Sermons on Horrible Persecution:

The Empire Strikes Back Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Mar 27, 2008

Exposition of Acts 12:1-17 regarding the attack of Herod on the church and the churches response to persecution

Text: Acts 12:1-17, Title: The Empire Strikes Back, Date/Place: NRBC, 3/30/08, AM A. Opening illustration: Ignatius Kung was ordained as a Bishop of Shanghai in 1949, shortly after the communists took over China. The Chinese government pressured him to align his loyalties to the "Chinese Catholic ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Happy Are The Humble -- Part 2 Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Aug 29, 2019

If you want to be truly happy, demonstrate humility in mercy, purity, making peace, and accepting persecution.

Orla Shup, of Albion, Pennsylvania, was babysitting her pastor’s 3-year-old daughter, playing their favorite game together, Go Fish. One evening, after winning several rounds, the little girl kept bragging about how good she was. Jokingly, Shup said to her, “I'm going to have to teach you a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7-12

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The "be" Attitudes 09

Contributed by Guy Glass on May 8, 2023

Thie is the last of the series on the beatitudes and deals with the nature, reason, and encouragement when we face persecution.

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT THE “BE” ATTITUDE’S PART 9 MATTHEW 5:10-12 MATTHEW 5:10–12 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 11 “BLESSED ARE YOU WHEN PEOPLE INSULT YOU, PERSECUTE YOU AND FALSELY SAY ALL KINDS OF EVIL AGAINST YOU BECAUSE OF ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

Boldness In The Face Of Opposition Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Oct 27, 2025

Spirit-filled believers are empowered to stand fearlessly for Christ, even in the face of threats, persecution, or opposition.

BOLDNESS IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Acts 4:13-20 Key Verse: “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20) Supporting Texts: Joshua 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:7; Ephesians 6:19-20; Proverbs 28:1 INTRODUCTION: The early Church faced fierce ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:13-20

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Raised From Death Unto Life

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Feb 12, 2020

Peter knew the church faced much persecution in the first century. As they continued to endure adversity, he pointed them to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Persecution might continue, but they had been raised from death unto life in Christ.

Raised from Death unto Life 1 Peter 4: 1-6 Peter set the tone for the message he sought to convey as he introduced himself to the reader. He addressed them as strangers scattered throughout the Roman provinces. This served two basic principles – 1) Peter revealed to the believers that he was aware ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Our Fight With Satan's Minion, Beast #1 (Revelation 13:1-10) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jul 17, 2023

Satan responds to his losses, by summoning Beast #1 from the sea. Beast #1 =Human power structures, used to attack Christians and deceive people into giving allegiance to the Beast, rather than Jesus.

Today, we begin working our way through Revelation 13. We will cover roughly half today, and the other half next week. Many Christians today find chapter 13 to be one of the most interesting, and thought-provoking, parts of the entire book of Revelation. We will hear about two beasts, summoned ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 13:1-10, Daniel 7:1-8

An Unusual Amen

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Nov 17, 2014

In life you will face Unexpected Attacks, be helped by Unseen Advocates, you will realize Unforeseen Additions, and will need to verbalize Unusual Amen's.

An Unusual Amen PPT 1 Title This will be a different text than you probably have ever heard for a Thanksgiving message. Text: Acts 5:17-42 (Note to Pastor's on sermon central. I read the whole passage, but for posting online I am only showing the last 3 verses.) ... Ac 5:40 And they took his ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:17-42

Denomination: Pentecostal

"Turned Into Hell..." By Dr. E. Winson Butler

Contributed by Winson Butler on Jun 2, 2004

John Lennon of the Beatles wrote a song and he encouraged us to imagine that there were no Heaven and no Hell. A world where we live as one. Is that possible? There’s one thing for sure though, Hell will be horrible!

Introduction I. illus. I remember the crackling in his voice. The sense of loss and hopelessness in his words when he said over BBC radio, "John Lennon is dead..." I too felt strange. Was it true, one of the original Beatles dead, how? Shot! Then it dawned on me, John for the first time is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 9:17

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Wrath And The Blood

Contributed by John Gaston on Jun 1, 2016

It was a terrible time for the land of Egypt. God had risen up against the land with horrible plagues. Death will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. Exception? Only those under the blood would be spared!

GOD’S WRATH AND THE BLOOD Ex. 12:3-13; 1 Cor. 5:7 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: “4 worms in Church" 1. A minister decided to add a visual demonstration about the evil habits of modern society. 2. Four worms were placed into four separate jars. a. 1st - put into a container of alcohol. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:3-13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Keep Your Lamps Burning Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 25, 2022

This message looks at the believer’s responsibility to remain faithful in sharing the light of Jesus and proclaiming the gospel. It also views the horrible fate that awaits those who do not have the light of Christ abiding within them.

This evening’s message is entitled, “Keep Your Lamps Burning,” and it’s taken from what is called, “The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.” Back when I was in high school, our choir once sang an old Negro spiritual that went like this: “Keep your lamps trimmed and burning, for the time is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

"What To Do In Troublesome Times"

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Feb 5, 2014

Three things you can do when you find yourself in troublesome times.

“What to Do in Troublesome Times” 2-9-14 Matthew 24:1-14 “Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-14

Denomination: Holiness

The Word "Peace" Made Flesh Series

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Dec 8, 2004

Jesus is our peace, we are to be peace for the world around us

Advent Series 2004 The Word Made Flesh The Word “PEACE” Made Flesh Ephesians 2:11-18 He Himself is our Peace Like hope, Peace is a prevalent theme at Christmas. We see the word everywhere – cards, banners, billboards… Rightfully so – Peace is proclaimed around Jesus all the time – in Isaiah 53 ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-18

Denomination: *other

The Relationship Of Believers To Religionists

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Mar 28, 2012

Persecution can cause the believer to stumble and fall. It can cause us to sometimes question our own beliefs. It can cause us to weaken and return to the way of false religion. It can make us not want to witness. And sometimes this persecution can ca

So far in chapter 15 of the gospel of John we have talked about: • The relationship of Jesus to the people of the world. • The relationship of Jesus to believers. • The relationship of believers to believers. • The relationship of believers to the world. Tonight we move ...read more

Scripture: John 16:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Waiting On A Word During Suffering Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Nov 7, 2013

It is no strange thing when the godly encounter persecution by those who refuse to yield to God & His Word. May the understanding that God has brought His servants before us through persecutions minister comfort & encouragement to us in our own tribulatio

PSALM 119: 81-88 [The Ministry of The Word Series] WAITING ON A WORD DURING SUFFERING [John 16:33] We have arrived at the eleventh section of the 22 letter alphabetic Psalm. Here the psalm reveals the dark and dreary midnight of a distraught soul. The psalmist is in anguish. His soul faints ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:81-88

Denomination: Baptist

Idop 2025: Faithful To The End

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Oct 28, 2025

Today is the International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians. This year's theme (2025) is "Faithful to the End." How can we remain faithful followers of Jesus amidst all difficulties and temptations, even when we face persecution?

Introduction: I was in Surabaya last month when, at 3 a.m., I received the news that Charlie Kirk had been shot. It turned out he died. This news was truly shocking and left many wondering, "Why would anyone kill him?" Many reports claimed he deserved to be killed because he spread ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:18-25, John 15:20, John 16:1-2, Acts 7:57-58, Matthew 16:23, Revelation 2:10, Acts 8:1, John 14:6, John 1:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational