Sermons on Summum Bonum:

Strength For The Conflict Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 26, 2009

We are at war with spiritual wickedness. However, God has equipped us for victory. We need but draw on what He has already provided to be assured of victory.

“Take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”[1] "If you don’t want trouble, don’t say anything, don’t do anything, don’t be anything.” This sage advice was offered by a man who frequently stood in the midst of battle. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:13

Denomination: Baptist

Where Is Your Treasure? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 6, 2016

Christ the Lord challenges us who follow Him to determine who we serve. He gives us a test to reveal the one we actually serve.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Gift Of God Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 2, 2016

Enjoyment of what we hold is the gift of God.

ECCLESIASTES 5:18-20 THE GIFT OF GOD “Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

United With Him Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 29, 2011

What was confessed through baptism reflects your understanding of relationship to Christ.

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Undefiled Marriage Bed

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 15, 2014

The call to purity must be iterated in this day if the people of God are to enjoy His power.

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” [1] Listening to contemporary sociologists, one would conclude that marriage is a dying institution. Actually, one need not listen to sociologists ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:4

Denomination: Baptist

He Is Able Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 28, 2015

In the darkest times, God is prepared to accomplish great things to the praise of His glory. He is able.

“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] Unapologetically, the message today is meant for Christians—followers of Christ the Lord. This is appropriate since the text was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:12

Denomination: Baptist

When Does Life Begin?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 18, 2015

God has worked in the life of His people since before the foundations of the world--preparing and appointing them for service.

“Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’” [1] It is most humbling to realise that we cannot boast of anything we possess or of who we ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Futility Of Wealth Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 4, 2016

Materialism ensures that we can never fully enjoy the blessings of God

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

My Kingdom Is Not Of This World

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 26, 2016

Christ was crucified and raised from the dead to deliver a people for His Name into His eternal Kingdom.

In the midst of darkness, God’s glory blazes. When evil appears to triumph, grace prevails. When dark denizens of this fallen world convince themselves they have defeated grace, righteousness conquers. These themes are written large in accounts provided of the brief hours leading to the ...read more

Scripture: John 18:33-37

Denomination: Baptist

Responding To Threats Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 17, 2014

False teachers threaten the health of the Community of Faith, just as errant doctrine threatens the spiritual welfare of the people of God. The message considers how the elder is to respond to such threats.

“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” [1] The people of God live under constant threat even to their lives. Jesus warned His people, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:11

Denomination: Baptist

Why Does God Judge A Nation?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 8, 2020

Through the Prophet Amos, God provides the reasons for judging the nations around Judah and Israel, as well as His own people. The reasons for His judgement stands against nations to this day.

“Thus says the LORD: ‘For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron. So I will send a fire upon the house of Hazael, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad. I will break the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How Can Anything That Feels So Right Be So Wrong?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 12, 2021

A Valentine's Day message emphasising the sacred nature of marriage.

“God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in his own image, in the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-28

Denomination: Baptist

Sustained By Unrecognised Strength

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 22, 2025

God chooses nations just s He chooses individuals. God preserves those whom He chooses, holding them responsible to fulfil His will.

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” [1] “Who makes you ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 46:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

God Of The Amen

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 15, 2025

God stands athwart the evil that people embrace. He blesses those who endeavour to serve Him, and curses those who seek to promote themselves.

“Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, my servants shall eat, you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame; behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 65:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

Their Rock Is Not As Our Rock

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 30, 2018

What has God done for me lately? We need to remember the distinction of God as contrasted to the varied "gods" of this dying world.

“Their rock is not as our Rock; our enemies are by themselves.” [1] Our world adulates success; however, the world defines success by a standard of its own making. To a far greater degree than we might ever admit, we Christians have been infected with the attitudes of this fallen world. We ...read more

Denomination: Baptist