Sermons on Lowell Strite:

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

Clearing The Bench Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 18, 2007

The first thing Jesus did after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem was to clean house. He cleanses the Temple of it’s sinfulness. What can this teach us about the need for purity and holiness in our churches and our personal lives?

OPEN: About 50 years ago there was a great preacher in the Washington D.C. area named Peter Marshall. I once read one of his sermons and found the following description of the scene we just read about in Matthew: “It is early morning, but already the temple court is a bedlam of activity and noise. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-17, John 2:12-17, Zechariah 9:9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Half-Time Talk Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 27, 2007

The Disciples had experienced one or two Passover Meals with Jesus before this. Why did Jesus wait til this last one to refer to how it applied to Him?

OPEN: There is a part of a basketball game that no spectator gets to see. No matter how important the ticket holder may be. No matter how much he’s paid for his seat. There is one event he will NOT be INVITED to observe. And yet this one event can change the entire course of a game. I’ve read of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:12-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Full Court Press Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 1, 2007

When Jesus went to the Garden, He didn’t go alone. He took His friends with Him because this was a "full court press" kind of praying that He intended to do.

(We showed “full court press” schematics on the overhead. We found them at http://cldj.tripod.com/221fc.html) OPEN: Up on the screen you’re going to see a few basketball diagrams. Does anybody know what basketball strategy these diagrams are illustrating? (full court press) According to “Maven’s ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-42

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Final Door Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 8, 2007

When Jesus died, the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom. What does this teach us about Jesus and the message of Christianity?

OPEN: Several years ago I was flipping thru the channels on my TV set and came across a scene of a well-known sitcom of the day. It was a courtroom comedy that I really didn’t like all that much, but what I saw on the screen at that moment caught my attention. The judge was sitting alone in his ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

No Creed But Christ Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 15, 2007

What does it mean to have "no creed but Christ?"

OPEN: Years ago I supply preached for a small country church that had about 35 in attendance. They weren’t part of our brotherhood, but they liked me and asked me to consider becoming their preacher. At the time I was candidating for another church, but that church hadn’t yet made up their minds to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Where The Bible Speaks... Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 23, 2007

Does it matter if matter if we change Bible terminology? If we add to God’s thinking because we think we can "improve" upon His Word? Consider these thoughts.

OPEN: A man once told of purchasing his first pickup truck. And he also bought a book on gasoline engines because he was afraid of being ripped off at the service station. He wrote: “The first time I took the truck in for repairs, I smugly wrote down what the problem was and what needed to be ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 30:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In Faith, Unity Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 30, 2007

Several 100 yrs ago, Augustine said "In faith unity. In doubtful things, liberty. In all things love". How can we apply that concept to our mission as a church?

OPEN: There’s a Methodist minister named J. Gordon Melton who has an interesting hobby. He collects lists of church denominations in the United States... and his research has revealed there are 1517 different recognized denominations in USA. He includes all kinds of groups, including cults such as ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

No Name But Christ Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 6, 2007

The one name that can bring unity and harmony in Christendom is the name of Jesus.

OPEN: A mother looked out a window and saw Johnny playing church with their three kittens. He had them lined up and was preaching to them. The mother turned around to do some work. A while later she heard meowing and scratching on the door. She went to the window and saw Johnny was BAPTIZING the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:25-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Moving To The Head Of The Line Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 14, 2010

Jesus hated pride and used the Pharisees to highlight the evils of that sin. But why would God hate pride, and how would I know if I suffer from it?

Last Sunday we introduced the “Upside Down Teachings of Jesus”. The teaching of Jesus that just don’t make sense to most people. Today’s sermon will continue that theme by focusing on Jesus’ teaching: “the Last shall be First, and the First shall be Last”. OPEN: When my dad first married my mom, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Slave Or Free? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 21, 2010

The world believes that if they can be free of God, they’ll be free to do as they wish? But the Bible teaches us that everyone is a slave to something, but does that really make sense?

OPEN: I’m not sure who wrote the following words, but this story says a lot about mankind: When my oldest son was about three years old, I was outside doing some yard work one afternoon. I took Kevin outside to play while I trimmed the hedges. Holding his hand, I knelt down beside him so that we ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Light Of The Season Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 25, 2011

We tend to take Christmas lights for granted. They're so common and so much a part of Christmas that we don't often give them much thought. But how tragic if we neglect the most important light of the season.

OPEN: We tend to take Christmas lights for granted. We see them on Christmas trees, and on bushes and buildings throughout the city. They’re in practically every store and mall, and sometimes we’ve seen them in synchronized musical displays on homes. So, we tend to take Christmas ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-13, 2 Samuel 19:24-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Want To Be A Sheep? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 23, 2011

Max Lucado once noted that sheep are dumb, defenseless and boring. Why would we want to be a sheep? The answer to that question says a lot about us and our relationship to God.

OPEN: During Summer camp I remember hearing the following song: “I wanna be a sheep, baa baa I wanna be a sheep, baa baa I wanna be a sheep, baa baa I wanna be a sheep, baa baa” It went on to say “I don’t want to be a hypocrite… because they’re not hip with it” “I don’t want to be a Pharisee… ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ