Sermons on Encounter:

When You Look At God, Who Do You See?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 13, 2020

Our view of God depends upon our perspective. Sinners see God as vengeful; saints see God as a refuge. Thus, our relationship to God determines how we view Him.

“The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the ...read more

Scripture: Nahum 1:2-8

Denomination: Baptist

Parenting Your Prodigal Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jun 17, 2020

Godly parents don’t always produce godly children

Recently I read about a married couple who couldn’t have children. They lived during a time of great upheaval in their country and it felt like their nation had fractured. Weeks turned into months, which turned into years. The barrenness in the wife’s womb made them both feel broken. One day ...read more

Scripture: Judges 13:1-12, Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

I Am With You When You Are Weak Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jul 19, 2020

No one … including you … gets to see God’s power, God’s grace, God’s strength in theirs lives when we’re just sailing along … but we really see it and experience it when we’re going through difficult times … and the world can see it to!

“So … Satan … where ya been?” “As if You didn’t know, LORD … I’ve been here and there … to and fro … looking about … You know.” “And while you were ‘looking about,’ did you happen to notice my faithful servant … Job?” “Oh, yeah …” “Good man, that Job … no one like him. Always does the right ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Luke 22:42-43

Denomination: United Methodist

Exodus 7:1-25 The Plagues Being

Contributed by Carl Willis on Apr 21, 2024

Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and announce a series of plagues. Will Pharaoh yield or harden his heart?

Now, let's backtrack to Exodus and catch you up on the story. Although it's familiar to most of you, in Exodus we meet Moses. Moses was a man who was raised in Pharaoh's court. At forty years of age, he thinks he's got it all figured out; he's going to help his people get free ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 7:1-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

A River Runs Through It

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 4, 2024

Paradise began with a river flowing from the Garden, and in Heaven a river flows from the throne of God. The message is a brief consideration of the role these rivers play in the economy of God.

“A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold” [GENESIS 2:10-11]. “The angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:10-11, Revelation 22:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

We Are His Offspring

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 11, 2024

God created mankind, and He gives us our being. Thus, we must not segregate on the basis of race or sex. Flowing from the knowledge of God's creation, and having given His Word, we discover that not all cultures are equal, though all people have opportunity to know God.

“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Arrest Of Jesus - Mark 14:41-52 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 12, 2024

What's with the strange story about the young man fleeing naked at Jesus' arrest? Mark leaves out so many big aspects of that event, but he includes this. Is it a meaningless, throwaway story? Or is it Mark at his best, crafting a profound message in a vivid picture?

Jesus leads the 12 into battle even though he knows they will fail. When the hour comes, you’ll have to face the battle, ready or not. Jesus fights this battle on four fronts. Front #1: Judas (Jesus fights dis-couragement by calling out to Abba, Father). Front #2: the rogue disciple who jeopardizes ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:41-52, Matthew 26:45-56, Luke 22:46-53, John 18:2-12

Saul To Paul Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 19, 2024

Saul was a religious fanatical terrorist to Christians – he was the assassin of any who preached and stood for Jesus – and he thought he was doing this for God.

The Saul who became Paul! Scripture: Acts 7:54-58 54When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Invisible World Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 2, 2024

We live in a world we can all see, touch, smell, hear and even taste. Most would agree with this truth. But I want to propose to you that there is another world invisible that exists within this world we see.

Sermon: The Invisible World Thesis: We live in a world we can all see, touch, smell, hear and even taste. Most would agree with this truth. But I want to propose to you that there is another world invisible that exists within this world we see. There is a realm which is real too, but the issue is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20, 2 Kings 6:15-19, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

1 Samuel Part 4

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on Jun 2, 2024

NASB notes from biblegateway.com

Samuel Goes to Bethlehem (I'M THANKFUL I WAS ABLE TO VISIT.) 16 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for ...read more

Denomination: Vineyard

Hopeless Ending—endless Hope - Mark 16:1-8 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 5, 2024

Mark's account of the resurrection ends this way: “Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone because they were afraid.” No appearances by Jesus? What kind of ending is that? It's a profound ending with an important lesson

Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Sa-lome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, "Who will ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8, Matthew 28:1-8, Luke 24:1-11

Lord, Transform My Tongue!

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 31, 2025

God transforms the tongue of His saint, equipping each one to speak he truth in love, encouraging the weary and glorifying the Saviour.

“The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.” [1] Peter had a tongue that once spoke foolishly as he cursed and denied Jesus. Yet, that ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4

Denomination: Baptist

In The Image Of God

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 13, 2025

Man is created in the image of God. Understanding how we are so created enables us to glorify God.

“God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in his own image, in the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27, 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Denomination: Baptist

Deliver Us From Evil - Matthew 6:13 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 20, 2024

If a mafia boss put a price on your head or your children, how energetic would you be about protecting yourself? Jesus warned us of a far greater danger than a mafia hit and then taught us to pray for protection. This message explores how to do that.

Matthew 6:5-15 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:13