Sermons on Caricature:

Not A Fan, But A Follower

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 24, 2011

An exploration of Jesus’ call to discipleship.

“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Denomination: Baptist

Peace In The Midst Of Chaos Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 29, 2022

Embracing obedience to God brought peace to the young teenage girl whom the Lord chose to bear His Son into the world.

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!’ But she was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

The Death Of A Culture

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 30, 2022

How should the saints of the Risen Saviour Live when the society in which they are found is decaying and disintegrating into a putrid mess? They must be vigilant to be holy and righteous, glorifying their God in all things.

“I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. “The look on their faces bears witness against them; they ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 3:4-12

Denomination: Baptist

The God Who Is Worth Suffering For - Matthew 5:10-12 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 7, 2024

Usually when someone mistreats us because of our righteousness, we think we’re doing well if we simply endure it without getting angry or depressed. But Jesus calls us to far more than that. We are to rejoice greatly! This message will help you do that.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Integrating Spirituality In Our Living Space Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jul 22, 2009

There is a false division of life… even if unclear or unconscious… that can cause us to compartmentalize and confine our spiritual growth. The result is that… • For 166 of the 168 hours in the week we lose our sense of God’s interest and involvement.

Integrating Spirituality in Our Living Space This morning… take up our series on Integrating Spirituality into our Everyday Life. Last week…introduction… Noted there is a false division of life… even if unclear or unconscious… that can cause us to compartmentalize and confine our ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Avoid Fooling Yourself (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Tony Miano on Jan 5, 2001

There are positive steps we can take to keep from fooling ourselves and, instead, develop a genuineness and depth of faith that will not only be lasting, but effective along the way.

How To Avoid Fooling Yourself (Part 1) James 1:19-21 Pastor Tony Miano Pico Canyon Community Church January 7, 2001 Introduction: Last week we looked at some of the reasons why we, at times, are too busy to sit quietly before the Lord and listen for His direction. The distractions in our lives, ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-21

Denomination: *other

How Shall We Escape? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 29, 2012

Many professing Christians treat the Faith as though it were optional; God calls us to absolute commitment.

“We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

The Pastor's Relationships Within The Congregation

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 11, 2014

Broadly addressing the relationship of the pastor with several groups within the congregation, Paul instructs Timothy in the conduct of his life.

“Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. “Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

He Can If He Will Series

Contributed by Kraig Pullam on Dec 30, 2015

A man with a withered hand makes an appeal to the soveriegnty of God, aware that Christ's ability is not handcuffed by His impotence, but subordinate to His will alone.

The last story in the gospel of Mark, prior to this story, we discover that there was hell and havoc in the house of Peter. Jesus has come into the house of Peter and He has healed the mother-in-law of Peter and she got up and served the people. And persons began to bring persons who were sick and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:40

Denomination: Baptist

Fight The Good Fight Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 24, 2014

Paul instructs the elder in broad strokes to exert himself to excel. In these instructions is a pattern for all who pursue the Master if they will honour Him.

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” [1] Six commands are issued in the final statements of this vital missive to a young theologue. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:12

Denomination: Baptist

Giving & Reward - Matthew 6:2 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 27, 2024

Why does Jesus tell us to give, fast, and pray in secret, when earlier in the sermon he had commanded that we do our acts of righteousness before men to be seen by them? This message will give you a new way of looking at the commands to live for reward.

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:2

Pardon From The Prison Of The Past

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 21, 2021

Christ sets us free so that we do not need to live under the dark cloud of condemnation from past sins.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

What's Fair About That?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 1, 2018

God's overwhelming generosity is difficult to comprehend, though every Christian has experienced that generosity. We must avoid attempting to cast God in our image, learning instead of the extravagant grace with which He showers each of us.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Weaponised Narratives

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 6, 2019

We must guard against creating a narrative as a mask of the truth of God's Word.

“If our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:5-8

Denomination: Baptist

Experience God Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jan 28, 2022

1) The Tempter (Genesis 3:1a), 2) The Target (Genesis 3:1b-3), 3) The Tactic (Genesis 3:4-5), and finally 4) The Tragedy (Genesis 1:6-9).

Genesis 3:1-9. [3:1] Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" [2] And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-9

Denomination: Other