Sermons on Refocus:

Alive Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 30, 2013

What does it mean to believers to say that Christ is alive forevermore?

“[Jesus] laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” [1] On one occasion, returning from a fishing trip I had stopped for gas. As the attendant filled the tank, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Excluded From The Celestial City

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 6, 2018

Everybody talkin' 'bout Heaven ain't goin' there. The Word of God is quite clear that many will be excluded from Heaven. The message is a plea to those who are casual about God to avoid this condemnation.

“[Christ, seated on His throne] said to [John], ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

An Interview From Hell

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 27, 2022

What would a person in hades ask of us if we were able to hear them? Jesus provides us insight into this dark situation when He reveals what a lost man asked.

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Baptist

How Can Anything That Feels So Right Be So Wrong?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 12, 2021

A Valentine's Day message emphasising the sacred nature of marriage.

“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 1:26-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Arrogance Of The Ignorant

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 12, 2023

Ignorant people attempt to mask their lack of knowledge through arrogance. Jesus pierced the facade of the Sadducees by pointing to what was written in the Word of the Living God.

“Sadducees came to [Jesus], who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. There were seven ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:18-27

Denomination: Baptist

Common Tools; Uncommon Tasks

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 12, 2023

God calls His people to serve now. He delights to use us with what we have, and not after some long, extended preparation in the distant future.

“Moses answered [the LORD], ‘But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, “The LORD did not appear to you.”’ The LORD said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ He said, ‘A staff.’ And he said, ‘Throw it on the ground.’ So he threw it on the ground, and it ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Want To Go Away?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 4, 2023

As the message delivered by Jesus transitions for followers to embrace Him as Master, many chose to leave. The Lord questioned His disciples, asking, "Do you want to go away as well?" Peter answered for all who will follow the Saviour, asking, "Lord, to whom shall we go?"

“Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘Do you want to go away as well?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’” [1] Christ will never compel anyone to remain as one who is counted among the faithful. If a person is determined to “quit” pretending that ...read more

Scripture: John 6:67-68

Denomination: Baptist

A Different Time, A Different Place

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 25, 2025

Is the Sabbath Mandated for Christians? How should we approach the concept of the Sabbath?

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

How To Interpret Typologies, Metaphors And Prophecies

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 14, 2001

How to Interpret Typologies, Metaphors and Prophecies

HOW TO INTERPRET TYPOLOGIES 1. Definition - A type is a pattern, image, or a symbol of a person, place, or thing. For example, Adam was a type of Christ, baptism corresponds to the deliverance experienced by Noah and his family in the flood. Joseph was a type of Christ, as the people looked to ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Shall We Escape? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 29, 2012

Many professing Christians treat the Faith as though it were optional; God calls us to absolute commitment.

“We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

The Race

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 14, 2019

Each Christian is running in a marathon. Our Christian life is not a sprint, but a marathon which demands our best always.

“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Casualties Of Divine Service

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 8, 2019

The message explores how Christians can avoid becoming casualties of divine service. There is a high cost demanded of those who will serve Christ, and we must not imagine that we will be spared paying that cost. However, in standing firm with Christ, we will stand victorious.

“Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.’ Then he was afraid, and he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Risk, Investment, And Getting Old - Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 31, 2025

One of the biggest obstacles to enjoyment of life is the troubles connected with old age. This message will show you how to enjoy life even amidst the ravages of aging.

11:1 Send your bread on the surface of the waters, for after many days you may find it. 2 Give a portion to seven or even to eight, for you don't know what disaster may happen on earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or the ...read more

What Do Christians Have To Do With The Sabbath?

Contributed by Warren Lamb on Apr 19, 2008

Which of the Ten Commandments no longer applies in our lives today and why? How about the Fourth? What we live is what we believe - so, let me ask you again: Which of the Ten Commandments no longer applies in our lives today and why?

What Do Christians Have To Do With The Sabbath? Exodus 20:1-17; Luke 6:1-11; Isaiah 58:13-14 Turn with me, if you would, to Exodus 20:1-17. While you are turning there, let me ask you a question: Which of the Ten Commandments no longer applies in our lives today and why? Does that seem like a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Secrets To Joy In The Midst Of Trials (1 Peter 1:6-9) Series

Contributed by Greg Brown on Aug 2, 2014

Exposition of 1 Peter 1:6-9

Secrets to Joy in the Midst of Trials In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:6-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational