Stratford Heights Church Of God (Video Sermons)

Bishop Chris and Kathy Swift bring a powerful word to Stratford Heights Church of God in Middletown, Ohio, from Matthew 14:22-31 and Acts 3:1-6. Starting with Peter walking on the water, they ask the question every believer has to face: is the boat your comfort zone, or is it the only thing you think is keeping you from drowning? This sermon walks line by line through the storm, the moment Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and begins to sink, and the grace of a Savior who gives a first, second, third, and fourth chance to anyone who cries out to Him. From there, Bishop Swift moves to Peter and John at the Beautiful Gate, where two ordinary men with no silver and gold gave a lame man something better — the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

What does it really mean to belong? Pastor Ray Phillips opens the new Belonging series with "From Stranger to Family," a message from Ephesians 2:11–22. Paul reminds us that we were once far off, strangers to the covenant, without hope and without God in the world, but now in Christ Jesus we have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Pastor Ray shows that Jesus did more than cancel our guilt. At the cross He ended our separation from God and broke down every wall that divides us, so we are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

Pastor Ray Phillips opens John 19 and James 4:17 with a sentence the Lord gave him in his devotion: "They knew the truth but chose the lie because fear was louder than conviction." This message, titled "Danger Zone," walks through the sobering reality that knowledge creates responsibility — that once God turns on the light, we can no longer claim we don't know what's in the room. Standing in an imaginary courtroom, Pastor Ray calls five witnesses from Scripture: a priest, a king, ten respected leaders, a governor, and a disciple. Each one stood at the same intersection where truth pulled one direction and fear pulled the other, and for one terrible moment each of them let fear have the final word. This is Part 1 of a two-part series, covering the first two witnesses.

John chapter 4 — the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. She came at noon, the hottest part of the day, to avoid the whispers and the stares of a town that knew her whole story: five husbands, and a man she was living with who wasn't her husband. She thought she was going to draw water. She had no idea the well was waiting for her. Jesus "must needs go through Samaria" — it was an assignment. He crossed every cultural, racial, and religious barrier standing between Him and one thirsty soul, and He was sitting there before she ever arrived, before she could clean herself up or fix her reputation.

Luke chapter 22 at the table of the Last Supper, where Jesus turns to Peter and says, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat." What follows is a study of unshakable faith — what it looks like, why the enemy targets it, and how God uses the shaking to reveal what was growing inside you the whole time. Pastor Ray walks through Peter's highs and lows: walking on water, the mount of transfiguration, his bold confession that Jesus is the Son of God — and then falling asleep in the garden, following at a distance, and denying Christ three times. Along the way he unpacks a truth many believers miss: the enemy is not all-knowing, he is not omnipresent, and he cannot read your mind or see your future. We often credit the enemy with the attributes of God, and that alone can cripple our faith during a trial.

In this powerful message, Pastor Richard MacIntosh unpacks Hebrews 10:35-36 and the call to endurance in the Christian life. Have you ever watched God do the impossible—answer an impossible prayer, bring a miracle, transform your situation—only to be blindsided by the worst attack you've ever faced right afterward? Using the resurrection of Lazarus in John 11 and 12, Pastor Ray reveals a life-changing truth: when the enemy attacks after your victory, nothing has gone wrong. Your faith, your trust, and your breakthrough have simply gotten the attention of hell. This sermon on spiritual warfare, confidence in God, and enduring faith will encourage you to hold on to what God has done and refuse to give up your confidence.

Pastor Ray Phillips walks through the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10, verse 25, and challenges the idea that this well-known story is simply about being kind. Instead, Jesus confronts religious pride, prejudice, and the excuses we use to justify our silence, indifference, and spiritual complacency. Pastor Ray asks the questions that cut straight to the heart: Who is my neighbor? Who have you passed by? And is the Word of God actually reading you, or are you just reading it? This Christian sermon on compassion, discipleship, and authentic faith is a wake-up call for anyone who has ever caught themselves living on spiritual "autopilot."

What does home really mean to you? In this heartfelt message from the Windows in the Word series, Pastor Richard McIntosh explores what makes a house a home — love, protection, growth, grace, fun, and fellowship — and asks a powerful question: if someone looked through the windows of our church, what kind of family would they see? Drawing from the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, Pastor Richard challenges every believer to move past being a face in the crowd and truly become a church family that sees each other, cares for each other, and makes room for one more.

Whether you're feeling fulfilled and ready to invite someone in, or you've ever quietly thought "I wish I had friends," this sermon on Christian community, belonging, and biblical love is for you. Learn how simple, intentional acts of compassion — a listening ear, a hug, your story, your time — can transform a congregation into a true family in Christ. This message also introduces Stephen Ministry, a one-on-one caring ministry for anyone walking through a difficult season. Watch, be encouraged, and discover your place in the body of Christ. Please like, share, and subscribe for more weekly sermons, Bible teaching, and messages of faith, hope, and encouragement.

Pastor Mike walks through Acts 16 and the story of Paul and Silas — beaten, chained, and thrown into the inner prison, yet praying and singing praises in complete freedom. Reading from the Passion Translation, he asks a question every believer needs to wrestle with: if Christ has set us free, why do so many of us still walk into church shackled? This sermon unpacks how real freedom is an inside-out work of the Holy Spirit, not a change in our outside circumstances.