Sermons on Strategic Pause:

Do You Have Those Post Christmas Blues?

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jan 5, 2016

The excitement of Christmas is over. Life has almost gotten back to normal. And many people suffer from the Post-Christmas blahs a kind of depression in fact here is a song for this season titled "The Post-Christmas Blues".

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four Scriptures readings prior to the Message. Today's assigned Scriptures are: Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 84; Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19 and Matthew 2:13-23. Christmas day 2015 ....is over! .... The tree may still be up, .... but it looks mighty ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:2-3, Matthew 2:13-23

Denomination: Anglican

"living Well"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 8, 2022

A sermon for Consecration Sunday.

“Living Well” Matthew 6:19-34 Jesus had a unique way of teaching and using His surroundings to illustrate His points. He could enable those listening to be able to relate more and better understand His teachings. In this passage that we read today, we can see that it is springtime in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

Denomination: United Methodist

From Agony To Alleluia: The Blessedness Of A Forgiven Soul Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Jan 7, 2026

Based on King David's testimony in Psalm 32, this sermon charts the spiritual journey from the crushing "agony" of unconfessed sin to the liberating "alleluia" of divine forgiveness found through honest confession.

Introduction: The Heaviest Burden My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, what is the heaviest thing you have ever carried? Some of us might think of a physical load-moving furniture, carrying heavy equipment. Others might think of an emotional burden-the weight of grief, the strain of a difficult ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Sheltering With Jesus Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 4, 2025

Isaiah said that "the Branch" (the Messiah) would be our shelter and refuge. What does that mean, and what difference could it make to how we live our lives?

The year was 1777. A British army of 13,000 men marched on Philadelphia, and the American Congress had fled the city. The Continental army fought valiantly to hold back their enemy, but they were outflanked and outfought and eventually the English took the city. But before the Philadelphia was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 4:2-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Making Of A Disciple Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 21, 2008

If we ever hope to make disciples who love and obey Jesus, then we must become disciples who love and obey Jesus.

The Making of a Disciple Acts 14:19-28 Intro: One of the last things Jesus told His followers is found in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:19-28

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Are You A Philippian Church?

Contributed by Curt Cizek on Nov 10, 2007

The Apostle Paul had a special relationship with the church at Philippi. God had blessed them, they realized it and they showed it in their affection for Paul. Is your church a Philippian church? I preached this as a guest preacher for a Thanksgiving e

-Words are important, wouldn’t you agree? -There is a big difference between saying, “That’s looks terrific!” and “That looks interesting.” -The impact of “I love you” is very different than “I hate you.” -The name of one’s church says a lot as well. Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a wonderful name ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-20

Denomination: Lutheran

From Death To Life Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 28, 2018

There's a repetitive theme in Scripture: heroes and heroines of the Bible seemingly all go through the process of being given a vision by God, followed by the death of that vision, and ultimately the rebirth of that vision. How did that pattern apply to Jesus and how does it apply to us?

OPEN: (We showed the image of a fallen tree (https://imgur.com/iP32qff) I saw this picture on the internet about a month ago and it took me a while to realize what I was looking at. Obviously the tree has been uprooted and it’s lying on the ground with its dead limbs extending along the ground. But ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:33-51

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Communion

Contributed by Adam James on Nov 15, 2016

A communion message reflecting on Jesus' command to share the cup and break the bread in remembrance of Him.

When we come around to a time of communion, our attention can’t help but be drawn to the two elements. We have the bread, and we have the grape juice. But these two symbols represent something bigger, and much more important that bread and juice. We are all familiar with the Last Supper ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:17-20

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Man From Arimathea Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 19, 2018

How did Joseph become a member of the Sanhedrin and ultimately become a secret follower of Jesus? This first person presentation explores one possible explanation.

(I entered the auditorium from the side entrance to our baptistery – reading a scroll and entranced in thought. Much of the message was presented on floor level with me standing close to the audience and speaking directly to them) (Looking up, a bit surprised) Oh… shalom. I am afraid I am a bit ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:57-66

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Do Not Live At The Shallow End Of The Pool / Transfigured Moments

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 22, 2017

This yearning within us is not really about life's circumstances. It is about us! This restlessness this desire for something more generally means we have been living life at the shallow end of the pool. Updated August 2023..

Each year ...we as Anglicans ... set aside a date to hear the glorious story... of the transfiguration. The Scriptures Speak to the transfigured nature of our Lord... in the books of Mathew, Mark, and Luke. Here God's Word (Pick one) ....... BIBLE "And he (Jesus) was transfigured before ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-9, Matthew 17:1-9, Luke 9:28-36, Mark 10:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 17:15-16, Matthew 5:13-16, 2 Corinthians 3:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

You Can Go To Hell Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 21, 2018

Jesus said He would build His church. What we read in Acts 4 is how He intended to do it. What do we read there that helps us understand our part in Christ's construction crew?

There’s the true story of a southern church that had been stressing the importance of witnessing to people. One particularly slow young man in the congregation took the idea to heart, but he wasn’t quite sure how to do it. Then, that Sunday, a skeptic visited the church one Sunday, and the boy ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Seals And Trumpets And Bowls, Oh My! (Revelation 6-16) Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Nov 8, 2025

Revelation 6–16 can feel like the scariest part of the journey—war, famine, plagues, and wrath. But behind every seal, trumpet, and bowl stands a merciful God whose justice is never chaotic, always redemptive. When God wins, we win—and the story that began with mercy ends with mercy.

Good morning! Please open your Bibles to Revelation 6. Some of you may find this hard to believe, but back in the olden days—the 1970s—there was no streaming, no DVDs, and definitely no pause button. VCRs existed, but they cost over a thousand dollars, so nobody you knew actually had one. If ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:9, John 19:30

Denomination: Baptist

Anchored In Hope When The World Feels Uncertain PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 6, 2025

God offers unshakeable peace and renewed strength in life’s storms when we bring our fears to Him and trust in His faithful presence.

Some of us walked in today with our shoulders tight and our phones buzzing. Headlines howl. Schedules stretch. Hearts race. You know the feeling—when the ground under your feet seems to shift and your peace feels paper-thin. In those hours, we want something steady, something sure. We long for a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 46:1-3, Isaiah 40:31

Topics: Jesus Reflectors, Change

Increase Our Faith!

Contributed by Curt Cizek on Oct 8, 2007

Jesus gives us some hard saying in this text that need to be understood around Jesus’ disciples asking for their faith to be increased.

-My son likes going to AWANA. He enjoys playing games, hearing bible stories, singing to campfire songs. He doesn’t exactly enjoy memorizing bible passages. He give up several times while I am trying to help him learn the passages. I have to prod him on, telling him he can do it and that we are ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

We Need A Hero!

Contributed by Curt Cizek on Aug 6, 2008

A sermon message delivered at a memorial service for a military member in the Air Force.

-Who were some of your heroes growing up? -Was it a family member like your mom or dad, uncle or aunt, grandma or grandpa -Was it a sports figure? Someone who played football, basketball, baseball, maybe a NASCAR driver? -Maybe you really looked up to a musician – a rapper, a country music star or ...read more

Scripture: John 11:21-27

Denomination: Lutheran