Sermons on Persecution Refines:

When Bad Things Happen To Good People

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on May 2, 2011

Pastor Lee Strobel commissioned a national survey and asked people what question they’d ask if they could only ask God one thing. The Number One response was: “Why is there suffering in the world?” Why does God allow the righteous to suffer? I mean, I’m

WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE INTRODUCTION: Pastor Lee Strobel commissioned a national survey and asked people what question they’d ask if they could only ask God one thing. The Number One response was: “Why is there suffering in the world?” Why does God allow the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Persevering Crackpots

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jun 10, 2021

How did Paul respond to his critics ... ? ... Paul "... said, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" (I Cor.1:23 NRSV). The true gospel of Jesus Christ removes all crutches that people use to prop up their pretentiousness!

PERSEVERING CRACKPOTS Text: II Corinthians 4:5 - 12, 2 Corinthians 4:5-12  For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake.  (6)  For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Denomination: United Methodist

Act 2:17-18

Contributed by Unknown Bennett T Cortez on Apr 16, 2014

“That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; and your son and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall dream dreams, even on my bond slaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth my Spirit and they shall prophesy.”

INTRODUCTION The word “persecution” means the act of persecuting or oppression of inhumane treatment. The subject church persecution essentially deals with the very nature of legalize corporation of the early church. However there’s a greater gift to the world at Pentecost; ...read more

Scripture: John 2:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Obeying God Rather Than Men Series

Contributed by Curtis E. Nester on May 30, 2016

The Early Church chooses to obey God and accepts the risk.

SERIES: Adventures in Acts 006 TITLE: Obeying God Rather Than Men TEXT: Acts 5:17-29 INTRO: The early church had come through Persecution from without and Problems within. Now: -The Church is thriving. -The apostles are preaching with great power -There is unity in the church, sharing all things ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:17-29

Denomination: Baptist

Why Is The Christian Life So Difficult? Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 26, 2019

While salvation is delightful, discipleship is often difficult.

Why is the Christian Life So Difficult? July 20-21, 2019 Rev. Brian Bill During the past three weeks away Beth and I had days of delight and days of difficulty. The delightful part had a lot to do with our grandsons Pip and Ezra and their mom Lydia as they spent about a week with us. This time ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Strategy For Satan’s Finest Hour-6

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Feb 11, 2020

6 of ? God furnished, to the apostle John, a picture of Satan’s finest hour. Those who trust Scripture are furnished a clear picture of Satan’s end time strategy. What strategies will mark Satan’s last days? Satan’s strategy for his finest hour Turns...

The STRATEGY For SATAN’s FINEST HOUR--part A,-#VI —Revelation 13:1-18 Attention: I recently watched a portion of a TV show called ‘America’s Top Dog’. It is based on running certain law enforcement K-9 units(trained dogs) thru a standardized timed course. The course highlights each dog’s skillset ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 13:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Opposition From Without (Acts 5) Series

Contributed by Gregg Strawbridge on Apr 13, 2003

THis is a study the waves of persecution following after the Jewish persecution of the church chronicled in Acts.

INTRODUCTION: History of Opposition without: There were about 10 waves of persecution following after the Jewish persecution of the church chronicled in Acts. Nero (54-68) Domitian (81-90) Marcus Aurelius (161-180) Decius (249-251) thousands died for refusing to sacrifice to the imperial ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:19-37

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Letter To The Smyrna Congregation Series

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on May 24, 2015

Persecution is to be expected by the godly and enduring persecution can bring great spiritual good.

Verse 8 – Jesus introduces Himself as being “the First and the Last, Who was dead, and has come to life.” The importance of this particular self-designation to the Smyrna Church of Christ will be seen when we have studied the challenges facing this congregation. Verse 9 ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Your New Name Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Feb 26, 2018

1) Comment & Commendation about the Church (Rev. 2:12-13), 2) Complaint & Call to Repentance for the Church (Rev. 2:14-16), 3) The Command to hear and the Conquering of the Church. (Revelation 2:17).

One of the motivations for many athletes currently competing in the Olympics in South Korea is to make a name for themselves. With public recognition the hope is to land a lucrative sponsorship. Making a name for yourself however is not always positive. One of the most famous cases was with the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Other

Message 1 - 1thessalonians Chapter 1 - A Church You’d Like To Belong To Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 27, 2022

Paul had such a refreshing memory of the Thessalonians and they were dear to his heart. In part, Paul recounts his time among them, and their wonderful testimony and their waiting for the Lord. There are 2 separate messages for Chapter 1.

MESSAGE 1 - 1THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 1 - A CHURCH YOU’D LIKE TO BELONG TO {{1Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.”}} INTRODUCTION The opening verse of 1Thessalonians is so typical ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Acts 26:14, Acts 17:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:17-21, Malachi 3:2-3, 1 John 2:28-29, 1 Corinthians 15:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unlikely Sources For God's Provision Series

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Oct 2, 2002

Elijah faces three tests, each intended to refine him for the Master’s use.

This week we honor the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States. No one’s life has gone unaffected. The television images that came across the news networks in the weeks following September 11, 2002 changed our lives dramatically. This past year has been met with new ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:7-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

More To Being A Christian Series

Contributed by Michael Dephillips on Feb 8, 2003

A look at the persecuted church

A study of the Book of Revelation < The persecuted Church> #5 Rev. 2:8-11 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; [9] I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Paul's Pain

Contributed by Jordan Wirkkala on Dec 12, 2007

Finding purpose in persecution

Paul’s Pain: Finding purpose in persecution -I went snowboarding for the first time and got hurt pretty bad with all of the constant falling. My wife snowboards and I was hoping to get a little compassion. She would have except for the fact that she could not stop laughing at me. -The pain that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Seven, Part 8

Contributed by David Taylor on Jan 9, 2014

Smyrna: Comfort for the Persecuted

The Seven, part 8 Smyrna: Comfort for the Persecuted Revelation 2:8-11 July 7, 2013 Review: We have seen that the Revelation was written to address specific issues with seven churches in Asia Minor at the end of the first century. We saw in chapter one that John describes a portrait of the Lord ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Addressing The Council (Acts 23)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 12, 2025

Persecution from within.

Were many Jews in Jerusalem unwilling to accept Paul’s teaching about Jesus? Have many churches repented of doctrinal error or stubbornly hardened their hearts? Let’s review Acts 23. Did Paul speak plainly to the Jewish Council in Jerusalem? Now looking intently at the Council, Paul said, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist