Sermons on Persecution Refines:

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

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

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

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

Expect To Be Persecuted For Your Faith In Jesus Christ - Part 8 Of 8 Series

Contributed by Guy De Swardt on Apr 2, 2010

Part 8 of 8 on the Beattitudes.

The Perfect Standard For Life Expect To Be Persecuted For Your Faith In Christ - Part 8 of 8 Reading: Matthew 5v10-12 As we look at this final Beatitude, we come to a very strange contradiction, because it talks about the relationship between persecution and joy. It’s like saying, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

Beginning Of Pains (Persecution & Preaching) - Mark 13:9-13 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 13, 2024

Jesus shows us how every time you are mistreated, it is a golden opportunity … if you read the situation through the lenses of spiritual insight.

Mark 13:9 "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.11 Whenever you are arrested and brought ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:9-13, Luke 21:12-18

Winners Are Made In The Fire

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on May 17, 2025

The challenges you go through are divine tools to shape your character, test your faith, and prepare you for your next level.

WINNERS ARE MADE IN THE FIRE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Peter 1:6-7 "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:6-7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

More About The Apostles Life Series

Contributed by Leighton (Lee) Vary on Feb 14, 2017

Fear not. Persecution promised. Murder promised. God will be with them (YOU).

I. Introduction A. We live in a small town where we have a volunteer Ambulance Corp. We are blessed with many dedicated and fully qualified attendants, who staff our ambulances and give freely of themselves. I was chatting with one of the EMS responders one day and she could hardly stifle a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-33

Denomination: Baptist

Thank Him For The Bad Times

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Nov 20, 2011

It’s easy to thank God when everything is going good. It’s not so easy to thank God when everything is going wrong. During these times it’s hard to be thankful. Yet the Bible clearly teaches that we are to be thankful for even the bad times.

Thank Him for the Bad Times 1 Thessalonians 5:15-23 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (5:18) We always find that is easy to thank God when everything is going good. It is not so easy to thank God when everything appears to be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:15-23

Denomination: Baptist

Fire And Knife

Contributed by Bala Samson on Nov 19, 2020

FIRE burns out all the impurities in our life, and the knife chops out all the thoughts of ‘flesh’ in us. The challenges, afflictions and sufferings in our life are the FIRE that purifies us

FIRE AND KNIFE! Genesis 22:6 “Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.” The opening words “Now it came about after these things”, takes us back into the previous chapter where ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:6

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Lord Whom We Seek Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Mar 20, 2024

Jesus is the clear image of God Almighty who refines our souls and cleans our sin.

MINOR PROPHETS MAJOR MESSAGE: THE LORD WHOM WE SEEK MALACHI 2:17-3:5 INTRODUCTION… Mr Incredible and Tricycle Kid The man is hunched over in his powder blue aging car that is way too small for his incredibly large frame. He barely fits. He is dejected and unhappy and unfulfilled and all of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ