Sermons on Horrible Persecution:

Power In Persecution

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jan 14, 2022

Will the power of Acts return when persecution separates the wheat from the chaff? If all you have left is Jesus, will it be enough?

1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Expect Persecution Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Feb 2, 2022

God accomplishes His purposes through persecution.

Today we’ll discover how God accomplishes His purposes through persecution. When we think about persecution, we usually think of believers in closed countries or what happens to missionaries. Let me share with you a true story. In 1921, a missionary couple named David and Svea Flood went from ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:27-40

Denomination: Baptist

The Birthmark Of Persecution Series

Contributed by Grant Adams on Nov 23, 2022

Persecution stems from the world's anger with God and not being able to take it out on Him. The world wants to fight God, but choose to fight with Christians. Remember it is not personal, it is hatred for God.

This is the final message on the Beatitudes, the Birthmarks of the Believers. Jesus was the Messiah, but He was not the Messiah everyone was expecting. The Jews were in bondage. They believed that when He came, He was going to come as a mighty warrior. They were not as interested in being saved ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Gift Of Persecution Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

Persecution is the flip side of peace-making. If we live out the first 7 beatitudes, this one, the 8th, follows on their heels as surely as water flows downhill.

About 35 years ago, a Romanian pastor came to visit the church I belonged to, a nice white church in a rich western suburb of Minneapolis. He had gotten to know my pastor, who had been involved in a Bible-smuggling ministry when the Iron Curtain was still up. Pasor John asked him what he thought ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Handling Persecution Series

Contributed by Bill Brazell on Mar 1, 2016

Persecution has always been a part of following Christ. Don’t react harshly to persecution. Be filled with the Spirit. Use persecution as an opportunity to be a witness for Christ. Be obedient to God above all. Draw together with the church in prayer and fellowship to complete the mission.

Completing the Mission that Jesus Began Handling Persecution Acts 4:1-33 Dec 9,2012 Evangelism, ministry In Chapter 3 of Acts, Peter and John healed a crippled man. A crowd gathered and Peter and John stood and proclaimed Jesus as Messiah and God. The one that the rulers and people had demanded be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-33

Denomination: Baptist

Prosperity Or Persecution

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Dec 30, 2020

You cannot find where we are promised prosperity, but you will find many places where we are promised tribulation and persecution.

Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:19-23, Colossians 2:18

Denomination: Baptist

Persecuted: Why? Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on May 1, 2023

The Beatitudes are a beautiful picture of the character of Christ and of consecrated Christians. Why would such a lifestyle depicted in the first seven beatitudes provoke persecution rather than admiration and esteem?

Intro In our study of the Beatitudes, we come to the eighth beatitude. It is recorded in Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”i The reward declared in this final beatitude is the same as declared in the first ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, John 10:1-32, Ephesians 6:12, Proverbs 29:27, Luke 4:1-34, Ephesians 5:1-6, Acts 3:12-19, Acts 2:1-20, Acts 4:1-12, Matthew 10:32-36, 2 Corinthians 5:1-20, Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:11-20, Matthew 5:13-16, John 15:1-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Responding To Persecution Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on May 8, 2023

Will we experience increased persecution in the days ahead? If so, will we respond in a way that facilitates the work of the Holy Spirit, or will we respond in the flesh, pursuing worthy goals in an unworthy manner? Message examines biblical revelation of how to respond.

Intro Persecution: Will we experience increased persecution in the days ahead? If so, will we be prepared and equipped to handle it well? These are questions that naturally arise as we read our text today. It’s found in Matthew 5:10--12: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12, Luke 6:22-26, John 3:19-20, 1 Peter 2:1-24, 1 Corinthians 4:11-18, Acts 5:41, Matthew 5:44, 2 Timothy 4:1-6, Matthew 13:1-21, Hebrews 10:26-29, Mark 8:34, 2 Timothy 2:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Benefits Of Persecution Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on May 16, 2023

In this exposition of Jesus's 8th Beatitude ("Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake"), we explore biblical revelation as to why persecution is a blessing, more specifically, what are the benefits of persecution for God's people.

Intro We are considering the 8th Beatitude in Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Persecution is a major theme in Scripture. We see it in the first family; it runs all through the Old and New Testaments; and in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, 1 John 3:12, John 16:1-8, 2 Timothy 3:12, Matthew 24:9-14, Acts 14:22, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Acts 8:1-4, Mark 13:11, 1 Peter 5:10, Job 23:10, Isaiah 43:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Preparations For Persecution Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on May 22, 2023

Will persecution against Christians intensify in the days ahead? If so, will we be ready to stand strong in our testimony of Christ? This message processes seven preparations we should be making now.

Intro We have been discussing the final, eighth, beatitude found in Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”i Last week we addressed two preparations for potential persecution. First, expect it. It will happen in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12, 2 Timothy 3:12, Genesis 3:1-6, Acts 21:10-40, Mark 8:34, Numbers 25:1-16, Jeremiah 12:5-6, 1 John 2:15-17, Matthew 26:18, Matthew 10:19-20, Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 29:25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Persecuted Missions

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 5, 2024

What dangers and blessings await those who dare to share God's Good News in a hostile world? Let's find out in Matthew 10.

What dangers and blessings await those who dare to share the Good News in a hostile world? What authority did Jesus give the twelve disciples? He called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to throw them out and to heal every disease and every sickness. (Matthew 10:1 ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Persecution And Thanksgiving

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Nov 22, 2016

Believers in many parts of the world are suffering persecution ranging from mild oppression to beheadings while we in the west seem to waltz through life without giving this persecution a second thought. What should we make of this disparity?

Matthew 24:4-14 – please look this up in your Bibles. We will read this passage in a moment … The first and second Sundays of November have been designated as the International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. But since we were away the first Sunday of November at a District ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:4-14

Denomination: Nazarene

The Persecuted Church

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 18, 2020

THE BEATITUDES: These teachings are not just suggestions, but the COMMANDS of Christ our Lord about what every disciple ought to be. One of the things that the Church will be in the last days is......PERSECUTED.

THE PERSECUTED CHURCH “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Persecution Paradox Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Jul 30, 2020

We shouldn’t be surprised when persecution comes. In fact, Jesus closes out the section of the Beatitudes with a paradox. We will be persecuted. It’s inevitable. But the blessing we will receive is out of this world!

The Jesus Manifesto: The Persecution Paradox Matthew 5:10-12 Chenoa Baptist Church Pastor Jefferson M. Williams It Has Begun It’s been fourteen months since that fateful day in September 2026. In a landmark, unprecedented seven to three vote, the Supreme Court labeled Christianity a “hate ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Joy Of Persecution? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 20, 2018

Paul said that he hoped that he might share in Jesus' suffering. Seriously? Why would he want that?

An extremely nervous patient came for root canal surgery. He was made comfortable in the reclining dental chair a numbing agent was injected around the tooth, and then the dentist left the room for a few minutes while the medication took hold. When the dentist returned, the patient was standing ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:8-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ