Sermons on Martha Strite:

Christmas Card From God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 15, 2003

Psalm 104 was sung at the Day of Atonement. What was so important about this Psalm that it had that particular honor?

OPEN: How many of you send out Christmas cards? There was a woman who had waited until the last minute to send Christmas cards. She knew she had 49 folks on her list. So she rushed into a store and bought a package of 50 cards without really looking at them. Still in a big hurry, she ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 104:1-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Did You Get For Christmas? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 22, 2003

Isaiah said that God was going to give us the gift of child... but why a child, and why would He come?

OPEN: A Sunday School teacher asked her class “What is Christmas - a time for?” She got the usual answers—Jesus’ birthday, a time of joy, a time to worship God… but then one child raised their hand and answered: "a time for sportsmanship, because you don’t always get everything you ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Gift Of New Life Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 29, 2003

New Year’s Resolutions are based on the idea that if I can only change this part or that part of my life, I can be a new person. Jesus says, that only He can bring about the new creation... find out why

OPEN: With Jan. 1st just around the corner, many people are thinking aboutNew Year’s resolutions. An article a couple of years ago listed the top 5 New Year’s Resolutions: #5: stop smoking #4: make more money, #3: improve relationships #2: exercise more #1 most popular New Years resolution… ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Abimelech Solution Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 4, 2004

For the 2nd time in his life, Abraham passes his wife off as his sister. How can he be such a great model of Godly faith when he acted out of fear?

OPEN: How many of you have heard of the recent “Mad Cow” disease scare? (All hands went up). It seems that never a year goes by that we are not exposed to the fact that one food or another is endangered by some chemical or biological threat. Back in the late 1990’s a High School freshman won ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 20:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Eliezer Alternative Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 12, 2004

God had promised a son, but Abraham had waited so long, he was bewildered, disappointed, and working on a "plan B." The sermon had a powerful impact on people struggling with their faith.

OPEN: A representative of the gas company phoned the owner of an expensive new home to make an appointment for the service man to come in and light the pilot lights and adjust the furnace. The owner said that was OK, but he wanted to make sure he was there, because if he wasn’t the service man ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Formed To Be Friends Of God - Purpose Driven Life Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 26, 2004

Jesus said that we’re His friends... but what do friends of God do???

OPEN: Friendship is an elusive commodity. I have sought quotes and illustrations on this topic and found only a few observations I found to be enlightening… but the few that I did find were enlightening: One Native American Indian Tribe described a friend as: “someone who carries my sorrows on his ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Adopted For A Purpose - Purpose Driven Life Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 1, 2004

Adoption is often seen, by those who have been adopted - as a mark of rejection or abandonment. But God sees it as an opportunity and an adventure.

OPEN: One woman shared a story of her childhood as a victim of polio. She said, “When my mother left me in Sunday School I always asked to wear her locket. She thought I liked the locket, but that wasn’t it at all. I knew I wasn’t worth coming back for, but I knew she would come back for her ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Purpose Filled Love - Purpose Driven Life Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 7, 2004

Many people down thru the ages have been "purpose driven"... but have failed to understand the most important part of what makes us a Christian. Do you know what might have been missing in their lives?

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. The cats were obviously upset and frightened. She ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Purpose Driven Worship - Purpose Driven Life Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 14, 2004

Most of us think we have worshiped when we have felt the music has been uplifting and the sermon challenging... but Scripture seems to say something else. What do you think God believes is the mark of true worship?

OPEN: I love to collect stories, jokes and all kinds of odd information. As I was going through my files, I happened on the following oddities about how did we ended up with the measurements we now use as a society. • Inch – was based upon a King by the name of Edgar… and an inch was the distance ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Purpose Driven Strength - Purpose Driven Life Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 22, 2004

Paul rejoiced in his weaknesses and hardships and difficulties... was he crazy? No, he had learned the source of strength in his weakness.

OPEN: Years ago, the story was told of a Sunday School teacher who – on the Sunday before Thanksgiving - was encouraging the children in her class to share things they were grateful for. A little boy was asked what he was thankful for, and he thought for a moment. Then the boy went through a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Miracle On 42nd St - Christmas At The Movies Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 6, 2004

The miracle in the movie: "Miracle on 34th St" depended upon letters from the US Post Office. But the miracle on "42nd" St depended upon a different paper trail.

(Suggest playing a clip from Miracle On 34th St. – Where the Post office delivers mail for Santa Claus to the Court Room proving Kris Kringle to be Santa Claus) OPEN: Is there a Santa Claus? Nearly a century ago or more, there was a newspaper article written to a little girl named Virginia. Do you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How The Grinch Stole Christmas - Christmas At The Movies Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 13, 2004

Why did Herod want to kill the Christ child? His motivation has much in common with those today who want to kill Christmas.

OPEN: (I sat on a stool on stage, reading the following from “How The Grinch Stole Christmas.” I taped my sermon into the pages of the book and used the book as both prop and way to hide my sermon notes). Every Who down in Who-ville liked a Christmas a lot… But the Grinch, who lived just north of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Abraham - The Hero Of Faith Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 2, 2006

Why did God find it necessary to test Abraham’s faith? What purpose did it serve?

OPEN: Three military recruiters were on hand to address a gathering of high school seniors. The recruiters represented different branches of the military: Army, Navy, and Marines and each of was given fifteen minutes to speak. The Army and Navy recruiters got a little carried away with their ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Joseph - The Hero That Ran Away Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 9, 2006

We often think of heroes as those who run to the fight... but often heroes are those who engage in "organized retreats".

OPEN: One of my favorite stories from Revolutionary war involves the "Battle of the Cowpens". Toward the end of the Revolutionary war, the British General Cornwallis had captured Savannah, Charleston and Camden in South Carolina - and in the process he had defeated and imprisoned much of the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23, Genesis 39:21-23, Genesis 40:5-23

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