Sermons on Blatant Persecution:

Smyrna: Riches Within Poverty

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jan 12, 2020

The second church Jesus instructed John to pen a letter was the church in Smyrna. It was situated within a city of great wealth and affluence, and yet many believers lived in poverty. They were not rich by the world's standards, but they were rich in grace.

Smyrna: Riches within Poverty Revelation 2: 8-11 Today we come to Smyrna, the second church within the series of letters John was instructed to write in the Revelation. It is interesting to note, that of the seven churches, only two received all praise and encouragement from the Lord, with no ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Is A Christian?

Contributed by Grant Adams on Feb 2, 2020

I remember hearing a story of a young boy asking his father what is a Christian? After the father explained, the young boy asked, “Dad have I ever seen a Christian?”

The word Christian is a very loose term; at least we use it very loosely, and it has become, in America, a meaningless term. To some, it means anybody living in the United States, and is not Jewish. The term Christian has been so abused and diluted that it has very little meaning to most of us ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16, Acts 11:26

Denomination: Baptist

Two Sides To Hall Of Faith

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Feb 12, 2020

Are you ready to be a Stephen or a Demas?

Hebrews 11:35b ... others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:35-40

Denomination: Baptist

Trust After Tragedy

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 23, 2020

Trust is easy in the easy times. Tragedy is when you find out if you truly trust.

I was asked how you have trust or faith after tragedy and an hour or so later Pastor Mike asked me to speak tonight. I took that as my cue to speak on that topic. I have been through a few tragedies in my life and never thought of myself as a trauma survivor until I was trained to ...read more

Scripture: Job 13:15, 3 John 1:2, 2 Timothy 4:20, Philippians 2:25-27, John 16:33, 2 Timothy 3:12, Romans 8:17, Romans 8:35, Philippians 1:29, 1 Peter 4:16, Jeremiah 29:10-14, John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 1:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Fighting God

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 15, 2020

When you read prophecy we may be trying to stop what God has planned for our time thus all of our angst may be in vain.

Acts 5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. KJV As I watch the various postings fly back and forth ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:38-39

Denomination: Baptist

The Wisdom Of God And The Witness Of Martyrs

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 1, 2018

The wisdom of every age considers the Catholic faith a folly. The only promise Christ made about this life is that we would be blessed through the agency of persecution.

Thursday of the 22nd Week in Course 2018 St. Donatian of Africa The wisdom of any secular age considers the Christian faith to be folly. The reason for this is that the wisdom of a given secular age is focused on how to attain pleasure, status or power. It is essentially centered on the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11, 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Denomination: Catholic

Defending The Faith Sermon I: God Needs No Defenders But Our Christian Faith Does Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 6, 2020

In times of upheaval when attacks against Christians by unbelievers and scoffers are ramped up, mature Christians persevere in their devotion to Christ and defend their Faith in a spirit of God's love and mercy.

IN TIMES LIKE THESE --- GOD NEEDS NO DEFENDERS BUT OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH DOES In a recent episode of the TV Program Family Feud the question put to 100 women was: “If you arrived in heaven and found that there were no men there, what would you say” . . . and the number one ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:1-4, Jude 1:20-25

If Anyone Had Reason To Boast In The Flesh, It Would Have Been Paul

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 9, 2019

Paul knew what it was like to be a Jew in the highest sense of the term, and had deliberately abandoned it all for the sake of Jesus Christ.

Date: 1/8/19 Lesson #22 Title: If Anyone Had Reason To Boast In The Flesh, It Would Have Been Paul (Phil. 3:4-6) • NIV Bible is used throughout unless noted otherwise. Scripture: Philippians 3:4-6 (NIV) 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-6

Denomination: Baptist

All In For Our Lord Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 21, 2020

Almost certainly in our lifetime we will also have to follow Christ to our own cross. Probably not a bloody martyrdom, but the culture hates the Church and all who follow Christ.

Monday of the 24th and Last Week in Course 2020 Bl. Miguel Agustin Pro Today, in the glaring light of our proclamation on Sunday that Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe, we are invited to consider the virtues of those who will be found worthy to live forever in that marvelous, unimaginably ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 9:4, Luke 21:1-4, Revelation 14:1-5

Denomination: Catholic

"i Will Proclaim The Truth" Series

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Dec 24, 2020

The Bible says that both people and society will grow more wicked as the time approaches for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The preacher is to face this with the soul-convicting, life transforming power of the Word and Spirit, no matter the cost.

Anyone who makes the ridiculous statement that the Bible is merely a human book, and nothing more than a collection of inspiring stories has let others do their thinking for them, mimicking someone else's skepticism, or have claimed to have read it to end up condemning what it says about the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-9, Matthew 24:9-12, Mark 13:9-13, Luke 21:12-19, Romans 1:18-32, Romans 3:10-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

1 Thessalonians 2 Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Jun 8, 2022

To be an agent of Jesus in this life, we must be willing to faithful, gentle and sacrificial in our lives and expect people to take our actions for granted

This week we start the second oldest book in the New Testament as recorded in its publishing. We began with James on our year-long journey chronological study of the New Testament. Hence the reason we are calling this message series Chronos. It's a word that means “time.” We will be journeying ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Daniel-The Lions Didn’t Hurt Him!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 23, 2020

Daniel and the lions' den is a familiar and fantastic story. I've loved this story ever since on of the first times my aunt and grandmother read it to me, and I'm grateful for their love. This one is dedicated to you, Aunt V!

Daniel-the lions didn’t hurt him! Introduction: After Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, Daniel’s life was spared and he was given a position under the new rulers. Eventually some of the other officials became jealous and conspired to have Daniel put to death—by being thrown into a den of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of Earnest Prayer Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Nov 7, 2020

God often does the unexpected when we’re earnest in prayer.

A week ago, I listened to the Voice of the Martyr’s podcast called VOM Radio and learned about Petr Jasek, a believer from the Czech Republic, who was imprisoned in Sudan for 14 months. He served as the Africa Regional Director for Voice of the Martyrs and traveled to Sudan on their behalf. BTW, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

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