Sermons on Persecution Refines:

Unto The Church In Smyrna, Write Series

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Sep 13, 2013

The church made perfect by suffering

Unto the Church in Smyrna, Write Revelation 2:8-11 Introduction Last week, we examined the letter the Lord directed John to send to Ephesus. This week we will examine the letter sent to Smyrna. As we will see, the situation in Smyrna was quite different than that of Ephesus. Jesus addresses ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Working With The Lord's Help Series

Contributed by Jason Smith on Sep 15, 2013

It should never surprise us when we do the Lord's work and people react with anger, ridicule, and rejection. Nehemiah gives us a great example of how we need to respond when the enemies of God oppose His work.

In this lesson, I would like to look at the leadership of Nehemiah through the hardship and opposition that the people went through. They had opposition from outside and discouragement from inside, yet they got the job done. It should never surprise us when we do the Lord's work and people react ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Where Is God When Life Falls Apart? Series

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Mar 31, 2014

How can a loving God allow innocent people to be hurt so badly?

- When was the last time a trip to the theater left you truly inspired about God? - Movie "God’s Not Dead" - Here in town - Freshman college student Josh Wheaton's faith is challenged by his philosophy professor, who believes God does not exist. He has to defend God's existence to the entire ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Wants To Give Us Heavenly Happiness (Part 3)

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Apr 7, 2014

Jesus teaches us here that true happiness: 1. comes from having a pure heart (vs. 8). 2. comes from being a peacemaker (vs. 9). 3. can even come from being persecuted (vs. 10-12).

Jesus Wants to Give Us Heavenly Happiness (Part 3) Matthew 5:8-12 Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - March 6, 2013 *Tonight we will take another look at the happiness the Lord wants all of us to have, remembering that the word "blessed" here in the Sermon on the Mount means "happy." ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8-12

Denomination: Baptist

Resurrected Redeemer Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Sep 15, 2012

1) Arrest for the Redeemer (Acts 4:1-4), 2) Accusation for the Redeemer (Acts 4:5-7), 3) Apologetic for the Redeemer (Acts 4:8-13)

"Resurrected Redeemer" Acts 4:1-13 (p.911) Everton Community Church September 16, 2012. Conflict began this week with an attack that killed four Americans in Libya, including the U.S. ambassador. It was an organized two-part operation by heavily armed militants that included a precisely timed raid ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-13

Denomination: Other

The Movement Of God Through Pain In The Church Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Oct 15, 2012

LAST WEEK AS A CHURCH WE FACED OUR MUTUAL HURT. IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT ALL WHO WERE HERE THEN AND ARE HERE TODAY HURT IN VARIOUS DEGREES. WE DIVERTED FROM OUR SERIES HERE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS TO ADDRESS THIS THE ISSUE OF OUR HURT AND THE WHY WE HAVE OUR

THE MOVEMENT OF GOD THROUGH PAIN IN THE CHURCH ACTS 8:2-8 GODLY MEN BURIED STEPHEN AND MOURNED DEEPLY FOR HIM. 3 BUT SAUL BEGAN TO DESTROY THE CHURCH. GOING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE, HE DRAGGED OFF MEN AND WOMEN AND PUT THEM IN PRISON. 4 THOSE WHO HAD BEEN SCATTERED PREACHED THE WORD WHEREVER THEY ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:2-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Bitterness Of Smyrna Series

Contributed by Martin Holland on Oct 18, 2012

Smyrna was a Church that was under great persecution and uses this ti encourage us to endure sufferings.

The Bitterness of Smyrna Revelation 2:8-11 The Church of Ephesus represents the end of the apostolic age and was indicted for losing their love they once had for our Lord. Reference: Rev. 2:7 Tree of life Genesis 2:9 in the mist of the garden Then: Genesis 3:22-24 Guarded by the Cherubims as man ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

News From The Front Lines Series

Contributed by Patrick O'loughlin on Sep 19, 2011

Part 1 of a series of messages on the book of Philippians. This message addresses our need to remember the persecuted church around the world.

Text: Philippians Chapter 1:1-14 Title: News from the Frontlines Introduction 2 Saturday’s ago a few of us went to the “Voice of the Martyrs” conference in Worcester and we learnt about how much persecution Christians suffer in other parts of the world. Seeing the pictures and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Hold On! Series

Contributed by Allen James on Sep 29, 2011

Part 6 of 7 in our summer series exploring the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3. Today's message examines the letter to the Church at Philadelphia.

Opening: On the top of your notes... How many doors are in this room/sanctuary portion of the building? Don’t turn and count... just take a guess... write it down. (WB ~ 20/NR ~ 12). How do you know that? I’m told ppl who are bored w/ sermons count all types of things... pews... ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

Praying In The Face Of Opposition

Contributed by David Wilson on Oct 3, 2011

When threatened, the church responded with a prayer of personal commitment rather than praying against those who were persecuting them.

Praying in the Face of Opposition TEXT: Acts 4:23-31 BACKGROUND: After the glorious healing of the crippled man at the gate of the temple, Peter (with John alongside him) preaches a powerful message to those who are amazed. This upsets the elders and the teachers of the law who seize Peter ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-31

Denomination: Baptist

Hatred

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Oct 15, 2011

They know the way they are living, so to put a Christian down makes them feel better about themselves.

Strife-bitter conflict or rivalry: bitter and sometimes violent conflict, struggle, or rivalry Hatred is inescapable. Sooner or later, despite all our precautions, someone, somewhere will hate us. And if we're followers of Jesus, it will happen sooner rather than later. In John 15:18-16:4, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:12

Denomination: Baptist

A Godly Life In Ungodly Times Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Jul 1, 2012

As our culture and society moves in a direction that does not follow godly principles as communicated to us through the Word of God, how are believers in Jesus Christ to go about living a godly life? As opposition grows to a godly way of living, we have

A Godly Life in Ungodly times A godly life should expect opposition A godly life should expect hard choices Living a godly Life in ungodly times requires that we know Who we believe in Living a godly life brings blessing and peace Slide Intro Good morning. It is hard to believe that the year is ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Discipleship Part 7: Character Traits Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Apr 17, 2011

Party seven focuses on the character traits of a peacemaker and the persecuted.

Discipleship Part 7: Character Traits Scriptures: Matthew 5:3-11; Romans 12:18-21; 2 Timothy 3:12-14 Introduction This morning we will conclude this portion of the series dealing with the character traits of a disciple based on the beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. To date we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Escape From Secured Peg Situations.

Contributed by Babatunmishe Oke on Jun 22, 2011

This sermon speaks about how to reverse hard and fast negative spiritual situations.

Isaiah 22:25 20And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: 21And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 22:25

Denomination: Pentecostal

An Unfinished Task (Judges 1)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 28, 2025

Do we have unfinished tasks for God? Let's look at Judges 1.

Do we have a habit of quitting before a job is done? Did Israel fail to finish conquering the land? Are we still conquering? Will we endure to the end? Let’s begin in Judges 1. What did God say about the continuing conquest of the land? Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist