Sermons on Practical Sense:

Make The House You Have The Home You Want

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 14, 2020

The message is a plea for Christians to ensure that their families are provided with a model for Christian living and that all within the family know the message of life in the Son of God.

“Fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-15

Denomination: Baptist

Pastoral Personal Conduct

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 16, 2013

Timothy is instructed in how he is to conduct his life as a minister of Christ. Thus, each servant of the Master is taught how he should conduct his life and ministry.

“Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:11-16

Denomination: Baptist

A Fair Test For Those Who Think They Prophesy

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 8, 2020

While "prophecy" so-called is popular among a segment of the faithful, the test of prophets is seldom applied. The test of accuracy and adherence to the Word of God must be applied to verify a prophecy.

“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 13:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Switching The Price Tags Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 7, 2019

When Christians fight and quarrel they show that they've embraced the world and its ways of dealing with conflict. God's wisdom is different than the world's. Do you know what that difference is?

OPEN: Years ago, Tony Campolo wrote a book about Christianity called “Who Switched The Price Tags” He told about the time he and his best friend decided to break into the basement of the local five-and-dime store. They didn’t plan to rob the place (Sunday School boys after all); instead, they ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is Official Or Formal Church Membership In A Local Church According To Scripture – Part 2 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 3, 2025

Formal church membership that involves special membership and voting rights is contentious. In this Part 2, I open up the matter to show how out of sync the matter is with the membership of the one Body of Christ, and the discrimination. We delve into some scriptures to bring this out.

IS OFFICIAL OR FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL CHURCH ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE – PART 2 In Part 1 we looked at the practice some churches have of there being an official local church membership that divides “members”, adherents and attendees into “MEMBERS” and “NON-MEMBERS” depending if one has ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10, Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 6:15, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, 1 Corinthians 12:24-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Conformity Is This World’s Sheep Dog Trials – A Very Serious Matter Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 14, 2022

The world is moving to a universal conformity as governments legislate for uniformity and control. But what about the Christian for he/she must not compromise the faith. As evil increases how will that impact Christians. Compromise is an ever increasing danger.

CONFORMITY IS THIS WORLD’S SHEEP DOG TRIALS – A VERY SERIOUS MATTER INTRODUCTION TO CONFORMITY The sheep dog trials found in sheep breeding countries is a competition where sheep dogs round up a group of sheep and ensure they are penned. The winner is the fastest. Australia, New Zealand and the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:4, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 8:29, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Timothy 6:3, 1 Peter 1:14, Galatians 2:11-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jezebel In The Church Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 1, 2018

What happens when a church begins to tolerate just a little bit of evil? The study is a consideration of this particular question.

“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Baptist

Pardon From The Prison Of The Past

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 21, 2021

Christ sets us free so that we do not need to live under the dark cloud of condemnation from past sins.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Marks Of The True Church: Mission Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 24, 2024

Jesus was sent on mission by the Father. In like manner, the Son of God sends His disciples on mission. And He ensures we will succeed in this mission by giving us His Spirit.

“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them ...read more

Scripture: John 17:18-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Praise Of The Wise Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 22, 2013

Why would the Wise Men travel so far, at such expense, and over dangerous roads? Jesus wasn't "their" King was He? And what can we learn from how they responded to Jesus wasn't they arrived?

OPEN: When I was a boy, every December we’d sing: We Three Kings Of Orient Are” Stand with me and let’s sing just the first verse together: “We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. O star ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Christian - The Judgement Seat Of Christ – Part 2 Of 3 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 27, 2025

Above all things God wants faithfulness. Rewards attach to a faithful servant. God is a God of small things and in quietness and confidence is our strength. We look at the quality of works and the testing by fire. To not make the mistake of “TRYING to do” for a reward as that is wrong.

THE CHRISTIAN - THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST – PART 2 OF 3 In the last study we opened up this subject to see both the joy and seriousness of it. This time we will consider more aspects of The Judgement Seat of Christ including what brings reward and the quality of deeds done for Christ. I will ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 2 Timothy 3:1-4, Matthew 6:1, Matthew 10:42, Luke 6:22-23, Luke 6:35, 2 John 1:7-8, 1 Corinthians 12:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good News About Death Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 13, 2015

Death is not the end for a Christian. Christ has conquered death, and we now enjoy life in Him.

“Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:8-10

Denomination: Baptist

Declared To Be The Son Of God In Power

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 18, 2014

The resurrection of Jesus assures the believer that He is the Son of God in power. The message explores what this means for us as followers of the Risen Christ.

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Slavery Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 3, 2020

Christians are obligated by God's character to free those enmeshed in slavery. Among the enslaved in North America are those participating in the scourge of pornography and prostitution, which Christians must avoid and resist.

“During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:23-25

Denomination: Baptist