Sermons on Openess:

How Will Your Epitaph Read?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 1, 2015

Life is preparation for death. How you administer your life now determines God's response to you and your place in the world to come.

“Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself— ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 49:16-20

Denomination: Baptist

Remember Jesus Christ Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 26, 2015

In our service to the Lord, some things must always be borne in mind. Remember Jesus Christ is perhaps the most important truth to hold in mind for each Christian.

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!” [1] We have just come through the Christmas Season. We are poised on the cusp of a new year. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

Balaam: Was He A Prophet Of God? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 20, 2016

Can God speak through an imperfect individual? We are studying the life and "ministry" of Balaam to discover the pertinence of his life to our own lives.

“The people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Woe To Us!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 30, 2019

God does judge nations, cities, churches, families. If we refuse to pursue His glory, there is nothing left for God but to hold us accountable.

The news is particularly dark today—disrespect among the youth of the nation; increasing sexual assault in which even infants and toddlers are violated; violent crime increasing; external threats to national economic security; rising social unrest centring around linguistic and racial issues. ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 5:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Prophet [*] Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 2, 2021

Jesus is the Prophet of whom Moses spoke. His first advent set in motion the fulfilment of God's redemption of sinful man.

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:15-21

Denomination: Baptist

He Called Us By His Grace Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Dec 25, 2021

To establish that when it pleased God, He called us by His grace; to reveal His Son (Christ) to us, and in us; that we might preach and teach Him among the nations: that all might be saved by grace through the faith in Christ Jesus.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 1. He Called Us By His Grace Introductory Remarks. 1. In this lesson, we will discuss: “He called us by His grace.” Of course, we are talking about the God of heaven. He calls all believers by His grace. We must appreciate the truth outlined in the scriptures, that salvation ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:13-16, Romans 3:23-26, Ephesians 1:12-14, Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Do Not Destroy (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 24, 2022

When those who rule are unjust, how shall the Christian respond? David provides a model for godly response in this 58th Psalm as he encourages the godly to look to the Lord for His deliverance.

TO THE CHOIRMASTER: ACCORDING TO DO NOT DESTROY. A MIKTAM OF DAVID. Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly? No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth. The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 58:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Wearing Flip-Flops While Racing Against A Ferrari

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 4, 2023

The Follower of Christ must gear up for a struggle. However, it is not a physical struggle; it is a spiritual struggle. Whether we want to be in this conflict or not, it is upon us because we believe the Word of God.

“Righteous are you, O LORD, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 12:1-5

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

Three Dirty Words

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 12, 2025

A movement to adopt the philosophy of DEI (Diversity. Equity. Inclusion.) must be replaced by UET (Unity. Equality. Transformation) if we will honour Christ as Master of the church.

“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

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

Sleepy Judas - Mark 14:10-16 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 28, 2024

Why did Judas sell out the man he had left everything to follow? Surely it must have been more than just the money, right? Jesus has been preparing us for the answer to that question throughout the whole book of Mark.

Mark 14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. 12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:10-16, Matthew 26:14-19, Luke 22:3-13

Take And Eat - Mark 14:22-26 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 4, 2024

Why do some verses in the Bible make our relationship with God sound conditional, and other verses make it sound unconditional? The answer to that question is the key to understanding the gospel and having the closest, most intimate relationship with God possible.

Mark 14:22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." 23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:22-26, Matthew 26:26-30, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

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

Desiring A Noble Task Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 10, 2013

Those who seek eldership, provided they are motivated by divine call, desire a noble task.

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” [1] Few things give me greater pleasure than seeing God raise up heralds of holiness. I taught preacher boys in Texas for a brief period. Throughout the years of my service before the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1

Denomination: Baptist