Sermons on Godly Persecution:

Praying In The Face Of Opposition

Contributed by David Wilson on Oct 3, 2011

When threatened, the church responded with a prayer of personal commitment rather than praying against those who were persecuting them.

Praying in the Face of Opposition TEXT: Acts 4:23-31 BACKGROUND: After the glorious healing of the crippled man at the gate of the temple, Peter (with John alongside him) preaches a powerful message to those who are amazed. This upsets the elders and the teachers of the law who seize Peter ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-31

Denomination: Baptist

Hatred

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Oct 15, 2011

They know the way they are living, so to put a Christian down makes them feel better about themselves.

Strife-bitter conflict or rivalry: bitter and sometimes violent conflict, struggle, or rivalry Hatred is inescapable. Sooner or later, despite all our precautions, someone, somewhere will hate us. And if we're followers of Jesus, it will happen sooner rather than later. In John 15:18-16:4, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:12

Denomination: Baptist

Can You Imagine?

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 15, 2005

A sermon for International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

(Show video clip for International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.) It wasn’t long after the church’s first Pentecost that the first follower of Christ was martyred for his faith. With furious opponents gathered around him, Stephen “looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God.” (Acts ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Hit Me Instead!

Contributed by Eric Sellgren on Feb 13, 2002

I don`t advise you to try doing what I did - only if God is prompting you!

HIT ME INSTEAD. One evening the phone rang. It was a woman whom I had visited from time to time. She wasn`t a Christian; in fact she was very dubious about the whole business of Christianity - she couldn`t see what relevance someone who lived 2,000 years ago could possibly have to her today. I`d ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33, Matthew 5:11

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Growth In Suffering Series

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Mar 10, 2011

The Early Church experienced growth in numbers, and growth in depth and growth in community. It also experienced a growth in suffering. Jesus said blessed are those who suffer and are persecuted because of him! This talk encourages the church to proclaim

Although I’ve only seen part of it on YouTube there is a humbling episode from the 1961 British film called, ‘Whistle down the Wind’. A group of Lancashire children have experienced the death of a kitten. They had prayed fervently that the little cat would get well, but instead it died. They ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-32

Denomination: Anglican

7th Seal & 1st 4 Trumpets (Revelation 8)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 30, 2020

Let’s look at the final of seven seals and the first four of seven trumpets in Revelation 8.

Let’s look at the final of seven seals and the first four of seven trumpets. 7th Seal - Silence Revelation 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. Whether or not the seals or the scroll is being revealed is unclear, so we will ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Persevering Crackpots

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jun 10, 2021

How did Paul respond to his critics ... ? ... Paul "... said, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" (I Cor.1:23 NRSV). The true gospel of Jesus Christ removes all crutches that people use to prop up their pretentiousness!

PERSEVERING CRACKPOTS Text: II Corinthians 4:5 - 12, 2 Corinthians 4:5-12  For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake.  (6)  For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Denomination: United Methodist

Stand Against The Bullies!

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Apr 11, 2016

All bullies have their day, but we must react differently than the bullies though we stand up to them.

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Matthew 5:11 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: John 15:20

Denomination: Baptist

"Team Extreme" Series

Contributed by Kendall Hicks on Apr 25, 2016

The idea for this series came from a series of the same name that is offered free by Life.Church. You can find it at open.church. There you will find videos, transcripts, outlines, and graphics. This message is loosely based on the life.church series.

INTRO: For the last few weeks, we’ve been a series on the family called “Bless This Home.” During this time, we have taken a few of Jesus’ beatitudes from Matthew 5 and have applied them to our families. You’ll remember that we defined BLESSED as having a much ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living As Exiles - Embracing Our Weirdness

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Jan 19, 2017

What we believe and what we practice as those who are in Christ is strange to the world. Let's embrace it

Living as Exiles – Embracing our Weirdness TCF Sermon January 3, 2016 Does anybody really make New Year’s resolutions anymore? It can be a helpful exercise, but for many of us, they just end up being a to-do list for the next week or two, that quickly falls by the wayside in the face of everyday ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:20-32, Romans 12:14-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Suffering For The Sake Of The Savior Series

Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Oct 18, 2015

Why must we suffer for doing what is right?

Suffering For The Sake Of The Savior I Peter 3:13-22 Back in April Noman Masih, a 14-year-old Pakistani boy was burned alive by a group of Muslim youths, he later died from his injuries. Noman was targeted because he admitted that he was a Christian. Before he died he said "I have neither enemies, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Denomination: Baptist

Suffering: Why? Series

Contributed by Bob Faulkner on Oct 19, 2015

One man's attempt to unravel the Scriptural reasons for suffering, especially the suffering of the people of God. Not an easy task.

SUFFERING, per the BIBLE Another man’s attempt to figure it out… It’s not as easy as we are led to believe. We get sick and right away someone tells us we are being judged of God. Maybe. Another person gets sick, and he is told there is no spiritual significance to the illness. ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:21

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Steadfast Church

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Sep 14, 2015

The church needs to stand up and be counted on in this dark world.

A STEADFAST CHURCH ACTS 7:54 – ACTS 8:4 AS I WAS PREPARING FOR TODAYS MESSAGE I CAME ACROSS AN ILLUSTRATION THAT I FOUND TO BE QUITE INTERESTING, AND APPROPRIATE FOR TODAY’S WORLD. A MAN WHO WAS TAKING A TOUR OF MILITARY CHAPELS, SAID THAT ONE PROBLEM THEY WERE FACING WAS HAVING A ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

When Men Revile You

Contributed by Nnaemeka Durueke on Jul 9, 2016

IN THIS LAST DAYS, PERSECUTIONS MUST ABIDE BUT LET US NOT BE MOVED FROM OUR LOVE AND TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT ONLY KILL THE FLESH AND NOT THE SPIRIT

WHEN MEN REVILE YOU MAIN TEXT: MATTHEW 5:11 “Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake”. LUKE 6:28 “Bless them that curse and pray for them which despitefully use you”. The word ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:11-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Remember The Earlier Days Series

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Jun 14, 2014

To show that we need to remember our roots and how we suffer for the sake of the gospel and move on towards GOD's plan for us.

I. EXORDIUM: Do you remember the days when you got born again? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that we need to remember our roots and how we suffer for the sake of the gospel and move on towards GOD's plan for us. IV. TEXT: Hebrews 10:32 (New International Version) ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:32

Denomination: Pentecostal