Sermons on Purposeful:

Good Is Enemy Of The Best

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 25, 2014

Choosing what is best is often counter-intuitive. Christians are responsible to choose what is best.

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he said. But Martha was distracted with all the preparations she had to make, so she came up ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Baptist

The Danger Of Seeing God

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 19, 2016

Familiarity with God can result is treating Him with casual disregard leading to judgement.

“Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 24:9-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Reason To Be Thankful

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 9, 2016

Writing the Romans, Paul speaks of his gratitude for them, giving some surprising reasons for being thankful.

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:8-15

Denomination: Baptist

What Of Those Who Have Never Heard The Gospel?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 30, 2016

A response to the question, "What of those who have never heard the Gospel?" God is just and God is gathering to Himself and for His glory a great harvest of souls.

“You have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Serving Together

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 6, 2016

If Jesus is Lord over all things in the church, how much freedom do I have to quit because I am offended?

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:16-23

Denomination: Baptist

Three Gods? No! God In Three Persons!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 10, 2017

A sermon on the Triunity presented for Trinity Sunday.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” [1] The doctrine of the Triune God is ridiculed as a fiction, depreciated and discounted by those opposed to the Faith. So-called “Christian cults,” Unitarians and Oneness Pentecostals ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:14

Denomination: Baptist

Call Of The Father Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 19, 2017

God shows the loving Call of the Father in declaring His actions in 1) The Past (Hosea 11:1-4), 2) Present (Hosea 11:5-7) and 3)Future (Hosea 11:8-11) dealings with His children.

If you spend time around groups of kids, be it in sports, music, social or other setting, you will quickly notice some interesting interactions. One that I have seen repeated time and time again revolves around how parents treat their own children when other children are around. If they are in a ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 11:1-9

Denomination: Other

Challenges To/For Public Worship-4 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Nov 17, 2015

4 of 7. Jesus made it plain that the temple worship had become tainted with improprieties. Public Worship is to be free from impropriety. But What is consonant with public worship? A challenge to (harmonious)public worship is its...

CHALLENGES To/For PUBLIC WORSHIP-IV—John 2:12-25 Attention: The Church can be tempted toward many directions regarding the manner & message of its Public Worship. There are real Challenges to bringing about Public Worship!...There are dynamics which, if we deny, will keep our church & the ...read more

Scripture: John 2:12-24

Denomination: Baptist

Is Rebellion Ever Justified?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 11, 2016

Considering the events leading up to Absalom's rebellion and seeking to learn from his actions.

“After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, ‘From what city are ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 15:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Certainty In A Question Mark World Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 19, 2016

Defining and utilizing God's gift's of the Body of Christ, the Word of God and the indwelling Spirit.

“As for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Denomination: Baptist

Fully Realized Forgiveness...the Test Of Love-3 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Apr 21, 2015

3 of 5. Jesus called Simon the Pharisee to task regarding two demonstrations of love. Realized Forgiveness is reflected in a reciprocal/proportional appreciation. But Where/How is it tested? Fully Realized Forgiveness is tested in the crucible of...

REALIZED FORGIVENESS...The TEST of LOVE/Trust-III—Luke 7:36-50 Attention: Thru testing, the true identity becomes conclusive. Jesus called Simon the Pharisee to task regarding two demonstrations of love. A forgiveness that is fully Realized is reflected in a reciprocal/proportional ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Baptist

What’s So Great About God?-6 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on May 26, 2015

6 of 6. Peter recalled some basic justifications for the church's glorifying God. Blood-bought believers are justified in their glorifying/pointing to God. But why?...WHAT’s So GREAT About GOD? God is Great because He offers...

WHAT’s So GREAT About GOD?-VI—1Peter 1:3-12 Attention: Well-Done Please! The city slicker had always dreamed of owning his own cattle ranch. He finally made enough money to buy himself the spread of his dreams in Wyoming. So he moves his wife & 4 kids to Wyoming to their new ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-12

Denomination: Baptist

An Old Commandment That Is Now New

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 27, 2014

We may either love one another or hate one another; there is no halfway in this situation. God calls us to love. Failure to love is hatred.

“Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Pastor Is The Church's Theologian

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 10, 2015

Pastor's are responsible to prepare themselves to present theology, making it a joy to the flock.

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Christian Worker (Col. 3:22–4:1) Series

Contributed by Greg Brown on Jan 19, 2015

Exposition of Col. 3:22–4:1

The Christian Worker “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational