Sermons on Overcame Opposition:

A Virtuous Cycle Series

Contributed by Kevin Purcell on May 24, 2005

This sermon focuses on Acts 4 but covers chapters 2-4 as it shows how the Christian life goes in a cycle from Spiritual Fulfillment to Ministry to Opposition to Decision whether to quit or continue on back to Spiritual Fulfillment.

A Virtuous Cycle Acts 4:1-31 Introduction During Superbowl XXXVII, FedEx ran a commercial that spoofed the movie Castaway, in which Tom Hanks played a FedEx worker whose company plane went down, stranding him on a desert island for years. Looking like the bedraggled Hanks in the movie, the FedEx ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Virtue Of Patience (5 Of 10) Series

Contributed by Jeff Armbrester on Feb 23, 2003

Patience is more than the ability to wait in line without getting frustrated. Patience is much deeper than waiting in the doctor’s office without getting irritated. Patience is an active endurance of opposition, not a passive resignation.

A man’s car stalled in the heavy traffic as the light turned green. All his efforts to start the engine failed, and a chorus of honking behind him made matters worse. He finally got out of his car and walked back to the first driver and said, "I’m sorry, but I can’t seem to get my car started. If ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, James 5:7-11

Denomination: Methodist

Without A Doubt

Contributed by Gregg Rustulka on Mar 29, 2008

As we walk with God in our daily lives “doubt” seems to rise up consistently. When we talk about our faith, our assurance, or having confidence it can be easily recognized that the opposite of these is DOUBT.

Without A Doubt Scripture: John 20: 24 - 29 Key Verse: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” Ill: One day John Wesley was walking with a troubled man who expressed his doubt as to the goodness ...read more

Scripture: John 20:24-29

Denomination: Nazarene

The Man Of The Hour

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 25, 2007

Let’s take a look at Stephen’s life and how it stacks up against ours. 1- Full of grace 2- Did great wonders 3- Met mean opposition 4- Faced with death

INTRO.- ILL.- One Friday morning, a teacher came up with a novel way to motivate her class. She told them that she would read a quote and the first student to correctly identify who said it would receive the rest of the day off. She started with “This was England’s finest hour.” Little Suzy ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:8-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Schism With The Scribes And Factions With The Family

Contributed by Michael Bird on Jul 13, 2002

This sermon describes the opposition Jesus faced from both his own family and from the Scribes. It attempts to highlight how Christians today can face similar accounts of rejection by both the world and from family.

Schisms with the Scribes and Factions in the Family Introduction I would like set before you a couple of stories in order to illuminate the background to this passage. Scene 1: A Carpenter Shop in Nazareth The road for Sepphoris to Nazareth consisted mostly of rolling hillsides. It was a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making A Name For Ourselves

Contributed by Mitch Davis on Jul 10, 2007

It is natural, when living in the flesh, for people to want to make a name for themselves. We want to “stand out” among our peers: academically, socially, behaviorally, athletically, etc. Christianity, however, teaches just the opposite.

Making a Name for Ourselves Theme: Whose name are we trying to promote: ours, or God’s? INTRODUCTION A. It is natural, when living in the flesh, for people to want to make a name for themselves. 1. We want to “stand out” among our peers: academically, socially, behaviorally, athletically, etc. 2. ...read more

Scripture: James 4:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

This Christmas (I Pray You Find These Things) Series

Contributed by Todd Marler on Dec 19, 2018

Do you remember how long it would take for Christmas to come, as a child? It took forever and We could hardly wait. As an adult, it is just the opposite, as Christmas seems to get here faster than ever.

This Christmas (I pray you find this three things) 26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Glory Of Son Of Man

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Dec 12, 2012

I. EXORDIUM: The cross is the victory of CHRIST. We rejoice in the CROSS of Calvary for our Salvation. II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that the CROSS is the ultimate victory of our LORD JESUS CHRIST opposite to the

I. EXORDIUM: The cross is the victory of CHRIST. We rejoice in the CROSS of Calvary for our Salvation. II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that the CROSS is the ultimate victory of our LORD JESUS CHRIST opposite to the world's expectations. IV. TEXT: John 13:31-32 (New ...read more

Scripture: John 13:31-32

Denomination: Pentecostal

Correct Some Wrong Series

Contributed by Alvin Hathaway, Sr. on May 21, 2011

Ministry that Matters requires each of us to help somebody by giving of yourself, by investing some of your resources, and by pressing on in spite of opposition. The third dimension of Ministry that Matters is to correct some wrong. To correct a wrong mea

Sunday, September 21, 2008 “Correct some wrong: Text: Nehemiah 2: 11 – 20 Ministry that Matters requires each of us do something by praying a prayer of concern for others, by praying consistently, by praying a prayer that will alter our conduct, and by praying a prayer that ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:11-20

Denomination: Baptist

Looking For A Good Room

Contributed by Jon Lipka on Oct 14, 2012

Wealth holds us back from inheriting eternal life: but wealth is anything earthyl that we hold onto as valuable in opposition to things heavenly. We must melt down these idols and consecrate the gold to the temple.

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk. 17:17). There are two alternates to eternal life: eternal death and temporal life. Neither is appealing. Eternal life is worth struggling for. The rich young man asked the Lord what must he do. He understood that attainment of heaven was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-27

Denomination: Anglican

Two Words In Prayer Series

Contributed by Monte Brown on May 28, 2013

One might think that the Tribulation Period will be a time period void of prayer and religious activity, however you see that just the opposite is true. There will be prayer in Heaven and there will be prayer upon the earth. History’s greatest p

Sermon outline from Adrian Rogers former pastor of Belleview Baptist Church, of Memphis, TN. The series of messages on End Times for Today will take the words from Revelation chapter by chapter and reveal the blessings promised within these pages. Introduction As we continue our journey ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17

Denomination: Baptist

Sacrifice Of Praise

Contributed by Anitha Jabastion on Jun 19, 2021

The terms praise and sacrifice seem to be opposites of one another. Praise generally bubbles from a happy and a grateful heart. Sacrifice, on the other hand, costs us something. What then does it mean to offer – sacrifice of praise?

Hebrews 13:15 - Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Psalm 49:14 - Offer to God the sacrifice of praise Praise generally bubbles from a happy and a grateful heart. Sacrifice, on the other hand, costs ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 49:14, 1 Chronicles 21:24, Psalm 34:1, Acts 16:23-25, Isaiah 61:3, 2 Chronicles 20:22, Psalm 103:2-4  (view more)  (view less)

Holiness Vs A Form Of Godliness

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Jan 17, 2024

The word Holy comes from the Hebrew word Kodesh and the Greek word Hagios and these words literally translate as to set apart or separated from the common or ordinary and the opposite of that would be not set apart from, common, and ordinary.

Holiness vs A form of Godliness By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. PRELUDE: - The English way of defining words will often cause an obscure or circular definition which literally means a complicated systems to explain something which cause confusion and we so many times will draw the wrong ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16, Jeremiah 5:22, Ezekiel 22:25-28, Matthew 7:15-20

Denomination: Apostolic

The Joseph Principle

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Nov 22, 2023

But that principle does not apply to the story of Joseph in Genesis. In fact, the example of how Joseph succeeded and was used by God is the opposite of the Peter Principle. It is enough different that it deserves its own name. It can be called the Joseph Principle.

Alba 6-30-13 THE JOSEPH PRINCIPLE Genesis 50:19-21 Have you heard of the Peter Principle? It was formulated by Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull in their 1969 book called The Peter Principle. The Peter Principle is a proposition that states that the members of an organization where promotion ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:15-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Rich Man And Lazarus Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Mar 28, 2025

In today’s text we have a story about a wealthy man and an impoverished man whose stories intersect at the gate of the wealthy man. This is a haunting story and one that features people with opposite experiences in life and death.

The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31 Introduction Luke’s gospel is known for having a lot to say about riches and poverty. We might assume that Jesus mostly talked to poor people, but we know he spoke to the Pharisees, many of whom would have been wealthy. (16:14) He also was known to hang ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ