Sermons on Blatant Persecution:

Church Growth Spreads (Acts 8)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 20, 2025

Does persecution often create church growth?

Does the church often grow faster in times of persecution? Let’s look at Acts 8. Did the church in Jerusalem scatter due to severe harassment? Who was one of the principal persecutors? Saul was in full agreement with Stephen’s murder. At that time, the church in Jerusalem began to be subjected to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Grace In The Middle Of Grief Series

Contributed by David Scudder on Mar 30, 2009

Both of our texts describe persecuted believers.Is persecution something that we should avoid or embrace? In a minute I will attempt to answer that question, but before I do let’s see what we can learn about persecution.

Revelation 7:1-17; 14:1-5 Purpose: To highlight God’s grace toward His faithful followers. Aim: I want the listener to rejoice in the advantages of persecution. INTRODUCTION: Last time, we finished looking at the first six seals (or chapters) from the sacred book that only the Lamb of God could ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:1-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Dare To Take A Stand! Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jul 17, 2008

As Christians, we need to take a stand for God. It’s not always easy. During GOOD TIMES – When things are going right - We get complacent. During BAD TIMES – When everything seems to be going wrong – We get discouraged … blame God … look to ourselves for

Opening illustration: In her famous book and film, “The Hiding Place” Corrie ten Boom tells the story of a Dutch Christian family, her family, who had a heart for the Jewish people. Her grandfather Wilhelm started a weekly prayer group in 1844 in the city of Haarlem, near Amsterdam for the ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Endurance - The Eighth Step To Happiness Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Mar 28, 2008

This sermon is about four steps to build endurance: 1. Recognize the SOURCE. 2. Refuse to RETALIATE. 3. Respond POSITIVELY. 4. Rest in Gods PROTECTION.

Endurance - The Eighth Step To Happiness We have been making our way through a section of scripture know as the beatitudes. The beatitudes are found in Matthew chapter five. Each of the beatitudes begins with the word Blessed. The word blessed in this section of scripture could also be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An All-Weather Love Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 18, 2007

How do "live for Christ"? Do we only do that when things are going our way? Or is our faith deeper and more focused on our love for Him?

OPEN: A young man’s fiancé had broken off their engagement. But a couple of months later, he received the following letter from her: Dearest Jimmy, No words could ever express the great unhappiness I’ve felt since breaking our engagement. Please say you’ll take me back. No one could ever take ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Herod Wants To Kill You Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 24, 2015

Part of our mission to the world is to defend the social teachings of the Church.

Thursday of 30th week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel “Herod wants to kill you.” “ISIS wants to kill you.” “Planned Parenthood wants to destroy you.” Jesus and His followers have heard these refrains almost continually since Christ first began to proclaim ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:31-35

Denomination: Catholic

Lessons From A Suffering Church Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 14, 2014

The Church at Smyrna was a suffering church. They had experienced past afflictions and were going to encounter sever trials so they are encouraged to endure. A suffering church needs to look to their Lord and look to their future.

Lessons from a Suffering Church Revelation 2:8-11 8 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty-- yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Life Among The Thorns

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Nov 28, 2014

God allows thorns in our lives to refine us, to keep us humble, and to be sure He gets the glory for all we do.

Children. They really are precious, and I really do love them, but the simple truth is, I have a really hard time being around them for any extended period of time. Which for me is anything over about three minutes.  I’m not sure what it is, maybe it’s the long running around ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7

Denomination: Charismatic

The Fiery Trial

Contributed by Ian Humphrey on Nov 9, 2015

THE FIERY TRIAL

DANIEL 3:14-30 THE FIERY TRIAL It has been customary to count ten major persecutions in the early church, Persecution under Nero (c. 64-68). Traditional martyrdoms of Peter and Paul. Persecution under Domitian (r. 81-96). Persecution under Trajan (112-117). Christianity is outlawed but ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:14-30

Denomination: Holiness

Of Shoulder And Soldier

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Dec 23, 2011

To respond in love, even when being treated unfairly

Of Soldier and Shoulder Ouch! My Dad developed a frozen shoulder condition and boy we took him from one hospital to another with no avail, till the “Magnet therapy” did the trick. In this sermon, I intend to touch upon a particular type of “shoulder ...read more

Scripture: John 1:11

Denomination: *other

Beauty In The Beatitudes!!!

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Dec 27, 2011

To focus upon the BEAUTIFUL ORDER in the flow of BEATITUDES

Beauty in the Beatitudes “For God is not a God of disorder…” 1 Cor 14:33 First things first. What is the chief and highest end of man? Let the revered Christian Book namely the Westminster catechism give the answer. Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:33

Denomination: *other

Eternal Truth From Esther’s Trouble Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 23, 2012

1. A lesson from the urgent pardon (vs. 1-3). 2. A lesson from the unexpected plan (vs. 3-8). 3. A lesson from the uncontrolled pride (vs. 9-13). 4. A lesson from the ungodly plot (vs. 14).

For Such a Time as This Part 5: Eternal Truth from Esther’s Trouble Esther 5:1-14 Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - June 17, 2012 *Four weeks ago, we began to look at this story that took place almost 500 years before Jesus was born. The Jews had begun to go home after 70 ...read more

Scripture: Esther 5:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Grace Of Multiplication

Contributed by Herbert Armstrong Bosantog on Nov 5, 2012

You need to INCREASE, make PROGRESS, SUCCESSFUL and PROSPEROUS in every aspect of your life and your surrounding (Family, School, Community and Workplace). Begin to EVALUATE yourself, then try to determine what HINDERS you in making PROGRESS. Then ELIM

Did you know that the UNIVERSE is still EXPANDING? Science proves it! But we will not focus here. If you want to know why, RESEARCH! When God said, “Let there be LIGHT”. There was LIGHT! And that LIGHT is still EXPANDING. Kolb and Turner wrote, “Since the UNIVERSE ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-31

Denomination: *other

You Will Be Hated By All; Not A Hair On Your Head Will Perish

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 10, 2013

With the Church under attack, what must we do?

33rd Sunday in Course 2013 You Will be Hated by All But Not a Hair of Your Head Will Perish It was a cool November morning and the Catholics of San Antonio were riding high. Our first Catholic president, who had a year ago faced down the mighty Soviet empire over ballistic missiles in Cuba, was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:5-19

Denomination: Catholic

The Sayings Of Jesus Part 2 Series

Contributed by Martin Holland on Nov 20, 2013

Jesus continues His sermon on the Beatitudes of His followers.

The Sayings of Jesus Part 2 Matt. 5:7-12 Last week we discussed the first four of the Beatitudes and identified these four attitudes are that which takes place inwardly. These are I believe are necessary in order for us to demonstrate the other four attitudes in a way in which it will pleasing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7-12

Denomination: Baptist