Sermons on Stark:

If That's The Way Christians Act, I Want Nothing To Do With Their God!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 6, 2022

Lost people often use our failure to live as we ought to justify their rejection of Christ. While we cannot excuse them, we must know that we do offend. Therefore, we require grace to honour God and to avoid giving offence to the lost.

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

Insulting God In Worship

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 24, 2018

A study of Jesus' final rebuff of the temptations He faced after His baptism. He exulted in the worship of the Father. Just so, if we will be successful at rebuffing the tempter, it will be because we resort to the Living God, worshipping Him only.

“Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” [1] We know how to worship; we have the act down pat. Worship is a Psalm, an invocation, two hymns, prayer, two more hymns, a sermon and a closing hymn. Simple! Right? But, what if what ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

When We Forget God

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 3, 2018

God warns against forgetting Who He is and what He has done. The example provided is Israel during the wilderness wanderings. The message explores this concept, especially in relationship to the prayer life of Christians.

“[Israel] soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel. But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.” “We want what we want; and we want it when we want it.” This ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 105:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

The God Whom We Know

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 10, 2018

What do we know about God? Does what we know influence our response to Him and to others? These are the issues explored in this message.

“We know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” [1] Few portions of the Word are calculated to give the Christian pause as is this one verse. The Living God does not ignore ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:30-31

Denomination: Baptist

Private Worship Is Essential For A Healthy Relationship With God

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 17, 2018

Though public worship is vital to the growth of a congregation, private worship must never be neglected. In fact, private worship is essential if we will worship corporately. The message explores by examining an incident in the life of Gideon.

“As soon as Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped.” [1] Pastors will not have spent much time in the pastorate until they learn the awful truth that preparing for worship is such intense work and so demanding that worship may often be ignored! It is a tragic ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Bowling Alone: Dying For Lack Of Hope

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 24, 2018

The aloneness that has become a hallmark of our modern age presents a great opportunity for the people of God to present the message of life. As Christ calls people to rest in Him, the churches must echo that call.

“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [1] Robert Putnam raised a red flag for people living in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

A Holiday For Fools

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 31, 2018

Who is a fool? The one who worships a living Saviour? Or the one who says he needs no god? The message is a presentation of the reasonable position of worshipping Christ who conquered death.

“Fools say to themselves, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt and commit evil deeds; not one of them practices what is good. “The LORD looks down from the heavens upon humanity to see if anyone shows discernment as he searches for God. All have turned away, together they have become corrupt; ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 14:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

You Got What You Wanted, But You Lost What You Had!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 7, 2018

We must guard against pursuing our desires at the expense of do what honours God. Christians, especially, can lose effectiveness in service if they fail to consider the cost of their choices.

GENESIS 25:29-34 YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED, BUT YOU LOST WHAT YOU HAD! [1] Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore, his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:29-34

Denomination: Baptist

Making The Pagans Happy (For A While)

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 14, 2018

Godliness exalts a nation. Ungodliness condemns a nation. A study of the migration of godly people from a nation turning from righteousness and the impact their leaving had on that nation and the nation to which the immigrated.

“The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel presented themselves to him from all places where they lived. For the Levites left their common lands and their holdings and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons cast them out from serving as priests of the LORD, and he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 11:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Whatever Were You Thinking? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 4, 2021

If we dishonour Christ by treating the Lord's Table with disdain, we can anticipate His discipline.

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.” [1] “Whatever was he thinking?” That is the question that was no doubt on the minds of many Canadians when they first read of the fall of Colin ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:27

Denomination: Baptist

If The Foundations Are Destroyed...

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 10, 2021

In tumultuous times, how shall the righteous live? The Psalmist has given us godly counsel that must be applied to our lives.

“In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, ‘Flee like a bird to your mountain, for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? “The LORD is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 11:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Root Of Immorality

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 18, 2021

A redraft of a message that was never preached due to Covid Lockdowns. The message is a call for Christians to reassess their relationship with the Lord 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

The Crown Has Fallen

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 25, 2021

In tumultuous times of national unrest, the people of God must turn to God to plead for their nation. The message is a call for God's people to see the danger in which we stand at this hour.

Remember, O LORD, what has befallen us; look, and see our disgrace! Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners. We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows. We must pay for the water we drink; the wood we get must be bought. Our pursuers ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 5:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

I Won't Complain Any More!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 26, 2020

The whining of the people of Israel following God's deliverance from slavery is too often echoed among the churches of this day. Grumbling is a serious sin against God, inviting His divine judgement.

“The people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

The Tyranny Of The Experts

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 3, 2021

A study of the danger posed when experts assume control over a society, over a community, or over a church. The message is a call to participatory Christianity.

“Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-36

Denomination: Baptist