Sermons on Martha Strite:

Isaiah Saw The Cradle Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 9, 2018

Isaiah tells us this newborn Messiah would bring light to a dark world. In what ways is our world "dark" and how does Jesus change that in our lives?

OPENING: Video – Christmas, The Nativity (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu6A9fMLnsY) (The video was all dramatic music and words on a screen. After the video was done, I spoke the words to open the sermon) “His birth… foretold in ancient writings a miracle that would threaten an empire. His ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-6, Matthew 4:13-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Isaiah Saw The Cross Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 16, 2018

A Christmas Sermon that points to the cross. The cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it the main focus of God's message of salvation. But the cross is not a comforting symbol, so why would God use it as the symbol of our faith?

OPEN: I once read about an evening chapel service at Christian summer camp. The preacher was forcefully telling the 4th & 5th graders how Jesus had been betrayed, arrested, beaten and ultimately died on the cross. His message was so powerful, that a hushed silence fell across the young ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Did God Have To Kill His Son To Forgive Me? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 1, 2021

Why did God have to kill His Son for me to obtain forgiveness. Why couldn't God have simply forgiven me without that sacrifice?

OPEN: Dick Van Dyke once told a story about a preacher who was showing his 4 year old son a picture of Jesus. But the man didn’t want his son to get the wrong idea and so he said: “But son… it’s not really Jesus. It’s just an artist’s impression of Jesus.” The boy looked closely at the picture and ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Did God Make Sin? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 18, 2021

The YouTube teacher named Joe Scott (Answers With Joe) once shared questions about Christianity that troubled him. And one of those questions was "Did God Make Sin?"

OPEN: A woman had volunteered to teach a Sunday School class for toddlers. She was teaching them about Creation, and she started the class by asking questions like “Who made the trees?” and “Who made the sun?” The children responded, “God did” and the woman She was pleased the children were quickly ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:16-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Did God Make Hell? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 23, 2021

Why did God make hell? And why would He want to send me there?

OPEN: A detective was investigating a burglary at a church building. He questioned one suspect - who he was pretty sure committed the crime – but he couldn’t prove it. Finally, the preacher of the church stepped up and asked if he could talk to the suspect alone. Within minutes, the preacher came ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Beginning And The End Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 25, 2020

Jesus said He was the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the 1st and the Last. What does that mean for us and how can that change our lives?

Back in 2008, there was a surprise best selling book entitled: “Not Quite What I Had Planned - 6-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure” Notice the first SIX words of the title. “Not Quite What I Had Planned.” The book essentially asked people to sum up their lives in 6 words. Amongst ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:13-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Funeral For A Military Wife

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 27, 2020

This is the funeral message for a military wife and includes a poem about God's special creation of such a woman for her husband.

Reading of Scripture Prayer OPEN: Albert Einstein’s wife was asked if she understood her husband's theory of relativity. "No," she said, "but I know how he likes his tea." What Mrs. Einstein realized was that her husband didn’t want someone who understood what he KNEW. What ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Is Watching Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 14, 2019

Holiness and fear of God seem to go hand in hand in this passage. But why should I "fear God" and what difference does it make when I do?

OPEN: You may have heard the story of some children at a Catholic school who were lined up for lunch at the cafeteria. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. A nun had made a note: "Take only one, God is watching." At the other end of the table was a large plate of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:14-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Blood Of Holiness Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 21, 2019

Why is there so much emphasis on the blood of Jesus in the Bible? What difference does it make that Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the grave?

OPEN: As I was working on today’s sermon I was looking at some old Gospel hymns and I was pleasantly surprised at the # of hymns that - mentioned the blood of Christ. So I thought we’d do this this morning is sing just a few of them: • Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:15-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Power Of New Promises Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 15, 2022

There are 750 promises in the New Testament. That's nearly 1/10 of that entire section of your Bible. Why does God put such an emphasis on promises, and how can we learn to depend upon them?

OPEN: A little boy was walking on the beach, and he saw an older woman sitting under a beach umbrella. And he walked up to her and asked, “Are you a Christian?” “Yes.” she replied. “Do you read your Bible every day?” She nodded her head, “Yes.” “Do you pray often?” he asked next, and again she ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Church As An Icu Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 6, 2020

Jesus came to heal those sick with sin. That means the church is meant to be a hospital for those weighed down with guilt. But what can a church do better heal those lost in their shame?

A Russian soldier was wounded and was ordered to go to military hospital for treatment. When he arrived he found two doors: One was marked, ‘For the slightly wounded,’ and the other, ‘For the seriously wounded’. Well, he wasn’t seriously wounded so he entered through the first door and found ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:16-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Good Stuff Of Holiness Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 28, 2019

What is the one thing that makes us holy before God. There's lots of things holy people do and don't do... but there's one thing that we MUST do. Do you know what that is?

OPEN: A new preacher had just come to town and was visiting one of the Nursing Homes in the area. Thinking to introduce himself to one of the church members who lived there he leaned over her and gently asked “Do you know who I am?” She smiled sweetly and replied: “No, but if you go the front ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Blinded By Despair Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 20, 2023

So often we go from the mountaintop to the valley of despair, how does God get us through to the other side? Consider these thoughts from our Family Minister, Scott Jewell.

Begin with clip from Hee Haw TV show. Gloom, despair, and agony on me. I remember many a Saturday night gathered around the TV as a child with my family. We enjoyed a lot of laughs as we watched sketches like the one we just viewed. This was the first thing that came to mind when I knew I was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Faith Only? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 25, 2023

Faith is so central to our salvation that there are those who believe believing is the ONLY thing we need to do to be saved. But is that true, and where did that idea come from?

In my files I have a comment of an economics professor who explained his problem with Jesus. He said, “I really don’t see how Jesus can be the only way to heaven. I definitely believe in God, but there are just too many people in the world who don’t believe in Jesus for me to think that God ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Believe And Be Baptized Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 1, 2023

Mark 16:16 seems to be a forthright desciption of how to become a Christian, but of the centuries people have "rearranged" the words to fit their theology. How have they done that, and why does it matter?

The Bible tells us that… at the tower of Babel, God confused the people’s language so they couldn’t understand each other. Language is how we communicate with each other, and how we communicate is VERY IMPORTANT. How we say things; the kind of words we use; and even the punctuation we use in our ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:15-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ