Sermons on Persecuting The Church:

Stephen Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Sep 22, 2023

As the gaze of the Sanhedrin fell on Stephen they saw “that his face was like the face of an angel.” Stephen stood there, unafraid, his face glowing with the peace and calm of heaven.

September 23, 2023 As the church grew, it began to experience growing pains. One source of that pain involved the distribution of food to the Jewish and Gentile widows. The Gentile widows made accusations that they were not getting their fair share of the daily food distributions. The ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:11, Acts 6:8, Acts 7:1-60

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

How Living With Integrity Increases Our Hope

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Nov 16, 2008

How living with integrity increases our hope.

We’re in the series "From Hurt to Hope." We’ve been learning more about how to experience the hope that God offers – even when the deck is stacked against us. We’ve been covering the Apostle Peter’s first letter, which was written to Christ followers of the First Century being brutally ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:12-21

Denomination: Baptist

Lower The Nets For A Catch Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 7, 2013

Jesus calls us to lower the nets for a catch, even though it means persecution and rejection. We must learn the four steps of evangelization of our surroundings, friends and coworkers.

Third Sunday of Easter 2013 Vatican II About forty years ago, acting on the directions of the Fathers of the Council, a team of expert Scripture scholars and liturgists gave the Church what is called the “expanded Lectionary” for Mass. The exact words of the Liturgy Constitution are ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-19

Denomination: Catholic

The Letter To The Church At Smyrna Series

Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Nov 5, 2018

A sermon examining Jesus' Letter To The Church At Smyrna.

THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA Revelation 2:8-11 Throughout my time in the ministry I have struggled when preaching on passages that speak of Christian persecution. It has been difficult to draw an application that is relevant when preaching to an assembly of people in a country with ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Endure Suffering Patiently Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Dec 14, 2015

Suffering is partr of the human condition. We see John addressing two very important questions in minds of those who will receive this letter. The first question “Why all this suffering?” The second: “Is there point to the suffering?"

Series: Victorious! “Endure Suffering Patiently” Revelation 6-7 Open This morning, we’re in our fifth message in our series through the book of Revelation. It comes from Revelation 6-7 so if you’d go ahead and take your Bibles and turn to that passage, it will ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

No Servant Is Greater Than His Master

Contributed by Paul Estabrooks on Oct 24, 2012

There are severe forms of persecution, and less severe; but there is no such thing as a non-persecuted Christian!

Introduction Jesus promised his disciples the night before he was crucified that their lot was to be no different than His. Jesus said: “No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also!” Persecution Is on the Rise The Pew Research ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-21

Denomination: *other

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

When The Church Is Shaken Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Feb 14, 2008

We are glimpsing the early church at a very turbulent and emotional time. How do they respond in such a time of crises?

The Highlands of Scotland are known for their shy and reserved temperament. Just how that became the temperament is not known. Some suggest it is the cold weather and long winters with very little daylight. The reserved nature is part of their culture and that reflects itself in every area of life, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-31

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Shoot The Messenger

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Jul 19, 2021

Jeremiah was a major prophet in the Old Testament. He was sent to wake up the people of God. The children of Israel were falling away from the Lord God. They began to worship false gods, so the Lord sent Jeremiah to preach a message of repentance and to preach a message of the law.

TITLE: DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 26:8-15 There is a saying that is heard frequently, “DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!” What it means is whatever the messenger is delivering, it’s not their fault, it’s not their message. • If you don’t like the message, then go to its source ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 26:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Before All Else

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Jul 1, 2025

To be a true disciple of Christ, to be assured of eternal life, we must never be ashamed to confess His holy name. We must also be willing to follow Him always, forsaking our own desires and even our family and friends.

I have entitled our message, “Jesus Before All Else.” Author Mike Mazzalongo wrote a book entitled Jesus Above All Else. He says that Jesus told His followers, “in no uncertain terms, that in order to be His disciple they must place Him above all else.” He explains that “above all else” means ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:32-42

Denomination: Baptist

Paul The Church Planter

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Mar 28, 2023

The Apostle Paul is probably the greatest church planter in the history of the church. What can we learn from him, and how should we implement it into our modern times?

It is estimated that the Apostle Paul traveled a total of 17,285 miles! It is the equivalent of going from Jerusalem to San Francisco and then back to New York City. During his three missionary journeys alone, Paul covered some 8,000 miles by land and sea. Paul was a preacher. His passion was to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lent And Traditions

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Feb 14, 2013

Is the Lenten season Biblical or does it spring from church tradition? Is it good, neutral or harmful? Just trying to answer these questions ....

Traditions... Body Bags: Israel's major airline, El Al, recently rejected a plea by ultra-orthodox Jews with a priestly heritage to fly inside body bags. Why would someone want to do this? Ritual law states that a priest who enters a cemetery becomes religiously "unclean." A ruling by a ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-8

Denomination: Nazarene

The Church That God Wants

Contributed by Timothy Wong on Apr 6, 2023

What kind of characteristics does God want in His church

1 Thessalonians 1 : 6 - 10 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Portrait Of Jesus Among His Churches Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on May 10, 2010

The portrait of Jesus walking in the midst of His churches pictures the works that His followers are to be doing.

How many of you have ever seen a portrait of Jesus? [Pause for response]. For those of you who raised your hands, I’m assuming that you’re referring to a depiction of Jesus that might look something like this. [Show painting of Jesus]. Would you be surprised to find that in the first ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:9-16

Denomination: Baptist

What The Bible Says About The Church’s Mission?

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on May 7, 2013

This message deals with various aspects of the mission of the church

What The Bible Says About The Church’s Mission I. WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH? 1.) The mission of the Church is two-fold: A.) The Church has the mission of teaching all men about Christ. aa.) Matt. 28:19 aa-1.) (To bring to a saving faith, baptism, and continued faith ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ