Sermons on Strategic Pause:

Friends In High Places Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 18, 2014

What impressed Jesus in this story was the faith of the men who'd brought their friend to him - a friend who was crippled and lived in a low place of life. The phrase is "Jesus saw their faith." What does that mean? And what can it mean to us?

A few years back, Garth Brooks came out with a popular Country and Western song called: “I’ve Got Friends In Low Places” How many of you have ever heard the song? (when most of them raised their hands, I stage whispered: “Pagans”) It has a catchy tune, but it is NOT a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:17-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let My People Go Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 17, 2015

I'd always thought Moses just told Pharaoh "Let my people go." But Moses never said it quite that way. What did Moses actually say... and why should it matter to us?

OPEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SJrHDSlE7A from 0:50 to 1:31 (it’s the part of the move “The Ten Commandments” where Charlton Heston/Moses confronts Pharaoh/Yul Brynner and declares “Let My People Go.”) There’s an old Negro spiritual Louis Armstrong made ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 5:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God’s Deliverance

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Feb 24, 2022

Often when we face the difficulties of life, we try to make sense out of what we are facing. But what frustrates us at times like this is that IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!

For example, when the terrorists struck the Trade Towers in New York City, and the Pentagon, on Sept. 11, 2001, the pundits put their heads together and tried to make sense of why anyone would want to kill thousands of innocent people. They could only reach the conclusion that Osama Bin Laden and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Taking Small Steps And Giant Leaps Of Faith: How God Orders Our Steps Series

Contributed by Perry Fowler on Aug 3, 2023

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delights in his way.” Psalm 37:23 How did this play out in Jacobs life? How about yours?

After World War II the United States Army left five army dumps in France full of machinery. It was destined to sit and rust, that is, until the Quakers stepped in. They offered the United States 200,000 franc for the machinery; which made the US very happy. In turn, they salvaged everything in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Face To Face With God

Contributed by Catherine Davis on Feb 9, 2007

Coming face to face with God’s holiness exposes our sin, but God is ready to forgive and cleanse us. God also calls us into action!

Face to Face with God Scripture: Isaiah 6: 1-8 Darken the sanctuary as much as possible, light candles on altar. Play Holy Holy Holy, Lord God Almighty softly during this. 1. Dramatic Reading: Holy Holy Holy (From Engaging Worship, Group Publishing, 2005) 2. In our services, we often tend ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Denomination: Methodist

Remember

Contributed by Toby Powers on Mar 10, 2006

Often in the Bible we are called to remember the lessons of the past. May we remember today while we have opportunity to do something about tommorrow.

From The Desk of Pastor Toby Powers Truth Baptist Church Bremen, GA Remember Deuteronomy 32:7 Intro: The book of Deuteronomy is the last of the books of the law… what is called the Pentateuch. The Jews sometimes called it “five-fifths of the Law.” The name Deuteronomy means “spoken twice”. Some ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:7

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Want To Live Forever?

Contributed by Curt Cizek on Aug 6, 2009

Jesus offers us a way to live forever that is better than the fountain of youth. If only Ponce De Leon spent more time looking into Jesus’ way to immortality.

-I love the Indiana Jones movies -I love them most of all because they usually deal with something of a spiritual nature -Raiders of the Lost Ark is about the Nazis trying to find Israel’s lost Ark of the Covenant in order to use its power for their evil plans -The Temple of Doom is about Indiana ...read more

Scripture: John 6:35-51

Denomination: Lutheran

The Use And Abuse Of Money

Contributed by David Zachrich on Aug 25, 2022

We want our faith to be strong, certain, clear, constant. It is our prayer and fondest wish. But, sadly, faith sometimes seems weak, uncertain, cloudy, and intermittent. Why?

Luke 16:1-15 The Use and Abuse of Money Friends in Christ, We want our faith to be strong, certain, clear, constant. It is our prayer and fondest wish. But, sadly, faith sometimes seems weak, uncertain, cloudy, and intermittent. Why? In his Gospel, St. Luke writes in chapter 15 about two ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-15

Denomination: Lutheran

Leading, Learning, And Living

Contributed by Joe Dan Vendelin on Aug 10, 2024

God charges Joshua three times to be strong and courageous. Leading, Learning, and Living breaks out each of these times and what the Lord says to Joshua.

LEADING, LEARNING, AND LIVING Joshua 1 gives a strong example of God’s charge to be strong and courageous in life. He repeats this charge to Joshua three different times, each one followed by a different area for Joshua to be strong and courageous in. These are areas that I am describing as ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-8, Matthew 16:24, Ephesians 1:3, Matthew 7:24, James 1:22-25, 2 Timothy 3:5, 1 Corinthians 4:20  (view more)  (view less)

How To Pray Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Jan 15, 2018

This is the 3rd sermon in the 1 Timothy series, "Order".

Series: Order [#3] HOW TO PRAY 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Introduction: In these verses Paul is telling Timothy the importance of prayer and its purpose. Let’s look at the areas of prayer. 1 Timothy 2:1-8 (NIV) “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Nutgrass Of The Soul

Contributed by Cynthia Hinson on Jul 6, 2002

Tough, arrogant and persistent, sin (like nutgrass) will (in Malachi’s words) be burnt to stubble to make way for the Kingdom. Don’t be childish -- our faith is not a game. The prophets have warned us -- and now, someone greater than a prophet is here.

Nutgrass of the Soul Matthew 11:2-30 Rev. Cynthia T. Hinson – St. Paul United Methodist Church – Conroe, TX – July 7, 2002 The very last book of the Old Testament is Malachi, and the last verses of the last chapter of that book read thus: 1 "For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-30, Malachi 4:1-6

Denomination: Methodist

A God Listening Heart

Contributed by D. Marie Hamilton on Feb 2, 2007

We have talked about how it is important for us to yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We have to be willing to go where the Spirit leads us.

A God Listening Heart I Kings 3: 7-9 (I am reading from the Message) “And now here I am: God, my God you have made me your servant, ruler of the kingdom place of my father David. I’m too young for this, a mere child! I don’t know the ropes yet, I hardly know that ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of this job. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:6-9

Denomination: Methodist

Who's Got The Salt

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Mar 15, 2011

A message encouraging us to become salty Christians — rubbed with the essence of Jesus who make others thirst for God.

SERMON TEXT: Matthew 5:13 INTRO If any of you have high-blood pressure, you know how important it is to monitor your daily salt intake. Now, I don’t have high blood pressure, but being on my diet, I’m trying to closely monitor my salt intake each day. And I have to tell ya, keeping ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Denomination: Lutheran

God's Love Song Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 3, 2019

C.S. Lewis called Psalm 19 “the greatest poem in the Bible.” It speaks of God's majesty and power and tells us HOW God has shown His love for us.

OPEN: According to “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” the longest love letter ever was written by Marcel de Leclure in 1875. Marcel was an artist in Paris France and his letter contained the 3 word French phrase “je vous aime” (pronounced “shavou same”) which means “I Love You.” This wasn’t just written ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Will Change Your Name

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jan 16, 2026

I will change your name - You shall no longer be called - Wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid - I will change your name - Your new name shall be - Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one - Faithfulness, friend of God - One who seeks My face

Back in the 60's ... a man named Laurence J. Peter ... visited several corporations ... and studied some of their management styles ... and characteristics. As a result, ... he came up with a maxim ... which was later named after him ... called ... "The Peter Principle." ...read more

Scripture: John 1:42, 1 Samuel 16:7, Genesis 17:5, Genesis 32:28, Acts 13:9, Acts 5:29, Matthew 26:33, Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 1:4-7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican