Sermons on Constrained:

Communion - Open, Closed, Or Cracked? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 7, 2020

Is the Communion Meal Open to all who profess Christ? Or is it overseen by the congregation hosting the meal and thus restricted to those who are in open fellowship with the assembly? The message is a study of this controversial question.

“In the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

Denomination: Baptist

An Interview From Hell

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 27, 2022

What would a person in hades ask of us if we were able to hear them? Jesus provides us insight into this dark situation when He reveals what a lost man asked.

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Baptist

Why Does God Judge A Nation?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 8, 2020

Through the Prophet Amos, God provides the reasons for judging the nations around Judah and Israel, as well as His own people. The reasons for His judgement stands against nations to this day.

“Thus says the LORD: ‘For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron. So I will send a fire upon the house of Hazael, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad. I will break the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Casual Observance With Obvious Consequences Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 5, 2021

A cautionary sermon against presumption against the Lord at His Table.

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:27-29

Denomination: Baptist

The One Thing That Made Jesus Say "wow!"

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 10, 2022

Christ is impressed by our faith, though the quality of our faith is not required for Him to show compassion.

“After [Jesus] had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

A Message For An Intellectual Age

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 9, 2020

Paul's message before the Areopagus forms the basis for a study of how to approach an intellectual audience. This knowledge is necessary if we are to succeed in presenting the Faith in the midst of our world today. This is the substance of a radio message at Easter.

“Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: ‘Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: “To the unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-32

Denomination: Baptist

If You're Thankful And You Know It...

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 8, 2022

A message delivered on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This is a study of the impact of a thankful heart on the follower of the Christ.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:15-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Futility Of Religion

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 14, 2022

Religious exercise can become a snare if in our efforts we fail to seek the Lord. Religion for the sake of religion is a dreadful snare.

“Like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pangs when she is near to giving birth, so were we because of you, O LORD; we were pregnant, we writhed, but we have given birth to wind. We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth, and the inhabitants of the world have not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:17-19

Denomination: Baptist

You Are What You Think

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 18, 2022

The Master calls us to ensure that our heart is pure rather than focusing exclusively on our external practises.

“[Jesus] called the people to him and said to them, ‘Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.’ Then the disciples came and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-20

Denomination: Baptist

Not Much Can Be Done For An Old Woman Like That!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 16, 2023

The blessing one woman conferred upon God's Prophet was returned to her in the form of a rich blessing.

“One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, ‘Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:8-17

Denomination: Baptist

Something More

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 3, 2023

The errors that infiltrate the Faith are often characterised as teaching that attempts to present "something more." The Faith is simple and complete, requiring no addition from the fertile imagination of any person.

“Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not ...read more

Scripture: 2 John 1:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

Judgement Day Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 4, 2021

We are called to judge ourselves, especially focusing on our motives, as we come before the Lord's Table.

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:27-32

Denomination: Baptist

Why Should I Bother Joining A Church?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 10, 2021

The message explores biblical reasons for open union with a local congregation.

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. “For though absent in body, I am ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Run For Your Life

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Jan 25, 2018

A study in the book of Genesis 19: 1 – 38

Genesis 19: 1 – 38 Run for your life 19 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. 2 And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Risk And The Christian Life

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 23, 2016

What are you willing to risk in order to advance the cause of Christ Jesus?

“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:19-30

Denomination: Baptist