Sermons on Persecution Refines:

Keys To Permanent Happiness

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 23, 2023

What are the secrets of happiness? Are they really secrets or just ignored? Let’s understand secrets of true, permanent happiness, found in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12.

What are the secrets of happiness? Are they really secrets or just ignored? Let’s understand secrets of true, permanent happiness, found in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Poor in Spirit And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Beatitudes - True, Lasting Happiness

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 22, 2023

How can we find true, lasting happiness, blessedness? Let's find out in Matthew 5.

What are the secrets of happiness, not just fleeting merrymaking, but that true, permanent happiness, called blessedness? They are not really so secret, but found in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). Poor in Spirit Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Created On Purpose Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Nov 21, 2022

God created us on purpose for His purposes.

On Tuesday of this week, another world record was broken when the population of our planet topped 8 billion people! I’m not quite sure what baby’s birth put us over the top, or even how they count this, but it’s fair to say humankind has kept at least one of God’s commands which is to “be fruitful ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:28-31

Denomination: Baptist

Esther: A People Redeemed, Hope Revealed.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jul 18, 2025

The story of Esther and her place in the history of the Jewish people is fascinating in that it speaks of God's providence all the while not mentioning God. It deepens our understanding of his care for us and for all people. Hope is revealed, what part do we play now?

Esther: A people redeemed, hope revealed. Read Esther 4:9-14 The book of Esther is an account of the redemption of the Jewish people that were residing in the nation of Persia, a nation of 127 provinces. Persia or now days modern Iran stretched from India to the Mediterranean Sea, including ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:9-14, Ephesians 1:7, Deuteronomy 1:1, Deuteronomy 25:17-19, Esther 6:9, 1 Samuel 15:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Attitudes For Revival: Those Who Mourn Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 13, 2023

"Blessed are those who mourn." How does this beatitude instruct us to position ourselves for revival? Is there a mindset here necessary for operating in a revival?

Intro How do we posture ourselves to be used by God? What attitudes of heart invite the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives? We find answers to these questions in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus began that sermon in Matthew 5 with the Beatitudes. In the Beatitudes he shares eight attitudes of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, 2 Corinthians 2:16, Isaiah 57:15, 1 Peter 5:6, 2 Corinthians 4:8-11, Proverbs 14:12, Matthew 23:37, Romans 8:18-25, Romans 8:28-29, Luke 6:21-25, Romans 12:15, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, Psalm 126:5-6, Ecclesiastes 7:1-3, Ecclesiastes 3:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Expectations & Excuses

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 7, 2025

In Genesis 3:8-13, the refining of our expectations and removal of our excuses is shown in three ways through 1) God’s Gracious Call (Genesis 3:8-9), 2) God’s Gentle Question (Genesis 3:10-11), and 3) God’s Grace for Our Excuses (Genesis 3:12-13).

Genesis 3:8-13. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8-13

Denomination: Other

Solutions For Jealous Tendencies

Contributed by Paul Fritz on May 19, 2003

Jealousy creates destructive behavior. The best people of the day were swept up in a wave of jealous retribution. "But the Jews aroused the devout of the city and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district."

The Roots Of Jealousy (Acts 13:42-52) Illustration:JEALOUSY It is the eyes of other people that ruin us. If all but myself were blind, I should want neither a fine house nor fine furniture. Benjamin Franklin. There is a fable of an eagle which could out fly another, and the other didn’t like ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:40-52

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ten Ways The Holy Spirit Empowers You With His Faithfulness

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 16, 2004

The apostle Paul trained himself to view the perils of his life as opportunities to express his faithfulness to Christ. He came to the place where he could "take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’

Ten Ways the Holy Spirit Empowers You With His Faithfulness (I Thes 5:24) Illustration: Several years ago The New York Times reported that coyotes were repopulating much of the American East. But they were getting mixed reviews. Some people saw them as a threat to domestic animals and regarded ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 5:24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be A Living Witness Series

Contributed by Leonard Cook on May 20, 2007

Peter’s purpose is to tell his audience how to respond and stand fast in the Godly loving lifestyle in the midst of suffering and persecution of their faith. Living for God and not your circumstances! Living a life of hope, holiness and love in the mids

Be A Living Witness (1 Peter 2:11-3:12) Be a Witness: Personally (Holiness) (the key Center, Verse 2:12) 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they ...read more

Denomination: Holiness

What You Need, God Has

Contributed by Christopher Roberts on Sep 13, 2002

Jesus knew the disciples would face trials, persecution, and death. He knew they would have grief. So he comforted them. And Jesus comforts us as well when we are having problems and face grief.

Series: “What To Do” See also I Don’t Know What To Do; But I’m Disappointed; But I Just Can’t Win; But Life is Too Hard; What You Need, God Has) As I choose this passage to preach, I knew that these three verses were the three from the entire 16th chapter of John that I would concentrate on. In ...read more

Scripture: John 16:32-33

Denomination: Methodist

Now And Forever Series

Contributed by Don Baggett on Mar 2, 2008

This passage opens up by talking about “present sufferings.” This is talking specifically about persecution, but this statement could be applied to anything you might be going through. The message of the verse is that God has something better in store f

This passage opens up by talking about “present sufferings.” This is talking specifically about persecution, but this statement could be applied to anything you might be going through. The message of the verse is that God has something better in store for them who love Him. He is going to reveal ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-39

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Nobility Series

Contributed by Carl Allen on Dec 6, 2007

Stephen was in many ways a forerunner to Paul. He boldly confronted the synagogues of foreign Jews in Jerusalem, possibly even entering them to debate their members. Stephen faced fierce opposition, even to the point of physical persecution. It is even

Spiritual Nobility Acts 6:8-15 Intro This passage marks a transition in the book of Acts. Up to this point, Peter has been the dominating figure, fulfilling his calling by taking the gospel to the people. Another figure of importance looms on the horizon: the apostle Paul, who is introduced at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:8-15

Denomination: Baptist

Imitating Christ Series

Contributed by Steve Smith on Jul 16, 2007

Seeing selfish ambition, vain conceit, discord, from persecution, Paul called on the church to “conduct themselves in a manner worthy” of their calling and not "of" the world. Just as Christ sacrificed Himself for the sake of others, we also are to offer

INTRODUCTION A. LIFE TODAY IS NOT WHAT CHRIST INTENDED 1. We live in a “dog eat dog” world. 2. “SELF” rules We may view ourselves as did the Pharisee depicted by Jesus who prayed, “God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Save Your Life By Saving It In Gods Presence

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Oct 18, 2016

To show that GOD called us not to believe only but to suffer for His Name's sake and if we try to avoid or save ourselves from trials, persecutions and sufferings here on earth, we will not be saved (advance) in our spiritual life.

I. EXORDIUM: Are you called to suffer for Him? Yes. Philippians 1:29 (Amplified Bible) For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake not only to believe in (adhere to, rely on, and trust in) Him, but also to suffer in His behalf. II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:35

Denomination: Pentecostal

Huddle And Scatter Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on May 31, 2015

The 1st church at first didn't spread outside of Jerusalem. It took a persecution to scatter believers into the surrounding areas, making the 1st beachheads of the Gospel. This sermon focuses on getting out of the church house and into the world.

Huddle and Scatter Acts Series Chuck Sligh May 31, 2015 (Adapted from a sermon by John Hamby titled “Gathered but Not Scattered” found on SermonCentral.) TEXT: Turn to Acts 8 INTRODUCTION Quotation – I want to read you something by way of introduction, by Tony Evans in a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-4

Denomination: Baptist