Sermons on Rodney Stark:

Things God Will Not Tell Us

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 19, 2020

God permits His people to think His thoughts after Him. However, our finite minds are unable to discover all that can be known of God and of His work in the lives of people.

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” [1] You should always be suspicious of the one who claims superior knowledge. Should he claim to know the deep secrets of God, RUN! ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 29:29

Denomination: Baptist

To Dip, Or Not

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 8, 2020

A study of the transformation Naaman experienced may encourage us to humble ourselves before the Lord.

“Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Danger Of Being Too Important

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 14, 2020

A message that warns against the destructive power of pride, encouraging followers of Christ to serve with humility.

“Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.’ But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, ‘Behold, I thought that he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

What Do You Know?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 21, 2020

Knowing God means that we love the brothers and build them in the Faith.

“Concerning food offered to idols: we know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ This ‘knowledge’ puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it. But if anyone loves God, he is known by him.” [1] “I’m as good a Christian as you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

God's Crybaby

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 27, 2020

The wickedness witnessed in contemporary society breaks the heart of the follower of Christ, just as such evil breaks the heart of the Saviour.

“‘The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.’ For the wound of the daughter of my people is my heart wounded; I mourn, and dismay has taken hold on me. “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Investment In Hope

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 5, 2020

In a world which is increasingly unstable, what should the follower of Christ do? How shall we invest our lives to ensure that we accomplish something of eternal worth?

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard that was in the palace of ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-44

Denomination: Baptist

Anointed For Profit

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 12, 2020

Pastors and teachers are appointed to serve Christ and His churches. They lovingly tend His flock without thought of personal enrichment.

“The word of the LORD came to me: ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

No Sweat!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 21, 2020

Worship, true worship, worship that honours God, flows from the Spirit of God through the life of a follower of Christ who seeks to be pure and holy. True worship requires no effort on the part of the worshipper. Rather, it is the effortless response of that one who seeks the True and Living God.

“[The priests] shall have linen turbans on their heads, and linen undergarments around their waists. They shall not bind themselves with anything that causes sweat.” [1] God is concerned about the smallest facet of the lives of His children. It is not an insignificant matter to speak of the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 44:18

Denomination: Baptist

Peace In Uncertain Times (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 25, 2020

A radio message addressing the Coronavirus panic. Steps for the conscientious Christian to conquer the panic induced by fear.

David Jeremiah recently provided a brief message for his San Diego congregation. He spoke about how Christians should respond to the Coronavirus panic. [1] I intend to use these points for followers of the Christ in the order Pastor Jeremiah presented them in his encouraging message. I suspect ...read more

Scripture: John 14:27

Denomination: Baptist

Peace In Uncertain Times (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 27, 2020

A radio message designed to encourage believers to rejoice in the peace Christ offers those who walk with Him. The world defines "peace" in a manner that is unattainable. Christ offers peace that is the heritage of each person who knows Him as Master over life.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” [JOHN 14:27]. [1] “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch ...read more

Scripture: John 14:27

Denomination: Baptist

The Root Of Immorality

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 29, 2020

Have the professed people of God permitted themselves to be compromised by the world to such an extend that they are powerless against wickedness? Though the thought is frightful, Christians need to assess our relationship with the Living God.

The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity. And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. They shall eat, ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 4:7-19

Denomination: Baptist

God In The Dark

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 29, 2020

Where was God when Jesus was crucified? The divine mystery is that God provided Himself as a sacrifice for sinful man. We are humbled by this knowledge, and eternally blessed.

“From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, ‘This man is calling ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:45-54

Denomination: Baptist

Is This The End?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 4, 2020

A radio message exploring Jesus' prophecy recorded in Matthew 24. Some are asking if the current conditions are fulfilment of prophecy. The message explores that question.

“Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.’ “As he sat on the Mount ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

A Message For An Intellectual Age

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 9, 2020

Paul's message before the Areopagus forms the basis for a study of how to approach an intellectual audience. This knowledge is necessary if we are to succeed in presenting the Faith in the midst of our world today. This is the substance of a radio message at Easter.

“Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: ‘Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: “To the unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-32

Denomination: Baptist

The Party Crasher

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 21, 2019

Christ receives sinners. Just so, the assemblies of our Lord should be noted for welcoming those who are identified as sinners, since we each were once estranged from the Lord until He welcomed us.

“One of the Pharisees asked [Jesus] to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Baptist