Sermons on Dishonour:

God Works With Surprising Speed

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 25, 2019

Study of the revival that occurred during the reign of Hezekiah, focusing in particular on the suddenness with which God moved the hearts of the people and the conditions that preceded that revival.

“Hezekiah said, ‘You have now consecrated yourselves to the LORD. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.’ And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. The number of the burnt offerings ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 29:31-36

Denomination: Baptist

The Root Of Immorality

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 29, 2020

Have the professed people of God permitted themselves to be compromised by the world to such an extend that they are powerless against wickedness? Though the thought is frightful, Christians need to assess our relationship with the Living God.

The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity. And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. They shall eat, ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 4:7-19

Denomination: Baptist

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

But They Could Not...

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 13, 2018

Despite the repeated efforts of mankind to duplicate the work of the Lord, His work is unique and man is unable to do what He does. Eventually, those who imagine they can supplant God crash up against reality, and they are revealed to be frauds.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to Aaron, “Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.”’ And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 8:16-19

Denomination: Baptist

Praying Under Water

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 27, 2018

Jonah's prayer from the belly of a fish serves to encourage Christians to pray, especially when under water.

“Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying “‘I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Prays For Us

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 18, 2018

An exposition of Jesus' High Priestly Prayer presented in John 17.

“[Jesus] lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

A Dirty Little Secret About The Church

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 29, 2015

Churches are too often controlled by immature Christians. Though they think themselves to be mature and godly, they are destructive and harmful. Christians need to work at maturing in Christ to ensure that He is honoured through the Body of Christ.

“Let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:1-3

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

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

Stolen Glory Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 12, 2017

Usurping God's glory leads to judgement. A study of Herod Agrippa's death because he accepted glory that properly belonged only to God.

“Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day, Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:20-24

Denomination: Baptist

What About The Younger Widows Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 15, 2014

Having provided instruction for establishing an order of widows, Paul proscribes enrolling younger widows and justifies his position.

“Refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:11-16

Denomination: Baptist

Departure From The Faith Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 19, 2013

Apostasy is an ongoing threat to the faithful. It is a process rather than an event.

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

A Good Servant Of Christ Jesus

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 27, 2013

The responsibility of the pulpit to promote godliness in the Community of Faith is explored

“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.” [1] Godliness looms large in the thinking of the Apostle. The term “godliness” occurs fifteen ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:6

Denomination: Baptist

On The Death Of Heroes

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 8, 2014

Encouragement to memorialise the sacrifice of those who serve the nation.

“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. “You mountains of Gilboa, let there be ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:17-27

Denomination: Baptist

In A World Gone Mad, Where Is God?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 28, 2019

When we cry out "It's not fair," we are forgetting that God has fixed a day when He will judge the world in righteousness. Followers of the Christ must look to Him to make right the wrong that now permeates the world.

“[God] has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” [1] Sexually frustrated men driving vans on city sidewalks intent on killing innocent and helpless women, out-of-control ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:31

Denomination: Baptist