Sermons on Rodney Stark:

God And Our Suffering

Contributed by Philip Gill on Jan 8, 2003

A response to suffering is to follow a process found in psalm 22 (among others): Pour the situation before God, come to realization that God is with us, enter again into a relationship of praise.

God and Our Suffering When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Matthew 2.16 The murder of the innocents ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:7-16, Psalm 22:1-31

Denomination: Anglican

The Truth About Ruth

Contributed by Wann Fanwar on Jul 19, 2006

This sermon is a study into the concept of relative-redeemer as portrayed in the story of Ruth

The Truth About Ruth One of the most evocative stories in the Bible is the story of Ruth. While scholars may debate the literary genre and authorship of the book, the story touches everyone who reads it. This is the story of a young woman caught up in a set of rather trying circumstances, whose ...read more

Denomination: Adventist

Finding God's Will: The Rest Area Series

Contributed by Dan Morrison on Sep 18, 2002

The Rest Area a most important signpost but often misapplied. An often-used phrase when some one is trying to determine God’s will. “ I have a peace about it”. We are going to investigate today and explore this.

Finding God’s will sign post rest area Sunday April 7th 2002 The Rest Area a most important signpost but often misapplied. An often-used phrase when some one is trying to determine God’s will. “ I have a peace about it”. We are going to investigate today and explore this. Symbolic of this ...read more

Scripture: John 14:27

Denomination: Baptist

The Sacred Name Series

Contributed by Peter Parry on Feb 25, 2006

The more we hallow (value)the name of God, the more love of God flows through us.

THE SACRED NAME (Exodus 20:1-7) If you have ever taken a “Dale Carnegie Course” on how to win friends and influence people, you know that one technique is to get the person’s name right: it’s pronounced Ione, not IonE or IonA; no Parry is spelled with an ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-7

Denomination: Congregational

Can The Church Afford Five Loaves And Two Fish?

Contributed by Ricky Johnson on Aug 4, 2008

A short communion sermon challenging the Church to feed the hungry in body and spirit, by looking at what we are doing for the hungry of the world.

While attending seminary, each month the student body would gather for a general meeting, much like assembly at high school. We would have guest speakers presenting different areas of ministry for us to consider. On one particular Saturday we had a representative from one of the organizations ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Denomination: United Methodist

Christ's Reign Series

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Nov 20, 2006

A sermon based on Revelation 1:4-8, focussing on the reign of Christ our King.

Sermon for Christ the King Sunday Yr B, 26/11/2006 Based on Rev 1:4-8 By Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, & Chaplain of The Good Samaritan Society’s South Ridge Village, Medicine Hat, Alberta “Christ’s Reign” Sometimes, when writing exams, stressed-out students can ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4-8

Denomination: Lutheran

Walking In The Light

Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Aug 20, 2015

At salvation, we were called out of darkness into light. Every believer is to walk in a new life as directed by the Spirit of God, and not in sinful pleasures as demanded by the flesh.

WALKING IN THE LIGHT Study Text: 1 John 1: 5 - 7 Introduction: - Believers in Christ are instructed and expected to be walking in the light and not walking in darkness. Jesus should make a difference in our lives! - They are also to identify those who chose to walk in darkness and how to avoid ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Blessed Are The Persecuted Series

Contributed by David Swanger on Feb 27, 2013

Called to live a beatitude kind of life, the hard reality is anyone who lives out the first seven beatitudes is guaranteed at some point to experience the eighth.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Jesus ends the beatitudes by saying “Blessed are those persecuted, reviled, and spoken against.” Would anyone care to get in “the blessed line?” Most of us prefer ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Eating Chicken In A Seafood Restaurant"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Aug 16, 2012

A sermon about experiencing God.

"Eating Chicken at a Seafood Restaurant" 1 Peter 1:22-2:3 The summer before my Senior Year in high school I was asked to work as a Counselor at a United Methodist Church Camp in Upstate New York. It was similar to, say, Camp Lookout. As some of you who have seen old pictures of me on my ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Do Not Presume You Have No Sin

Contributed by Ronald Harbaugh on Mar 6, 2010

A sermon for the 3rd Sunday in Lent, series C

3rd Sunday in Lent, March 7, 2010, “Series C” Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, as we move through this season of Lent, help us to grasp and embrace the true meaning of what it means to walk in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran

This Is Us - Pt. 2 - Square Pegs And Spotlights Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Mar 22, 2017

Do we know who we are? With all of our hang-ups, challenges, gifts, warts and all, “THIS IS US!” Understanding our identity is essential for our health.

This Is US! Pt. 2 - Square Pegs & Spotlights I. Introduction “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” That was the declaration of the Ralph Ellison who was the author of the Invisible Man. Time and time again in Scripture we see folks who don't know who they are and they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Life Bigger Than Money Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 23, 2018

This message focuses on stepping out of the American Dream's pursuit of escalating standards of living. Instead we are to hold our money lightly and "freely receive, freely give."

- In some ways this is the second part of last week’s sermon. Last week we looked at this passage in Matthew 10:8 about freely receiving and freely giving. We talked about living life with an open hand and whether we are living stingy lives. - I want to return to that same passage this morning ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

"The Attitude Of Christ"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Sep 27, 2017

A sermon about following the humble life of Jesus.

“The Attitude of Christ” Philippians 2:1-13 Would you agree that there is nearly nothing so beautiful as a person who is both truly strong and truly humble at the same time? Would you agree that this kind of person is hard to find? We might know a few people who fit this description, but the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-13

Denomination: United Methodist

The Downside Of An Economic Upturn Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 18, 2019

We as Americans are consumed with prosperity. This passage points out the place of prosperity in the rise and power of Babylon in the end times.

- To gain the world and lost your (national) soul, that’s indeed a tragedy. - We want to talk about gaining the world tonight and what the tragic cost sometimes is. FOURTH OF JULY CHURCH SERVICE: We praise God for letting us participate in America’s prosperity. - Churches often celebrate God’s ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 5:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Making An Impact For God Sermon Ix: God Delivers No Matter Who Or What Is Against Him Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Jan 20, 2020

Mature Christians rest not on their laurels but rest assured that serving the Lord faithfully and unequivocally all the days of their lives will be rewarded with God's verbal stamp of approval, "Well done!"

WHAT THE LORD PROMISES, HE DELIVERS, NOTWITHSTANDING ENEMIES WITHIN As a hummer and whistler, I find myself humming and whistling tunes that pop into my head almost any time of day almost anywhere. Not unusual for other folks to notice this ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:13-26