Sermons on Discretion:

Reasons For Writing

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 11, 2018

Confidence in our salvation is essential to vibrant life as a Christian. John writes to encourage believers to focus on what is essential for vigorous faith.

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” [1] The couple, a man and a woman, had come to the door professing concern for my welfare. Their concern was driven by certainty that a great, world-wide conflagration known as ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What Is This World Coming To?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 18, 2021

God repeatedly warns inhabitants of this dying world to look to Him or receive His judgement. The message looks at the Second Psalm in light of current world conditions.

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.’ “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Courage To Rise Above Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 3, 2023

1) Courage from God’s Commission (Joshua 1:1–2). 2) Courage from God’s Promises (Joshua 1:3–6), and 3) Courage from God’s Written Word (Joshua 1:7–9).

Joshua 1:1-9. [1:1] After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, [2]"Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9

Denomination: Other

Debt And The Conscientious Christian

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 28, 2023

The sensitive subject of indebtedness is addressed in the message, pointing to the universal debt that rests upon each Christian.

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” [1] Living beyond one’s means has become de rigueur in the contemporary world. It is virtually impossible to imagine the average family in this day living within their means—living without ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8

Denomination: Baptist

Beauty Tips: How To Attract A Man To God - 1 Peter 3:1-3 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Dec 30, 2024

Peter teaches women how to use female beauty to win a man, not to her, but to Christ.

1 Peter 3:1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-3

The Stone That Was Never Thrown

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 26, 2024

How do we, as followers of the Christ, respond to sin when it is exposed to us?

“Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Christian Patriotism

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 28, 2025

We Christians live in the world as exiles from Heaven. While in the world, we are to pray for the welfare of our nation, glorifying God by how we lives in the midst of a darkened world.

“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” [1] This world is not my home I'm just a-passin’ through My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue The angels beckon me from heaven's ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:7

Denomination: Baptist

Anger Gives The Devil Access Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Oct 14, 2025

This is a Bible study lesson. In this lesson we focus on how our anger can give the devil access to cause havoc in our lives. We discuss the difference between righteous and unrighteous anger.

Anger Gives the Devil Access (Rev. Barry Johnson and Rev. Rodney Johnson) NOTE: New Light Faith Ministries and Barry Johnson Ministries, founded by Rodney V. Johnson and Barry O. Johnson, respectively, are partnering to offer Bible studies for Christians who are seeking to grow in their ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 54:17, Ephesians 4:26-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sustained By Unrecognised Strength

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 22, 2025

God chooses nations just s He chooses individuals. God preserves those whom He chooses, holding them responsible to fulfil His will.

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” [1] “Who makes you ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 46:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

And We Hold Our Peace

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 4, 2023

What responsibility do we bear to our world as followers of Christ?

“There were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, ‘Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, “Let us enter the city,” the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 7:3-11

Denomination: Baptist

"i Know The Plans I Have For You!" Does This Apply To Us?

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 10, 2025

God guides His people as they serve Him. The means of His guidance may vary, but it will never contradict what is given in His holy Word.

“I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” [1] Years ago, I read Herbert Lockyer’s delightful tome, “All the Promises of the Bible.” [2] In that book, Dr. Lockyer discussed what a promise is, cautioning that the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer For Forgiveness And From Temptation Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 7, 2010

In the Prayer for Forgiveness and from Temptation we can see: 1) God’s Pardon, 2) God’s Protection, 3) God’s Preeminence & 4) God’s Postscript.

With the closing of the Olympic Games and the forthcoming Paralympics coming, people are reflecting on the success and challenges of the games. One of the interesting legacies from the games was the hyper-critical treatment Canada received from the British press. With forthcoming Olympics to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:12-15

Denomination: Other

Prepare His Presence Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 18, 2010

The Virgin Birth 1) Conceived (Matthew 1:18), 2) Confronted (Matthew 1:19–20), 3) Clarified, (Matthew 1:21) 4) Connected (Matthew 1:22-23), and 5) Consummated (Matthew 1:24-25).

Matthew 1:18-25.[18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. [19] And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Other

Qualifications For Elders Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 1, 2021

Church leaders are to have an 1) Unblemished public reputation (Titus 1:6a) and must qualify in the specific areas of: 2) Sexual morality (Titus 1:6b), 3) Family leadership (Titus1:6c), and finally 4) General character (Titus 1:7–9).

For the greater part of this century, evangelical Christianity has been deeply committed to the battle for doctrinal purity. But in many circles in recent years it has not been as committed to moral purity, even among its leaders. Inevitably the church has experienced erosion of its integrity and ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:5-9

Denomination: Other

Seeing The Miraculous In The Mundane

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 27, 2019

Jesus' first sign was quiet, not at all spectacular as one might have supposed. Yet, what He did at that time anticipates God at work in the mundane. He performs the miraculous in the mundane facets of life on any given day.

“On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does this have to do with me? ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist