Sermons on stephens defense: showing 481-495 of 17,409

Witnessing To Your Enemy Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 28, 2012

How could you possibly witness to someone who’s hurt you? Someone who has gone out of their way to make you miserable? Paul and Silas did it. Can you do it too?

OPEN: In the 1870s, in the Old West, a town called Truckee, California decided to build a jail. This wasn’t just any old jail - this was wonder to behold. The walls were 32 inches thick at the lower level and there were no windows unless one counted the small vents for each cell. The ceilings were ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fixing Your Eyes On The Promises Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 23, 2021

God commended Joseph's faith for the strangest reason - because Joseph "gave directions concerning his bones." Seriously? Joseph's faith was praised because of his funeral arrangements? What's that all about, and what can it mean to us?

CHILDREN'S STORY: When we get done here I PROMISE you I’ll give you a sucker. Do you know what a promise is? A promise is when someone tells you they’re going to do something… and then they do it. Now a promise is about something that will happen LATER. You parents will say “I promise we’ll go ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Man Has Twisted, Contorted, Inverted, And Opposed All God’s Creation – Part 1 – Genesis Chapter 1 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 27, 2023

Every aspect of God’s perfect creation in Genesis 1 has been inverted by man to make monstrosities out of what God created and said, “It is good.” Satan is the one who will destroy and mangle all for evil. We look at these items Satan has mangled, twisted and inverted.

MAN HAS TWISTED, CONTORTED, INVERTED, AND OPPOSED ALL GOD’S CREATION – PART 1 – GENESIS CHAPTER 1 We are now living in a twisted, contorted and inverted world. In fact the change has not been a slow creeping of the years, but a very rapid convolution that has ascended from the pit and into the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:25-27, Colossians 2:8-9, John 1:3-4, Hebrews 11:6, Revelation 21:1, Philippians 2:9-11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Woe. Don't Do That! Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 21, 2018

Jesus stressed the need to help the poor and needy. It's a powerful commandment, but there are those who would warp it to meet their own agendas (rather than God's). But how would they do that?

OPEN: Chicago is just about to approve a new entitlement. They intend to give 1,000 unemployed families $500 per month with no strings attached (total of $6 million per year). The argument seems to be that automation is robbing people of jobs and so this is intended to put money in the pockets of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:20-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Of Whom The World Was Not Worthy Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 28, 2021

The Bible has always been honest with us about the potential dangers of discipleship. It speaks of the real possibilities of abuse, prison and even death. Is there ever a time when it's NOT worth it to be a Christian?

CHILDREN’S SERMON – Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego OPEN: I read an interesting article this week in Christianity Today. The title was “Was It Worth It?” and it tried to address the tragedy that’s going on now in Afghanistan. Their opening comment was this: “(Christianity Today) surveyed 15 ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:32-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Tale Of Two Crosses Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 4, 2018

A church in Texas is planning to build the largest cross in the Western Hemisphere. But Jesus didn't build His church this way. He built His church on a different kind of cross. Do you know what cross that was?

OPEN: Down in Corpus Christi Texas, a church broke ground about 2 years to build a huge cross – 150 feet tall. But, they do everything big down in Texas and once they’d broken ground they decided they hadn't dreamed big enough. Now they plan to build that cross to be 230 feet tall and 95 feet wide ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Ascension Ends The Momentous Easter Period – Explaining The Ascension Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 28, 2024

40 days had passed after the Resurrection and Jesus had been teaching His disciples. Now it was time to depart this scene in the Ascension. We are looking at various aspects of the Ascension and His coming again. It was an interesting time.

THE ASCENSION ENDS THE MOMENTOUS EASTER PERIOD – EXPLAINING THE ASCENSION [A]. THE INTRODUCTION FOR OUR MESSAGE TODAY ON THE ASCENSION The days after the Lord’s resurrection were understandably happy ones for the disciples, probably tinged with uncertainty. They were not sure what was ahead. ...read more

Scripture: John 21:14, John 21:20, John 20:17, Acts 1:3, Acts 1:4, John 14:16-18, John 16:6-7, Amos 9:13-15, Acts 1:6, Acts 1:9, Acts 1:10, Acts 1:11, Acts 2:32-34, Hebrews 8:1, Acts 7:55-56, Ephesians 4:7-13, Luke 23:42-43, Psalm 16:10, John 3:13, Luke 9:51, Revelation 19:11, 2 Timothy 4:8, Zechariah 14:3-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Most Overlooked Key To Church Growth Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 11, 2018

Acts 6 tells us that after the church met the needs of its widows, the "disciples multiplied greatly". What caused this dramatic explosion of growth and what can we learn from that?

Back in the 17th Century, there was a German preacher named August Francke. He had seen the homeless children in his city and was so moved by their living conditions that he decided to found an orphanage for them. But as is often the case with such ministries, money was always tight, and he ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Finding A Way For Jesus Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 21, 2014

Jesus said we should seek first the Kingdom of God. What is that Kingdom and how do I go about making it a priority in my life?

OPEN: Back in 1999 Eddie Stankey died at the age of 83. Now you might ask – who is Eddie Stankey? (I'm glad you asked). According to Time magazine - Eddie Stankey “was a pugnacious, pennant-winning 2nd baseman.” He battled his way through 11 seasons for the champion Brooklyn ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-27, Matthew 6:33, Matthew 6:1-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Look And See If There Be Any Sorrow Like My Sorrow – Focus On Nigeria Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 7, 2024

Not all believers are aware of the continuing atrocities against Christians in Nigeria from the hand of wicked Islam. We examine some of this and look at practical issues in martyrdom. We must stand with our fellow Christians being killed and tortured in Nigeria and other nations. Pray for them.

LOOK AND SEE IF THERE BE ANY SORROW LIKE MY SORROW – FOCUS ON NIGERIA There is one certainty in following God, be that 4 000 years ago right up to our current time. It will be a road of sorrow and isolation and persecution. It always has been that way because there is always a war raging. It ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:4, Galatians 4:29, 2 Timothy 3:12-13, Revelation 2:10, Psalm 22:13-14, Psalm 69:2-3, John 15:18-20, 2 Corinthians 10:4, Hosea 11:8, Romans 8:17-18, Acts 7:55-56, Acts 7:59-60, 2 Timothy 4:6-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Know That You Are On The Winning Side Series

Contributed by A. David Hart on Jan 13, 2007

My brothers and my sisters one of the things I’ve learned in team sports is that you do not play the game hoping that you would not lose. But you will play the game with a mind to win. Regardless of what the score might be, you should have in your mind t

HOW TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE ON THE WINNING SIDE Acts 6:8-15 My brothers and my sisters one of the things I’ve learned in team sports is that you do not play the game hoping that you would not lose. But you will play the game with a mind to win. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:8-15

Denomination: Baptist

Sold Out Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 12, 2014

Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything that he had, give it to the poor and follow Him. Do I have to give away everything to follow Christ? Do I have to sell all that I have in order to please Him?

Ravi Zacharias tells the story about a boy that loved collecting marbles. He lived next door to a little girl who had a lot of candy. She said to him: “If you’ll give me all of your marbles, I’ll give you all of my candy.” He said he’d think about it. The next ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:18-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rejecting Change Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Aug 4, 2017

Change is hard for people and we need to think about how we deal with rejection.

INTRODUCTION • SLIDE #1 • Today we continue with our Great Complaints series by looking at a complaint on steroids! • There are many things in life that we can complain about, but one of the more difficult things we deal with is change. • It is amazing what we will do sometimes to avoid dealing ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:51-60

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

A Story Within A Story Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Nov 8, 2017

A study of the book of Acts 6: 8 – 8:1

Acts 6: 8 – 8:1 A story within a story 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel