Sermons on Persecuted Church:

The Early Church.

Contributed by Melvin Shelton on Dec 2, 2003

With Peter being the spokesman for the 12 we watch the early church grow spiritually and courageous with its loyalty to Jesus.

The early church. Acts 5:11 -- 40. 12/03/03 In the early chapters of this book we see that the man Peter was a very prominent influence in the early church. Other Saints will become prominent as you read on such as Steven, Philip, and beginning in chapter 13 is the great apostle Paul. With Peter ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:11-40

Denomination: Baptist

The Suffering Church Series

Contributed by Jeff Such on Mar 7, 2011

A closer look at the 7 Churches found in the Book of Revelation and what it means for the church today.

The Suffering Church The 7 Churches of Revelation January 22nd & 23rd Today we continue our series on the 7 Churches of Revelation. Let’s look at Christ’s message to the church at Smyrna. Background: The Smyrna church was 40 miles north of Ephesus. It was called a city of rare ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ministry Of The Church

Contributed by Jim Erwin on Dec 29, 2010

The ministry of the church includes signs and wonders (the easy part) and also witnessing (the hard part).

The Ministry of the Church Acts 5:12-42 THE EASY PART: WONDERS AND SIGNS (5:12-16) The church triumphed over Satan. They were still: Unified (5:12) Magnified (5:13) Multiplied (5:14) - the first mention of women coming to salvation in Acts. Wonders and Signs authenticated the ministry of the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:12-42

Denomination: Baptist

The Church At Smyrna Series

Contributed by Leighton (Lee) Vary on Oct 28, 2016

The message to the church at Smyrna. This church had a constant threat of death, but they remained faithful.

I. Introduction A. The city of Smyrna was about 35 miles north of Ephesus 1. It was and still is an important sea port a. The city's name is now Ismir 2. It was the site of the temple to Emperor Tiberious B. As a representative church, Smyrna pictures the time from about 100 AD to ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Espionage In The Church

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Dec 28, 2010

Although, because of its vulnerability, the church is constantly under the threat of siege by infiltration, it is not defenseless. It can preserve the faith from corruption and destruction by recognizing and properly dealing with impostors. Those of us wh

Robert "The Master Spy" Hanssen A high-ranking FBI counterintelligence agent, Hanssen caused more damage to U.S. national security than any other spy in our history. According to a key Soviet defector, the information provided by Hanssen was so damaging that the U.S. would have lost WWIII, had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 11:3

Denomination: Baptist

Church And State Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 23, 2021

What separation does mean is that all true religious faith is a matter of free choice, and so no state power can ever be rightly used to enforce faith or any religious conviction.

Until every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, the abuse of power will be a major cause of human suffering. When the country of Chad in Africa became independent in 1960 the Christian missionaries were delighted that the first President was a Baptist. Tambolboye was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-15

Living As The Church

Contributed by Mark Engler on Jan 23, 2015

We can't be the church as individuals, yet in the American church today many have the mentality of being lone rangers. If we are going to be the church that God intended we must be committed to the church and to each other.

Living As The Church Ephesians 4:1-16 INTRO: Have you ever read the Gospels and looked for the church? If you haven’t you should try it sometime. But I can tell you that you will not find much about church in the Gospels. Mark, Luke, and John don’t even mention the church and the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

To The Church Of The Namby Pamby

Contributed by Jeremy Long on Jul 19, 2025

If John could have seen the Church today when writing the Revelation, I think he wouldn't have been quite so biblically polite in the Letter he would send to it.

To the Church of the Namby-Pamby I’ve been somewhat bothered with something lately and can’t seem to get it off of my mind. A feeling that God is pushing us to get things sorted quickly because His return is VERY SOON. Anyone else felt this? Felt the urgency of the church’s mission? Felt like ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: *other

What Is Church

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Aug 22, 2020

We want us to look into God's Word and wonder at the beauty, the mystery, the glory, and the greatness of the church.

What is the Church In whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. - Ephesians 2:22 Who needs the church? Well, the answer is: if you're a child of God, you need the church. I need the church. We all need the church. And when we say the word ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:21-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Compromising Church Series

Contributed by Jason Cole on Feb 26, 2004

What type of church are you a part of? What type of Christian are you? We live in a world of compromise, Christians today compormise in their dcotrine and their lifestlye. What does Jesus have to say to a compromising church?

What Type of Church Is This? A Compromising Church Introduction: According to the Homer’s Iliad, the Greeks besieged the city of Troy for ten years without success. After the death of the warrior Achilles, many wanted to give up the fight. But the king of Ithaca, Odysseus, came up with a plan to ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Turning The World Upside Down Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Oct 15, 2008

Exposition of Acts 17:1-15 regarding the second missionary journey in Thessalonica and Berea

Text: Acts 17:1-15, Title: Turning the World Upside Down, Date/Place: NRBC, 10/12/08, AM A. Opening illustration: our baseball team turns the world upside down every time we play B. Background to passage: Having been freed with some dignity after being so spitefully treated (1 Thess 2:2) our ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Love Your Haters

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 26, 2014

Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

Love Your Haters John 15:17-25 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/LoveHaters.html Matthew 5:10-12 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil ...read more

Scripture: John 15:17-25

Denomination: Baptist

Imprecise Thinking

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Jan 20, 2013

Persecutions & Martyrdom. It's origin and hos to deal with them

Stone The Gods - 12 years before Paul consented to stoning - Stephen’s death by stoning - Now he was being stoned - Stone the man who healed the cripple World does not appreciate its benefactors Martyrdoms Martyr Gk. “witness” - 70 million over 2000 years - Every day 400 are ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

Church In The World Vs World In The Church Series

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 21, 2025

Working through 1 Peter using consecutive expository preaching. Teaching sheet included at end of text.

“Church in the World vs World in the Church” 1 Peter 3:8-12 Pastor John Bright 1 Peter3 “8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-12, Philippians 2:2, Hebrews 4:14-16, Romans 5:5, John 17:11, John 17:16, Matthew 5:38-48, Matthew 16:24  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Philip And The Ethiopian Lesson 39 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Mar 11, 2019

Persecution scatters the Gospel.

A. INTRODUCTION – ACTS 8:1-4 1. Persecution initiated. Saul held the coats for those stoning Stephen. “. . . I cast my vote . . .” (Acts 26:10). 2. Persecution intensified. 3. Persecution scatters the gospel. B. THE GOSPEL SPREADS TO SAMARIA – ACTS 8:5-6 1. What is significant about ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:5-6

Denomination: Baptist