Sermons on Martyrdom:

Putting It Together

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Jan 17, 2026

God is still in control and is allowing him to operate under His control for a season. Although it may seem that his conquest here is an utter victory it is only external with persecution, martyrdom, and political suppression.

Putting it Together By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING: - In 2025 32 people were killed by ICE making it the deadliest year for ICE detainees since 2004 95% percent of these deaths were preventable if adequate medical care had been administered. I have always tried to keep politics out of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 13:7, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Genesis 41:50-51, Deuteronomy 28:49

Denomination: Apostolic

The Three Faces Of Evil

Contributed by Craig Condon on Jul 11, 2015

We have a choice-be like John or be like Herod. Will we be weak like Herod, easy tempted and easily manipulated, or we will be strong in our moral convictions like John?

How many of you have ever watched a horror movie or read a horror story? It’s not always a pleasant experience, is it? As strange as it might seem, there are actually some horror stories in the Bible, and one of the most famous of its horror stories is the story of the death of John the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Anglican

A Man Named Stephen

Contributed by Paddick Van Zyl on Aug 20, 2014

What do we know about the first martyr for the gospel? Are we willing to lay down our own life, to death, for Jesus?

Sermon By Pr. Paddick Van Zyl 20 Aug 2014 Title: A Man Named Stephen Intro: How does a child of God go from obscurity to waiting on tables, a waiter, to being falsely accused and then become the very first martyr for the gospel? Well, Stephen, can help us on this as we look at his biography ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

How To Participate In The Resurrection Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 1, 2013

The witness of the apostles to the Resurrection challenges us to face the mystery of our own existence and life, and adopt a way of life that would inspire others at our own funerals.

Monday of Easter Week Gaudium et Spes Fifty-one days. What a difference fifty-one days can make, if Jesus Christ and the Spirit of Jesus Christ permeates those days. Look at the followers of Jesus in the wake of His arrest, torture and execution. They were cowering in a little upper room in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:8-15

Denomination: Catholic

Standing Tall When It Counts Series

Contributed by Curtis E. Nester on May 30, 2016

Stephen stood alone when it counted and became the first martyr, giving his life as a testimony.

SERIES: Adventures in Acts 007 TITLE: Standing Tall When it Counts TEXT: Acts 6:8-15 INTRO: In the eighth chapter of Acts, we are introduced to a man named Stephen, which means "crown." He was a Greek speaking Jew and a deacon who became the first gospel preacher. He was full of faith and power & ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:8-15

Denomination: Baptist

Unchain The Gospel

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Oct 8, 2019

The unchained Gospel breaks chains.

Unchain the Gospel! 2 Timothy 2:8-15 This letter by Paul to Timothy along with his letter to the Philippians were probably the last two letters he ever wrote. We find Paul chained in prison. As a Roman citizen before his condemnation to death, he had been given some liberty to receive friends and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:8-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

All The Way To The End Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 23, 2023

Today’s readings from the NT close out both the book of Acts and the Gospel of John.

Saturday of 7th Week in Easter 2023 Today’s readings from the NT close out both the book of Acts and the Gospel of John. The apostle John was almost certainly the disciple who lay against Christ’s breast at the Last Supper, and here, right at the last paragraph of his Gospel, he repeats what can ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:16-31, John 21:20-25

Denomination: Catholic

The Church Of Smyrna: Possessing The Wealth Of Heaven (Revelation 2:8-11)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Dec 18, 2023

Within the city of Smyrna, there existed a struggling Christian community undergoing intense and withering persecution. The Lord Jesus came to them with a word of comfort for their dark days. Even though they were poor, they were, in fact, rich beyond imagination.

In our look at the seven churches of Asia Minor described in Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3, we come to the second church the Lord Jesus addresses in terms of testimony and steadfastness to the Gospel. This is the church in the city of Smyrna, which was located about 35 miles north of Ephesus. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:9, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:16-17, 2 Timothy 3:12, Hebrews 11:36-38, Revelation 2:8-11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

There’s More To The Story

Contributed by John Newton on Nov 19, 2023

It seems that John has finished writing his gospel. But no! He adds another chapter.

For the last couple of Sundays we’ve been reading from John 20—the beloved disciple’s dramatic account of Jesus’ resurrection. We’ve stood with Mary Magdalene weeping outside the empty tomb as she mistook the risen Jesus for the gardener. And we’ve been with the disciples in the upper room as they ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-25

Denomination: Episcopal

The Seventeen Percent Or The Seventy-Two? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 13, 2023

Frodo from Lord of the Rings is great fiction, but Jesus is the Risen King of the Universe.

Sunday After Easter 2023 A couple of years ago, Rasmussen surveyed Americans and found that seventy-two out of every hundred Americans believe that Jesus is Son of God and raised from the dead. Seventeen percent definitely deny that. Thomas the Apostle, after being told of Christ’s physical rising ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Catholic

The Speech Of Stephen

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 10, 2013

Wherever God meets His people is a holy place, not just in the Temple or in a Church building.

STEPHEN’S SPEECH. Acts 7. Standing before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council in the Temple of Jerusalem, false witnesses alleged that the Christian deacon Stephen had claimed that ‘Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and change the customs which Moses delivered us’ (Acts 6:14). ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:1-60

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Martyrs, Old And New

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 1, 2026

Let us pray for all those who suffer under persecution, promised by Christ in His Sermon on the Mount.

Friday of the Fourth Week Integral Feb 6 2026 Paul Miki and Companions Today we began our prayer with a line about the saints: “for love of [Christ] they shed their blood; they now exult with Christ forever.” The saints we commemorate today are the Japanese Jesuit Paul Miki and twenty-five others, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:31, Psalm 18:47, Mark 6:14-29, Luke 1:29-33, Psalm 18:50  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Look And See If There Be Any Sorrow Like My Sorrow – Focus On Nigeria Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 7, 2024

Not all believers are aware of the continuing atrocities against Christians in Nigeria from the hand of wicked Islam. We examine some of this and look at practical issues in martyrdom. We must stand with our fellow Christians being killed and tortured in Nigeria and other nations. Pray for them.

LOOK AND SEE IF THERE BE ANY SORROW LIKE MY SORROW – FOCUS ON NIGERIA There is one certainty in following God, be that 4 000 years ago right up to our current time. It will be a road of sorrow and isolation and persecution. It always has been that way because there is always a war raging. It ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:4, Galatians 4:29, 2 Timothy 3:12-13, Revelation 2:10, Psalm 22:13-14, Psalm 69:2-3, John 15:18-20, 2 Corinthians 10:4, Hosea 11:8, Romans 8:17-18, Acts 7:55-56, Acts 7:59-60, 2 Timothy 4:6-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stephen’s Faith And Forgiveness Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Oct 28, 2025

Stephen’s life teaches believers how to maintain faith and forgiveness even in the face of hatred, persecution, and death.

STEPHEN’S FAITH AND FORGIVENESS By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Acts 7:54-60 Key Verse: “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:60) Supporting Texts: Matthew 5:44; Luke 23:34; Romans ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:54-60

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Stephen Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Mar 11, 2020

If you take away anything from Stephen’s message today, it should be this: Jesus is all you need. Say it with me: “Jesus is all I need.” Say it again: “Jesus is all I need!”

If you saw Stephen on the streets of Jerusalem or in the market, he probably wouldn’t seem very different from you or me. A good man … a good neighbor … a good friend … a hard worker … always ready to help. Maybe a good husband … we don’t know if he was married or not. Lately he had been ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7, Matthew 10:16-20, 1 Peter 3:15, Matthew 18:20, Acts 7:9-19, Acts 7:27, Acts 7:49-52, Acts 7:54-56, Acts 7:59-60, Acts 8:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist