Sermons on Stone Jars:

What Does God Think About Our Plans? (James 4:13-17) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Aug 1, 2022

We can make plans, but God expects us to be flexible, and willing to set them aside, for Him. We delight in God, living in faithfulness to Him. We don't delight in stuff.

Today, our focus will be on James 4:13-17. One of the interesting things about this passage is that there two pretty different ways of reading it. Both approaches take the verses seriously. Both issue a call, and a challenge, that the church needs to hear. But they differ in what exactly that ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Psalm 90 - Redeeming The Time Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Aug 15, 2022

This sermon focuses on how Moses puts time in its proper context and three strategies for redeeming it before our time comes to an end.

How many of you have been following the Olympics? How many of you watched the opening ceremonies last week? What I liked about the opening ceremonies is how the British were able to creatively incorporate some of their royalty, their celebrities into the opening ceremony. If you watched the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-17

Denomination: Christian Church

A Dove On Distant Oaks Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 7, 2022

Fleeing for his life because the king was determined to kill him, David fled from one dangerous situation only to enter into another dangerous situation. Where does a child of God go when danger is all around?

For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.” A Miktam of David. When the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be gracious to me, God, for a man is trampling me; he fights and oppresses me all day long. My adversaries trample me all day, for many arrogantly fight against me. When ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 56:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

When God Changes His Mind (Jonah 3:1-10) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Sep 8, 2022

The king of Assyria knows that there's a chance that God will change his mind, and not bring about the promised judgment. God prefers to forgive, and bless. For three chapters in a row, God has shown mercy, not judgment.

The book of Jonah began in a surprising way. Yahweh called Yonah to go to Ninevah, and Yonah disobeyed. This is not what prophets do. Prophets obey. But Yonah ran the wrong direction, to the end of the known world, at Tarshish. When that didn't work, he chose death over Yahweh. He refused ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10, Numbers 22:18-25, 1 Samuel 15:10-29

Punishment Pays For Sin (Exodus 32:15-35, Isaiah 53:1-6) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Feb 10, 2023

Sometimes, God is unwilling to "carry" sin; it has to be paid for through punishment. This idea, supported by Isaiah 40, unlocks the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. Jesus atoned, by taking the punishment of our sin.

Let's start today by rereading last week's passage Exodus 32:1-14: (1) and the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, and the people gathered/assembled before Aaron, and they said to him, "Rise up. Make for us elohim who shall walk/go before ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:15-35, Isaiah 40:1-2, Isaiah 53:1-6, Numbers 25:1-13

Taking No Chances

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 24, 2023

Incomplete obedience is disobedience. And yet, many fellow Christians attempt to serve God while living for the world. We need to discover the will of the Lord and courageously do that will.

“In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 15:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Make Me Clean Lord - Mark 1:36-45 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 1, 2023

What Jesus did for the leper is a picture of what he does for our hearts.

Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:36-45

Dr. Jesus - Mark 1:40-2:20 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 1, 2023

To receive forgiveness, realize your disease, have faith, and follow him. And once you’re forgiven, obey, invite others, and rejoice.

Mark 1:40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. 43 Jesus sent him ...read more

Picky Picky - Mark 2:23-28 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 29, 2023

The Pharisees accuse the disciples of Sabbath breaking when they pick grain while traveling. Jesus responds by pointing to David eating the bread of the presence.

Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:23-28

A Serious Inquiry Into The Role Of The Under Shepherd Of The Church"

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 25, 2023

The message is an examination of the qualifications that must be evident in the life of one appointed to eldership.

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Blasphemy Of The Holy Spirit - Mark 3:20-30 (Matthew 12:22-37) Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 4, 2023

People often say the unforgivable sin is attributing demonic work to Jesus. But several other passages speak of an unforgivable sin, and none of them identify it that way.

Mark 3:20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." 22 And the teachers of the law who came down from ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-30, Matthew 12:22-37

The Fog - Hide And Seek Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 19, 2023

The fog has rolled into western culture and choked out intimacy with God. The fog hinders and blocks us from being in an intimate relationship with God. The fog drives us to choose to hide from God rather than seek out His presence! But Jesus is seeking us out even in the fog!

The Fog Chapter 4 - “Hide and Seek?” Illustration: Have you ever played Hide and Seek – I have with my grandkids – Deklan is the funniest because where he hides is usually in the same place and if you listen you can hear him singing – he loves to sing – at our summer blast I put him on the ponies, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:13, Psalm 139:1-12, Proverbs 15:3, Genesis 3:8-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Great Confusion - Mark 8:27-34 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 19, 2023

The question, “Who do you say I am” is important, but it’s not everything. Equally important is the question, “What does the way you listen to the hard words of Christ say about who you really believe he is?"

Mark 8:27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 "But what about you?" he ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-34, Matthew 16:13-24, Luke 9:18-23

A Preacher For This Generation

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 25, 2023

A call for us who preach to determine that we are delivering the message our God has given and not speaking to make people feel good about themselves.

“‘Do not preach’—thus they preach— ‘one should not preach of such things; disgrace will not overtake us.’ Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Has the LORD grown impatient? Are these his deeds? Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly? But lately my people have risen up as an ...read more

Scripture: Micah 2:6-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Has Left The Building!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 2, 2024

God may use persecution to compel the faithful to fulfil His commands. That was assuredly the case for the first church, and it may be the case in this day.

ACTS 8:1b-4 THE CHURCH HAS LEFT THE BUILDING! “There arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-4

Denomination: Baptist