Sermons on Strategic Pause:

Love, Obedience, And The Peace Beyond Understanding

Contributed by Mark Zorn on May 24, 2025

Jesus’ call to love and obedience, coupled with His promise of the Holy Spirit and peace, is a divine blueprint for a life of purpose, fulfillment, and harmony.

Good Afternoon. Today, as we meditate on Jesus’ words in John 14:23-29, I want to center our reflection on one core truth: love is what makes the world go round. Jesus’ call to love and obedience, coupled with His promise of the Holy Spirit and peace, is a divine blueprint for a life of purpose, ...read more

Scripture: John 14:23-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"accepting And Then Reflecting"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 29, 2022

A sermon for the second Sunday in Advent.

“Accepting and then Reflecting” much of the inspiration for this sermon comes from Adam Hamilton's book: "Prepare the Way for the Lord." Luke 1:57-64, 67, 76-79 Last week we left Zechariah in the Temple, speaking with the angel Gabriel. Gabriel had told him that, although he and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:57-79

Denomination: United Methodist

I Made A Mistake, I Am Not A Mistake Series

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Dec 29, 2025

This is the sixth talk in a course called "Trauma and Transformation, Level 2". This advanced course takes a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual approach to healing. Both Christians and non-Christians are in attendance, so the homily is presented with that in mind.

I like this image, because it represents God as parent, God as mother, God as Father. It’s a healthy way to see God, to feel God, if we can separate it from our own experience with imperfect parents, or of h being imperfect parents. We’ve been talking about a lot of things in this course that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-19, Psalm 103:8-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"well Pleased"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jan 5, 2026

If we can really believe that God loves us anything is possible.

Matthew 3:13-17 “Well Pleased” In a story in the Upper Room Devotional a number of years ago a woman from Ohio named Lois Wilson wrote: “On the first day of each community college art class I taught, I would ask the students to write a brief answer to the question: “Who are you?” Later, I was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: United Methodist

Eternity & Christ: The Promise Of Life

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 27, 2021

Brothers and sisters of the promise found in Jesus Christ, I greet you warmly. May the grace and peace of Jesus Christ be found among you always. These are trying times. Times are changing.

Brothers and sisters of the promise found in Jesus Christ, I greet you warmly. May the grace and peace of Jesus Christ be found among you always. These are trying times. Times are changing. But God does not change. His truth remains foundational, nothing changes it. God is good. He is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:6

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Parable Of The Mom And Two Children

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Sep 13, 2017

The Parable of the Two Sons retold in a modern way for children. This is set up as a play, but can easily be told as a story or sermon illustration. The modern context helps create a gateway for children to see themselves in the story.

The Parable of the Mom and Two Children Narrator: There once was a Mom who had two children (The mom walks out and waves to people). Narrator: Her oldest daughter, Emily, loves sports (The reader pauses and lets Emily walk out. They wait five seconds. She walks out and waves to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32

Denomination: Lutheran

Till The Storm Passes By

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Oct 15, 2014

A brief devotion used to open a meeting. Intended to encourage one another to remain strong during the storms of life.

Till the Storm Passes By Exodus 9:23-24 Intro: Have you ever noticed how that it can rain on one side of town and not on the other? Or maybe even on one side of the street and not the other? Even tornadoes have a relatively narrow path of destruction. I have seen places where homes on one side ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 9:23-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wisdom For Overcoming Errors

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Aug 15, 2025

No one is beyond making mistakes, but with the wisdom of God, you can live in accuracy and avoid repeating costly errors

WISDOM FOR OVERCOMING ERRORS By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Ecclesiastes 10:5-10 Key Verse: “If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.” (Ecclesiastes 10:10, KJV) Supporting Texts: Proverbs 4:7, Hosea 4:6, James ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:5-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The "rock And Wave" Of Evangelism

Contributed by Joe Dan Vendelin on Feb 24, 2024

Jesus did not behave the same in every situation. Sometimes, he stood like a "rock" and other times he disrupted like a "wave." This is a short explanation of two ways in which we can be impactful in a way that brings others closer to Christ to the glory of God the Father.

What is the rock and wave of evangelism? This is a framework of how to function as light in a world of darkness. Jesus told his followers that “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14) Let’s take a deeper dive into that: 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16, Colossians 4:5-6, John 18:28-40, Matthew 21:12-13, John 12:49, John 5:19, Isaiah 42:8  (view more)  (view less)

Maximize Your Experience - Genesis 37:5-36 Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Jul 25, 2021

There are two different aspects of the Christian life. I call it the academic side and then also the experiential side.

There are two different aspects of the Christian life. I call it the academic side and then also the experiential side. The academic side is where we learn the Bible stories and so on from God’s word. Now when we’re teaching children we teach them about 200 Bible stories. And then of course there’s ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:5-36

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Spiritual Depression; Its Causes And Cure - Philippians 1:12-21 Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Feb 11, 2022

I think if we were to take the book of Philippians and we were to try to understand emotions, there would be a map that goes like this with these three particular kind of emotions. One is anger. The second is sadness. And the third is anxiety.

The book of Philippians is a very emotionally transparent book. It's the most emotional book in the New Testament. That's because Paul is sharing his emotions with them, but he's also processing his emotions with them, and he's also encouraging them to process their emotions in a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Rocky - Preparing For The Fight Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 5, 2003

Why did Jesus take His disciples to Caesarea Philippi? Why go to a pagan, idolatrous city to ask His disciples the most important question of His ministry?

OPEN: I read once the story of a young black man in the ghettos. He was fortunate in that he had both of his parents, and they struggled to make ends meet. But for his birthday that year they had scraped together enough money to pay for a brand new bicycle. A few days later someone stole it. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Father Figure Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 15, 2008

First Person presentation of Joshua describing his relationship with Moses. This was a powerful message that spoke of the lessons Joshua may have learned from his father figure - Moses.

(I entered stage left, dressed as Joshua, the son of Nun, and carrying a Ram’s horn – or Shofar. There are several websites that will allow you to hear the sound of the Shofar, but I found that I was able to make a reasonable sound from the horn with very little effort. I used the musical ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 27:12-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Witnesses To The Living Lord

Contributed by Don Emmitte on Apr 15, 2014

Mary Magdalene, John, and Peter teach us a great deal about the Lord when they become witnesses to the resurrected Christ.

Witness to the Living Lord John 20:1-23 Easter Sermon by Don Emmitte, Grace Restoration Ministries Take Your Bibles, Please… Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Led By The Star Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 24, 2017

What was the star that led the Wisemen to Jesus and what difference does that make to us today?

OPEN: Years ago I wrote a song about the Wise Men. The first verse went this way “Out in the fields, watching the sky. Looking to heaven, searching on high. Troubled by things I’d seen on this earth, I knew that my answer lay with a child’s birth. For the prophecy said that a star in the sky, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ