Sermons on Defy:

Esther's Story Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 18, 2017

Esther became an extraordinary woman of faith because she responded to the call on her life to become an intermediary for the people of Israel. She is a Bible faith hero because she was teachable, she knew when to call on God for His help, she became cou

Opening thoughts to the series: “Extraordinary women of faith” Thesis of Series: Extraordinary is defined as very unusual or remarkable – not ordinary or normal! Yes, the opposite of extraordinary is normal! We were created by God to live and do extraordinary things in our lives with His power ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Blame Game Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Nov 6, 2017

A study of the book of Acts 5: 12 – 6: 7

Acts 5: 12 – 6: 7 The blame game 12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Anyone Can Serve... Can't They? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 22, 2017

Nadab and Abihu were born to great privilege as servants of the Living God, they reached for more, leading to death. Though He is patient, God does not play games with rebels. Let the people of God hear the Word of the Living God and take heed.

“Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 10:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

What To Do When Your Culture Is Destroying Itself [2nd Copy]

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 25, 2024

When this message was planned this past winter, services were cancelled due to a blizzard. This is a second effort that has been revised and brought up to date. How shall Christians respond as our contemporary culture self-destructs?

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

When The Hour Of Decision Is Midnight

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 15, 2024

When one asks the question, "What must I do to be saved," accepting the answer we give will determine the eternal destiny for that person.

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Denomination: Baptist

The God Of Creation

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 31, 2024

God's character is revealed through the Creation.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” [1] Philosophers ask questions related to our presence in time and space and our present ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2

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

Chastisement And Compassion Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 6, 2024

Even in the midst of national judgement, the follower of Christ the Lord is comforted by the hope Christ gives.

“This hurts me more than it hurts you.” Are those words familiar to you? Do they bring back memories from your childhood? I don’t know if your dad ever spoke those words to you, but my dad said these words more frequently than should ever have been necessary. And I readily admit that I gave him ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:1-33

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

How Long, O Lord? How Long? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 27, 2024

Though the Lord shall judge the nation that practice wickedness, how shall we who follow Christ respond to the evil embraced and promoted within our culture?

When the child of God sins, that child knows that God does not ignore that sin. Because He loves us, the LORD disciplines His people, and His discipline will not be pleasant. God’s discipline was never intended to be pleasant. Divine discipline is intended to impose … well, discipline! Indeed, ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 5:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

You Don't Have To Be A Star To Be In My Show

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 23, 2021

Recognition of those who advance the cause of Christ through quiet service within the assembly of the righteous.

“Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:3-16

Denomination: Baptist

Memento Mori

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 6, 2021

We prepare to live by preparing for death.

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for ‘All flesh is like grass and all its ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:22-25

Denomination: Baptist

This Kind...

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 15, 2021

Christians are at war with an unseen, though extremely powerful, enemy. We are, however, not defenseless. We are given authority over the enemy, if we will invoke our rights given in Christ.

“When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ And someone from the crowd ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:14-29

Denomination: Baptist

The Promise Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 25, 2021

God promised to send a Deliverer because of our sin. Jesus is that Deliverer. At Christmas we remember the evidence of God's mercy to broken humanity.

“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?”’ And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, “You ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

To Dip, Or Not

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 8, 2020

A study of the transformation Naaman experienced may encourage us to humble ourselves before the Lord.

“Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-15

Denomination: Baptist