Sermons on Persecution Of Chistians:

Grace And Peace To You / (Why Mentioned So Often In The New Testament?)

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 20, 2012

"Grace and peace to you ..." Eighteen times we hear this exact greeting or a variation in the pages of the New Testament. Why is this the favored greeting of the apostles? Updated April 2022.

"Grace and peace to you ..." Eighteen (18) times... we hear this exact greeting... or a variation of it... in the pages ...of the New Testament It is used as the opening sentence ... from our service ... of Morning Prayer: These words should be familiar: Hear God's Word to ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:10, Colossians 1:18, Hebrews 13:5, Exodus 3:14, Revelation 1:4-8, Philippians 1:2, Revelation 2:10-15, Ephesians 6:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Good News – Bad News For The Church Of Jesus Christ Series

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on Sep 8, 2014

Stephen's death and the following persecution was a bad news/Good News Scenario. On the one hand it was a very negative thing for the church. Yet God used this evil to motivate the church with the Great Commission they had previously ignored.

GOOD NEWS – BAD NEWS FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST Acts 8:1-4 Dorn Ridge Church Of Christ, September 07, 2014 INTRODUCTION: 1.) The story has been told of a man waking up in the hospital after a car accident. A.) As the man gains consciousness, his doctor says to him, I have good ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Freedom From Addiction To Religion Series

Contributed by Ken Henson on May 3, 2014

There is no advantage to religion which creates division between people. There is every advantage to the Truth, the Gospel, the Faith, and The Spirit of God working in us.

Freedom from Addiction to Religion Galatians 2:11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles ...read more

Denomination: *other

Are You Mocked Today?

Contributed by Bala Samson on May 19, 2014

Mockery is a powerful way to break a person mentally and especially emotionally! Mockery does not affect the body but it puts tremendous strain on the mind and shatters the heart of a person.

Are you mocked today? Listen as I read Matthew 27- 28 “Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.” Mockery is a powerful way to break a person mentally and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:27-43

Denomination: Pentecostal

Do You Want To Get Well?

Contributed by Allan Kircher on Jul 9, 2014

The fifth chapter marks a major division in the Gospel of John

Pastor Allan Kircher Shell Point Baptist Church July 13th 2014 John 5:1-17 Do you want to get well? The fifth chapter marks a major division in the Gospel of John. • Prologue John introduces the life of Jesus • 1st-4chap.Jesus presents himself/Jews/promised Messiah • Chap 5, ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Peter's Arrest And Church's Prayer Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Mar 1, 2021

The war between the political and spiritual leaders is an age-old issue. It exists time immemorial. Religious leaders are raised by God, whereas political leaders inherit from their forefathers, are elected by their citizens through democracy.

Acts 12:1-17 Political and Spiritual Powers 12:01-05 Peter arrested and Church at Prayer 12:06-10 Peter released by an Angel 12:11-17 Peter Escapes to Unknown place Acts 12:01-05 Peter arrested and Church at prayer The war between the political and spiritual leaders is an age-old issue. It ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-17

Denomination: Methodist

The Scattering Series

Contributed by Troy Walliser on Nov 6, 2020

Even if the future of the church in America looks like VERSES 1-3, God can still bring about VERSE 8.

The Scattering Acts 8:1-8 My favorite movies are those with plot twists at the end. When what happens at the end of a movie, you never saw coming at the beginning. And when the ending is revealed it's kind of like, "oh, everything makes sense now." I think the first time I vividly ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Smyrna: Unto Death Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jan 17, 2021

Whatever the Christians were going through in Smyrna … whatever we are going through in our lives right now … Jesus not only knows what we are going through, He’s experienced it Himself.

Imagine having to hide to do what we’re doing right now because if we get caught, we would be arrested and tortured and made to renounce our faith publicly … or be executed. That was the situation and daily reality for the little church in the beautiful city of Smyrna. Smyrna is located 35 ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: United Methodist

A Riot That Turned Into A Testimony Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 23, 2021

But we cannot fulfill our baptismal commitment until we “go and proclaim.”

Monday of 3rd Week in Course Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul Today’s Gospel really takes us to the core teaching that we sum up in the word “Gospel,” which means “Good News.” That core teaching is that we are not to just come to Jesus, not just listen to Him and be forgiven, healed, baptized ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:15-18, Acts 22:3-16, Genesis 22:18

Denomination: Catholic

Vindicate Me, O God

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 2, 2021

Psalm 109 is a prayer that sticks in our throats – quite rightly, for we realize how serious it is. But this Psalm teaches us to realize what’s at stake in this life.

When we open our Bibles we sometimes come across things that are very hard. Some things in the Scriptures we struggle to understand – and some things we struggle to accept. For example, in the Psalms we find in several places words full of violence and hostility. In Ps 58:6 we read, “Break the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Salvation Belongs To The Lord

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Jul 28, 2018

A look at Psalm 3 and the battle for faith for David in the midst of running from his son.

Salvation Belongs to the Lord Psalms 3:1-8 July 29, 2018 Last week we focused on one verse, Psalm 23:4 ~ in the most famous of Psalms, David wrote, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. We ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 3:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Audacity Of Easter

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Apr 11, 2020

The resurrection of Jesus cannot be suppressed. the more the opponents of the Gospel try, the louder it will be proclaimed.

The Audacity of Easter Matthew 21:1-15 The first Easter did not get off to a very good start. The disciples were cowering behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. Peter had promised to be brave, but they all failed. All of the men had failed Him. There had not been time to finish preparing the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-15, Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Part 5 - Smyrna: The Church Rich In Christ Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Apr 30, 2020

Smyrna was a poor church, brutally persecuted, but Rich In Christ. What was Christ's word to them?

Smyrna: The Church Rich in Christ Watch this message at https://youtu.be/J2xJJ2xzEKQ www.gracecommunity.com What do you say to somebody who is suffering? How do you counsel people who are going through great times of sorrow and tribulation? We’ve been party to suffering in our country lately. What ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11, James 2:5, Romans 2:29, Psalm 56:11, John 16:33, 1 John 4:5, Hebrews 7:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren

The Law Removes The Offense Of The Cross Series

Contributed by John Lowe on May 5, 2020

The apostle was accused by the false teachers of teaching circumcision in some places, and they said they were teaching no more than he taught. Or it may have been inferred from the fact (which was undoubtedly true) that Paul in general complied with the customs of the Jews when he was with them.

December 14, 2013 The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians Tom Lowe IV. Practical: Defense of Christian Liberty (5:1–6:10) A. Liberty vs. Law (5:1-12) Chapter IV.A.5: The Law Removes the Offense of the Cross (5:11-12) Galatians 5:11-12 (KJV) 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

Peter! Wake Up!

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Aug 31, 2016

In the 12th chapter of Acts we see the deliverance of Peter from the hand of Herod. It is an amazing deliverance. James is executed and Peter delivered. Both were ready to die. Shouldn't we be as well?

Acts 12:1-19 (As people look up this Scripture briefly explain the first phrase in the first verse ...) The first verse says, “It was about this time …” The events leading up to Chapter 12 Stephen is martyred Great persecution breaks out Believers are scattered ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-19

Denomination: Nazarene