Sermons on Stark:

Practising Worship Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 8, 2017

The message is a study of the conduct of the assembly at the Lord's Table

“In the following instructions, I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

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

Grateful For Our Elder Brothers

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 8, 2017

A plea for Christians to turn from anti-Semitism and to love Israel for Christ's sake.

“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? ‘Lord, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 11:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Judged By My Own Actions Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 15, 2017

A study of the continual struggle each believer faces as the Spirit confronts the flesh.

“If it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’ But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:7-20

Denomination: Baptist

What We Learn From Creation's Groanings Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 21, 2017

The sorrow we experience as we witness the devolution of culture creates a longing for Heaven and for Christ.

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Hell Is The Default Destination!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 28, 2017

All people are destined for Hell, except for those who accept the intervention of Christ the Lord.

“It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

All Things! Really? All Things? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 5, 2017

When Paul writes "for those who love God all things work together for good," he writes to encourage Christians not to be discouraged by trials. "All things" urges us to look beyond the moment to see the glory that is to be revealed.

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26-30

Denomination: Baptist

When Common Knowledge Fails Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 12, 2017

"Everyone knows" can become an excuse for our bias in the church. The Apostle instructs us to see our strength as imposing responsibility rather than conferring privilege.

“Concerning food offered to idols: we know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ This ‘knowledge’ puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. “Therefore, as to the eating of food ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-8

Denomination: Baptist