Sermons on Crude Joking:

The Undefiled Marriage Bed

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 15, 2014

The call to purity must be iterated in this day if the people of God are to enjoy His power.

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” [1] Listening to contemporary sociologists, one would conclude that marriage is a dying institution. Actually, one need not listen to sociologists ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:4

Denomination: Baptist

Against The Tide: Pushing Back Against The Moral Climate

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 18, 2012

Christians are called to be holy. However, we are not always certain what it means to be holy or how to achieve that status.

1 PETER 1:13-25 AGAINST THE TIDE (PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE MORAL CLIMATE) “Preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Denomination: Baptist

Confidence In An Uncertain World Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 3, 2018

The Christian knows intuitively that he/she belongs to God and that the world about them is under the sway of the evil one. The message explores some of the parameters of this knowledge.

“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” [1] The New York Stock Exchange hits a new high every week, sometimes even breaking previous trading records several times in a week. Investor exuberance does make some potential traders nervous; they wonder ...read more

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

If That's The Way Christians Act, I Want Nothing To Do With Their God!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 6, 2022

Lost people often use our failure to live as we ought to justify their rejection of Christ. While we cannot excuse them, we must know that we do offend. Therefore, we require grace to honour God and to avoid giving offence to the lost.

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

God Of The Amen

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 15, 2025

God stands athwart the evil that people embrace. He blesses those who endeavour to serve Him, and curses those who seek to promote themselves.

“Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, my servants shall eat, you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame; behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 65:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

Be Fruitful And Multiply

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 18, 2025

The Creator's command, "Be Fruitful and Multiply," is largely ignored by the people of God today. We have much to learn even with the second part of His command to subdue the earth.

“God blessed [the man and the woman]. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” [1] Undoubtedly, I am venturing into ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:28

Denomination: Baptist

Rejected! Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 5, 2020

What does it mean that Jesus was despised and rejected? Are we who call ourselves Christians guilty of despising the Son of God, even rejecting Him? The message is a challenge to examine our lives to ensure that we honour Christ Jesus the Saviour.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” [1] During these festive days of celebrating the birth of the Son of God, Christ is the unrecognized guest at multiplied tables ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:3

Denomination: Baptist

The Forgotten Element In Modern Marriage

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 11, 2017

A call for purity in marriage for Christians.

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” [1] Marriage is under assault in this day. I sincerely doubt that the assault is as successful as some might imagine; nevertheless, marriage is under a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:4

Denomination: Baptist

You Are Not Your Own

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 20, 2017

Sexual sin is ubiquitous in contemporary society; it is often excused among the faithful. We need to live with a focus on the Cross if we will honour God with our bodies in the midst of a world that has surrendered to the appetites of the flesh.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.” [1] Accepting Christ as Saviour transforms life—attitudes and actions take on new significance. The adage ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

Becoming A Man

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 17, 2017

A study of Proverbs 7, and the danger of sexual immorality.

“My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 7:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

Justified? Or Judged? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 30, 2017

Is there a way for us to make ourselves acceptable to God? The Apostle Paul teaches that such a thought is an impossibility.

“We know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” [1] “So that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

A Plea From The Pit Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 13, 2024

God is merciful whenever the sinner seeks Him and His mercy. God will show mercy to the nation, the culture, the society that turns from wickedness to seek His grace.

It distresses me to preach messages that expose sin within the society in which we live. I could wish that I were permitted to speak only pleasant things, to declare a message that was always positive, to affirm our culture as righteous. However, I am compelled to give an answer to the One Who ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:31-66

Denomination: Baptist

When The Bottom Drops Out Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 20, 2024

Even the righteous suffer when judgement is poured out on the nation. God's people are what holds back judgement at this time.

“How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The holy stones lie scattered at the head of every street. “The precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold, how they are regarded as earthen pots, the work of a potter’s hands!” [LAMENTATIONS 4:1-2] [1] What a dramatic ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 4:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

I Am He Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 2, 2009

Those who are saved through encountering Jesus are transformed. This is to be expected, since He is very God in human flesh.

*John 4:25, 26* *Jesus, The Great “I Am”: I Am He* “The woman [at the well] said to [Jesus], ‘I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He.’”[1] God appointed Moses to deliver His people from ...read more

Scripture: John 4:24-25

Denomination: Baptist