Sermons on Inner Struggle:

The Hour Of The Power Of Darkness Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 27, 2013

Life can get dark. And that darkness can create doubt and fear in our lives. What can we do when life gets hard and there doesn't seem to be anyway out of the difficulties we face?

OPEN: One woman told about her favorite spot at the local zoo. It was an exhibit called the House of Night. It was a place where you could see creatures of the night that would crawl and fly about, but because it held creatures of the night… it was nearly totally dark. She said that one very ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:39-54

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Turning Your Cave Into A Cathedral! (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Thomas Fortini on Feb 22, 2021

No matter what you are going thru, you can turn your cave of fear, distress, or depression, into a cathedral of prayer and praise!

We are turning again to the book of Psalms for our encouragement and instruction today. Why? 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-6

Can You Justify That? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 10, 2016

Justification sounds like a $20 word that nobody would use outside of Church. But surprisingly the words justify and justification are interwoven into our culture and are used in ways that tell us a lot about what God did when He justified us.

I’m going to show you a list of some common English sayings on the screen. Tell me you recognize them. A thorn in the side Eat, drink, and be merry Handwriting on the wall. The blind leading the blind. Like a lamb to the slaughter Do not throw your pearls before swine Can a leopard ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:6-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Last Laugh Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 6, 2019

Why did Sarah laugh? And what does her laughter tell us about our relationship with God?

OPEN: Dr. Short (one of the men who teaches Sunday School here) loves to share short puns in his classes… and I’m jealous so I decided to share a few of my own with memes. #1 - squirrel spreading his arms heavenward “I tried to come up with a squirrel pun, but everything I thought of was ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15, Psalm 2:1-7, Mark 9:22-24, Isaiah 50:2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let Your Conscience Be Your Guid Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 29, 2015

To say we should let our conscience be our guide seems so reasonable. It almost makes sense. But God never said we should do that. Instead He said we should seek to have a clear conscience. How can we accomplish this?

OPEN: This is the final week of our series: “Stupid things even Christians believe. This week we’re focusing on an old piece of advice: “Let your conscience be your guide.” Have you ever heard that said? Of course, we all have. At the core of this proverb is the idea that ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:8-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Lie: God Doesn’t Understand Me Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 8, 2022

Why is that so many people feel like they can't get close to God? And how can I deal with the feeling that God doesn't understand or care about me?

When Elvis Presley died, there were a lot of people who were shocked. In fact, following Elvis’ death, there were a number of young men who idolized him so much that they sought to be like him and to imitate him. One young man, named Dennis Wise, actually had his face surgically altered and had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 6:19-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Common Salvation And Contending Earnestly For The Faith - Jude 1 Verse 3 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 10, 2022

Jude was setting out the points of our common salvation, when the Holy Spirit urged on him the importance and urgency to defend that salvation. That overtook him, and he asked the readers to “contend earnestly” for the faith. He appealed to them to do that.

OUR COMMON SALVATION AND CONTENDING EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH - Jude 1 verse 3 MESSAGES IN JUDE – MESSAGE 2 Jude 1 v 3 {{Jude 1:3 “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you, appealing that you con-tend earnestly for ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:3, Titus 1:4, 2 Timothy 2:15, Philippians 2:27, Exodus 17:8-13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Is The Lamb? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 5, 2017

When John the Baptist declared that Jesus was the Lamb of God, he was answering a question from Genesis: "Where is the Lamb?" Do you know the importance of that question, and of the idea that Jesus was the Lamb of God?

OPEN: Back in 1970’s, I read about a 78 year old King of a small country in South Africa. What I found interesting was the titles this man had. He was called: • Ngwenyama, or the Lion. • He is also known as the Sun, • the Milky Way, • the Master in Weapons, • the Obstacle to the Enemy, ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29-37, John 1:29

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

This Is Us Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 2, 2018

We have 2 advantages over non-Christians. Because of God's blessings in our lives, we are better off than many in this world, but we must be careful not to see ourselves as being "better" than others.

For the next few weeks we’re going to be focusing on what can we learn from Scripture as it applies to a popular new TV series (now entering its 3rd season) called “This Is Us”. It’s been nominated for 8 Emmys because of the power of its writing and its acting, and it has literally brought many of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Sign Of Fear Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 26, 2017

The disciples weren't afraid of the storm. And they weren't really afraid of Jesus. What was it that they were afraid of that day? And what did Jesus do to deal with their fear?

I once read the story of a man who was hitch hiking on a very dark night in the middle of a storm. It was late at night and no cars were passing. The storm was fierce and the winds strong he could hardly see a few feet ahead. Suddenly, he saw a car coming towards him and stop. Without further ...read more

Scripture: John 6:15-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Bad Judge Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 2, 2014

God dedicated 57 verses to a wicked judge who ruled as king in Israel for about 3 years. Why would He do that? Is it possible the story of this evil man has something to us about how we should think as Christians?

OPEN: In Clay County, Kentucky there was a judge named R. Cletus Maricle. He was one of the rare judges I could find online who had been permanently disbarred. You might ask: “Jeff, why was he disbarred?” I’m glad you asked. R. Cletus Maricle was disbarred because he and 7 other ...read more

Scripture: Judges 9:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Psalm 1 – This Way And That Way – Which Way Are You On? Part 2 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 5, 2022

Part 2 continues the examination of Psalm 1, the Psalm of The Two Ways. One is either in Christ or not in Christ; in the camp of the saved, or the camp of the unsaved; living with a glorious hope, or living with a fearful expectation. We draw out lessons from this Psalm.

PSALM 1 – THIS WAY AND THAT WAY – WHICH WAY ARE YOU ON? PART 2 PSALM 1 – THE TWO WAYS This message continues on from PART 1 THE TREE OF VALUABLE BLESSING VERSE 3. {{Psalm 1:3 “and he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6, Jeremiah 17:5-9, John 10:27, John 21:19, John 21:22, Matthew 8:23-27, 2 Corinthians 4:16, Ephesians 3:16, Romans 12:1-2, Jeremiah 21:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Journey To Joy Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 11, 2017

The angel announced a message of "great joy". But the world often confuses Joy with Happiness and ends up being disappointed. What brings us joy and what difference does that make in our lives?

OPEN: I love to sing Christmas Carols, so this morning we’re going to start out the sermon with “Joy to the World”. If you would, stand and sing it with me. 1. Joy to the world the Lord has come, let earth receive her King Let every heart prepare him room And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:4-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Battle Within Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 3, 2001

When we try to meet God’s standards from our own resources we will consistently fail.

New Years Eve is a time for new beginnings, a time for taking new steps in our lives. At midnight tonight millions of Americans will make new year’s resolutions for the year 2001. Typical resolutions will be losing weight, quitting smoking, spending more time with family, and working less hours. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:14-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Power For The Church Series

Contributed by Ron Murphy on Nov 9, 2006

Power For the Church is found in depth of relationship with Christ.

Introduction I. Our foundational verse this morning is Ephesians 3, verse 16 - 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; II. The letter to the Ephesians, and in particular Chapter 3 is speaking of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Methodist