Sermons on Deficit:

A Sick Church, A Lame Man, And Two Broke Preachers

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 10, 2020

The churches of this day confront broken humanity. Whether we attempt to touch those who are broken through our wealth or with the power of Christ depends upon how we see ourselves as servants of the Lord.

“Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Marks Of The True Church: Holiness Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 10, 2024

Our Lord prayed that His followers would be sanctified, made holy. The Father heard His request and has granted Jesus was He asked.

“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the ...read more

Scripture: John 17:14-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Terrible Power Of A Traducing Tongue

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 4, 2023

It is not merely unbecoming for a Christian to slander or to malign a person, it is ungodly.

“An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.” “A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.” [1] Life in this modern age has trained us to accommodate the transformation of language. Modern society ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:4, Proverbs 17:20

Denomination: Baptist

Where Is God When Life Crashes In?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 17, 2023

God always works in the life of His people, bringing glory out of our trials. Because He loves us, the pain experienced through our trials will exalt Him.

“As [the mob was] stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep. “And Saul approved of his execution. “And there arose on that day a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What Can Transform Saul?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 4, 2022

The message is a contrast between a new convert named Saul and a mature follower of Christ named Paul. The intent of the message is to encourage Christian maturation in those who come to Christ in faith.

“When [Saul] had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:26-31

Denomination: Baptist

Silent Night Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 18, 2022

A message to be delivered on Christmas day. Christ has come, and he will return. This is the promise of the season. Amen.

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

God Is More Valuable Than Life & Health Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Dec 25, 2022

Jesus Christ in the darkness of our suffering brings into it the light that we need so that we can move forward.

I'm really grateful for God's word. I don't know what I would do without it. The Bible has so much information in it about who we are and who God is and God's plan for us that it becomes this really strategic place that we spend our time learning and studying. That's why we ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Different Time, A Different Place

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 25, 2025

Is the Sabbath Mandated for Christians? How should we approach the concept of the Sabbath?

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Until He Comes, Go!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 22, 2024

As a Christian, you are not only expected to tell lost people of Christ's free gift of salvation, but you are expected to pray, asking him to send forth labourers to work in the fields of lost humanity.

“Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Denomination: Baptist

Our Civic Duty

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 7, 2025

Christians must serve as salt and light in our world. As part of our responsibility in the world, we must be good citizens, fulfilling the will of the Lord by wise exercise of our participation in the civic process.

“You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 16:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

Cross Roads In The Journey Of Life

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 8, 2005

We will always face those cross roads moments in life as we travel on this journey. The key is to make sure that you seek the Lord’s directions, work hard, do not worry, do things right, and above all be sensible.

Cross Roads in the Journey of Life Thesis: We will always face those cross roads moments in life as we travel on this journey. The key is to make sure that you seek the Lord’s directions, work hard, do not worry, do things right, and above all be sensible. Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-7: 1 My son, do ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Esau: Daddy's Fair-Haired Boy. Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 2, 2016

What can we learn of our own character and of God's grace when we study Esau selling his birthright?

“These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:19-34

Denomination: Baptist

When A Christian Prays Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 20, 2018

When a Christian prays, God is pledged to act. This is especially true when we pray for fellow Christians who have begun to stray.

“This is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:14-17

Denomination: Baptist

Surprise In The Graveyard

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 28, 2018

How does the resurrection of Lazarus impact people in this day? Since Jesus has power over life and death, we see that He alone can give life to those dead in sin.

“A certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So, the sisters sent to him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it he ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Baptist

The Tyranny Of The Experts

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 3, 2021

A study of the danger posed when experts assume control over a society, over a community, or over a church. The message is a call to participatory Christianity.

“Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-36

Denomination: Baptist