Sermons on Rodney Stark:

The Book Of Enoch Debunked PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 21, 2023

This sermon explores the relationship between the Book of Jude and the Book of Enoch, emphasizing the primacy of the Bible in Christian life and study.

Good morning, dear family in Christ. It's a joy to gather with you today, not in a spirit of solemnity, but with hearts brimming with anticipation. We're here to engage with the Word of God, to allow it to shape us, to challenge us, and to draw us closer to our Creator. Today, we turn our focus to ...read more

Topics: Book Of Enoch, Canon

Tough Times Ahead -- Part 2 Series

Contributed by Paul Apple on Jul 10, 2001

THE EXAMPLE OF GODLY MENTORS AND THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE WORD OF GOD EQUIPS THE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL TO PERSEVERE IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION AND GROWING DECEPTION

BIG IDEA: THE EXAMPLE OF GODLY MENTORS AND THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE WORD OF GOD EQUIPS THE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL TO PERSEVERE IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION AND GROWING DECEPTION I. (:10-14) THE EXAMPLE OF GODLY MENTORS EQUIPS THE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL TO PERSEVERE A good model can make a tremendous ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Overcoming Discouragement Series

Contributed by Jeff Simms on May 19, 2003

A look at Elijah’s experience of discouragement and how he was led to renewal

1 Kings 19:1-8;12-14 Purpose Statement: We need to return to the Bread of Life for renewal and encouragement. Background: Elijah runs for his life to the southern most city in Judah-Beersheba. Beersheba was named by Abraham (Gen 21:31) when his servants dug wells there and means “well of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Small Stuff Or Big Deal? Series

Contributed by Vance Elzinga on Jul 5, 2007

This is about the problem of spiritual indifference, and God’s promise, "return to me and I will return to you."

Main Idea: The problem with spiritual indifference. God’s Promise: Return to me, and I’ll return to you. HOOK A quote from David Hansen (The Power of Loving Your Church) about being ’at war’ with God sometimes but at least not ambivalent. (The strong wording of the quote gets one’s attention ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Skirmish With The Status Quo Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Feb 2, 2012

Jesus begins his ministry and immediately clashes with the understanding of the people and the forces of evil. Jesus confronts the status quo of our live seeking to free us from the chains that bind us and to enable us to experience true freedom.

Mark 1:21-28 “Skirmish with the Status Quo” INTRODUCTION The beginning of Mark’s gospel is in stark contrast to those of the other gospel writers. You do not find a boring list of Jesus’ ancestors, as you do in Matthew, nor the heartwarming story of Jesus’ birth ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28

Denomination: Lutheran

Abraham, A Man Challenged #13 Series

Contributed by Raymond Smith on Jan 20, 2008

The Potency of Righteousness

Abraham, a man of Challenge, Faith and Promise The Potency of Righteousness Reading: Genesis 18:16-22 Last time we were looking at this chapter, we looked at the terrible tendency of human nature to accept the Status Quo, as somehow being the inevitable, unchangeable, the "this is the way it ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:16-22

Denomination: Pentecostal

Part 4 - Genesis 18:16-30 - Just Passing By And Saw Your Light On ... Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jul 9, 2010

So why did they stop off at Abraham's place first? Just passing by, saw your light on and thought we would drop in? Lord, let me have that kind of light, but what was the point of eating a meal with Abraham and then going on?

Part 4 - Genesis 18:16-30 - JUST PASSING BY AND SAW YOUR LIGHT ON ... He slipped away into eternity peacefully the other day as we stood by his bed. The family and I held hands and prayed as an old man who loved the Lord and loved his family was in that moment absent from the body and present with ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Land Where People Never Go Free

Contributed by Monte Brown on Mar 6, 2009

Nothing outside of life itself is cherished more than freedom: Mankind will give everything they possess for that most precious thing. Yet there are countless thousands willing to throw away all hopes of that most cherished thing, and travel continual

The Land Where People Never Go Free Revelation 1:17-18 Monte T. Brown June 6, 2007 Wednesday Night Heart O’ the Hills Nothing outside of life itself is cherished more than freedom: Mankind will give everything they possess for that most precious thing. Yet there ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Seeking Understanding

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 1, 2014

God redeemed the world through suffering, and we can understand, if not fully comprehend, the mystery.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday 2014 Lumen Fidei On this first day after the solemn beginning of Lent, as we begin our forty-day retreat, the Church gives us some stark words. Deuteronomy tells us that the choice is between life and death, between blessing and curse. Honor and obey God alone, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:22-25

Denomination: Catholic

An Unbroken Chain Of Witnesses Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 15, 2014

The rich man was isolated, even from his brothers. True faith comes usually from someone sharing it with us.

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent 2014 Lumen Fidei Recently we discovered an infestation of what are called “acrobat” ants, Crematogaster hespera, in our house. We had the pest control folks treat the house with good success. The treatment was a chemical friendly to the good fauna ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Catholic

We Must Serve The Poor Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 25, 2016

The church ministered to the poor. If we lose that character, we are no longer the true church.

Fifth Day of the Christmas Octave 2016 Joy of the Gospel St. John the Evangelist is the apostle and evangelist of love, but he can write in very black-and-white manners. In his first epistle his language is stark: if you obey the law to love your brother you are walking as Jesus did. If you say ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-35

Denomination: Catholic

A Single Commandment

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 7, 2015

A two-pronged, present-continuous, commandment to love - set in its original context.

A SINGLE COMMANDMENT. 1 John 3:16-24. “This is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another” (1 John 3:23). Before we look at the two prongs of this single commandment, we need to set the verse within its immediate context. The ones who ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:16-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Can We Refuse To See Our Brothers And Sisters? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 3, 2015

We cannot love God if we refuse to work for the betterment and evangelization of the poor.

Thursday after Epiphany 2015 Joy of the Gospel St. John’s letter is pretty stark today: “If any one says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” Our love for our brothers ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Our Face Set Toward Jerusalem Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 28, 2019

Athanasius taught that God became human so that humans could be made divine. But even the baptized struggle with the profound negative impacts of original sins in our physical, emotional and spiritual lives.

Tuesday of the 26th Week in Course 2019 St. Therese of Liseaux The connection between our two Scripture readings today is stark. The prophet Zechariah, writing a couple of hundred years before Christ, is in a society dominated by Hellenist culture, polytheism and utter contempt for Biblical faith ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-56, Zechariah 8:21-23

Denomination: Catholic

Called To Serve

Contributed by David Dewitt on Dec 16, 2014

We have been called by Christ to serve His Kingdom

Called to Serve Luke 10:17-24 November 2, 2014 Evening Service What is an essential quality for ministry? What do we have to do to be effective in ministry? People have to be the primary focus in making ministry effective. There is no ministry if there are no people. The whole purpose behind ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:17-24

Denomination: Church Of God