Sermons on French Persecution:

That Same Old Song And Dance Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 3, 2008

When we are bound by stubborn patterns, we can become hostile when our stubborn ways are exposed.

That Same Old Song and Dance (Acts 7: 1-53) 1. It is natural for all of us to get absorbed in our own worlds; as a result, we often lose sight of the big picture. 2. Our nation’s current economic meltdown is causing us to rethink life and the way we do things in this country. 3. But God’s ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:1-53

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"Obama Wins!"

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Nov 8, 2008

Reveals the Christian’s response to the election.

“Obama Wins!” November 9th, 2008 1 Peter 2:13-17; Romans 13:1-7 Obama wins! The newspaper shouts out at me Wednesday morning. The news commentators are virtually dancing in glee on TV. The gays in San Francisco are literally dancing in the street. The TV shows the terrorist and our enemies ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-17

Denomination: Holiness

The Martyr's Testimony Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 10, 2008

God is very good at confusing us and leaving our heads in a spin, but He knows what He is doing, even if we can’t figure it out. But eventually his plan becomes clear, either in the distant future (eternity) or in retrospect (in this life).

The Martyr’s Testimony (Acts 7:51-8:4) 1. According to an AP article yesterday (Nov. 8), "WASHINGTON – The nation’s jobless ranks zoomed past 10 million last month, the most in a quarter-century, as piles of pink slips shut factory gates and office doors to 240,000 more Americans with the holidays ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How Living With Integrity Increases Our Hope

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Nov 16, 2008

How living with integrity increases our hope.

We’re in the series "From Hurt to Hope." We’ve been learning more about how to experience the hope that God offers – even when the deck is stacked against us. We’ve been covering the Apostle Peter’s first letter, which was written to Christ followers of the First Century being brutally ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:12-21

Denomination: Baptist

Walking Fearlessly Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 9, 2008

How believers fearlessly face persecution.

I’ve been reading a book by an agnostic whose previous book chronicled his project to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. In his latest book he describes his attempt to live according to the Bible. To do so, he had to read it, and he admits, even as one with very little faith: “This is the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

Denomination: Congregational

For Righteousness Sake Series

Contributed by Mitchell Skelton on Mar 22, 2009

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10

INTRODUCTION The preacher of an underground Chinese church tells others of the precautions they must take to avoid government persecution. Each time their church reaches ten to fifteen members, they split to reduce attention. They also alternate meeting places for the same reason. Because phone ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bound And Determined Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Mar 30, 2009

Paul is warned not to go to Jerusalem, but he is bound and determined to trust God and go, even if it costs him dearly.

“Bound & Determined” Acts 21:1-16 July 6, 2008 Two questions as we begin this morning: how do you know you are really trusting God? What do you do when the will of God involves doing something that will really cost you? I. A Desperate Plea - :1-6 READ VV. 1-3 - This ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Under Arrest Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Mar 30, 2009

Paul goes to Jerusalem and is arrested; is he doing the will of God?

“Under Arrest” Acts 21:17-36 July 13, 2008 Could Paul have been wrong? Certainly, as I’ve repeated, he was a man, a man of flesh-and-blood, and he was not above sin! There are two points in today’s passage at which different commentators believe that Paul made an error. There ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:17-36

Denomination: Evangelical Free

God Always Has A Plan

Contributed by Terry Frazier on Feb 1, 2013

Christians need to learn to look at all the circumstances in our lives, the good and what we consider to be bad circumstances and look at these circumstances the way God does. We need to remember that God uses all of our circumstances to teach us things!

If you’ve been around me for any length of time then you know that I am fond of saying that God always has a plan for each of us. Sometimes we like how His plan unfolds for us and sometimes we can become disappointed in how the plan unfolds. I have also mentioned a Bible study that Diane and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Faith In Jesus Series

Contributed by E. True Neilson on Dec 16, 2014

The book of Hebrews is all about Jesus!

SIMPLY JESUS FAITH IN JESUS HEBREWS 11:1-40 WHAT IS FAITH? -The whole book of Hebrews has been building a case that we can be confident in the faith we’ve put in Jesus. -Our author has gone to great lengths to show that Jesus offers us a better covenant. -That Jesus is the better priest for ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Keeping The Faith When Times Are Tough Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Sep 16, 2012

RECENTLY, SOMEONE SHARED WITH ME A “RULE OF THUMB” FOR THEM PERSONALLY. IT GOES LIKE THIS, “WE ARE ALL PROBABLY ABLE TO HANDLE THREE CRISES IN OUR LIVES AT ANY GIVEN TIME.” WELL, I THINK THAT PAUL IS PROBABLY AT HIS LIMIT HERE! HE HAS TO ADJUST TO A WH

KEEPING THE FAITH WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH Acts 9:19-31 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:19-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Beauty Of Risk Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Jul 22, 2015

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

The Beauty of Risk Matthew 5:10-12 Two prevailing paradoxes emerge from this last beatitude: 1. Peace-making sometimes ends in conflict The conflict that ends in supreme happiness is a conflict based on the Christ-follower’s passionate pursuit of righteousness. Righteousness: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Courage Of The Church

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Sep 14, 2015

THE CRY OF THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE CHURCH, IS FOR MEN AND WOMEN COMMITTED TO CHRIST, IN THE FACE OF THE SWORD, TIED TO THE STAKE, IMPRISONED, AWAITING THE AXE, ALL WITH THE SAME COURAGE, NOT TO DENY THEIR FAITH.

THE COURAGE OF THE CHURCH ACTS 4:1-35 OFFERATORY PRAYER HEAVENLY FATHER, IN THE QUIETNESS OF THIS SACRED HOUR, WE HEAR YOUR VOICE CALLING US AWAY FROM THE AFFAIRS OF LIFE THAT OFTEN CLOUD OUR VISION OF YOU. AS WE TURN OUR EYES UPON JESUS, LET THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD GROW STRANGELY DIM IN THE ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

2013 - Stay The Course

Contributed by Jimmy Dillon on May 17, 2013

2013 will bring many challenges to believers faith and they must realize the testing of that faith is what will strengthen them.

2013: Stay the Course Luke 4:1-12 As I have prayed and thought about the New Year of 2013, I feel in my heart that the Lord is saying this will be a year of testing A testing of our faith in God; our relationship with God; our dependence upon God; our understanding of God We will be tested in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus: The Destitute One Series

Contributed by Gregory Lilly on May 29, 2013

Jesus came to His own people and they rejected Him, the Sanhedrin hated Him, and even His own disciples abandoned Him in Gethsemane. Truly Jesus was destitute of companionship.

Luke 9:58 Introduction: In our text, Jesus is not speaking of Him living in poverty, but He is speaking of His lack of normal necessities for living such as companionship and acceptance into His society. Jesus clearly is teaching His disciples and us, that to live Godly will ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:58

Denomination: Baptist