Sermons on Debt Collectors Persecute:

Obedient Citizens

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 21, 2023

Leaders of nations that oppress Christians are only hurting themselves by persecuting their best citizens. Let's look at why in Romans 13.

Leaders of nations and communities that oppress Christians don’t realize that they are harassing some of their most loyal citizens. A Christian value is to be obedient citizens? We obey civil laws because God wants us to. Every person should place themselves under the authority of the government. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Praying For Our Enemy Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 14, 2003

Romans talks about how we should "treat" our enemies... but until we learn how to pray for them, we will find it nearly impossible to show love for them. Find out why.

OPEN: During the Korean war a certain military unit had hired a local boy to cook and clean for them. Being a bunch of jokesters, these guys soon took advantage of the boy’s seeming naiveté’. · They’d smear Vaseline on the stove handles so that when he’d turn the stove on in the morning he’d get ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:14-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

7 Ways Of Demonstrating The Love Of God In Our Lives

Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Jan 20, 2012

1.PRECEPTS 2.PRAYER 3.PRAISE 4.PERSECUTION 5.PRESENTS 6.PHILANTHROPY 7.PROCLAMATION

7 WAYS OF DEMONSTRATING THE LOVE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES OUTLINE 1.PRECEPTS 2.PRAYER 3.PRAISE 4.PERSECUTION 5.PRESENTS 6.PHILANTHROPY 7.PROCLAMATION THE MESSAGE 7 WAYS OF DEMONSTRATING THE LOVE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES 1.PRECEPTS We demonstrate the love of God by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:36-40

Denomination: Pentecostal

When The Going Gets Tough Love Gets Going Series

Contributed by Leonard Cook on May 20, 2007

Living a life of love in the midst of unimaginable persecution. If this is the message to these Christians who are under unimaginable persecution, then what is the message for us living in a free society; and how much more does God expect from us as a re

When the Going Gets tough Love Gets Going 1 Peter 1:22-2:2 (Key Center, Verse 1:22) How Do You Love 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. Exegesis: You obeyed the truth and are now ...read more

Denomination: Holiness

Call For Endurance

Contributed by D Marion Clark on May 22, 2017

What do we do in the face of persecution? We endure; we keep the faith. This is the message of Revelation. Whatever comes – and every type of persecution and deception will come – remain faithful to your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Rev 12:1-13:18 A Call for Endurance 5/21/17 D. Marion Clark Introduction When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Whatever Happens Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jun 22, 2020

Whatever happens Christians should (1) Live godly lives (2) Maintain unity with other believers (3) Not fear persecution from the ungodly. The message focuses on what prepares Christians to faithfully stand firm in persecution.

The world we live in is full of uncertainty. A microscopic virus has upset the status quo of the whole world. Upheaval, discontent and hate suddenly erupts in the streets.i It is too organized to have been purely spontaneous. But people are inflicting pain and violence on other people they don’t ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Romans 8:4, Ephesians 6:12, 1 Peter 4:12-16, Acts 5:41, James 4:13-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Real Righteousness

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Oct 29, 2019

Luther's studies reveled that we are saved by grace through faith, and not by works. That thought is the heart of what the reformation. This sermon ties into the reformation with the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

Opening and Introduction Tonight, is a special day as we celebrate the reformation. Just over 500 years ago, Martin Luther nailed 95 theses on the Wittenberg church door, which changed the landscape of Europe, and the world. Luther’s disagreement with the Catholic church was very similar to the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Robes And Rags Series

Contributed by Joe Tilton on Oct 28, 2013

The Pharisee and tax collector praying in the Temple--what a contrast, but the one in the robes was not the one favored by God. How good do you have to be? This lesson in humility may be startling.

Message Robes and Rags October 27, 2013 The following are true stories from Associated Press, San Jose Mercury News and UPI. Robert Puelo, 32, was apparently being disorderly in a St. Louis market, when a clerk threatened to call police. Puelo grabbed a hotdog, shoved it in his mouth and walked ...read more

Denomination: *other

The Call To All Sinners (Second Sunday After Epiphany January 15, 2023)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 4, 2023

Imagine you are Matthew, the tax collector. You come from a Jewish background but you work for the enemy----the Roman Government. You have made a good living. But, ….

THE CALL TO ALL SINNERS Text: Matthew 9:9- 13 Matthew 9:9 - 13 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. 10  And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Denomination: United Methodist

Two Ways To Pray, One Effective, The Other Not So Much

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 21, 2025

Our Gospel from St. Luke is the only place in the NT where we can find this parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, or tax-collector. Both go up to the Temple to pray.

Thirtieth Sunday Integral 2025 The deuterocanonical book of Sirach, a late work in Hebrew that survived only in Gk, is kind of a long reflection on the entire OT. It was used by the Church to help new barbarian members understand the moral law and the road to virtuous living so much that it was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 2 Timothy 4:16-18, John 3:16, Psalm 34:2-3, Psalm 34:17-18, Psalm 34:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Cajuns, Prophets, And Persian Kings: God's Servants To Bless His People

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Nov 3, 2002

Pentecost 22: Trials, persecutions, and the most difficult moments in life are used by God to deliver us from greater harm and to bless us.

A few nights ago I was sitting in the living room working on the computer. While checking my email, a pop-up ad for Classmates.com appeared. Classmates.com is an Internet company that stores graduation and reunion information for schools and military units. For some reason I decided to look up ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:1-7

Denomination: Lutheran

Prison Break

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 13, 2021

This message shows how the church advances in the face of spiritual opposition.

Title: “Prison Break” Text: Acts 12:1-10 Big idea: “Jesus has promised to build his church!” (so the word of God spread...12:24) Complement: to show God’s power and continued care for Jewish Christianity. Acts 12:1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-10, Ephesians 6:10-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Book Of Lamentations – Part 28 – Persecution Of The Righteous With Schemes And Actions; Wickedness Hates Good - Chapter 3:61-62 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 30, 2025

We have some insights into the problems Jeremiah faced with schemes against him from vindictive assailants. All day long he had to face their whispers and their hatred. Don’t confine this to Jeremiah because it is rapidly increasing against those who love their Lord. Perilous times are coming.

THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS – PART 28 – PERSECUTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS WITH SCHEMES AND ACTIONS; WICKEDNESS HATES GOOD - CHAPTER 3:61-62 PART [56]. GOD AGAIN HAS HEARD {{Lamentations 3:61 “You have heard their reproach, O LORD, ALL THEIR SCHEMES AGAINST ME.”}} There is parallelism here with the ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:61, Matthew 27:41-44, Ephesians 6:11-12, Jeremiah 39:11-14, Romans 14:7-8, Psalm 69:19-20, Lamentations 3:62, Lamentations 1:1, Acts 7:52, 2 Timothy 3:12-13, Hebrews 11:35-38, Revelation 16:6, Psalm 69:12, Psalm 22:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Man Who Went Home Justified

Contributed by Joel Santos on Jan 23, 2005

One of the greatest parables ever told was the story of the Pharisee and the Tax collector. The story is great because it has plot twists and leads to a surprise ending. The word righteousness means “right-standing”. To be righteous means to be in right

A MAN WHO WENT HOME JUSTIFIED Luke 18: 9-14 One of the greatest parables ever told was the story of the Pharisee and the Tax collector. The story is great because it has plot twists and leads to a surprise ending. In Jesus’ day this simple story surely sent people home baffled and buzzing. The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Danger And Opportunity Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

Philip’s story: persecution to opportunities for evangelism to building bridges to baptism and the Holy Spirit.

Danger and Opportunity: Experiencing Biblical Community Acts 8:1-25 Intro: Do any of you read Chinese? I wonder if you can read the characters on the screen behind me and translate them for us. (Chinese word for crisis; two distinct characters, put together these = “crisis”) What is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-25

Denomination: Baptist