Sermons on Vain Traditions:

Build-A-Bear Jesus

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on May 18, 2019

We were created in the image of God. Now many are trying to create God into an image that is comfortable for us.

Build-A-Bear Jesus Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together … 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30, Luke 19:10, Genesis 1:26-27, John 2:15, Matthew 23:16-36, Matthew 11:20-24, John 3:16, Matthew 25:41, Romans 5:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

The Parable Of The Soils.

Contributed by David Goering on Mar 31, 2019

There are three types of impenitent bad soil hearers of the gospel and those who receive the word of God in good soil (a contrite heart) are the only ones who are converted to Christ.

Definition of impenitent - IMPEN'ITENT, a. Not penitent; not repenting of sin; not contrite; obdurate; of a hard heart. They died Impenitent. IMPEN'ITENT, n. One who does not repent; a hardened sinner. *Noah Webster 1828 dictionary SCRIPTURE: Matthew 13:3-9 "And he spake many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:3-9

How Can We Know The Way? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 29, 2020

In a troubled and uncertain world, how can Jesus being "the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE" make a dffierence for us?

OPEN: Back in 1950s & 60s, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra played for NY Yankees and became close friends. One day, Yogi Berra invited Mickey Mantle to his apartment, but Mantle… got lost. He stopped at a pay phone and called Yogi and said, “I'm trying to find your apartment, where is it?” ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Boredom On The Job Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 13, 2015

Boredom is a constant complaint of many workers, but Solomon points to the one thing that can turn the emptiness of the workplace into a powerful tool for our faith. What is this "one thing" that can makes such a big difference for us?

Back in 2009, a 16-year-old British girl was fired from her office job because her manager saw - on Facebook - that she had said her job was “boring”. She was called into her manager's office and given the following letter: “Following your comments made on Facebook... we feel it ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Knowin' Where You're Goin' Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 8, 2016

Peter, James and John catch the biggest haul of fish they'd ever known... and then they just left their nets and boat to follow Jesus. Why would they do that?

OPEN: Albert Einstein was taking a train to an out of town engagement. The conductor stopped by to punch his ticket, but the scientist – preoccupied with his work, explained that he couldn't find his ticket. He couldn’t find it in his coat pockets, in his briefcase, anywhere!! The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Change In Religion Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 12, 2020

What did Jesus mean when He told Nicodemus "You must be born again"? And what does His comment about being "born of the water and the Spirit" mean to us today?

OPEN: A man was obviously lost. He saw a little boy was standing by the side of a road and a and pulled up beside him. “Sonny,” he said, “do you know how to get to town?” The kid said, “No sir, I don’t.” Then the man said, “Well do you know the way to route 20?” The little boy said, “No.” And the ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fruitful Life On The Vine Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 5, 2020

Jesus said "I am the vine, you are the branches. Apart from me you can do nothing?" But that doesn't make any sense... or does it?

OPEN: About a 35-minute drive SW of London is a tourist attraction that was once a royal palace. It’s called Hampton Court. It was built over 500 years ago and was a favorite residence of Henry VIII. A couple hundred years later, during George III's reign (the King who had problems with the ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-10, John 15:12-13, Matthew 7:24-27, 1 Corinthians 15:58

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Doing Without God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 23, 2017

God tells us that those who are outside of Christ are "without God". What does that mean to those outside of Christ and what does that mean for us INside of Christ?

OPEN: Back in 1959, Charleston Heston starred in a movie that is still considered one of the greatest movies of all time --- Ben Hur. It was a Biblical epic that is still known for its climatic chariot race where Heston (the hero of the film) was intent on destroying his hated enemy. Just ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:1-2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Vacation In Paradise Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 12, 2014

We are strangers in this world, on vacation in a foreign land, with advantages the natives of this world don't even begin to understand. But do we realize what those advantages are, and what difference those blessings can mean to our lives?

OPEN: (Video of MercyMe’s “Shake”) How many of you have ever been on a vacation? Me too. Going on Vacation can be a very pleasurable experience…as long as you know where you’re going and what to expect when you get there. But not everybody does. Travel agents have ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-12, 1 Peter 2:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Can You See This Sign? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 2, 2017

The blind saw Jesus, but the Pharisees couldn't. What were the differences in their blindnesses and what can we learn from the man born blind?

(Before reading the text and opening with prayer, we sang the following chorus: “I saw the light, I saw the light No more darkness, no more night Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight For praise the Lord… I saw the light.”) OPEN: When I’m preparing for a sermon, a lot of times I’ll take little ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sola, Sola, Sola Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 12, 2017

I had never heard of the 5 Solas of the Reformation Movement till this last year. They are the founding principles of that movement and they're pretty good stuff... but we don't teach them. Why don't we?

500 ago, on October 31st, a very special thing took place in Church history. A Catholic priest named Martin nailed a challenge to the Catholic Church on a Church door Wittenberg, Germany. It was called the “95 Theses” (or 95 criticisms) of the Roman Catholic Church’s practice of selling ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"I Am The Resurrection And The Life” - Presentation In The "I Am Series Of John’s Gospel” Part 1 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 27, 2022

One of the greatest of all statements made by the Lord Jesus was the one we are going to consider today - "I am the Resurrection and the Life". Every future blessing depends on this fact. He is risen and so shall He raise all His own. Great blessings are ours.

“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE” - PRESENTATION IN THE “I AM SERIES OF JOHN’S GOSPEL” PART 1 We continue with the seminar series of the “I AMs” in the Gospel of John. Today we look at another glorious truth with eternal applications, just like every one of the “I AM’s” in the Gospel. [A]. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:14-19, John 11:4-6, John 11:11-14, John 11:17-26, John 14:3, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, John 12:23, Acts 2:36, John 10:17-18, Romans 1:4, John 12:24-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gift Of Forgiveness Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 4, 2016

The angel said that Jesus had come to forgive us of our sins... but why would the story of a baby be important to the Gospel message. What is there about a baby that would figure into God offering us forgiveness?

OPEN: Here it is the first week of December and people are already getting into the Christmas spirit. They’re decorating their homes, putting up Christmas trees and mistletoe and holly… and Christmas lights all over the place. We Americans are so used to our traditions of the season ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:1-6

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

The Power And Authority Of Words

Contributed by Segun Adeyeye Nuga on Jun 20, 2011

There is tremendous power in our words as God’s children.

The Power and Authority of Words In the New Testament, the Greek word for "authority" is sometimes translated as "power." Even though there is a separate Greek word for power, the concepts of power and authority are so intimately connected in the Western mind, that modern translators often view ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:28-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational