Sermons on Rodney Stark:

How Can We Sing The Lord's Songs In A Foreign Land?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 11, 2023

Our life as followers of Christ serve as either a hymn of praise pointing to our Saviour, or it serves as mere background noise for the delight of a dying world.

“[By the waters of Babylon] our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’ “How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill!” [1] “Our citizenship is in Heaven, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

A Funeral Sermon For A Dear Friend

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 15, 2023

This dear woman requested that the message of Christ be clearly presented at her funeral.

Among the most difficult messages for a pastor to deliver is a funeral message for a godly member of the congregation. Among the easiest messages for a pastor to prepare is a funeral message for a godly member of the congregation. Messages for the vibrant child of God are easy to prepare because ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

A Funeral Message For An Unsaved Friend

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 16, 2023

This message was presented at the funeral of a longtime friend who never professed Christ. Many at the service were unsaved.

“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them;’ before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Where Is God When Life Crashes In?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 17, 2023

God always works in the life of His people, bringing glory out of our trials. Because He loves us, the pain experienced through our trials will exalt Him.

“As [the mob was] stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep. “And Saul approved of his execution. “And there arose on that day a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Saved? Are You Sure?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 23, 2023

Jesus warns that there exists people who appear to be serving Him, though they are lost. Therefore, He challenges each person to ensure that He has been born from above.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23

Denomination: Baptist

Worshipping The Snake

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 30, 2023

We Evangelicals are as susceptible to idolatry as are every other religious group. We don't identify our idols as opposed to Christ's rule, but they are idols that cause us to stumble, nevertheless.

“In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. And he did what was right in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 18:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

God In The Dark

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 5, 2023

God made atonement as Jesus hung on the cross. All who receive Him as Master over life are brought into the family of God, forgiven all sin, and saved forever.

“From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, ‘This man is calling ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:45-54

Denomination: Baptist

This Ain't No Joke!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 13, 2023

What will be required for you as a follower to Christ to believe His commands? Receiving Him as Master over life leads us to accept His commands.

“Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will ...read more

Scripture: John 20:24-29

Denomination: Baptist

Husbands, Wives And The Secret Of A Successful Marriage

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 11, 2022

Biblical instruction for living as husband and wife.

“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

You Don't Look Like Your Picture!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 18, 2022

The first church was powerful for the cause of Christ. When we match the present churches to that earliest congregation, we are often compelled to confess that we don't look like we are their descendants. It is past time for us to take steps to correct this situation.

“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Life Without Regret

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 24, 2022

As a follower of Christ you will be compelled to enter into spiritual battle. Paul encourages us by pointing us to Christ and the strength that is His. Therefore, let us stand firm in the victory that our Lord has won on our behalf.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Denomination: Baptist

Funeral Message

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 3, 2022

A message delivered at the funeral of a young woman when most of those attending made no pretense of following the Faith of Christ the Lord.

“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” [HEBREWS 9:27-28]. [1] Memorials are erected, and forgotten. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Real Sins Of Sodom

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 3, 2022

Is homosexuality the gravest sin of all? Isn't arrogance, pride, and self-exaltation at the root of all our sin? We must repent of the sin that contaminates us even as followers of the Christ if we wish to receive His blessing.

“Behold, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ You are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and her children; and you are the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 16:44-58

Denomination: Baptist

The One Thing That Made Jesus Say "wow!"

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 10, 2022

Christ is impressed by our faith, though the quality of our faith is not required for Him to show compassion.

“After [Jesus] had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Worship Is A Matter Of Who, Not How!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 18, 2022

In worship, God is more concerned that we focus on Him than than we should be overly concerned about the mechanics of what we are doing.

“After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar’ (that is, Engedi). Then Jehoshaphat ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-23

Denomination: Baptist