Sermons on Pericope:

Where Have You Hidden Your Treasure?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 21, 2010

Stewardship of life is the aim of this message. Believers are challenged to consider the employment of their money, of their time and of their spiritual gifts.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Denomination: Baptist

Wisdom’s Warning Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 12, 2010

In the call of wisdom, we can see: 1) Wisdom’s Cry 2) Wisdom’s Warning & 3) Wisdom’s Punishments & Rewards

Proverbs 1:20-33 "Wisdom’s Warning" Everton Community Church. Sunday, June 13 2010 Stephen Hawking, the biggest brain among the big brains of physics, took the star turn here for the recent World Science Festival. That he is now spending several weeks at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:20-33

Denomination: Other

Making Friends With Unrighteous Money Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 20, 2015

Jesus instructs through a parable how those who follow Him are to be stewards of all they possess.

“Jesus also said to the disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a manager and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Fleeing To Egypt Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 11, 2016

Reviewing Matthew's account of the events surrounding the arrival of the wise men.

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-15

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

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

How Do You Define Success? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 28, 2015

Learning from Jesus how to be successful in His work.

“Someone in the crowd said to [Jesus], ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ But he said to him, ‘Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?’ And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

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

Practising Serving Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 25, 2017

The model that is frequently brought into the church is provided by this world. That model drives the disciple to step on others in order to advance himself. The model Jesus provides, though often neglected, is quite different; it teaches us to serve.

“A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:24-29

Denomination: Baptist

Practising Discipleship Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 1, 2017

Christians are commanded to make disciples. The process of discipleship includes: going; baptising; teaching. The responsibility devolves upon each follower of the Christ.

“It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ And they said, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Why Does God Judge A Nation?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 8, 2020

Through the Prophet Amos, God provides the reasons for judging the nations around Judah and Israel, as well as His own people. The reasons for His judgement stands against nations to this day.

“Thus says the LORD: ‘For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron. So I will send a fire upon the house of Hazael, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad. I will break the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Four Days Late

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 29, 2021

When Christ delays answering our pleas, how shall we respond? God is merciful, even when it appears that Heaven in silent.

“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-27

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

When The Giants Just Keep Coming!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 23, 2021

Each Christian will face battles throughout the life they are called to live. There will not be one battle, but each of us will face multiple battles, and the situations we face may appear overwhelming as we face our own giants. But God will send a deliverer just when we need that deliverer most.

“There was war again between the Philistines and Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines. And David grew weary. And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was armed ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 21:15-22

Denomination: Baptist

Rejected! Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 5, 2020

What does it mean that Jesus was despised and rejected? Are we who call ourselves Christians guilty of despising the Son of God, even rejecting Him? The message is a challenge to examine our lives to ensure that we honour Christ Jesus the Saviour.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” [1] During these festive days of celebrating the birth of the Son of God, Christ is the unrecognized guest at multiplied tables ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:3

Denomination: Baptist