Sermons on lowell strite: showing 541-555 of 1,703

Is God Just?

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 21, 2002

There is a difference between how the world responds to life’s darker moments and how God’s best servants react. It is the difference between desiring and deserving.

OPENING: A magician working a cruise ship had recently purchased a parrot to be part of his act. However, the bird was not only clever but also annoying. It was constantly telling the audience how the magician accomplished each trick. For example, the bird would say to the audience, "He has the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 9:1-37

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Prayer Of Antioch

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 26, 2002

The prayer of Antioch got God’s attention in a big way, but we’re not told what they prayed. What can this unique prayer teach us?

OPEN: A 5-yr-old said grace at family dinner one night. "Dear God, thank you for these pancakes." When he finished his prayer, his parents looked curiously at him and asked him why he thanked God for pancakes when they were having chicken. He smiled and said, "I thought I’d see if He was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Helping Jesus Build His Kingdom Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 1, 2002

The most efficient form of government is a benevolent dictatorship. It’s totally efficicent, totally logical, and totally without human error. But Jesus didn’t set up His kingdom that way. Why not?

OPEN: In the 1970’s Andrew Richardson, a Liverpool postal worker, declared his semi-detached flat to be the independent nation of Granbia. After a while, however, Richardson lost interest, and the apartment reverted to England by default. In 1964, Leicester Hemingway, the little brother of author ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Creating An Updraft Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 8, 2002

There’s a right way and a wrong way to "do" church. The right way is the one that takes the most work.

A woman once told about her good friend and fellow parishioner who had just bought a house that was between the preacher’s house and that owned by the chairman of the deacons. I teased her a bit. "Now you must really walk the straight and narrow," I said. "On the contrary," she replied. "I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Source Of Hope

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 9, 2002

What is it that can give us one of the three greatest gifts God has promised us?

OPENING: While hunting, Larry and Elmer got lost in the woods. Trying to reassure his friend, Larry said, "Don’t worry. All we have to do is shoot into the air 3 times, stay where we are, and someone will find us." They shot in the air 3 times, but no one came. After a while, they tried again. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Partners In Pulling Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 15, 2002

Priscilla and Aquila had the most magical of marriages. It was a rare quality that all Christians couples should strive for. What was it?

OPEN: A traveler was driving along one day and had an accident. He drove his car into a ditch in a desolate area. Luckily, a local farmer came by to help with his horse named Buddy. Well, the farmer hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn’t move. Once more the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:18-28

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 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

I Saw The Light

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 20, 2002

The Pharisees tries to turn out the light. Jesus simply turned up the wattage.

Question: How many Episcopalians does it take to change a light bulb? Aswer: TWELVE - one to do the work and 11 to serve on the committee. Question: How many Church of Christ members does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: THREE - one to convince the light bulb to change and 2 to carry the ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Believing God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 21, 2002

Abraham is such a great man of faith that at times its hard to relate to him. God knew that, so He told us few things about this super-hero of the faith that help us understand how powerful his faith really was.

OPEN: A man once told a story about his 84 year old grandmother. Apparently, she fiercely maintained her independence and lived alone in the old family home. Her 4 children lived in the same town, but she rarely called them except in emergencies. It was with some apprehension, therefore, that he ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Living With The Enemy Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 27, 2002

Jesus taught us to forgive our enemies... but I’d just as soon not, thank you. Why is it so important for me to forgive people who have worked so hard at being my enemies?

OPEN: Clarence Darrow, the famed criminal lawyer once joked: "Everyone is a potential murderer. I have not killed anyone - but I frequently get satisfaction out of obituary notices." APPLY: Now, why would we find that humorous? We find it funny because it comes so close to the truth. Of all the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-36

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Giving Love To Get Love

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 1, 2002

"Love One Another" is repeated again and again throughout the pages of the New Testament. Why dwell so heavily on this command when it would seem there is so much more to learn about God?

OPEN: "That’s marvelous, having a lion and monkey in the same cage," said the visitor to a small zoo. "How do they get along?" "Okay, usually," answered the zookeeper. "Occasionally they have a disagreement, and we have to get a new monkey." APPLY: Now, why do they need to get a new monkey? ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Believing To See Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 3, 2001

If faith is so critical to God... why did He make and fulfill a promise to a man who doubted the message of an angel?

OPENING: "The Floating Ball" from "Heno Head’s Simple Science Object Talks." Take a hairdryer and two ping pong balls. (Since we have a video projector and a long worship hall, we focused a camera on the demonstration and ran the image thru the projector onto the wall). Turn on the hairdryer and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Truth In Advertising Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 11, 2001

The same angel gives the same basic message to Zechariah and Mary. Zechariah reacts with skepticism while Mary responds with calm acceptance. Why the difference?

OPEN: I recently ran across an article that gave some of the signs of the Christmas season: - A toy store advertised: “Ho, ho, ho spoken here.” - In a bridal boutique sign declared: “Marry Christmas.” - Outside a church – this proclamation: “The original Christmas Club.” - From a department store: ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Exciting Promise Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 17, 2001

It went just like in the cantatas... except of a couple of small things. (Good physical illustration toward the end that can be used in almost any Christmas sermon)

OPEN: (I began the sermon by bringing out a gaily wrapped golf bag, complete with clubs & irons - I tried hard to make sure it was fairly obvious what was wrapped)Then I asked: “Does anybody know what’s in the package?” The audience seemed to enjoy the humor of the obvious. Then I gave this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ