Sermons on Blatant Persecution:

How To Get Yourself Killed Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 22, 2009

Stephen’s martyrdom calls to minds questions about our own faithfulness and witness.

In the magazine business, there is an inexorable law that says that you will sell more copies of an issue if you convince people that they can do more things or do multiple things more effectively. That’s why you always see lots of cover lines like: “100 Ways to Make Your Green Thumb Glow” or “50 ...read more

Denomination: *other

Attitudes And Actions For Victory Series

Contributed by David Owens on Mar 1, 2011

This sermon finishes the series on 1 Peter and focuses on how to win the victory over our enemy and the persecution he brings.

Introduction: A. I like the story told of the 5-year old boy who was in the kitchen as his mother was making supper. 1. His mother asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn’t want to go in alone. 2. “It’s dark in there and I’m ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:4-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dealing With Difficulty Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 7, 2011

This sermon focuses on the first persecution of the church and helps us understand how to deal with difficulty today

* When something big happens, new people come out (i.e, winning the lottery) * There’s both a positive and negative reaction when God does something big (he just did something big in the first church) * Jesus warned that persecution and adversity would occur (John 15:18-19) * Text: First ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

What To Do When They Come For You

Contributed by Zachariah King on Sep 19, 2013

Persecution in the western world for the name of Christ is coming are you spiritually prepared on how you will react, will you stand firm on the foundation of Christ Jesus?

I have some disturbing news a report that must be shared. American Christians have not tasted persecution on a profound scale here in the west sense the reformation. I have been warning it is coming, this news report confirms my fears The Pentagon has released a statement confirming that soldiers ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Peace In The Lion's Den Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Oct 3, 2013

You can find rest if you rest in God. You can find peace if you depend on the Lord. You can get rid of all your worries if you commit your life to the Lord and pray every day.

This last week, I came across a five minute clip from an episode of The Bob Newhart Show on YouTube. That was back in the days when sit-coms were funny AND clean, unlike so many of them today. Bob, as you may know, was a psychologist on the show, and in this scene a woman comes into his office ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Miracle Of Januarius Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 17, 2011

The martyr-bishop Januarius testifies to the truth of the Gospel, and his alleged blood miracle must get the attention of the unbeliever.

19 September 2011 St. Januarius There is a famous passage in the Acts of the Apostles in which the rabbi Gamaliel advises the Sanhedrin to leave the early Christian community alone, because if it is God’s will, they would not be able to destroy it, and if it is not God’s will, it would ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 1:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

Opposition Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Jan 5, 2011

Humankind has always opposed God's will and sought to limit God's movement among us. God's hand is upon his people and he is with them as they faithfully do God's will.

Matthew 2:13-23 “Opposition” INTRODUCTION The warm, cuddly scene of a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger and surrounded by his parents, shepherds, and the Magi, is theologically called the incarnation. Jesus shed his godliness and became human. From another ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23

Denomination: Lutheran

Patience Series

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Sep 12, 2016

Christians are being martyred all across the Middle East in countries that once tolerated them. Churches are being destroyed and brought to rubble. Entire Christian communities are being wiped out and even crucifixion is back. Can we patiently wait?

Patience 2 Peter 3 For many of us patience is a virtue that is difficult to cultivate in our hustle bustle society. The world moves at the speed of the internet while many of us are left trying to keep up. I’m reminded of that old ketchup commercial for Heinz were two small boys are ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When Should We Praise And Give Thanks? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 21, 2017

How about the business of giving thanks and praise in all circumstances?

Sunday after Ascension 2017 Extraordinary FormFrom the First Epistle of St. Peter: Beloved: The end of all things is at hand; therefore keep sane and sober for your prayers. 8 Above all hold unfailing your charity for one another, since charity covers a multitude of sins. 9 Practice hospitality ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Why Does The World Hate Us?

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Sep 24, 2022

One of the things that confuses many Christians is the attitude of non-Christians toward them. Even in the United States we experience backlash against us as Christians.

Alba 9-15-13 (Revised 9-18-2022) WHY DOES THE WORLD HATE US? John 15:18-25 A woman in India watches as her sister is dragged off by Hindu nationalists. She doesn’t know if her sister is alive or dead. A man in a North Korean prison camp is shaken awake after being beaten unconscious; the ...read more

Scripture: John 15:18-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Daniel - A Furnace Of Fire Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on May 26, 2023

Their loyalty to God could not be threatened or coerced or manipulated. It didn’t exist only when times were good and things were going their way, No!! It was constant, fierce and unshakable:

May 27, 2023 Daniel had said that Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold – GOOD – but he also said that Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom would come to an end – BAD. After a period of time, Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and arrogance got the better of him and he “forgot” the role the God of the Universe had ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-30

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

More Pentecost

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 12, 2023

Acts 3 & 4 tell the story of a healing miracle and the pushback against the gospel.

Title: “More Pentecost” Text: Acts 3-4 Subject: How does the Holy Spirit speak and act after the events of Pentecost? Complement: He keeps on filling his people for witness! Preaching idea: The Holy Spirit freshly fills God’s people to empower us for witness. Acts 3 One day Peter and John were ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Acts 13:9

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Gospel Of John: An Introduction Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Dec 31, 2021

Arguably with no other book, is there a larger disconnect between academic, scholarly understanding, and the way the church reads it. The intro is designed to bridge part of that gap, and explain my own approach to John.

First of all, a note on my approach: This series uses a literary/narrative approach to John, along the lines proposed by scholars like Adele Berlin, Frank Kermode, Robert Alter, or Charles Talbert, to name just a few. I assume that the author/narrator of John-- who I call "AJ"-- had ...read more

Scripture: John 9:22, John 12:42-43, John 16:1, John 2:23, John 6:66  (view more)  (view less)

Between The Times

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 30, 2023

It is possible to live praising God even before we see his promised redemption.

At one point while preparing this sermon I was tempted just to read the article I picked for my closing illustration and sit down. It’s a sermon in itself, and illustrates exactly what I had to say about this passage of Isaiah. But after thinking it over, I felt that the least I could do was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:1-13, Isaiah 24:1-6, Isaiah 25:7-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Judgement Begins With The House Of God

Contributed by Paul Green on Mar 12, 2023

God’s judgement is inescapable. How do you think you will fair on that day? What are the deeds in your life that you will need to give account of? Will they commend you or will they condemn you?

Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over. The problems began when Chippie's owner decided to clean Chippie's cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:67, James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-4, Hebrews 12:10, Ezekiel 9:6, Jeremiah 25:29, Amos 3:2, 1 Peter 4:12-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist