waited until last minute to send out her Christmas cards. She had 49 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:36-38, Galatians 4:4-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Made Them "babel" Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 18, 2019

Is this a true story? (Hint: yes) And why did God include it in the Bible?

OPEN: Several years ago, there was a tiny village in Scotland called “Lost.” It’s a quaint name for a quaint little village… but they had a problem. Lost kept losing their sign. A local official explained, "For many years now, the sign has continually been taken because all it says on it is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Remember What You’ve Got Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 28, 2020

Paul tells us that before we became Christians, we had nothing of value. What did Paul tell us we had that makes a difference in our lives?

OPEN: The year was 1905. There was a baseball game between the Rhyolites and Beattys in Salt Lake City. The batter stepped up to the plate and hit a ground ball toward First Base - but it struck a small rock and shot off at an angle. Fortunately the 1st baseman (William Giffiths) easily fielded ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Problem With Sacraments Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 1, 2016

What does the word "sacrament" mean? Is it in the Bible? And what effect does this concept have on the church?

OPEN: When I was in my early 20s I worked in a mobile home factory. My job was to help install insulation in the sides and roofs of the trailers as they made their way down the track. One day, as I was blowing insulation onto the roof of one trailer (walking along the trusses), I stepped a little ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Praise Of The Wise Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 22, 2013

Why would the Wise Men travel so far, at such expense, and over dangerous roads? Jesus wasn't "their" King was He? And what can we learn from how they responded to Jesus wasn't they arrived?

OPEN: When I was a boy, every December we’d sing: We Three Kings Of Orient Are” Stand with me and let’s sing just the first verse together: “We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. O star ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Change In Religion Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 12, 2020

What did Jesus mean when He told Nicodemus "You must be born again"? And what does His comment about being "born of the water and the Spirit" mean to us today?

OPEN: A man was obviously lost. He saw a little boy was standing by the side of a road and a and pulled up beside him. “Sonny,” he said, “do you know how to get to town?” The kid said, “No sir, I don’t.” Then the man said, “Well do you know the way to route 20?” The little boy said, “No.” And the ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Walking In Fellowship Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 24, 2016

What does fellowship look like and how does Church fellowship benefit us?

OPEN: Once upon a time (as all good stories begin), a group of people agreed that they should spend each Sunday in the presence of one another. Many were not satisfied with the 6 or 8 hours each week, but also came together each Saturday for several more hours of fellowship.They did not count the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-7

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

The Judgment Seat Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 23, 2016

What is the Millennial Kingdom all about? How important is it to God and what can mean to us? Also, what do we learn about the Judgment Seat of God in Revelation?

OPEN: Several years ago there was a TV evangelist who was preaching about his view of the 2nd Coming of Christ. Toward the close of the program he apparently actually made this pitch of one of his videos: "Jesus is coming soon -- perhaps tomorrow! Send $10 for a video that will explain the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:1-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Christmas Message – The Men Of The Incarnation Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 22, 2022

It is most revealing to study the men of the Incarnation for some wonderful thoughts emerge. This Christmas message looks at a subject not often covered - the men. God bless all who read this, you and your families, for this Christmas and always.

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE – THE MEN OF THE INCARNATION ===================================== An explanation – I highlighted a number of words and phrases in the biblical text in red, but because the layout here can’t use formatting, I have placed those in capitals. I hope you don’t mind. I know ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:11-20, Luke 1:6, Luke 1:38, Luke 1:39-42, Matthew 1:18-19, Luke 1:43-47, Matthew 1:20-25, Matthew 13:55-56, Luke 2:8-14, Luke 2:15-20, Luke 2:25-35, Luke 2:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A "Come To Jesus" Moment Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 5, 2017

A grieving father comes to Jesus to ask him to heal his dying son, and yet Jesus rebukes him. Why? What possible reason could Jesus have to be so harsh with this man?

OPEN: An instructor was conducting a seminar for executives and focusing on the topic of decision making. So he started out telling the story of 5 frogs sitting on a log. “Four of the frogs decide to jump into the water. How many frogs are there left on the log?” The class almost unanimously ...read more

Scripture: John 4:43-54

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Church As An Icu Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 6, 2020

Jesus came to heal those sick with sin. That means the church is meant to be a hospital for those weighed down with guilt. But what can a church do better heal those lost in their shame?

A Russian soldier was wounded and was ordered to go to military hospital for treatment. When he arrived he found two doors: One was marked, ‘For the slightly wounded,’ and the other, ‘For the seriously wounded’. Well, he wasn’t seriously wounded so he entered through the first door and found ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:16-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Getting Down And Dirty Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 16, 2015

How do you fight to win against sin? There are at least 4 principles we need to know if we're going to overcome sin in our lives.

OPEN: One man told about the time, when he was a boy, that a bully used to demand his lunch money every day. He wrote: “Since I was smaller, I would give it to him. But then I decided to fight back. I started taking karate lessons, but the instructor wanted $5 a lesson. That was a lot of ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ