Sermons on Church Persecution:

Why A Church Covenant

Contributed by Don Baggett on Dec 1, 2007

Church members need to have an agreement concerning how they will conduct themselves with respect to the local church of which they are a part.

The context of this verse has to do with the use of tongues, and other spiritual gifts, in the church. While all churches certainly need to make the Bible their standard for faith and practice, different churches tend to interpret things differently. Therefore, it is wise for a local church to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:40

Denomination: Baptist

The Characteristics Of A Spiritual Church

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Jun 25, 2009

A Wednesday evening devotion which teaches us from the 1st Century church in Jerusalem, we can discern some of what it means to be a Spiritual Congregation.

The Characteristics of a Spiritual Church Acts 5:12-16 * One of the most sobering passages in all of New Testament scripture (at least for me) is found in Acts 5:1-11. To remind you, this is the story of Ananias and Sapphira. When they lied about their gifts to the church, they were struck down ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:11-17

Denomination: Baptist

Separation Of Church And State

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Jul 28, 2020

There is a phrase spoken of often, one in which is said to be in our Constitution, "Separation of Church and State." However, this phrase is not in the US Constitution.

Separation of Church and State “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…” (excerpt from Amendment I, U. S. Constitution) If our United States Constitution actually commands ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Church Of Maximum Impact Series

Contributed by Troy Walliser on Nov 10, 2020

Christian missions at its most basic level is one BEGGAR telling another BEGGAR where to find BREAD.

A Church Of Maximum Impact Acts 11:19-30 Several years ago Time magazine carried a story about a controversy that once raged in a Waterloo, Iowa courthouse over a perplexing question. The question at hand was this: “What is a Christian?” It all started when a local doctor who had been very wealthy ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Churches At Smyrna And Pergamum

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Oct 10, 2005

What can we learn today from the churches at Smyrna and Pergamum, one of the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 ?

Why would letters be written to these churches? Well, Smyrna was a very important centre of trade, with a valuable harbour, and big wine business. It was a very beautiful city, even outstanding. In all the civil wars, the people of Smyrna always chose the right side to be: it was politically ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Harmony Of The Early Church Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 8, 2004

Acts Series: 21st Sermon--3 Expressions of Harmony in the Early Church

Harmony of the Early Church Acts 4:32-37 Joke—lady in church called long distance friend, so distressed/hatfields and mccoys-deacons fighting-w/ pastor!-people hate each other/…well, let me add it to our church’s prayer list—what’s the name of your church?/…Harmony Baptist! Harmony ought to be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:32-37

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Of Casual Christianity

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 8, 2022

Flies don’t land on a hot stove. A cold church is a dead church, but a hot church is alive.

What does it mean to be a Church of Casual Christianity? How does a church become casual? Is it speaking of the church building or the church body? Or does it refer to the church members, the individual Christians? Look at the churches depicted in Revelation 2 & 3. • Ephesus – Revelation ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Digging Deep And Leaning In Series

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Jul 13, 2023

This sermon is about how to live a vibrant and positive life in the face of Persecution using St. Polycarp and the Smyrna Church as models.

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11; John 15:18-20 Theme: Digging Deep and Leaning In This sermon is about how to live a vibrant and positive life in the face of Persecution using St. Polycarp and the Smyrna Church as models. INTRO: Grace and peace in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11, John 15:18-20, 2 Timothy 3:12, Ephesians 6:10-11, Acts 4:23-31  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Dangerous Discipleship

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 26, 2018

To be a follower of Christ is almost certain to be costly. Many turn from following Christ because they fear what it may cost. They are willing to be religious, but hesitate to embrace discipleship. We are called to embrace dangerous discipleship.

“When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So, the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and ...read more

Scripture: John 12:9-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Laodicean Church #1 Series

Contributed by Manuel De Jesus Vela on Sep 2, 2004

This is the first of a 6 part series on the church of Laodicea.

Our topic for the next few weeks will be a Love Letter from Jesus ¡V otherwise known as the letter to the church in Laodicea. How many have ever received a love letter or perhaps have dedicated a poetic piece to that special someone? Why do we write such things; because we care, because we love, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14

Denomination: Adventist

Becoming A Church Of Greatness Series

Contributed by Adam Cruse on Jul 23, 2001

What does a great church look like and how can we have one?

Leadership Magazine carried a story about 4 young men, Bible College students, who were renting a house together. One Saturday morning someone knocked on their door. And when they opened it, there stood this bedraggled-looking old man. His eyes were kind of marbleized, & he had a silvery stub of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Pergamos: The Compromising Church

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 17, 2009

Like Pergamos, today’s church seems to keep only a moderate distance from the world, but both the world AND the church are moving downhill in tandem, and further away from Jesus. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Pergamos: The Compromising Church Rev. 2:12-17 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Pergamos.html [map] Before 1974, there was a huge portion of land in the northern part of Australia that belonged to the superstitious Aborigines. That land was covered w/ green ants. The Aborigines believed that ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Jesus Built Series

Contributed by David Owens on Oct 6, 2014

The church is the people of God and we should strive to simply be the church that Jesus built.

A. Introductory comments. B. Today’s sermon begins a series of lessons that I plan to deliver in the coming weeks. 1. I’ve titled the series UR Church – Be the church of Christ. C. The story is told of a young girl was sitting with her grandmother, who had presented her with ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Church Unity By Humility Series

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Apr 22, 2023

Diversity inside the body of Christ happens when the members take on the same mindset as Christ and humble themselves by looking out for the needs of others rather than that of their own!

Unity by Imitating Christ’s Humility Philippians 2:1-11 Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 What does Christ mean to you? After Apostle Paul finished advising the Philippians the way to handle persecution was to live a life worthy of the Gospel by standing firm in one ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Visit With Church Leaders Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Jun 21, 2025

Acts 21:17-26 shows us how to handle tensions between cultural practices and the gospel’s advance.

Introduction I am currently preaching through the Book of Acts in a sermon series I am calling “Turning the World Upside Down.” Forty days after Jesus’ resurrection, he ascended into heaven. Just before he ascended into heaven, Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:17-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed