Sermons on Persecution Of Believers:

Suffering For Jesus Series

Contributed by Allen James on Feb 14, 2010

Final message in Approved series through the Beatitudes explores the idea of being persecuted for righteousness sake.

Suffering for Jesus • Matthew 5:10-12 Two Common Approaches re: Suffering for Jesus: Too Light-hearted about it… Confuse Temptation and Trials with persecution… Introduction: Persecution is more about our spiritual preparation than it is about our personal ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Courage Of The Church

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Sep 14, 2015

THE CRY OF THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE CHURCH, IS FOR MEN AND WOMEN COMMITTED TO CHRIST, IN THE FACE OF THE SWORD, TIED TO THE STAKE, IMPRISONED, AWAITING THE AXE, ALL WITH THE SAME COURAGE, NOT TO DENY THEIR FAITH.

THE COURAGE OF THE CHURCH ACTS 4:1-35 OFFERATORY PRAYER HEAVENLY FATHER, IN THE QUIETNESS OF THIS SACRED HOUR, WE HEAR YOUR VOICE CALLING US AWAY FROM THE AFFAIRS OF LIFE THAT OFTEN CLOUD OUR VISION OF YOU. AS WE TURN OUR EYES UPON JESUS, LET THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD GROW STRANGELY DIM IN THE ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Burden Of The Cross

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

Jesus says, happy are those who take following me seriously enough to bear the burden of the cross. Take up the cross and follow me Jesus said, and His demand is still the same today, and the promise is still the same, that those who suffer with Christ shall also reign with Him.

Florence Chadwick was the first woman ever to swim the difficult and cold 21 mile stretch of water between Catalina Island and the California coast. She failed on her first attempt because of poor vision. After 15 hours and 55 minutes of numbing cold she asked to be taken out of the water. A heavy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

The Burden Of The Cross Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

In this last beatitude Jesus provides His disciples with a defensive weapon to penetrate the fog of persecution. He promises great reward in heaven to those who will press on in the dark, knowing the light is still shining beyond.

Florence Chadwick was the first woman ever to swim the difficult and cold 21 mile stretch of water between Catalina Island and the California coast. She failed on her first attempt because of poor vision. After 15 hours and 55 minutes of numbing cold she asked to be taken out of the water. A ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Great Joy In That City Series

Contributed by Ricky Tuttle Thd on Jan 9, 2025

Not everything, that we call bad, is bad! There are times when God moves in the lives of others in order to direct the lives of His children.

“Great Joy In That City” Acts 8:3-8 In our text we see the work of the Lord in the life of the believers. Not everything, that we call bad, is bad! There are times when God moves in the lives of others in order to direct the lives of His children. We need to overlap a couple verses from last ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:3-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Decadence Of The King Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Feb 24, 2021

Esther lived within the Persian Empire, an environment hostile to the Hebrew people. Although their situation seemed dire, God had a plan to preserve and prosper His people. The opening passage provides insight to the culture in Persia.

The Decadence of the King Esther 1: 1-9 The opening chapter of Esther reveals the ungodly condition of the society in which God’s people were dwelling. It was a culture that possessed and promoted unbridled lusts and insatiable appetites. The people within Media and Persia had one goal in life: ...read more

Scripture: Esther 1:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus: The Destitute One Series

Contributed by Gregory Lilly on May 29, 2013

Jesus came to His own people and they rejected Him, the Sanhedrin hated Him, and even His own disciples abandoned Him in Gethsemane. Truly Jesus was destitute of companionship.

Luke 9:58 Introduction: In our text, Jesus is not speaking of Him living in poverty, but He is speaking of His lack of normal necessities for living such as companionship and acceptance into His society. Jesus clearly is teaching His disciples and us, that to live Godly will ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:58

Denomination: Baptist

The Fiery Furnace

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Aug 25, 2008

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego fought fire with faith.

THE FIERY FURNACE (Daniel 3:1-30-fighting fire with faith) INTRODUCTION: Testing-we seldom enjoy it. We don’t like having to endure the challenges that test our knowledge, patience or faith. But, the only way we will find out the value of something is if it’s been tested. Consumer Reports has been ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Me? Stephen. Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Nov 2, 2018

Stephen is an example of a person doing God's will, yet he will lose his life for it. Does that seem consistent with a God who loves you?

INTRODUCTION • Apostle Paul Video Clip • SLIDE #1 • Why me? Have you ever had a day, a week, a month, or a year where you asked yourself this question? • There are a variety of reasons we can feel this way. • We see loved ones develop a fatal disease. We lose a job we have help for many ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:54-60

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Watch Out And Take Heed.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 25, 2022

The bookends to this excerpt of Scripture underline the need to be on our guard.

WATCH OUT AND TAKE HEED. Mark 13:9-23. 1. Testimony and Martyrdom. Mark 13:9-13. Jesus warned His disciples that they would face arrests, persecution, interrogation by the synagogue authorities, imprisonment, arraignment before kings and governors – and all because they bore His name. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:9-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prosperous And Foolish

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Dec 29, 2023

We in the West think we are smart, but we are not wise.

Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:19-23, Colossians 2:18, Mark 1:26

Denomination: Baptist

The Greatest Conversion

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Feb 8, 2022

The conversion of the apostle Paul is one of the most thrilling and inspiring conversions we have ever heard about. Paul truly had a conversion.

Today the modern churches talk about DECISIONS, not CONVERSIONS! Illus: Someone said to a preacher, “Did you have any decisions last week?” The preacher said, “Yes, I had lots of them. Some DECIDED to go to the mountains and some DECIDED they would go to the beach instead of coming to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Paul’s Perspective On Adversity Series

Contributed by David Taylor on Mar 6, 2014

Philippians - Manual of Joy Paul’s Perspective on Adversity

Philippians - Manual of Joy Paul’s Perspective on Adversity 1:12-18a David Taylor We are working our way through the letter to the church at Philippi. One of the main themes is that joy is central to our lives when Christ is central in our lives. Joy is not a choice, not an attitude but is ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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