Sermons on Martyrdom:

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

No, You Don't Have To Volunteer To Be A Martyr

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 25, 2018

What distinguished the Corinthian church was their usage of the spiritual gifts, especially the more dramatic ones like praying in tongues and healing.

Thursday of 21st Week in Course 2018 Ss Felix and Adauctus Our Lord is not satisfied with half-measures, and neither should we be so satisfied. It has been said that the goal of life is to depart this earth prepared to be canonized saints. That means that we must do good and avoid evil, but to an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:42-51, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Denomination: Catholic

Light In The Spiritual Darkness Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 8, 2018

Our Lord forever is pouring out on us His grace and goodness so that we will learn to do the same thing for Him and for other people.

Feast of St. Lucy 2018 The constant temptation human beings face is to turn God’s intention for man upside down. Instead of us following the plan to be remade into God’s image, we are constantly trying the impossible. We attempt to remake God in our own image–venal and selfish and cruel and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:11-15, Isaiah 41:13-20

Denomination: Catholic

Did Any Other God Ever Do Such A Thing?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 4, 2025

Why did all these men and women give up their lives instead of pledging fealty to the insane political rulers of the day, whether they be Roman emperors or a Nazi dictator?

Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Course 2025 I call this the week of martyrs. Jakob Gapp, a Marianist Austrian priest, had boldly preached love for all races and rejection of Nazism since 1938. He was beheaded this week in 1943 by the Gestapo. Today we celebrate Sister Teresa Benedicta of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-28, Psalm 77:12-16, Deuteronomy 4:32-40, Psalm 77:20

Denomination: Catholic

Suffering For Jesus

Contributed by Rick Boyne on May 1, 2013

All followers of Jesus WILL suffer for His sake.

Suffering for Jesus April 28, 2013 Evening Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: All followers of Jesus WILL suffer for His sake. Focus Passage: 1 Peter 4:12-19 Supplemental Passage: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Baptist

All In For Our Lord Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 21, 2020

Almost certainly in our lifetime we will also have to follow Christ to our own cross. Probably not a bloody martyrdom, but the culture hates the Church and all who follow Christ.

Monday of the 24th and Last Week in Course 2020 Bl. Miguel Agustin Pro Today, in the glaring light of our proclamation on Sunday that Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe, we are invited to consider the virtues of those who will be found worthy to live forever in that marvelous, unimaginably ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 9:4, Luke 21:1-4, Revelation 14:1-5

Denomination: Catholic

Memorial Day: Martyrs For Christ

Contributed by Dennis Lee on May 26, 2019

A Memorial Day sermon looking at what martyrdom means, and those characteristics displayed by Stephen, the first Christian martyr, that will help us in our time of need.

Martyrs for Christ Acts 6:1-8 Access the audio at - https://mega.nz/#!XBNEESgJ!Cpnvilr9SM4LdmRZ0D4X5IeCfDJhFvivptzL0gO3DjQ Tomorrow is Memorial Day. Memorial Day is an official holiday in the United States, and while originally it was observed on May 30, the date was changed in 1971 to the last ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6

Denomination: Foursquare

Stephen --A Man Who Wore Many Hats(Deacon, Evangelist, Convict,crown) Series

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on Sep 8, 2014

Appointed as one of the men to wait on the widows in the church Stephen quickly progressed to evangelistic work, and his preaching of Jesus Christ. It was this preaching that had him put to death.

Stephen --A Man Who Wore Many Hats(Deacon, Evangelist, Convict,Crown) Acts 6:8-7:60 INTRODUCTION: 1.) Last week we were introduced to a number of men who served in the distribution of food in the church. 2.) One of these Greek men was Stephen. 3.) This morning, I want to look further at ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Good News – Bad News For The Church Of Jesus Christ Series

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on Sep 8, 2014

Stephen's death and the following persecution was a bad news/Good News Scenario. On the one hand it was a very negative thing for the church. Yet God used this evil to motivate the church with the Great Commission they had previously ignored.

GOOD NEWS – BAD NEWS FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST Acts 8:1-4 Dorn Ridge Church Of Christ, September 07, 2014 INTRODUCTION: 1.) The story has been told of a man waking up in the hospital after a car accident. A.) As the man gains consciousness, his doctor says to him, I have good ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Not Without Three Witnesses Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on May 26, 2008

Exposition of Acts 14:8-20 about the three witnesses left by God in Lystra as Paul ministered there

Text: Acts 14:8-20, Title: Not Without Three Witnesses, Date/Place: NRBC, 5/25/08, AM A. Opening illustration: talk about 1 John 5:7 B. Background to passage: The story is getting a little repetitious. Paul comes to a city, preaches Christ in that city’s synagogue, the Jews get angry, the gentiles ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

Cost Of Service Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 18, 2013

Don't let ridicule, rejection or even death stop you from serving Christ, because in the end it is the only way to live!

Linda, who teaches first grade in Dallas Texas, has an interesting job, especially when it comes to helping children adjust to their first whole day of school. Little Ryan was used to going home at noon in kindergarten; so when it was time to go to lunch with the rest of the class, he got his ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-29

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Trial Of Stephen, Part 3

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Aug 14, 2024

Stephen continues his defense of the Gospel, this time looking at the example of Moses, a man chosen by God and rejected by his peers.

The Trial of Stephen, Part 3 Acts 7:17–29 NKJV “But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt till another king arose who did not know Joseph. This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:17-29

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Devoted To Fellowship Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

Fellowship is about coming together as believers, focusing on our common bond in Jesus, and resisting the enemy's attempts to isolate us.

The first Christians, they were all about hanging out together. They ate together, prayed together, and learned about Jesus together. It was like a 24/7 Jesus party. And guess what? It was awesome. Imagine you're a single Lego brick. On your own, you're cool, but there's only so much you can do. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-27, Hebrews 10:23-25

Topics: Apostolic Age, Church Fathers, Sacraments, Martyrdom

The Sacrifice Of Jesus And Our Response Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Feb 9, 2024

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to reconcile us with God. Our response should be one of repentance, faith, and a life dedicated to following Jesus' teachings.

Hey guys, have you ever watched a superhero movie where the hero sacrifices himself to save the world? It's pretty intense, right? Well, I've got a real-life superhero story for you today. It's about Jesus, the ultimate hero. You see, Jesus did something even more amazing than any superhero. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Topics: Sacrificial Love, Selflessness, Martyrdom, Spiritual Response

Unsurpassed In Distress

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 13, 2024

If we are not very careful, we could see today’s readings from God’s Word as panic-inducing warnings causing fear and hatred

Thirty-Third Sunday in Course 2024 When I see the dread words about “a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time,” there comes to mind from my own family’s history several events that were so advertised before they happened. In fact, we just completed an election cycle that ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:24-32, Hebrews 10:18, Hebrews 10:11-14, Daniel 12:1-3

Denomination: Catholic