Sermons on Strategic Pause:

Life's Not Fair Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 19, 2015

Solomon is troubled by the unfairness of life. But he was the king - why didn't he just legislate away injustice and punish all the wrong-doers and give away some his vast wealth to feed the poor? Why wouldn't that work?

OPEN: Awhile back there was an article that appeared in a Kentucky newspaper which read: "I used to think I was poor. Then they told me I wasn't poor, I was needy. Then they told me it was self-defeating to think of myself as needy, that I was culturally deprived. Then they told me 'deprived' ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dealing With Discouragement Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 9, 2015

Overcome discouragement when you redirect your energies, refocus your vision, and rally together.

A man stopped to watch a Little League baseball game and asked one of the youngsters, “What’s the score?” “We're losing 18-0,” was the answer. “Well,” said the man. “I must say you don't look discouraged.” “Discouraged?” the boy ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:10-23

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Do You Love Me? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 10, 2016

Why would Jesus have breakfast with Peter on the seashore? And why would He ask Peter 3 times if he loved Him?

OPEN: About 25 years ago I went my parents up to have a vacation in Canada at a place called Rice Lake. It was a great place. Beautiful lake, rustic cabin, and there was the fishing. (I showed a picture of myself baiting my hook with a very unexcited look on my face) This is me fishing. Do I ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Jesus Touches, He Changes. Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 24, 2016

His name had been Saul, but that - along with his entire life - was changed when he met Jesus. What changed him and what can we learn from his experience?

OPEN: There is a story about a little girl who proudly wore a shiny cross on a chain around her neck. One day her preacher noticed how proud she seemed to be of her pretty cross, and said to her, “Honey, don't you know that the cross Jesus died on wasn't beautiful like the one you're ...read more

Scripture: Acts 22:3-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Flee Baby, Flee Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 8, 2015

The world paints those who oppose immoral sex as being prudes and bigots. It's hard to withstand the humiliation and embarrassment that we can face when we speak up. So why should we? And how should we stand for morality in a faithless world?

Years ago I heard a famous radio preacher tell of an experience he had while doing a seminar in a large city. After he had gotten done speaking he returned to his hotel, got on the elevator, and as he touched the button of his floor, a couple of very attractive women got on with him. "What ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rules Are Rules Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 1, 2014

The Pharisees of Jesus' day died long ago. But their spirit lives on in congregations across the land. How can we recognize if we have become like the Pharisees, and what did Jesus teach us about what we need to know to avoid becoming like those men?

(Before reading the text I noted that the stories in this section of Mark detailed the conflict between Jesus and a religious group known as the Pharisees… and I emphasized the word "Pharisees" as I read through the text) OPEN: Back in the 1980’s, the Minnesota Twins had this ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Looking Like Your Passport Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 19, 2014

Unless we look like the picture God describes for us here in I Peter, the world will reject our witness. What does God say I need to look like and how can that help win the unsaved to Jesus?

OPEN: How many of you have ever had a passport? You realize that when you visit a foreign land, you MUST have a passport, because without that document you cannot move around inside their country. That passport says who you are, what nation you belong to… and it has a picture of you ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Deep The Love Of God! Series

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Jun 2, 2019

2 gleanings about God and His Church from a year of reading the Bible: Gleaning # 1 God is deeply emotional. He is full of love for His people, and He grieves when we are prone to wander. Gleaning # 2 God loves us AND calls us into His purpose of loving the world to Jesus as ambassadors of Jesus.

June 2, 2019 - Gleanings from A Year in the Bible Do you have a favourite TV show? Movie? Book? What’s a favourite of yours? My wife Barbara and I have a a number of shows that we like to watch, Usually we enjoy comedies that are character driven. Or dramas with strong relationships between the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:5-6, Genesis 12:1-3, Ezekiel 16:1-14, Ezekiel 16:15-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Opportunities Not Obstacles Series

Contributed by Greg Lindsey on Mar 7, 2020

What Jesus Says the Church Should and Should Not Be

So good morning and welcome to this place we call DCC. So pumped that you are here. We want to give a special shout out to all of our friends watching online, and to all of our new friends who are here for the very first time today. If you’re new we want you to know that we have all made ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

Death Is Not The End Of Life, I Promise! Series

Contributed by David Owens on Apr 13, 2020

One of God's promises that brings us hope is that death is not the end of life, but is just the beginning of something far better for the believer in Jesus. Jesus' resurrection is that proof that life does not end with death.

A. Happy Easter, Everyone! 1. This has to be one of the most unusual Easters in the last 100 years. 2. Most countries around the world are practicing social distancing because of the virus pandemic, and so churches are empty on this Resurrection Sunday in order to protect physical lives. 3. But ...read more

Scripture: John 5:28-29, 1 Corinthians 15:54, Matthew 28:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 5, 2018

Acts 10 is a pivotal chapter in Scripture. From this point on the church exploded in growth. In this story there are 3 groups of people who were "surprised" by what they saw. Why were they surprised, and what difference does that mean to us?

(Before reading the Scripture I noted that Acts 10 is a pivotal chapter in Scripture. It was after this event at Cornelius’ house that the Church exploded with growth and numerous churches were set up throughout the known world). (After the Scripture reading and prayer, we showed the following ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Avoiding Sexual Temptations

Contributed by Dean Rhine on Jun 19, 2018

Proverbs about Sexual Purity

Avoiding Sexual Temptations - Assorted Proverbs Turn with me if you would to the book of Proverbs, chapter 5. We have been going through the Old Testament together, and we are looking at the period of the unified kingdom: God brought the Jews as His chosen people into a land that he had prepared ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gathering With God’s People Series

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Feb 16, 2022

The Psalms of Ascent have an upward motion. They begin in Psalm 120 with the psalmist crying out in trouble far away from Jerusalem, and they end in Psalm 134 with the psalmist offering up praise in the temple courts.

Gathering with God’s People Psalm 122 We are studying the Psalms of Ascent together and when we reach Psalm 122 something odd happens. The psalmist arrives in Jerusalem. There are fifteen Psalms of Ascent, and we are only on the third psalm and we’re already there! How can that be? The Psalms ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

How Do I Handle My Anger? Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Sep 22, 2021

The Bible says a Christian is a changed person. Like HGTV and the fixer-upper homes, a Christian is to have a "before and after" in their story. Our "after" is supposed to be really different than our "before."

It was one of the best-known photographs and most tragic photographs of the Vietnam War. The picture a young burn victim running down the road in terror with her arms outstretched while soldiers walked behind her at his distance. On June 8, 1972, Kim's village came under attack. The South ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:26, John 3:36

Denomination: Baptist

What To Do When You Don't Know What To Do Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 11, 2024

When life gets complicated, just follow God, believe God, and walk with God in the direction He leads.

Doug Lansky was a travel writer and photographer for many years during which he has collected photos of odd signs from around the world. Here are some samples: Here is a blue sign with white letters. It reads: “Pakistan-Narcotics Control Board Investigating Unit.” Notice what’s in front of the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 13:17-22, Exodus 14:1-31

Denomination: Evangelical Free