Sermons on Martyrdom:

Why Does God Let Bad Things Thwart Or Stop His Work? Lesson 12

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Feb 25, 2014

How God works His plan in the face of evil

A. INTRODUCTION 1. Jim Bakker’s sin collapsed PTL, the second most viewed TV channel. 2. Ignorance: A pastor is killed in his airplane in a snow storm (biggest soul winning church in Canada declined in numbers). 3. Argument: Pastor’s children disagree, fight and eventually the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8

Denomination: Baptist

When We Are Haled Before The Magistrate--Now What?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 13, 2022

If we deny Christ and His divine authority and eternal power, then we will be denied by Christ at the judgement, and face an eternity of suffering and radical aloneness.

Saturday of 28th Week in Course 2022 Today’s Gospel has been misused far more times than it has been used by Christians facing martyrdom by the power of some civil or religious authority. What Jesus seems to intend in His challenge to us disciples is that when we are haled, or hauled, before ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:8-12, Ephesians 1:15-23

Denomination: Catholic

Persecution And Renewal: Why Opposition To The Church Could Signal Revival

Contributed by Ronald Moore on Jun 22, 2025

Recent years have witnessed a troubling rise in the persecution of Christians across the globe. In some countries, believers face brutal oppression — imprisonment, physical violence, even martyrdom.

Recent years have witnessed a troubling rise in the persecution of Christians across the globe. In some countries, believers face brutal oppression — imprisonment, physical violence, even martyrdom. Even in Western societies that pride themselves on tolerance and pluralism, there is an escalating ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12, 1 John 4:4, Matthew 5:11-12, Acts 5:41, John 15:20, Matthew 28:20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Be At Peace Series

Contributed by Betty Johnson on Apr 21, 2015

How can we preach peace, when we are living in an age of martyrdom? A message focusing on the body of Christ using two stories of the 21 men martyred in Libya for their faith.

So Send I You Series: Be At Peace Scripture: John 15:18-19; 16:1-2 Twenty-one young men, - the oldest was 42 - forced onto a beach in Libya, and brutally murdered - for no other crime than their faith in Jesus Christ. People of the Cross. Martyred. Saeed Abedini, an American citizen - a ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Take Up The Challenge And Do The Will Of God Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 6, 2019

In this age, when Christians of all kinds are being ridiculed, harassed and threatened in many different ways, we need to look at the martyrs of the past two thousand years and take courage.

Tuesday of the 14th Week in Course 2019 Jacob ben Isaac was a cheat, a liar and a thief. You may recall from an earlier reading in Genesis that he lied, cheated and stole his older brother, Esau’s, first-born blessing. Then, wisely, he left town and took up with Laban, where he married two sisters ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:32-38, Genesis 32:23-31

Denomination: Catholic

What We Can Learn From Stephen Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 26, 2015

Stephen's actions and attitudes in the time leading up to his martyrdom give us lessons to learn about the Christian life. This sermon examine 4 things we can learn from Stephen

What We Can Learn from Stephen Series: Acts Chuck Sligh April 26, 2015 NOTE: A PowerPoint presentation of this sermon is available upon request by emailing me at chucksligh@hotmail.com. TEXT: Turn to Acts 6:9-15 – “Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Stephen - What A Waste? Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Aug 25, 2004

Although Stephen’s life seems to be wasted from an earthly perspective at least, his martyrdom has long term ramifications for the growth of the church. From this point on the gospel begins to spread.

You’ll gather from the title of this sermon that one question that arises from this passage is, why did God let all this happen? Why allow someone as gifted as Stephen to be wasted like that? I guess it’s the sort of question that we often ask when something like this happens. We asked it 15 years ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Will You Die For Christ?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 7, 2001

How much do you really love Jesus?

Will You Die For Christ? Last week, we celebrated our liberty mostly by consuming large quantities of BBQ, beans and assorted other standard fare. A few of us may have reflected on our founding fathers and what the holiday was supposed to be about. Most just saw it as a day off from work and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:25, Ephesians 6:12, Romans 1:18, 2 Samuel 12:14, James 4:4, Acts 20:24  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Where Does God Live? Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on May 3, 2015

Stephen's Acts 7 defense before the Jewish leaders is a masterful theological treatise on the presence of God. But it was a message with ominous implications to these power-hungry leaders. Stephen's message has applications to us today 2000 years later.

Where Does God Live? Series: Acts Chuck Sligh May 3, 2015 TEXT: Turn to Acts 7 INTRODUCTION Have you ever heard a church referred to as “God’s house?” I’ve often used this term myself, speaking of the importance of being faithful to “God’s house” by ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:1-60

Denomination: Baptist

Jehovah Shammah, God Is There Series

Contributed by Paul Basehore on Feb 17, 2015

The names of God: God always exists, He will provide, He is our healer, and our banner, he will sanctify us and He is our peace. But how do we know? I mean, the Bible says all of these things (and more!), but how can we really know?

Jehovah Shammah: God is There For the past six weeks we’ve learned about the names of God. God always exists, He will provide, He is our healer, and our banner, he will sanctify us and He is our peace. But how do we know? I mean, the Bible says all of these things (and more!), but how can we ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 48:30-35, Exodus 23:20, Exodus 33:14-17, Colossians 1:19-22, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 6:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Perscution Of The Church In Jerusalem

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 25, 2013

The world will always fail in its endeavours to destroy Christianity.

HEROD’S PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM. Acts 12. Baruch the son of Neriah was given a prophecy by Jeremiah which contains a very personal message for ourselves: "Thus says the LORD: I am going to break down what I have built, and pluck up what I have planted-- that is, the whole ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Do You Follow? Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jul 20, 2014

The contrast of Herod killing John the Baptist to Jesus feeding 5000 in Mark 6 is very revealing of the life of sin vs. a life of service. We must be totally devoted to Christ to live for Him, and cannot live like He is a convenience.

Who do you follow? Mark 6:14-44 Introduction - Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant” -- Key verse: Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - For us to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Marching On! Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 10, 2011

Serving the Lord as individuals and as a collective church has its challenges, stresses, and frustrations, but God calls us to march on.

Marching On! 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 • All religious groups have conflicts; when people have to work closely together, personality and experiences lead us in different direcions. Modnern Jews have them, too. They often rely on tradition to settle matters. This joke makes the point: During a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

George Tankervil Series

Contributed by Michael Buckingham on Nov 8, 2011

Tankervil was baptised with fire, and rose to life eternal. Tankervil was martyred on the 26th August 1555. There is a plaque in the centre of St. Albans in memorial of him. This is His story:

George Tankervil George Tankervil (also known as George Tankerfield) was born in the early 1500s in the city of York in England. Tankervil worked as a baker, but it was not for this occupation that he was made famous. During the reign of good King Edward 6th (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1

Denomination: Baptist

Kamikaze Series

Contributed by Chris Mccarthy on Aug 17, 2010

Jesus was a man on a suicide mission like no other. This sermon studies how it was (and still is) the last who understand it first.

Kamikaze Luke 18:31-19:10 Romans 5:7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. • Who would you die for? Would you die for your family? When Charlene Sanders drove home from a routine day of work April 28, the last thing she ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ