Sermons on Excuse:

Practising Belonging Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 27, 2017

What is expected of new believers? The answer to this question is revealed through examining the life of the first congregation after the body was flooded with a multitude of believers following Pentecost.

“Those who received [Peter’s] word were baptized, and there were added [to the Faith] that day about three thousand souls. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Saved? Are You Sure?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 23, 2023

Jesus warns that there exists people who appear to be serving Him, though they are lost. Therefore, He challenges each person to ensure that He has been born from above.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23

Denomination: Baptist

Yes Means Yes - James 5:12 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 17, 2022

Let your yes be yes, otherwise you will be condemned? Is James saying you will go to hell if you tell a lie? Haven't all people told lies?

James 5:12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned. Introduction Fraud According to one criminologist, the #1 crime in America today is fraud. I don’t know how many convictions there ...read more

Scripture: James 5:12, Matthew 5:37

Blinded Minds Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jul 1, 2022

Romans 1:24–32 vividly portrays the consequences of a blinded mind to God and God’s abandonment of the rebellious showing: 1) The Essence (Romans 1:24–25), 2) The Expression (Romans 1:26–27), and 3) The Extent (Romans 1:28–32) of human sinfulness.

Romans 1:24–32. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:24-32

Denomination: Other

Some Things Need To Die!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 9, 2022

The Follower of Christ must take responsibility for his/her life, putting to death those characteristics identified with the flesh that Christ may be seen shining through the Christian's life.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Law, Sacrifice,tabernacle And Jesus Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jul 20, 2022

This sermon focuses on God's giving of His Law, the Tabernacle, and the sacrificial system to prepare his people to enter into the Promised Land, and through Christ continues to do the same for all believers today.

Today, we are continuing our series called The Story. If you are visiting with us today, basically The Story is a 31-week overview of the Bible. The goal is helping you connect the different stories of the Bible together and ultimately to see how your story connects up to God’s story. Last ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 19:2, Hebrews 10:1, John 3:5, Matthew 5:17, Romans 12:1, 1 Peter 2:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

You Can Have What You Want

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Nov 2, 2018

A study in the book of 2 Kings 17: 1 – 41

2 Kings 17: 1 – 41 You can have what you want 17 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. 2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel who were before him. 3 Shalmaneser king of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 17:1

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Inherited Church Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 16, 2018

To accomplish the task of evangelising our world, we must work as though our congregation was new. New churches have a vibrancy that can be lost as we grow older. In time, if we don't take care, we will have an "inherited church" rather than a vibrant, living congregation.

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

No Place To Hide

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Nov 16, 2018

A study in the book of 2 Kings 25: 1 – 30

2 Kings 25: 1 – 30 No place to hide 25 Now it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and encamped against it; and they built a siege wall against it all around. 2 So ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 25:1

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Death Of A Culture

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 30, 2022

How should the saints of the Risen Saviour Live when the society in which they are found is decaying and disintegrating into a putrid mess? They must be vigilant to be holy and righteous, glorifying their God in all things.

“I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. “The look on their faces bears witness against them; they ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 3:4-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Dead Church

Contributed by Jeff Taylor on Jan 21, 2023

Many churches all over the world are dead churches. Why? Because they have forsaken the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are still living on past victories and faded glory from long past. They are not living the daily life with Christ the Lord and as such, have now grown cold to the Gospel.

Please turn in your Bibles to Revelation Chapter 3, as today we are going to look at verses 1-6, Jesus’ warning to the church at Sardis. John MacArthur, in his exposition of these verses, used an illustration that has stuck with me. I would like to begin with it. He talked about the phenomenon ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:27-28, Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Pentecostal

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

Punishment Pays For Sin (Exodus 32:15-35, Isaiah 53:1-6) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Feb 10, 2023

Sometimes, God is unwilling to "carry" sin; it has to be paid for through punishment. This idea, supported by Isaiah 40, unlocks the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. Jesus atoned, by taking the punishment of our sin.

Let's start today by rereading last week's passage Exodus 32:1-14: (1) and the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, and the people gathered/assembled before Aaron, and they said to him, "Rise up. Make for us elohim who shall walk/go before ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:15-35, Isaiah 40:1-2, Isaiah 53:1-6, Numbers 25:1-13

The Temptation Of Legalism

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Sep 14, 2015

This is a three to four week Bible Study on the Issue of Legalism, and the surprising places where we may practice legalism in the church today.

THE TEMPTATION OF LEGALISM GALATIANS 5:1-6 QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE FREEDOM? QUESTION: IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE FREEDOM WITHOUT LIMITS? ROMANS: 14:12-19: 12SO WE WILL ALL HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO GOD THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE. 13LET US STOP JUDGING ONE ANOTHER. INSTEAD, MAKE UP YOUR MIND NOT TO ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

We Cannot Worship Without Gratitude

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 11, 2015

Gratitude is required if we will worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

"You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:22-29

Denomination: Baptist