Stratford Heights Church of God

Shackled Freedom Unshackled

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.

Fathers On The Frontline

Mark chapter 9 and the story of the desperate father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus. This is not a sermon about being a perfect dad — it's about the kind of father who stays in the fight, who won't quit, and who keeps believing even when his faith is tired, wounded, or afraid. Through the father's honest cry, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief," we discover that God honors fathers who simply refuse to give up and who know how to get their children to the feet of Jesus.

Running on Empty — Are You Ready for the Return of Jesus?

In this powerful message titled "Running on Empty," Pastor Ray Phillips opens Matthew 25:1-13 and the Parable of the Ten Virgins to ask one searching question: when the Bridegroom comes, will you be ready? Drawing on 37 years of ministry and decades of standing beside hospital beds, caskets, and grieving families, Pastor Ray reminds us that life is short and eternity is long, and that all ten virgins looked the same on the outside — the only difference was the oil in their lamps. This sermon on the Second Coming, the rapture of the church, and the soon return of Jesus Christ challenges believers to move beyond church attendance, religious activity, and head-knowledge into a real, surrendered relationship with the Lord.

Chasing Dreams: Why God Makes You Wait

When You Are Bent Out Of Shape

In this powerful message from Luke 13:10–17, Administrative Bishop Derwood Perkins preaches on "When You Are Bent Out of Shape," using the story of the woman who was crippled and bent over for 18 years until Jesus called her, touched her, and set her free. Whether you've been bent out of shape by the loss of a job, a broken relationship, sickness, rejection, abuse, or the daily weight of life, this sermon is a reminder that Jesus notices you exactly where you are. Reverend Perkins walks through four life-changing truths: Jesus notices you when you are bent out of shape, He is powerful enough to heal you, He turns your brokenness into rejoicing, and He calls us to have that same compassion for others who are hurting.Filled with humor, scripture, and unforgettable real-life testimonies - including the healing of a little boy named Stephen and a personal journey through cancer - this Christian sermon on faith, healing, deliverance, and the love of God will encourage anyone who feels stuck, broken, or overwhelmed. If you've ever told yourself "I can't," this message about freedom in Christ, divine healing, forgiveness, and praise will lift your head and put a new song in your heart. Watch, be encouraged, and share it with someone who needs to know that hurting people matter to God.

Seed Under Siege: The War for Your Soil

The Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13. This is more than a story about farming or planting; it's a revelation of the invisible spiritual war being fought over the seed of God's Word in your heart. Pastor Ray walks through the wayside, the rocky ground, the thorns, and the good soil, showing how the enemy uses distraction, deception, and destruction to steal the truth before it can ever take root. If you've ever wondered why some people hear the Word but never seem to change, this teaching pulls back the curtain on the battle for your soul.You'll discover why the devil can't touch the seed but relentlessly attacks your soil, how to keep familiar Scriptures like John 3:16 from becoming common, and why a transformed life always begins with a planted Word. Pastor Ray closes with an unforgettable illustration of the Australian Banksia tree — a plant that can only release its seeds through fire — reminding us that God uses even our most painful seasons to reproduce beauty, fruit, and revival. Whether you're walking through a dark season or hungry to go deeper in your faith, this sermon will encourage you to become good soil, take root, and bear fruit a hundredfold. Subscribe and share to help spread the gospel and the planting of the Lord.

One Nation Under God

Pastor Ray boldly tackles the biggest question facing today's church: what should our attitude be toward government, politics, and the culture around us? Drawing from Psalm 33, John 17:3, Isaiah 43:10, and the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel, he proclaims that Jesus Christ alone is the way, the truth, and the life — and that false gods like money, politics, fame, and pleasure are loud but powerless. Topics include revival in America, Christian citizenship, praying for our leaders, standing for truth in love, salvation in Christ, and what it really means to be "one nation under God." If this message blessed you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs hope today.

Why So Many Christians Stay Stunted | Grow Up

It's time to move beyond spiritual infancy and into true Christian maturity. Drawing from Ephesians 4:11-16, Hebrews 5:11-14, Romans 8:29, and Galatians 4:19, this sermon explores why being born again is just the beginning of the journey, not the destination. Pastor Ray unpacks the difference between salvation and sanctification, explaining that while we celebrate the new birth, God expects every Christian to grow up into the fullness of Christ. If you've ever wondered why your spiritual life feels stuck, why the same struggles keep returning, or what it really means to be conformed to the image of Jesus, this message is for you.

You Need People More Than You Think

Pastor Ray Phillips brings a powerful and convicting message on one of the most dangerous lies facing modern Christianity today: the belief that we can follow Jesus deeply while remaining disconnected from His people. In this sermon, Pastor Ray teaches from Acts 2, Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 12, and John 17 to reveal God’s true design for the Church—not as a crowd, but as a living, supernatural body joined together by resurrection power.This message exposes how isolation, church hurt, offense, and spiritual detachment quietly weaken believers and hinder the mission of Christ. If you have ever said “it’s just me and Jesus,” struggled with trusting church people, or wondered why unity matters so much in the body of Christ, this teaching will challenge everything. God did not save us merely for private faith—He saved us into family, into healing, into purpose, and into a culture that reflects heaven on earth.Be challenged, encouraged, and reminded: you need people.

What Is Truth? The Most Dangerous Question Ever Asked

Pastor Ray Phillips delivers a powerful, Spirit-led message titled "What Is Truth?" drawn from John 18, where Pontius Pilate stood face-to-face with Jesus — the eternal Word made flesh — and asked the most dangerous question in human history. In this sermon, Pastor Ray unpacks how modern culture has compromised, confused, and redefined truth, and why the church must return to a rock-solid foundation built on Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. He reminds us that truth is not fragile, not evolving, and not up for a vote — it is fixed, eternal, unshakable, and seated at the right hand of the Father.Through vivid personal testimony — including a gripping blizzard story about following power poles through a whiteout on I-70, and the moving story of Kyle's deliverance from heroin addiction and the passing mantle of Audrey Purtam's anointing — Pastor Ray shows how the Holy Spirit guides believers through every storm. Discover how to resist the lies of the enemy, walk in the power of Pentecost, and become a bold witness of the gospel. Topics include: biblical truth, Pontius Pilate, John 18, the Holy Spirit, the resurrection of Jesus, overcoming spiritual warfare, Christian foundation, sanctification, God's unchanging Word, and living a Spirit-filled life.