Sermons on Stark:

An Old Commandment That Is Now New

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 27, 2014

We may either love one another or hate one another; there is no halfway in this situation. God calls us to love. Failure to love is hatred.

“Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Want To Go Away As Well?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 2, 2015

When adherents and members leave the fellowship of a congregation, how should we respond? We find guidance for our response in the actions of the Master.

JOHN 6:60-71 DO YOU WANT TO GO AWAY AS WELL? “When many of his disciples heard [Jesus’ describing Himself as ‘the Bread of Life’], they said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’ But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-71

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

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

Practising Worship (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 15, 2017

Though we speak of worship, I suspect that few of us worship. Perhaps we are uncertain of Whom we should seek or what we should do when we have found Him. This Psalm addresses those issues.

“Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. “The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the LORD ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 29:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Practising Witnessing Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 23, 2017

The Great Commission is given to all Christians. As we go, we are charged to fulfil this mandate to witness. The message explores some parameters of the commission to encourage believers to fulfil Christ's command.

“Jesus came and said to [the disciples], ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

Is Your God Wobbly?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 29, 2017

Whomever, or whatever, we choose as our god will either prop us up, or need to be propped up.

1 SAMUEL 5:1-5 IS YOUR GOD WOBBLY? “When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 5:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

"But If Not..."

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 5, 2017

A dearth of godly conviction condemns the professing Christian to a life of defeat. The advance of the Faith and the certainty of our victory is based upon our convictions.

“King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Rebellion Against The Lord! Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 13, 2017

God created all things to work in an orderly fashion. Anything that creates disorder, dishonours the Living God, inviting His judgement. The message focuses on one particular rebellion in the camp of Israel, considering God's response.

“Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 16:1-35

Denomination: Baptist

But Some Doubted...

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 9, 2017

The struggle to believe when the evidence is before us is exemplified by the response of Apostles to the Risen Saviour.

“The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.” [1] This is shocking! The eleven disciples obeyed the command Jesus had given. Some women had gone to the tomb in order to prepare His body for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-17

Denomination: Baptist

When Judging, We Are Judged Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 23, 2017

The Word cautions Christians against a judgemental attitude. When we imagine that we are judging others--even those we identify as "wicked sinners," we expose ourselves to the very judgements we pronounce.

“You have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.” [1] “We know” is an expression used ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Justified? Or Judged? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 30, 2017

Is there a way for us to make ourselves acceptable to God? The Apostle Paul teaches that such a thought is an impossibility.

“We know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” [1] “So that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-20

Denomination: Baptist