Sermons on Rodney Stark:

From Alienation To Reconciliation.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 15, 2023

"For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:18).

FROM ALIENATION TO RECONCILIATION. Ephesians 2:11-22. 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 2:11-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walking In The Light Of Christ Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on May 19, 2025

The Bible warns us about the dangers of ungodly influences and encourages us to separate ourselves from those who reject truth and positivity.

The Importance of Separating from Toxic Ungodly Influences As children of God, we are called to walk in the light of Christ, adhering to His teachings and commandments. However, the presence of ungodly individuals in our lives can pose a significant threat to our spiritual well-being. The Bible ...read more

Scripture: John 3:20, 1 Corinthians 15:33

Open The Door Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 23, 2010

The message to the church in Laodicea shows us that in order to get what we really need in life, we must let Jesus in to our lives.

In his book, The Second Coming of the Church, Christian researcher and pollster, George Barna, documents his findings about the differences in behaviors between those who identify themselves as born again Christians and non-Christians here in the United States. Among the results of his surveys are ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Baptist

Victorious Jesus

Contributed by Timothy Dolan on May 2, 2010

This sermon is about worship. It describes judgment of God; the song of Moses; and the song of the Lamb in Revelation 15:1-3.

Victorious Jesus Scripture Text: Revelation 15 One of the greatest facts of worship; is that we congregate together here to come into te presence of God. As Christians, we know that God is with us continually through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. But, we come here so that we can not only ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 15:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Worshipping The Snake

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 23, 2006

Christians easily slip into venerating the "things" God gives to bless us. Hezekiah, as he ascended to the throne, destroyed the bronze serpent because the people had lapsed into idolatry without realising what they were doing.

2 KINGS 18:1-4 WORSHIPPING THE SNAKE 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 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 18:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

A Harvest Of Righteousness Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 13, 2008

Biblical peace is both the soil in which righteousness grows and the fruit that comes from a peaceable life.

JAMES 3:18 A HARVEST OF RIGHTEOUSNESS “A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Canadians pride themselves on their perceived role as peacekeepers serving under United Nations mandates. Since Lester Pearson proposed an international peacekeeping force to supervise ...read more

Scripture: James 3:18

Denomination: Baptist

We Believe Better Than We Behave Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 20, 2008

Confronting the normal tendency to promote our own interests,even while surrendering to the reign of God’s Spirit, goes a long way toward promoting unity within the congregation.

JAMES 4:1–3 WE BELIEVE BETTER THAN WE BEHAVE “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Your Internal Conflict Just Spilled Over Into The Church Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 27, 2008

The disastrous reign of our own desires threatens the health of Christ’s people. James confronts us with the need to address this dreadful malady that contaminates the work of God.

JAMES 4:1-3 YOUR INTERNAL CONFLICT JUST SPILLED OVER INTO THE CHURCH “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Guests At The Devil's Table

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 5, 2008

Participants at the Lord’s Table cannot participate at the table of demonic powers.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:18-22 GUESTS AT THE DEVIL’S TABLE “Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:18-22

Denomination: Baptist

A Neglected Command

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 10, 2008

How odd that Christians should be commanded to be thankful. However, upon reflection, we discover that we truly need such commands if we will honour God.

A NEGLECTED COMMAND COLOSSIANS 3:15b “And be thankful.” Only three words comprise our English text; but the text is assuredly appropriate on this Sunday before our national day of Thanksgiving. It serves to remind us of one of the essential characteristics marking the person who knows the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:15

Denomination: Baptist

The High Cost Of Friendship With The World Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 18, 2008

Friendship with the world is enmity with God. Can any Christian truly afford the price demanded so that we can be friends with the world?

JAMES 4:4 THE HIGH COST OF FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Ouch! James is not nice! He calls fellow Christians harsh names ...read more

Scripture: James 4:4

Denomination: Baptist

Steps To A Successful Christian Life Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 25, 2008

Rejecting the wisdom of the world means little if we fail to embrace the wisdom from above. James provides practical steps that will lead to success in the Christian life.

JAMES 4:5-10 STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE “Do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the Spirit that he has made to dwell in us?’ But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit ...read more

Scripture: James 4:5-10

Denomination: Baptist

Picking A Fight We Cannot Win

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 2, 2008

Attempting to worship the Lord with one foot in the world is provocative, to say the least. Christians need to take heed to their attempts to worship.

CORINTHIANS 10:20-22 PICKING A FIGHT WE CANNOT WIN “What pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:20-22

Denomination: Baptist

Mourning Our Fallen

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 9, 2008

A meditation on Remembrance Day, 2008.

2 SAMUEL 1:17-27 MOURNING OUR FALLEN “David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan. (He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught “The Bow.” Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.) “The beauty of Israel lies slain on your high places! How the mighty ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:17-27

Denomination: Baptist

A Reward For Obedience

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 15, 2008

There is a closer tie between our view of children and our view of God than we might ever suspect.

EXODUS 1:1-21 A REWARD FOR OBEDIENCE “These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:1-21

Denomination: Baptist