Sermons on Martha Strite:

The "One" Thing Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 5, 2017

Families can often be shattered by pain and anger and bitterness. There's only one thing that heal those broken homes and fix what has been damaged by the abuse, neglect and selfishness that family members often inflict on each other. What is that?

POEM: If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it is yours, if it doesn't, it never was. (Pause) But, if it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff, eats your food, takes your money, and doesn't appear to realize that you've set it free... you either married it or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Would You Lie? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 11, 2017

According to a surveys, people lie a lot... especially to their families. Why would they do that, what are the consequences, and what can God do to help them stop?

OPEN: In our brotherhood we had a great preacher named Wayne Smith who was something of a cutup on stage. He mentioned once that in English Class they taught him that using 2 negatives in a sentence made a positive statement. And he said that, since that was true “The way I figure it, if I know I’m ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 27:1-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Perfect Father Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 19, 2017

The Lord's Prayer tells us God is our "Heavenly Father". That implies that God uses the better tendencies of earthly fathers to communicate who He is. So, what are the traits of decent Earthly fathers?

(Explanation of opening: The traditionally memorized version of the Lord’s Prayer is found only in the KJV. Since we have ESV pew Bibles – which leave off the last verse – I felt that would create confusion as to why that verse was missing. I didn’t want to go there, so I put the KJV on screen and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Failure To Communicate Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 25, 2017

Much of the conflict in our lives comes from "a failure to communicate". But it isn't that we fail to make ourselves clear. The problem is often that our communication is corrupt. Do you know what that means and do you know how to fix that?

OPEN: A woman went into the office of a divorce lawyer and told him she wanted to file for divorce. “Do you have any grounds!” the judge asked. “Just two acres,” she said. “Ma’am you don’t understand. I mean do you have a grudge!” “No we don’t have a grudge, we park the car in front of ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Have My Rights!!! Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 2, 2017

We live in nation of "rights" but if my rights conflict with yours we can end up in court, in a church split or in a family division. How do we avoid letting our desire to defend our rights to ruin our lives?

OPEN: I’m going to read from the words of an ancient document. When I’m finished I’m going to ask you what document these words are from (we put the words up on the screen and underlined the word “Rights” in the passage): “When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Who's In Charge Here? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 9, 2017

Conflicts often arise when people forget who's in charge. So, who is in charge and how should we use that knowledge in how we respond to our earthly authorities?

OPEN: August 1994, as a Korean Air jet plane was landing it skidded across a rain soaked runway and rammed a safety barricade. There were 160 passengers on board and just before the plane exploded into flames they all escaped to safety. What was the cause of the accident? According to news ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Choose Your Weapons Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 17, 2017

Too many churches are caught up in conflict because they've forgotten who is truly the enemy. How do we prevent conflict from ruling the church? Choose the correct weapons! Check out these thoughts from Scott Jewell, our Family Minister.

Thom Rainer of Lifeway Christian Resources wrote a blog article in which he compiled a list of 25 odd church arguments. I narrowed it down to 10, including a couple I’ve heard previously. (I’ve included a brief describer with color commentary for each). 1. color of roof shingles- sit under their ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Reconcilable Differences Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 25, 2017

Since God reconciled us to Himself in Christ Jesus, He now calls us to be reconcilers. What does that mean with regard to conflicts in our lives and in our church?

OPEN: A medical doctor once told of one of his patients who’d developed cancer. He said she’d grown up in an abusive, alcoholic family and felt bitterness toward her parents. But when she discovered she had cancer, she decided to change her attitude and try to show love to her parents - in spite ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Blind And Toothless Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 31, 2017

Why can't a Christian sue another Christian? And can a Christian take a non-Christian to court? And how should a lawyer who is Christian handle lawsuits?

In 1910, a man named Olaf Olavson was desperate for cash, so he sold his body to an institute in Sweden to be used for medical research after he died. But in 1911, he unexpectedly inherited a fortune and decided to "buy himself back." To his surprise, the institute wouldn't cooperate. Shocked by ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Are What You Eat Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 6, 2017

Daniel and his friends were strangers in a strange land and were surrounded by paganism. How did they deal with standing up for God in that setting, and how can we stand up for God in an increasingly offensive world?

I read the true story about a wife who liked to make sure she had meals ready to cook. She made “freezer meals” ahead of time and carefully noted what they were in large clear letters. There was "Meatloaf", "Pot Roast", "Steak and Vegetables”, "Chicken and Dumplings" or "Beef Pot Pie." But whenever ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Clothed With Fire Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 14, 2017

There's part of this story of the fiery furnace that I'd always missed. There was one question upon which everything else hinged - not only in this story but also in our lives. Do you know what that question is?

When my sister Barbranne was in her early 20’s she left the Church and Jesus behind and went off to live the “wild life.” At age 55 she decided she’d hurt herself in that decision and started going back to church. One of the first things she did was to buy a Children’s Bible because she wanted to ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Story That Will Change Your Life Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 20, 2017

Daniel in the Lions' Den has been called the "one of the best loved stories in the Bible." But have you ever thought that God had a message in the story that could change your life?

ILLUS: A 1st-grader stood in front of his classroom to make a speech about "What he wanted to be when he grew up." He stood up in front of the class and said, "I’m going to be a lion tamer and have lots of fierce lions. I’ll walk into the cage and they will roar… and they’ll roar… and they’ll…" ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Day Of Reckoning Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 28, 2017

The story of the "handwriting on the wall" is God's way of reminding us that there will be a day of judgment. What can we learn from God's warning to this King?

In 1883, the greatest volcanic explosion in modern history took place. Krakatoa, a volcano in Indonesia, exploded and shot 6 cubic miles of debris 24 miles up into the stratosphere. Its shock wave traveled around the world 7 times, and its debris fell more than 2000 miles away. The official ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 5:2-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hey Jude Don't Be Afraid Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 3, 2017

Jude speaks of people who "infiltrate" the church to damage it. Who are they and why do they do that? And how can we "contend for the Faith" when faced with these kinds of folks?

It was the winter of 1944. The German army was in a desperate situation and ultimately launched what became known as the Battle of the Bulge. A key part of their strategy was to disrupt and mis-direct reinforcements that the Allies would be sending into the battle. They called it “Operation ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Food Sign Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 20, 2017

Jesus did many miracles but only 2 are told about in all four Gospels. One is the miracle of Jesus' resurrection... and the other is the miracle of the feeding of the 5000. The question is "Why are these 2 the only miracles listed that in all 4?"

(Note: I put a large piece of Matzah bread on the communion table for a physical illustration later in the sermon) OPEN: (We put a “McDonald’s sign” – without the word McDonalds – up on the screen) Does anybody recognize this? That’s right, it’s the symbol for McDonalds. The first McDonalds ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-36

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ