Sermons on rodney stark: showing 1-15 of 5,441

The Stark Contrast Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 5, 2011

The contrast between the old nature and the new couldn't be more stark as we finish up our study in Paul's letter to the Galatians. The question we all have to face is: where is our treasure, in this legalistic age, or in God's kingdom?

Galatians is all about the contrast between the old nature and the new, legalism and Spirit-life. As we finish up the book today we’re going to see that contrast in stark relief so let’s look for it as we finish chapter 6. As we talked about the fruit of the Spirit in chapter 5, we saw ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:6-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Stark Raving Mad!

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Jul 8, 2012

You got to be out of your head to live your life without God!

We saw last week the reason that king Nebuchadnezzar went crazy…To prove that God is in control, that He rules, that He is sovereign and that His kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting! In the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John there main purpose, there many goaled is to describe in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Restoring God's Masterpiece Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 25, 2023

Sin marred and disfigured God's masterpiece. But the Bible is one long narrative of how God sought to restore that which was damaged. Has God completely restored His masterpiece now... or is that yet to happen?

OPEN: One of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous paintings was called “The Last Supper.” It was painted on the wall of the Sistine Chapel, and Da Vinci was sure that the unique painting style he used would create a masterpiece that would last forever. It didn’t quite work out that way. The painting ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:14-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Blue Christmas Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 20, 2024

What if Jesus had not been born? What if He'd never existed? Would that have made any difference?

Today’s sermon is going to focus on the question: “What If Jesus Had Never Been born? What if Jesus had never existed? What difference would that have made? In keeping with our sermon series, we’re focusing on secular Christmas music, and this Sunday’s song is an old classic by Elvis Presley ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Most Overlooked Key To Church Growth Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 11, 2018

Acts 6 tells us that after the church met the needs of its widows, the "disciples multiplied greatly". What caused this dramatic explosion of growth and what can we learn from that?

Back in the 17th Century, there was a German preacher named August Francke. He had seen the homeless children in his city and was so moved by their living conditions that he decided to found an orphanage for them. But as is often the case with such ministries, money was always tight, and he ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Love Your Enemies" Series

Contributed by Kendall Hicks on Apr 5, 2016

I do not write out sermon manuscripts. This is a brief outline of the first message in the series "Say What? (Some Head-Scratching Statements of Jesus)."

INTRO: It’s Valentine’s Day, so let’s start with a quick survey: Has anyone here every broken-up with someone before Valentine’s Day so you wouldn’t have to buy them a present? (Don’t tell me I’m the only one!). Yes, I have done that. When I was single, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Face Value. Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jul 13, 2017

Don’t take people at face value and so become a stupid judge and a judged sinner. Instead, be quick to love even those you might prejudge as unworthy.

I’ll never forget what has become one of my all-time favorite TV commercials, shown during Super Bowl 39 over 12 years ago (February 6, 2005). The Ameriquest Mortgage Company sponsored the commercial, and it came with a powerful message. Take a look… (show Americaquest Cat Commercial video) A man ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical Free

How Am I Different? Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Oct 16, 2014

With all the gender confusion in our society, it's time for the church to speak up.

“Getting A Clue: How Am I Different?” Gen. 1:26-31 & 2:4-7, 18-25; In preparation for this series I discovered a powerful, inspirational, challenging sermon by Mary Kassian, entitled The Genesis of Gender.” (1) Some of her opening words are important for our consideration this ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Vacation In Paradise Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 12, 2014

We are strangers in this world, on vacation in a foreign land, with advantages the natives of this world don't even begin to understand. But do we realize what those advantages are, and what difference those blessings can mean to our lives?

OPEN: (Video of MercyMe’s “Shake”) How many of you have ever been on a vacation? Me too. Going on Vacation can be a very pleasurable experience…as long as you know where you’re going and what to expect when you get there. But not everybody does. Travel agents have ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-12, 1 Peter 2:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

No Middle Way

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 2, 2019

The choice is eternal life or eternal death, there is no middle way: that is the testimony of the martyrs.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2019 Ss. Felicity and Perpetua Today, in the glow of our Ash Wednesday devotion, we are presented with the awesome song known as Psalm Number 1: Happy is the human who takes his delight in God’s law, who shuns even the company of the wicked and the cynic. Such a person ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6, Luke 9:22-25, Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Denomination: Catholic

No Middle Way

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 2, 2019

The choice is eternal life or eternal death, there is no middle way: that is the testimony of the martyrs.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2019 Ss. Felicity and Perpetua Today, in the glow of our Ash Wednesday devotion, we are presented with the awesome song known as Psalm Number 1: Happy is the human who takes his delight in God’s law, who shuns even the company of the wicked and the cynic. Such a person ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6, Luke 9:22-25, Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Denomination: Catholic

No Middle Way

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 2, 2019

The choice is eternal life or eternal death, there is no middle way: that is the testimony of the martyrs.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2019 Ss. Felicity and Perpetua Today, in the glow of our Ash Wednesday devotion, we are presented with the awesome song known as Psalm Number 1: Happy is the human who takes his delight in God’s law, who shuns even the company of the wicked and the cynic. Such a person ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6, Luke 9:22-25, Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Denomination: Catholic

No Middle Way

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 2, 2019

The choice is eternal life or eternal death, there is no middle way: that is the testimony of the martyrs.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2019 Ss. Felicity and Perpetua Today, in the glow of our Ash Wednesday devotion, we are presented with the awesome song known as Psalm Number 1: Happy is the human who takes his delight in God’s law, who shuns even the company of the wicked and the cynic. Such a person ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6, Luke 9:22-25, Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Denomination: Catholic

Covenant Concerns Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 13, 2024

God is thoroughly and completely committed to you, so commit yourself to Him, commit yourself to justice, and commit yourself to compassion.

Several years ago, a national magazine assigned a photographer to take pictures of a forest fire. They told him a small plane would be waiting at the airport to fly him over the fire. The photographer arrived at the airstrip just an hour before sundown. Sure enough, a small Cessna airplane stood ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 23:20-33, Exodus 24:3-8, Romans 12:1, Ephesians 1:3, Exodus 21:22-25, Exodus 23:24-25, Exodus 22:21-27, Luke 14:13, James 1:27, James 2:5, Micah 6:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Abc - The Building Blocks Of Faith - Consummation Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Apr 8, 2024

Jesus death and resurrection mark the end of life apart from God and the beginning of new life in Christ along with a future with God in the Eternal. Consummation: God will create a new heavens and a new earth.

Today we continue our series entitled, The ABC’s of faith. The larger idea is based on the idea that we learn over time through an exploration process of success and failure. Everything we come to know and understand is built over time on the foundation of trial and error. We learned last week, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:10-15, Revelation 21:6-8, Colossians 3:1-4, Colossians 3:12-15, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, Luke 23:38-42, Luke 24:6-7, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 3:10, 2 Timothy 1:10, Romans 8:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational