Sermons on Lowell Strite:

Missed It By That Much Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 20, 2008

One of Maxwell Smart’s common phrases was "I missed it by that much." That was funny on a sitcom, but in the real world - and in the spiritual world - that can be deadly.

OPEN: Video of Maxwell Smart ending in “missed it by that much” Back in the 60’s the spies on TV and in the movies were heroes. Whether it was James Bond, Matt Helm, Napoleon Solo, or the cast from Mission Impossible - they were suave and resourceful, capable of escaping danger and death with ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:10-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Would You Believe...? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 27, 2008

John repeatedly explains how critical "believing" is to the Christian. In fact he stresses faith nearly twice as much as the other 3 gospels. Why?

(We opened with a 50 seconds cut from Don Adams in “Get Smart” - the episode called “Mr. Big” found on youtube.com - where Maxwell Smart goes into his “Would You Believe” routine.) “Would you believe?” It was one of the funnier skits that Don Adams developed for his sitcom “Get Smart”. And what ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

He's Got The Whole World In His Hands Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 4, 2008

The song "He’s Got the Whole World..." declares the comforting message that God is in control. But does He have the WHOLE world in His hands?

TITLE: He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands TEXT: Isaiah 40:1-31 OPEN: (lead the congregation in singing) He’s got the whole world in His hands [Repeat 4x] He’s got the Sun and the Moon in His hands [Repeat 3x] He’s got the little bitty baby in His Hands. [Repeat 3x] He’s got you and me ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Was Grace That Taught My Heart To Fear Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 11, 2008

Guilt is a terrible task master. Based upon the knowledge of our sins, such guilt can cause many to fear God. But God’s grace deals with both our sin and our fear. How does it do that?

OPEN: Many people are very suspicious. They’ll collect rabbit’s feet. They’ll put horseshoes upside down to collect luck. And they’ll avoid various things like letting black cats cross their path or allowing themselves to walk under ladders. But one of the most famous fears people have is of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I'm In The Lord's Army Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 18, 2008

The Bible tells us that God is "for us", but here the Commander of the LORD’S army tells Joshua he isn’t on their side in the conflict. What’s going on?

(SING) I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the cavalry, Shoot the artillery. I may never fly o’er the enemy, But I’m in the Lord’s army. Yes, sir! I’m in the Lord’s army, yes, sir! I’m in the Lord’s army, yes, sir! I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the cavalry, Shoot the ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Scattering The Seed

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 6, 2007

Why wouldn’t God be more selective in what soil He allows His seed to be planted? And why did Jesus tell only this parable (but not the explanation of the parable) to this crowds?

A man walked into a flower shop and asked for some potted red geraniums. "I’m sorry," said the clerk in flower shop, "we are completely sold out of all of our potted geraniums. But I’d be more than happy to give you a deal on something else. Could you use African violets instead?" ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Didn't God Pull The Weeds? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 12, 2007

This 2nd parable of Christ’s tells of an enemy that sowed "weeds" in the field of the Son of Man. But in the parable Christ instructs his laborers (the angels) not to yank out the weeds? How come?

OPEN: I’m told there are only two vegetables that are “perennial” - they don’t have to be replanted to produce on their own- several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. Quiz: What are the only two vegetables that don’t have to be replanted? (Rhubarb/ ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Little Seed - Big Tree Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 19, 2007

Why did the farmer in this parable plant the mustard seed? Jesus doesn’t stress the harvest from this tree... only the fact that birds come and settle in its branches. Why?

OPEN: There’s a story about a student from MIT who spent an entire summer going to the Harvard football field every day wearing a black and white striped shirt walking up and down the field for ten or fifteen minutes throwing birdseed and blowing a whistle. Then he would walk off the field. At ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Unanswered Prayers Part 1 - The Dead Zone Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 21, 2008

Sin can create a "dead zone" where our calls to God will not be answered. Find out what they are, and how we can move out of the zone of unanswerable prayer.

OPEN: About 3 years ago Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had an idea! He was eager to get in touch with the people of his country so he gave out his personal cell phone number during a speech and urged Indonesian people to contact him directly with any complaints about the government’s ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bad Reception - Unanswered Prayer #2 Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 28, 2008

"Wrong doing" (sin) can block our prayers... but so can "wrong thinking". What kinds of attitudes could undermine our prayer time and create "bad reception" between us and God?

OPEN: Charlie Brown. Lucy. Schroeder. Snoopy. Where do we know those characters from? (The cartoon series: Peanuts) And who was the artist who created “Peanuts”? (Charles Shultz) Charles Shultz was something of a theologian. He tried to communicate his view of God through his cartoons. And he ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 28:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Impatience With God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 4, 2008

At times it is hard not to get impatient with God. It’s hard to wait for Him to move. But such impatience can cause us to act rashly and our rashness can cost us dearly.

OPEN: Caitlin was a 4 year old and an only child. She really wanted to have a baby sister and kept pestering her mother asking when she could have one. One morning Caitlin told her mother, "Maybe if we both prayed out loud, God would hear us." So they prayed together. As soon as they finished, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:18-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Man With Two Mothers Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 12, 2008

Moses became the kind of man he did because God supplied him with 2 mothers. But one of those mothers supplied him with something the other could not. Do you know what that was?

OPEN: Real Mothers are special people. Real mothers would like to be able to eat a whole candy bar (all by themselves) and drink a Coke without any "floaters" in it. Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably going to end up in the sandbox. Real Mothers often have sticky floors, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Caleb - An Old Hero With A Bold Dream Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 15, 2006

There were two obstacles to the dream home Caleb claimed. One was the giants that already lived there... and the other was his age. What was it that allowed him to overcome the obstacles and claim God’s promise?

OPEN: (A poem by Edgar A. Guest) "Somebody said that it couldn’t be done, But he with a chuckle replied "maybe it couldn’t", but he would be one who wouldn’t say so till he tried. So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin on his face. If he worried he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 14:6-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Samuel - The Rejected Hero Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 22, 2006

When the Israelites reject Samuel and cry out for a King, God essentially tells Samuel: it’s not about you. This simple piece of advice made a powerful difference for Samuel, and can do the same for us. Find out why.

OPEN: Years ago, when a person would use the telephone operator to help make phone calls, a small boy dialed "O" asked the operator to call a number for him. He didn’t speak clearly, so she had trouble understanding him and asked him to repeat the number several times. After about the fourth time ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:1-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Esther - The Fearful Heroine Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 29, 2006

Esther had good reason to be afraid of her husband. But she overcame her fear based on the sound advise of her uncle Mordecai... and so can we.

As you’re turning to Esther 4 this morning, I want to give you a little background to the story we’ll be reading. Nearly 500 years before Christ, and about 50 years after Ezra had led the Jews back to Jerusalem from their captivity in Babylon (they’d been sent into captivity due their sinful and ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ