Sermons on Praying Fervently:

I’d Like To Teach God’s People To Sing… - 1 Peter 3:8a Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jan 7, 2025

This section is on how to handle mistreatment within the church.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, "Whoever would ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8

The Servant Who Hears God's Voice (Isaiah 50:4-11) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 13, 2025

Sermon's focus is on listening to God. The servant is part of the group of disciples who hear God's voice. The servant suffers, but is confident that he suffers innocently, and that God will vindicate him.

Our passage today is commonly called the third of the four servant songs in Isaiah 40-55. The other three, famously, are in Isaiah 42, 49, and 53. I've said before that over a century ago, a scholar named Bernard Duhm split off these four songs from the rest of Isaiah 40-55, and treated ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-11

What Is The Difference?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 1, 2025

God is sovereign. God is just, and He is merciful. Your view of God dictates how you treat mankind.

“The word of the LORD came to me: ‘What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?” As I live, declares the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 18:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Grace By Association - 1 Peter 4:12-16 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Feb 2, 2025

The gospel is about grace by association - receiving favor from God solely because of association with Christ. And that involves suffering.

1 Peter 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice to the degree that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-16

Eldership - 1 Peter 5:1 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Feb 7, 2025

Different denominations have different traditions about what the elders' job description should be. But there shouldn't be differing traditions. Peter makes it very clear.

Churches are to be elder-led. The term elder refers to a position of authority and leadership, but elders should work with congregations in major decisions like a husband with his wife. Elders should be nominated by the people and appointed by the other elders. The elder takes over the roles of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1

Sustained By Unrecognised Strength

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 22, 2025

God chooses nations just s He chooses individuals. God preserves those whom He chooses, holding them responsible to fulfil His will.

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” [1] “Who makes you ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 46:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

Unbelief In 140 Characters Or Less - Philippians 2:14-15 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 15, 2024

No one wants to be known as a whiner. Yet most of us complain routinely. What do you complaints reveal about your heart?

Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:14-15

A Survey Of My Grief Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 22, 2024

Lamentations speaks on behalf of those suffering as he reminds the Lord of how great is the grief experienced. He confesses that the judgement is deserved. In this, he provides a warning to those living in this present culture that they must not presume against the goodness of God.

Grief touches each of us eventually. [1] Though we know we will experience grief as individuals, we sometimes need to be reminded that grief will consume the nation that turns from righteousness while embracing wickedness. Some might suppose that Christians will gloat when judgement at last comes ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 1:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Cost Of National Sin Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 29, 2024

God does judge nations. God's judgement of Israel serves to warn the nations in this day not to presume on God's goodness and mercy.

Sin is expensive! You can’t afford the price demanded when you embrace sin! Though you may play with sin, you are playing a game that is rigged to ensure that you cannot win. You deceive yourself when you imagine you can afford the price you are going to pay. We are warned against inviting sin ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 2:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Chastisement And Compassion Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 6, 2024

Even in the midst of national judgement, the follower of Christ the Lord is comforted by the hope Christ gives.

“This hurts me more than it hurts you.” Are those words familiar to you? Do they bring back memories from your childhood? I don’t know if your dad ever spoke those words to you, but my dad said these words more frequently than should ever have been necessary. And I readily admit that I gave him ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:1-33

Denomination: Baptist

The God Who Is Worth Suffering For - Matthew 5:10-12 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 7, 2024

Usually when someone mistreats us because of our righteousness, we think we’re doing well if we simply endure it without getting angry or depressed. But Jesus calls us to far more than that. We are to rejoice greatly! This message will help you do that.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Success Is Never About Defeating Giants [*]

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 2, 2024

Fighting and winning one battle does not define your life, any more than fighting and losing one battle defines who you are.

1 SAMUEL 17:34-37 SUCCESS IS NEVER ABOUT DEFEATING GIANTS “David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:34-37

Denomination: Baptist

God Appoints His Servant To Hard Tasks!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 16, 2024

As one who follows the Risen Lord, you may be assured that Christ has assigned you to do a particular task. And that task will require your finest effort, because God appoints His servant to hard tasks.

“The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’ Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.’ But the LORD said to me, ‘Do ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10

Denomination: Baptist

Picky Picky - Mark 2:23-28 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 29, 2023

The Pharisees accuse the disciples of Sabbath breaking when they pick grain while traveling. Jesus responds by pointing to David eating the bread of the presence.

Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:23-28

In These Last Days

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 8, 2023

The Word provides a description of life in the "last days." We are forewarned so that we can continue to live godly lives even as the world grows dark.

“Understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Denomination: Baptist