Sermons on Forty Martyrs:

Return To The Lord Series

Contributed by Kamalanathan Francis on Feb 20, 2021

Many mainline churches follow Lent prayers, as they were led by the Lord. These forty days prayers are gifts for those who want to grow spiritually.

This is a call to everyone who is searching for God and those who are offended in unexpected ways. In OT people return to God with fasting and weeping, wearing sack clothes and dust on their heads. They do this often as it was required, and some of them took to the streets to show that they were ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:12-14, 2 Samuel 12:20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Prayer For Those Who Govern Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 6, 2013

Reviewing the response of believers when they no longer represent the majority views in society.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Hearing The Shepherd Means Following Him

Contributed by Eric Vertein on Apr 19, 2005

On Good Shepherd Sunday we consider how the first martyr Stephen not only heard the voice of the Good Shepherd, but followed him: in charity, in witness, and in forgiveness.

Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a,51-60 4th Sunday of Easter – ILCW Year A April 17, 2005 Peace to all of you who are in Christ (I Peter 5:14b). Amen. Judge Lynwood Smith asked Eric Rudolph, “Did you plant the bomb that exploded at the New Woman All Women clinic here in Birmingham on January 29, 1998?" In a ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Four Essentials To Great And Godly Marriages

Contributed by Steve Miller on Feb 12, 2006

St. Valentine was martyred for the institution of great and godly marriages. Gen. 2 describes that these marriages are made up of at least four essentials: Monogamy, Fidelity, Longevity, and Intimacy.

Great and Godly Marriages Gen. 2.21-25 Steve Miller 2/12/06---Valentine’s Sunday Opening: A wife woke up one morning and said, “Honey, I just had a dream that you bought me a new gold necklace. What do you think it means?” “I don’t know, but Valentine’s Day is coming soon. Tuesday, you’ll ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:21-25

Denomination: *other

Half-Time Talk Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 27, 2007

The Disciples had experienced one or two Passover Meals with Jesus before this. Why did Jesus wait til this last one to refer to how it applied to Him?

OPEN: There is a part of a basketball game that no spectator gets to see. No matter how important the ticket holder may be. No matter how much he’s paid for his seat. There is one event he will NOT be INVITED to observe. And yet this one event can change the entire course of a game. I’ve read of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:12-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Outline Of Acts 7 (Expanded Version)

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 24, 2021

This chapter contains Stephen's reply to the high priest and others who charged and questioned him (see chapter 6). Even though Stephen was martyred for his faith, his testimony still lives on.

Introduction: Acts 7 begins with a question from the High Priest to Stephen, one of the original seven men sometimes called deacons. The rest of the chapter contains Stephen’s review of Israel’s history and his reply to the charge/s against him (see Acts 6) and the response of those who heard him. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Thou Shalt Not Belly Ache Series

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Mar 11, 2016

Message 12 drawn from Israel's murmuring in the desert for forty years shows how complaining is an insult to God's gifts to us,andd is destructive in the home and in the church.

Moses 12 THOU SHALT NOT BELLY-ACHE Exodus 15:22-19:1 16:7 “He (God) has heard your murmurings against the Lord. For who are we (Moses and Aaron) that you can murmur against us. Psalm 106:25 “They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord.” Numbers ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Garland Of Righteousness

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 12, 2013

I have finished the course, declares Paul to Timothy. You run your course as I have run mine. This applies not only to Timothy, but to every one of us.

A GARLAND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 2 Timothy 4:6-8; 2 Timothy 4:16-18. Against a background of false teachers, and hypocritical hearers who will not endure sound teaching, Paul exhorted Timothy to urgently preach the word (2 Timothy 4:2). The young minister was to do this both when it seemed ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:16-18, 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Persevering Through Persecution Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jan 29, 2020

It's always better to obey God.

Persevering Through Persecution Acts 5:17-32 Rev. Brian Bill January 25-26, 2020 Look around you and find eight people. Go ahead and count until you locate eight individuals. By the time you go to sleep tonight, eight people around the world will have died for their devotion to follow Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:17-32

Denomination: Baptist

Too Much Religion In The Wrong Place

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 12, 2019

Religion is the expression of one's faith put into practice. For many professed Christians, religion is all they have, because they don't have the faith of Christ the Lord. Too much religion will tend to lead us astray. Faith will lead us to Christ.

“When [John] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Death Of Polycarp At Smyrna: How To Give Up Everything For Christ Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jan 29, 2023

Many Christians would be killed for their faith in the first few hundred years of Christianity, many of whom lived in Smyrna. Most famous of all these martyrs was a man named Polycarp.

Smyrna as you can see on the map was located on the Aegean sea and was considered the gateway into Europe from the middle east. Smyrna was known for it’s production of fine materials, in fact, Smyrna was known for production of frankincense and myrrh. Primarily for myrrh. And myrrh was a substance ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Salvation Army

Finishing Strong Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Aug 28, 2023

Every follower of Christ must fight to finish well.

Finishing Strong 2 Timothy 4:6-22 Rev. Brian Bill August 26-27, 2023 Benjamin Franklin made this phrase popular: “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Solomon said it like this in Ecclesiastes 7:2: “Death is the destiny of every man; the living should take ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-22

Denomination: Baptist

Who Was John The Baptizer? His Life And How He Died Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jun 5, 2023

John the baptizer was born and spoke for the purpose of telling the masses to get ready, something huge is about to happen.

Who was John the baptizer? He was not one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. He was in fact a blood relative of Jesus. Jesus’s cousin. But there was something very special about John. His birth happened in a very special way. He would become a voice crying out to the entire nation of Israel, to prepare ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-16

Denomination: Salvation Army

Suffering Church Sunday

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Nov 5, 2007

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. That blood is still being shed. In this sermon we name the top ten persecutors and finish with a look at Paul - the persecutor who became the persecuted.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS More than 200 million Christians in over 60 nations face persecution each day. We have heard of believers having boiling water poured down their throats. Other gruesome forms of torture are meted out to Christ’s sheep on a daily basis. The top ten persecutors - (1) North ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:17

Sixth Seal Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jan 12, 2017

The martyrs cried, “Avenge us!” but the unbelievers on earth will cry, “Hide us!” The opening of the “sixth seal” will produce worldwide convulsions and catastrophes, including the first of three “great earthquakes."

By: Tom Lowe Date: 11/17/2015 Title: (19) Sixth Seal: Cataclysmic Disturbances (Revelation 6:12-17) Revelation 6:12-17 (KJV) 12 And I beheld when he had ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:12-17

Denomination: Baptist