Sermons on Rodney Stark:

One Holy Purpose Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 23, 2016

Examining the motivation for Paul's perseverance and service can encourage believers to persevere in the midst of a darkened world that increasingly opposes the Faith.

“I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” [1] The Apostle has emphasised a concept that is not often welcomed today—hardship. Directing student ministries at a major pastoral school some ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:10

Denomination: Baptist

In These Last Days Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 25, 2016

A review of the characteristics of life in the last days and how the people of God must respond to those conditions.

IN THESE LAST DAYS "Understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Justification Through Faith In Jesus Christ Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 26, 2017

A brief study of justification by faith in Christ the Lord and a review of some reasons why human effort can never justify an individual.

“We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

Does The Virgin Birth Matter? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 2, 2017

The virgin birth is necessary if prophecy is to be fulfilled. Satan sought to usurp the place of God, appropriating worship to himself. Though he did deceive our first mother, God intervened to ensure that he could not destroy mankind.

“The LORD God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:14-15

Denomination: Baptist

Immanuel (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 10, 2017

A brief study of Isaiah's prophecy promising the birth of a child known as Immanuel.

“The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” [1] Signs loom large in the Word of God. I don’t mean to imply that there is a plethora of signs, though there are many signs provided in the Bible, for various reasons; I ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Immanuel (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 16, 2017

The message is a brief review of how our modern Christmas observance came to be. It is a call for Christians to remember what it must be if we will know the power and the peace of the Saviour.

“The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

When The Fullness Of Time Had Come... Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 23, 2017

A review of Paul's understanding of the Virgin Birth of our Lord. The impact of being a "son of God" through faith in the Risen Christ.

“When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So, you are no ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7

Denomination: Baptist

What The New Year Holds Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 29, 2017

The desperate times in which we live provides some of the greatest opportunities to advance the Faith. Now is the time for the faithful to seize the initiative and push back against the night.

“I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.” [1] “X-rays will prove to be a hoax!” So said Lord Kelvin, president of the Royal Society, in 1883. “Louis Pasteur’s theory of germs is ridiculous ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Selling The Sizzle; Tossing The Steak

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 6, 2018

Do Christians seek comfort? Or do we seek substance? Jesus offered substance, but it wasn't always appreciated, even by those identified as disciples.

“When many of his disciples heard [Jesus’ teaching], they said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’ But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, ‘Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-68

Denomination: Baptist

When He Appears Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 13, 2018

What do we know concerning the return of Christ the Lord? John points Christians to that day as a means of encouraging holy living.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

When A Christian Prays Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 20, 2018

When a Christian prays, God is pledged to act. This is especially true when we pray for fellow Christians who have begun to stray.

“This is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:14-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Tell-Tale Life Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 27, 2018

Those who are twice-born reveal divine parentage through life, through confidence and through victory.

“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.” [1] Some truths cannot be hidden. Though an evil individual may attempt to hide the evil that contaminates the soul, the sinful proclivity ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

If You Would Be Perfect

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 31, 2015

Stewardship begins with stewardship of life--receiving the life that Jesus offers. All that we consider "stewardship" flows from this first great decision.

“Behold, a man came up to him, saying, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.’ He said to him, ‘Which ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-30

Denomination: Baptist

To Timothy, My Beloved Child Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 8, 2015

Weighing the salutation of Paul's Second Letter to Timothy to discover hidden gems.

“To Timothy, my beloved child: “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” [1] We tend to rush past the introductions and greetings of the letters included in the canon of Scripture. Perhaps we modern believers imagine that we know all there is to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:2

Denomination: Baptist

A Perfect Plan For A Perfect Marriage

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 14, 2015

The challenge of building a strong marriage in a world increasingly opposed to godly marriage.

“The LORD God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’ Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-25

Denomination: Baptist