Sermons on Stark:

A Confession Of Participation Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 5, 2008

We speak of Communion, but what does it mean to participate in the life of the Body?

1 CORINTHIANS 10:16, 17 A CONFESSION OF PARTICIPATION “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Denomination: Baptist

A Harvest Of Righteousness Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 13, 2008

Biblical peace is both the soil in which righteousness grows and the fruit that comes from a peaceable life.

JAMES 3:18 A HARVEST OF RIGHTEOUSNESS “A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Canadians pride themselves on their perceived role as peacekeepers serving under United Nations mandates. Since Lester Pearson proposed an international peacekeeping force to supervise ...read more

Scripture: James 3:18

Denomination: Baptist

We Believe Better Than We Behave Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 20, 2008

Confronting the normal tendency to promote our own interests,even while surrendering to the reign of God’s Spirit, goes a long way toward promoting unity within the congregation.

JAMES 4:1–3 WE BELIEVE BETTER THAN WE BEHAVE “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Your Internal Conflict Just Spilled Over Into The Church Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 27, 2008

The disastrous reign of our own desires threatens the health of Christ’s people. James confronts us with the need to address this dreadful malady that contaminates the work of God.

JAMES 4:1-3 YOUR INTERNAL CONFLICT JUST SPILLED OVER INTO THE CHURCH “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Guests At The Devil's Table

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 5, 2008

Participants at the Lord’s Table cannot participate at the table of demonic powers.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:18-22 GUESTS AT THE DEVIL’S TABLE “Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:18-22

Denomination: Baptist

A Neglected Command

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 10, 2008

How odd that Christians should be commanded to be thankful. However, upon reflection, we discover that we truly need such commands if we will honour God.

A NEGLECTED COMMAND COLOSSIANS 3:15b “And be thankful.” Only three words comprise our English text; but the text is assuredly appropriate on this Sunday before our national day of Thanksgiving. It serves to remind us of one of the essential characteristics marking the person who knows the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:15

Denomination: Baptist

The High Cost Of Friendship With The World Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 18, 2008

Friendship with the world is enmity with God. Can any Christian truly afford the price demanded so that we can be friends with the world?

JAMES 4:4 THE HIGH COST OF FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Ouch! James is not nice! He calls fellow Christians harsh names ...read more

Scripture: James 4:4

Denomination: Baptist

Steps To A Successful Christian Life Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 25, 2008

Rejecting the wisdom of the world means little if we fail to embrace the wisdom from above. James provides practical steps that will lead to success in the Christian life.

JAMES 4:5-10 STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE “Do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the Spirit that he has made to dwell in us?’ But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit ...read more

Scripture: James 4:5-10

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Schizophrenia Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 20, 2008

It is impossible to live a life characterized by blessing God while simultaneously cursing other believers. To attempt to so live is to demonstrate that one is suffering spiritual schizophrenia.

JAMES 3:7-12 SPIRITUAL SCHIZOPHRENIA “Every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who ...read more

Scripture: James 3:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

Completing The Work

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 27, 2008

The message is intended to provide encouragement for a new congregation to remember the task before them. It is a call to see the magnitude of the labour and the greatness of God.

TITUS 1:5, 10-2:1 COMPLETING THE WORK “I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order… “For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A New Covenant Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 2, 2008

A Communion meditation warning us against substituting ritual for relationship.

MATTHEW 26:26-29 A NEW COVENANT “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:26-29

Denomination: Baptist

Greet The Friends By Name

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 9, 2008

The message encourages the people of God to capture again the attitude of friendship within the assembly.

3 JOHN 13-15 GREET THE FRIENDS BY NAME “I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. “Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, every one of them.” John’s third letter is to addressed to a ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

One Year Later

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 17, 2008

A message urging a young church to emulate the Thessalonian Christians as they anticipate the future.

1 THESSALONIANS 1:2-10 ONE YEAR LATER “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10

Denomination: Baptist

Demonic Wisdom Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 23, 2008

Many churches operate with demonic wisdom rather than with heavenly wisdom. James confronts us, calling us to recognise the evil that can destroy us.

JAMES 3:13-16 DEMONIC WISDOM “If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder ...read more

Scripture: James 3:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

Divine Wisdom Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 30, 2008

What does wisdom from above look like? What would happen in a church displaying such heavenly wisdom? James gives us the answer to these questions.

JAMES 3:17, 18 DIVINE WISDOM “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown by those who make peace” James called for people of wisdom to identify themselves. Those who ...read more

Scripture: James 3:17-18

Denomination: Baptist