Sermons on Rodney Stark:

Advent: Shoots And Roots: What It's All About

Contributed by Joe Harding on May 21, 2005

OUT OF COMPLETE INSIGNIFICANCE GOD BRINGS ABOUT HIS REALITY FOR THOSE WHO WOULD CHOOSE HIM!

ADVENT: SHOOTS AND ROOTS: WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT ISAIAH 11: 1-10 DECEMBER 5, 2004 INTRODUCTION: WHO CAME UP WITH THIS? A woman was in the mall doing her Christmas shopping. She was tired of walking through every aisle of every store to find just the right present. She was stressed out by the mounting ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Sleep Of The Lord’s Servant

Contributed by Rodney Johnson Sr., on Sep 29, 2006

This sermon is dedicated to the memory of the late "Pastor Eugene Turner." It reminds us that we too will expire when our work is finish.

My best friend. My big brother. My confidant. My encourager. My mentor. My listening ear. I’ve come today to bid the servant of God farewell. We often spoke about this day. So providence had decreed that I preach his funeral. He has lived his eulogy. Pastor Turner was a friend of mankind. A gentle ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:36

Denomination: Baptist

It’s Time To Tear Down The Gates Of Hell

Contributed by Rodney Johnson Sr., on Dec 10, 2004

The Sermon assures of victory over the forces of evil.

In our text, Jesus used the terms gates and hell to refer to the powers of evil forces and the physical death. Jesus taught his followers that they were to confront the gates of hell. Christ spoke these words in Caesarea Phillippi, a pagan city that was filled with moral corruption. History ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Denomination: Baptist

God's Purpose For The Family

Contributed by Tim Smith on Nov 3, 2013

This morning I want to ask somes question: What is the purpose of a family? What is the purpose of your family? And are you working toward trying to fulfill a clearly defined purpose for your family? Are you seeking God’s purpose for your family?

God's Purpose for the Family Malachi 2:13-16 In 1955, the norm for the American family was a husband and wife and 2.2 kids. No longer. Today, the American Family is being totally redefined. Family can mean almost anything and include any number of configurations. It can mean one man and one woman, ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 2:13-16

Denomination: Methodist

Love And Respect Series

Contributed by Vince Miller on Oct 3, 2019

It should not come as a surprise that men and women are wired differently and thus have differing needs. While we all need love and respect, men and women each distinctively need more of one than the other.

We Both Need Something It should not come as a surprise that men and women are wired differently and thus have differing needs. While we all need love and respect, men and women each distinctively need more of one than the other. Women by nature want to know that their husbands love and adore them. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:33

Denomination: Baptist

The Garments Of Righteousness

Contributed by Billy Noel on Dec 4, 2006

The garment of Righteousness protects us from the tactics of the evil one

The Garment of Righteousness Ephesians 4: 17-32 Syrianna……Arabs Righteousness Position-State of being Rom.4:6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32

Denomination: Christian Church

In Search Of Christmas

Contributed by Raymond Manaois on Nov 30, 2018

What is Christmas? or What is the meaning of Christmas? sometimes, when we say Christmas, it is always incorporate with gifts, Christmas stories, etc. but what is the true meaning of Christmas?

1. To experience Him is to know that Christ is in our hearts and that He is our Salvation (27-31). We need to experience Him as Family. It is not under the tree matters, it is what surrounds it. Just like what Simeon felt, He was fulfilled and complete as he see Jesus Christ. This experience is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-35

Free At Last!

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 17, 2022

True freedom is a gift.

FREE AT LAST! John 8:31-36. JOHN 8:31. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” The sense here is, ‘If you TRULY are my disciples, then you will continue in my word.’ Conversely Jesus might have said, ‘You are not ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-36

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Giant Sized Challenges

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Aug 17, 2007

Seeing our challenges from God’s perspective instead of our own.

Numbers 13, Joshua 14 Max Lucado, in his book, In the Eye of the Storm, opens his book with the story of Chippy the Parakeet. Chippy’s cage was being cleaned out one day by his owner when this particular event occurred. Chippy’s owner had the vacuum cleaner out...had the attachments removed...and ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:1-33

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel Of John: An Introduction Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Dec 31, 2021

Arguably with no other book, is there a larger disconnect between academic, scholarly understanding, and the way the church reads it. The intro is designed to bridge part of that gap, and explain my own approach to John.

First of all, a note on my approach: This series uses a literary/narrative approach to John, along the lines proposed by scholars like Adele Berlin, Frank Kermode, Robert Alter, or Charles Talbert, to name just a few. I assume that the author/narrator of John-- who I call "AJ"-- had ...read more

Scripture: John 9:22, John 12:42-43, John 16:1, John 2:23, John 6:66  (view more)  (view less)

What’s In A Name Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 25, 2010

How will the child of God be known throughout eternity? The Word of God hints at the transformation and testifies to the importance of God’s knowledge of who we are.

Your name is important. Perhaps your name reveals the aspirations your parents had for you; perhaps it speaks of their honour for some other person who bore the name before you. Whatever their intention may have been in naming you as they did, your name has come to reflect your character, for ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:15, 3 John 1:1

Denomination: Baptist

Mother's Day

Contributed by Stephen Todd on Apr 19, 2003

This sermon was a challenge to paarents to live out their faith.

Mother’s Day May 13, 2001 When we come to Mother’s Day each year there are two things that concern me. 1. After five years of mother’s day messages, what do you say that is different than before? 2. Having never been a mother, I am careful about doing any criticizing. Sorry men, but being a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:29, Proverbs 23:15-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Pain Of Christmas

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 27, 2008

We have cleaned Christmas up. We have sanitized and glamorized it. Just as there was no room in the Inn, there is no room for the pain of Christmas?

“The Pain of Christmas?” Angel choirs. . . glowing stars, wise men with gifts . . . animals peering reverently into the stall-turned birthing room in awe . . . mother and father raptured by sheer joy. Christmas. The clean version. The sanitized and glamorized TV special account. Just as there ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jesus And Undaunted! Series

Contributed by Larry Vollink on Apr 2, 2021

Jesus taught his disciples to be 'undaunted' and showed examples of how HE was undaunted. Listen!

Last year, in Grand Rapids, Cornerstone Christian University displayed on a well traveled highway, a billboard with the huge word, "UNDAUNTED", and you had to read the small print as you got closer, "Live your life with meaning!, and attend Cornerstone!" Undaunted living can ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Desert Series

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Dec 1, 2023

It is an opportunity to rediscover our absolute dependence on God, acknowledging that our hearts are restless until they find rest in Him.

In the poignant narrative of today's gospel, we find ourselves in the presence of John the Baptist, standing resolute in the vast expanse of the desert. His impassioned plea echoes across the arid landscape, reaching the ears of the people of Judea. With unwavering conviction, he implores them ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Other