Sermons on Stark:

Marks Of The True Church: Unity Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 1, 2024

The unity of the Faith transcends denominations, embracing all who are twice born through faith in Christ the Lord.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23

Denomination: Baptist

Marks Of The True Church: Love Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 8, 2024

Christians are lovers. We are distinguished from the world by Who we love and the manner in which we reveal our love. Ours is a love which results from the love of God which is poured out into our lives.

“O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” [1] Karl Barth, the Swiss theologian, ...read more

Scripture: John 17:25-26

Denomination: Baptist

I Need You To Touch Me!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 16, 2024

We often delay seeking Christ's help until desperation drives us to Him. He stands ready to deliver us when we come to Him confessing our need for Him to touch us.

“When [Jesus] came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’ And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

The Ecstasy Before The Agony

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 23, 2024

Religious excitement does not necessarily translate into spiritual worship. Rather, the one following Jesus must guard against being turned aside by that which appears good. Remember that good is enemy of the best.

“The large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-19

Denomination: Baptist

We Saw It, But We Don't Really Believe It!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 28, 2024

The struggle to believe is real, but it is overcome when we meet the Risen, Living Son of God.

“On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

"i Know My Rights!"

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 11, 2024

Jesus encourages His disciples to pray. We have a right to ask great things of God, knowing that He will do what glorifies His Name.

“[Jesus] told [the disciples] a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, “Give me justice against my ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

A Call To Greatness

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 1, 2025

The future is built on decisions we make today. God calls and we are to obey.

“On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

"if Your Presence Will Not Go With Me,,,"

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 8, 2025

When God threatens to withdraw His presence, the critical danger demands that leaders plead with the Lord to stay near.

“The LORD said to Moses, ‘Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, “To your offspring I will give it.” I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Where Is God When I Hurt?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 14, 2025

Is there purpose in our suffering if we are Christians? What can God accomplish through our sorrow?

“As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep. “And Saul approved of his execution. “And there arose on that day a great ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God And The Wicked

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 23, 2025

God’s judgements compel the inhabitants of the world to learn righteousness! For the redeemed, His judgements encourage us while giving evidence of His love. For the wicked, His judgements cannot be understood, even when seen.

“The path of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous. In the path of your judgments, O LORD, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul. My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

Is It Enough?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 30, 2025

Jesus, the Son of God, has fulfilled the prophecy given through Isaiah promising God's redemption. The question many raise is, "Is It Enough?"

“It was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

Deceitful Religion

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 6, 2025

Jacob's sons distorted the Faith; the Shechemites attempted to co-opt the religious practices of the Israelites to enrich themselves. Both groups attempted to use religion to obtain their own ends, resulting in death and destruction. Deceitful religion always leads to ruin and destruction.

“Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 34:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

No Place Like It!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 18, 2025

By focusing on the first congregation, we can discover how we can transform our own church into the powerful congregation God intends it to be.

“When [the disciples] had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:31-35

Denomination: Baptist

So That You May Prosper And Live Long

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 21, 2025

God promises rich blessings for those who obey Him.

“You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:32-33, Deuteronomy 6:24-25

Denomination: Baptist

Have We Lost Anybody?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 31, 2025

Biblical orthodoxy demands that Christians focus on first things if we will fulfil the will of the Father.

“I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” [1] Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi would begin the first practice of each season by holding up a football and saying, “This is a football… Have we lost anybody?” For Christians, “This is the Bible, the Word of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:2

Denomination: Baptist