Sermons on Stark: showing 256-270 of 3,189

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Six Woes.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 9, 2023

Our Lord Jesus did not hesitate to rebuke hypocrisy.

SIX WOES. Luke 11:37-54. A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him (LUKE 11:37). Though this man was probably not converted, Jesus did not refuse to recline at table with him. Jesus accepted the hospitality of the Pharisee, but did not fail to use the opportunity to speak out against the whole ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:37-54

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Petulance Of Jonah.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 25, 2023

God, for His part, cares for the whole of His creation.

THE PETULANCE OF JONAH. Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-11. The LORD is merciful to those who repent (JONAH 3:10; cf. Psalm 130:3-4). When Jonah at last arrived in Nineveh after his circuitous journey, his message was simple: ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown’ (cf. Jonah 3:4). ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Could This Be The Biggest Myth In Evangelism Today? Series

Contributed by Louis Posthauer on Mar 17, 2022

This myth has effectively crippled much evangelism in the West in our time because we actually believe it and operate as if it were true. And it is not.

What myth? Anyone in church leadership in the West knows that to a great extent, the growth of active Christians in a Christian community (of whatever sort—big church, little church, home church, store front church and so on) has diminished and flattened out. The reason is that we in the Western ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:4, Matthew 19:12-13, Jeremiah 16:16

Who Really Is Responsible? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 16, 2021

It took some time to process the traumatic and surprising events of Holy Week

3rd Sunday of Easter When something traumatic happens in your family, perhaps a death or serious injury, do you find often that there’s at least a temptation toward chaos? This is especially true if one of the key linchpins in the family is taken out of commission for a time, or even permanently. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-5, Luke 24:35-48, Acts 3:13-19

Denomination: Catholic

The Last Passover

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 9, 2020

A planned betrayal. Institution of Communion. Singing Praise. On to Gethsemane.

THE LAST PASSOVER. Matthew 26:14-30. Even before the chief priests and the scribes had wrongly determined that the death of Jesus should not take place ‘during the feast’ (Matthew 26:5), Jesus had already predicted exactly when His death would take place (Matthew 26:2). They were wrong, He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:14-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hatred And The Outworking Of Love.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 26, 2024

Recalling Jesus' commandment to love one another.

HATRED AND THE OUTWORKING OF LOVE. 1 John 3:13-24. “Marvel not” – stop wondering – that the world of the ungodly hates you (1 JOHN 3:13). Abel’s righteousness stood as a rebuke to Cain, and Cain killed him for it (cf. 1 John 3:12). The ones who ‘abide in death’ (1 JOHN 3:14) are identified as ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:13-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Embracing The Call To Sacrificial Living Series

Contributed by Dr. John Singarayar on Feb 20, 2024

Finding Meaning in Times of Trial.

Embracing the Call to Sacrificial Living Scripture: John 12:20-33 Introduction: Finding Meaning in Times of Trial. Reflection In the tumultuous landscape of today's world, where uncertainty looms large and adversity seems to be an ever-present companion, the timeless wisdom encapsulated ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-33

Denomination: Other

Stop Chasing The World You Will Be Left Empty And Broken. Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Mar 9, 2024

The world we live in often entices us to chase after its fleeting pleasures and riches but let us be reminded that these things are temporal and will ultimately leave us empty and broken.

We live in a world that is consumed by chaos and darkness. Every day, we are bombarded with news of conflict, suffering, and despair. It can be easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of worldly pursuits and seek to impress those around us with our accomplishments and possessions. As Jesus taught ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20, Psalm 34:19, Luke 12:15, Colossians 3:2