Sermons on Rodney Stark:

The Contest On Mount Carmel

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 13, 2013

Prevarication is not an option!

THE CONTEST ON MOUNT CARMEL. 1 Kings 18:20-39. The prophet Elijah is nothing if not bold in his confrontation with King Ahab. The king accused Elijah of being “he that troubles Israel” (1 Kings 18:17). The prophet’s retort was rather to accuse Ahab and his family of troubling Israel, as they had ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:20-39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Witness Of Maria Goretti Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 13, 2012

The life and death of Maria Goretti teaches us something about resisting evil.

July 6, 2012 St. Maria Goretti Mt 5: 38-41 The commandment to not resist the evildoer is one of the most stark and, admittedly, controversial ones in the NT. A few Christian pacifists have interpreted it to mean that we can neither resist evil persons or evil actions in any way. But that is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-41

Denomination: Catholic

Does The Non-Believer Get Points At Final Judgment For Going To Church?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 9, 2017

A look at how knowing more about God without accepting Him worsens your Judgment Day.

AN INITIAL CONFUSION: What do the “many blows” mean for a Christian? Answer: This is for non-believers. - Luke 12:47-48. - For me, one of the first places that my mind drifted in thinking about this passage was the idea of purgatory. After all, where else do you get the idea of a believer being ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:47-48

Denomination: Baptist

Water For Dry Times Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Feb 8, 2014

Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well, speaks of living water, true worship, and the fields white for harvest.

John 4:1-42 “Water for Dry Times” INTRODUCTION The writer of John paints a stark contrast between the Jewish leader, Nicodemus in chapter three and the Samaritan woman at the well in chapter four. The Pharisee and religious leader has a name, the woman is unnamed. The man was a ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-42

Denomination: Lutheran

Living The Lord's Prayer: Forgive Us Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 3, 2016

The practical love we show to the poor is critical for our discipleship.

Thursday after Epiphany 2016 Joy of the Gospel As we celebrate this day after Epiphany, we continue the readings from St. John that ornament our Christmas-Epiphany season. We also continue our review of the Pope’s long letter, the Joy of the Gospel, and we do so in this Holy Year of mercy. ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

The Call Of Wisdom

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 23, 2018

Make me an offer I can't refuse!

THE CALL OF WISDOM. Proverbs 9:1-6. Even before she invited us, Lady Wisdom “built her house” (Proverbs 9:1). The hewing out of Lady Wisdom’s “seven pillars” speaks of completeness (unlike the ‘folly’ in Edinburgh which was never completed), spaciousness, and endurance. ‘I go to prepare a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Martyrdom--Its Real Meaning Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 27, 2020

What Matthew records of the prophecy given by Jesus about persecutions has been lived out somewhere in the world in every century since the Resurrection.

Tuesday of the 13th week in Course 2020 The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church Today’s news is troubling, and we fear that tomorrow’s will be even worse. Mobs of misinformed and misled millennials have been rampaging across the urban landscapes, tearing down monuments to long-dead role models ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:31-39, Matthew 24:4-13, Luke 1:38

Denomination: Catholic

From Debtor To Servant: The Transformative Journey Of Forgiveness

Contributed by Christian Jones on Jun 19, 2023

Today, let’s look at the powerful words of Jesus found in Matthew 18:23-35, where He shares the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. This parable holds immense relevance for us today, as it reveals profound truths about forgiveness, mercy, and the consequences of harboring an unforgiving spirit.

1. God's Unlimited Mercy: In the parable, we encounter a servant who owes an enormous debt to his king. Despite the servant's inability to repay, the king, moved by compassion, forgives the debt entirely. This act highlights God's boundless mercy toward us. As Psalm 103:10-12 states, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:23-35, Psalm 103:10-12, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Matthew 6:14-15, Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 18:21-22, Luke 17:3-4, James 2:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Title: The Unthinkable Absence: What If Jesus Never Came To Earth? Series

Contributed by Don Aldrich Tamayo on Jun 23, 2023

Let us imagine, if only for a moment, a world without Jesus Christ. What would our lives look like? What impact would His absence have on our present reality?

Dear brothers and sisters, today I want to take you on a profound journey of contemplation. Let us imagine, if only for a moment, a world without Jesus Christ. What would our lives look like? What impact would His absence have on our present reality? It is a question that calls us to delve into the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:12, Mark 10:17-27, John 14:6

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Only Time Some People Love Truth Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 11, 2023

Jesus' hometown is initially intrigued by His message, but that goes south quickly. What can we learn from them about our desire for truth?

AMAZED: Nazareth was initially impressed with Jesus’ words. - Luke 4:22. - Review the message in vv. 18-19. - There is a mix in their reaction. - On the one hand, they are impressed. - On the other hand, they wonder how such words could come from Joseph’s son. After all, Jesus had been among ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:22-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Rejection Of A Nation Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Nov 27, 2024

This is the 4th Sermon in the Series from the Book of Amos, "Social Justice".

Series: Social Justice [#4] THE REJECTION OF A NATION Amos 2:9-16 Introduction: In our text, we see a picture on the consequences of rejecting God’s love and guidance. We will explore three critical points: God’s redemption and providence, mankind’s rejection, and the inevitable judgment of ...read more

Scripture: Amos 2:9-16

Denomination: Baptist

From Alienation To Reconciliation. Abridged.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 31, 2024

All one in Christ Jesus.

FROM ALIENATION TO RECONCILIATION. Ephesians 2:11-18. EPHESIANS 2:11. Paul addresses the Ephesian church as being “in times past Gentiles in the flesh.” and he points to the historic antagonism between Jews and non-Jews. On the one hand, Gentiles were scorned as “the Uncircumcision;” on the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Resurrection : Reborn Out Of The Ashes

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Vivek Gundimi on Apr 1, 2025

The season of Lent is all about returning to God–a God who desires to be in a wonderful relationship with us.

We are right now in the Lenten season of 2025 celebrating an ancient tradition symbolizing a believer’s humility before God. From the Ash Wednesday of this year we began to reflect on our attitudes, on our actions, and our priorities and have hopefully begun returning to God through repentance ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:3, Job 10:8-12

Denomination: Methodist

Watch Your Tongue PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Dec 26, 2023

This sermon explores the spiritual significance of our words, emphasizing their power and the importance of using them to reflect our faith and love for God. Key

Welcome, beloved members of our shared faith, to this gathering where we seek solace, strength, and wisdom in the Word of God. We are here today to reflect upon a matter that is as close to us as our own breath and yet often overlooked in its spiritual significance - the power of our words. In the ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Topics: Spiritual Health, Tongues

Death By Despair

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 25, 2020

Christians are to preach Christ's peace and the hope He brings to a hopeless, despairing world.

“Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Denomination: Baptist