Sermons on Strategic Pause:

Joshua 7: When Ai Spelled Defeat Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 19, 2024

Israel was fresh from victory over Jericho. But they suffered their first and worst defeat in Canaan when they tried to conquer Ai. The LORD revealed the reason why this happened.

Introduction: With the LORD’s help. Israel had conquered Jericho and was now ready to claim more of the Promised Land. The next city was Ai, but Israel made a number of mistakes resulting in a defeat—that didn’t need to happen. The Prologue: A violation of God’s commands about Jericho Text, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Serving In Captivity Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on May 6, 2021

What would we do if our country ever came under siege by a foreign nation that did not believe in God? How could we practice our faith, and how could we live according to biblical principles?

I have entitled our message this morning “Serving in Captivity,” as we’ll be examining the events surrounding the Babylonian captivity of 587 B.C. What would we, as believers, do if our country ever came under siege by a foreign nation that did not believe in God or His Son, Jesus Christ? How ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

A Time To Kneel Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on May 6, 2021

This message looks at some tactics the enemy will use to discredit God's people. We can fight back through prayer. Daniel actually stood for his faith while on his knees in prayer.

In our second message from this series, I mentioned how when we live according to biblical principles, working “as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23), that we will receive God’s favor and be promoted to a place of prominence. I also cautioned that those who are favored by God are hated ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Mother's Day Message From Esther

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on May 6, 2021

A Mother's Day Message focusing on the words of Esther

Someday is Today Esther 4:1-14 May 9, 2021 When I was a sophomore in high school some friends and myself went out on a Friday night. We just wanted to have some fun. One of my friends, who was a little bigger than me said, “I feel like getting in a fight.” We were not fighters. Nobody was ...read more

Scripture: Esther 1:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Test Of A Stranger Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

Watch Joseph’s strategy here. Joseph is alternating the sun and the frost in order to break the brothers open to God. When things alternate between really hot and really cold, it breaks things. It breaks the ground.

We’ve called Joseph’s life a roller-coaster… … where his dips included two years of languishing in prison and eleven years of slavery. And we meet him in today’s story, he’s been promoted over the world empire, Egypt, and second only to Pharaoh inside the world’s most important nation of the time. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Who Should Consider Leading? Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

Presumption says God’s timing or His knowledge is insufficient and I’ve got to do something to fix the problem. But there is another form of pride… DESPAIR. Despair says waiting on God is a fool’s wait. God will not fulfill His promises.

“Jazzland”, a New Orleans-themed park, was built on acres of swamp-land outside of the city in 2000, was purchased by Six Flags and changed names in 2002. During Hurricane Katrina, Six Flags was completely flooded and an estimated 70-80% of the park was destroyed, leaving it much too expensive to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Birth Of A Church Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

I don’t know what you think of when you think of evangelism, but evangelism is reason powered by the Holy Spirit. Paul would consistently use the persuasive powers of reason as he talked to people about becoming a follower of Jesus Christ.

We begin a new series today. Our church celebrates its 125th year anniversary. We have some things planned for later this year. We also begin a new book: 1 Corinthians. Many of you may think it odd to begin journey of a book of the Bible and then focus on Acts. Yet, Luke tells us the beginnings of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Sharing Your Story With Those Closest To You Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 8, 2021

haring your salvation story builds a relationship bridge of understanding that Jesus can walk across into the heart of a lost person.

To know Jesus is to have a story of how you came to know Jesus. This story is often referred to as your “testimony.” In fact, if you are saved you have a testimony or a story. Your personal story matters; the personal details of how you came to Christ matter. The change Christ makes in your life ...read more

Scripture: Acts 22:1-29

Denomination: Baptist

Strategy Of Temptation: Undermine God's Authority

Contributed by Michael Mays on Jun 8, 2021

From the very beginning, Satan has been a master at distracting us from pursuing the One whose image we bear.

Strategy of Temptation: Undermine God’s Authority (2 Timothy 3:1–17; 4:1–4) Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” - Genesis 3:1 The deaf community is one of the largest unreached groups. Fewer than 1 percent of deaf people call themselves Christians. Because the deaf ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-4

Slipping Down The Lifeline – But Not To The End (We Hope) Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 17, 2022

There is the lifeline that connects our communion with the Lord but we can slip and fail, and so we slip down that lifeline of communion. Many of the great men of God failed but were wonderfully restored in the comfort of God. What can we lose as we slip? How do we return?

SLIPPING DOWN THE LIFELINE – BUT NOT TO THE END (we hope) Tales are told of people in rescue attempts trying to hold on to a rope in the stormy sea or raging river and over time their grip lessens and through fatigue they slip further and further down the rescue rope until they disappear. That ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8, Luke 15:17-19, Proverbs 6:5, Psalm 91:3, Psalm 124:7, Psalm 86:15, Matthew 11:28-30, 1 John 2:1, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 4:15-16, 1 John 1:8-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rebuilding The Walls (Extended Edition)

Contributed by Chris Bartholomew on Jan 31, 2022

Find your place in rebuilding the broken walls around you.

This is a reworked version of Johnny Chase: Rebuilding the Walls. The original is great, but I needed more length and a more direct application. Thanks, Johnny for the inspiration. Rebuilding the Walls (Extended edition) Nehemiah 1:1-6:15 Summary: Working together to build the Kingdom of God ...read more

Empowered To Serve Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Sep 23, 2022

Don’t be ignorant about your spiritual gift(s). Rather, appreciate the sure manifestations of the Spirit, the single source and purpose of your spiritual gifts, and the assortment of spiritual gifts God gives to the church.

When it comes to computers, some people hardly know a gigabyte from a mosquito bite. Just ask any technical support person at any of the major computer companies. Here are some of their stories: One computer company considered changing the command "Press Any Key" to "Press Return ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Matthew 16:15-17

Denomination: Evangelical Free

One Minute To Midnight Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 2, 2022

We look in the O.T. where God delivered right at the last moment. The trial required faith and patience. One minute to midnight - right at the last moment. The testing of our faith brings glory to God when the child of His love proves the faith that is genuine.

ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT This message will look at intervention in the nick of time. I don’t know if the expression “the nick of time” is known around the world, but it means “just in time”, “at the last moment”. “One minute to midnight,” is a similar expression, and it is surprising how God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-8, Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Kings 18:13, 2 Kings 18:17, 2 Kings 18:29, 2 Kings 18:32, 2 Kings 19:1, 2 Kings 19:6-7, 2 Kings 19:14-16, 2 Kings 19:34-36, Revelation 16:13-16, Zechariah 12:2-4, Zechariah 14:2-4, Genesis 15:2-4, 1 Peter 4:12-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Abishai Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Oct 4, 2022

Abishai proved his loyalty to David on several occasions; the most notable one was toward the end of David’s reign when he saved his life.

ABISHAI ABISHAI was the eldest son of David's sister Zeruiah. He was the brother of Joab and Asahel. According to Josephus (Antiquities, VII, 1, 3), his father was called Suri. The meaning of his name is "Father of a gift." Abishai was the only one who accompanied David when he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 26:6-9

Denomination: Baptist

The Conflict In Israel And The Impending Invasion From The North Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Dec 13, 2023

We are living in a world that is growing ever more chaotic without any real solution or leadership to the problems we’re facing. Immediately before his return as like the days of Noah and times when there would be wars and rumours of war.

Dr. Bradford Reaves CrossWay Christian Fellowship Hagerstown, MD www.mycrossway.org We are living in a world that is growing ever more chaotic without any real solution or leadership to the problems we’re facing. Jesus said this would be the case, as he talked about the days immediately before his ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 38:1-18

Denomination: Brethren