Sermons on Assertiveness:

What About The Younger Widows Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 15, 2014

Having provided instruction for establishing an order of widows, Paul proscribes enrolling younger widows and justifies his position.

“Refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:11-16

Denomination: Baptist

Family Responsibility Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 22, 2014

Balancing the responsibility of the family and the church for vulnerable family members is discussed.

“If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.” [1] The Apostle admonished Timothy to instruct the congregation that they must assume responsibility for their own ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:16

Denomination: Baptist

Remember Jesus Christ Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 26, 2015

In our service to the Lord, some things must always be borne in mind. Remember Jesus Christ is perhaps the most important truth to hold in mind for each Christian.

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!” [1] We have just come through the Christmas Season. We are poised on the cusp of a new year. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

Competing According To The Rules Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 24, 2015

Divine rewards demand that we conduct our lives according to God's rules provided in His Word.

I consider the initial verses of this chapter to be among the most significant verses of the book. They are, as well, perhaps the most neglected verses of the missive which Paul wrote. I confess that I am ploughing quite a narrow furrow in these expositions. Note that the Apostle appeals to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:5

Denomination: Baptist

Balaam: Was He A Prophet Of God? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 20, 2016

Can God speak through an imperfect individual? We are studying the life and "ministry" of Balaam to discover the pertinence of his life to our own lives.

“The people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

A Trustworthy Administrator Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 5, 2016

As Christians, we are called to administer the grace of God in a wise manner. The message explores the scope of our assigned responsibilities.

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” [1] For many years, it has been my practise to preach a stewardship message at least once in each calendar month. This ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

How Big Is Your Gospel?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 22, 2015

Is your gospel big enough to permit you to work together, maintaining the unity of the Faith? Or is your gospel so small that you must prevail in every dispute?

“I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.” [1],[2] We do not ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:2-3

Denomination: Baptist

Provisions For The Sanctuary

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 5, 2015

God has established principles for His people to guide their giving. The principles are outlined even as Israel journeyed on the exodus.

“The LORD said to Moses, ‘Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 25:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Fix Your Hope Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 23, 2016

Biblical hope: it is 1) Secured by abiding (1 John 2:28), 2) Manifested by righteousness (1 John 2:29), 3) Established by love (1 John 3:1), 4) Fulfilled by Christlikeness (1 John 3:2), and it is 5) Characterized by purity (1 John 3:3).

On the closing day of the 41st Parliament last June, the Conservative government’s final gesture was to stand for the second reading of Bill C-53, the Life Means Life Act. Its stated goal was to lock up the most vile murderers for the rest of their natural lives. Nicholson, responsible for ...read more

Denomination: Other

Character Counts Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 8, 2016

The response to disruptive people demonstrates the Christian's maturity. Paul counsels the expression of the character that marks all who are mature in Christ.

“In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:20-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Futility Of Wealth Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 4, 2016

Materialism ensures that we can never fully enjoy the blessings of God

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

Christ And The Social Condition

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 27, 2023

Jesus came to give His life as a sacrifice for fallen mankind. He will reign as King, but that reign awaits His return.

“When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, ‘This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!’ “Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” [1] Few of the miracles Jesus performed had ...read more

Scripture: John 6:14-15

Denomination: Baptist

In These Last Days

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 8, 2023

The Word provides a description of life in the "last days." We are forewarned so that we can continue to live godly lives even as the world grows dark.

“Understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Complaints Against A Gracious God

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 17, 2023

It is a vain and futile thing to complain against God Who is gracious. A study of the descent of Israel into complaining serves to warn us against charging God with error.

“They sinned still more against [God], rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, 'Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:17-31

Denomination: Baptist

A Serious Inquiry Into The Role Of The Under Shepherd Of The Church"

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 25, 2023

The message is an examination of the qualifications that must be evident in the life of one appointed to eldership.

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-7

Denomination: Baptist