Sermons on Persecution Refines:

Grace In The Middle Of Grief Series

Contributed by David Scudder on Mar 30, 2009

Both of our texts describe persecuted believers.Is persecution something that we should avoid or embrace? In a minute I will attempt to answer that question, but before I do let’s see what we can learn about persecution.

Revelation 7:1-17; 14:1-5 Purpose: To highlight God’s grace toward His faithful followers. Aim: I want the listener to rejoice in the advantages of persecution. INTRODUCTION: Last time, we finished looking at the first six seals (or chapters) from the sacred book that only the Lamb of God could ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:1-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Presumption

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 9, 2007

Religion does not create a relationship with God, nor does ritual. It is refinement born of repentance that shapes that relationship. Repent, relate, and receive.

“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Famous words supposedly spoken by journalist Henry Morton Stanley somewhere in Tanganyika at the end of his expedition to find the missing explorer. “I presume”. It means, “I think I know what I am doing. Would you please confirm it for me? You look like what I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Part 1 Series

Contributed by Dennis Cummins on May 7, 2008

This series is designed to help people understand how God takes our failures and refines us with them, turning them into successes.

Refined by Failure Part 1 What’s the main difference between people who achieve and people who are average???? What makes people excel? Why does some people sky rocket while others plummet? Some people can’t be told anything and that is why they are still living their past failures… We need ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Part 2 Failure Is A Better Teacher Than Success Series

Contributed by Dennis Cummins on May 7, 2008

This series is designed to help people understand how God takes our failures and refines us with them, turning them into successes.

Refined by Failure - 2 Failure is a far better teacher than success. Two great differences between those that fail backwards and those that fail forward. Failing Backwards Failing Forwards Blaming others Taking Responsibility Repeating the same mistakes Learning from each ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Part 3 - Judging Others Puts A Curse On Our Life Series

Contributed by Dennis Cummins on May 7, 2008

This series is designed to help people understand how God takes our failures and refines us with them, turning them into successes.

Refined by Failure A hiker was charged w/ eating an endangered species while tracking the woods of California. After hearing the man had eaten a condor, the judge quickly passed a harsh sentence of 10 years behind bars. Wouldn’t it be great that if today, you could experience immediate change, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:37-38

Denomination: Independent/Bible

From The Shout To The Story

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 28, 2025

God leads us through the fire not just to refine our faith, but to give us a powerful story of His faithfulness to tell

Introduction: The Story in Your Soul Good morning, church. Every single one of us is a storyteller. We are surrounded by stories. On our phones, we scroll through the curated stories of others—perfect vacations, smiling families, career successes. We tell our own stories about our day, our ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Preparing For The Best Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jan 31, 2011

In this lesson, we cover the principles for living for Christ, so that we may received the best blessings, even in the worst of persecution.

Introduction: A. I like this picture – Don’t you know that that car never saw it coming! 1. In some respects life is unpredictable and we need to learn to expect the unexpected. 2. When it comes to the Christian life, there is not much that is unexpected. 3. Jesus tried to prepare us ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Examination Of The Rapture Of The Church – Part 4 Of 4 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 25, 2022

This is the final PART of the Rapture series. It examines the Thessalonians passage, the twinkling of an eye, the fact that the Church won't enter the Tribulation, and closes with some overall thoughts about the current world before the Rapture.

AN EXAMINATION OF THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH – PART 4 OF 4 This will be the final PART in this series we have been considering about the blessed hope that we know as The Rapture. In the last message we were looking at the two major New Testament passages about the Rapture. We did the Corinthians ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17, Titus 2:11-13, 1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There's No Stopping The Mission Series

Contributed by A. David Hart on Jan 13, 2007

Stephen had just been stoned, and the church again is faced with persecution but to the extreme order. They the church was being persecuted by the persecutor of persecutors, a man by the name of Saul.

THERE’S NO STOPPING THE MISSION Acts 8:1-4 There is a story told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up with. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that happens as being (positive or negative) remarking for the positive “This is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Living While Dying Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Jun 7, 2010

By remaining faithful even in the face of tribulation, we prove the genuineness of our faith and can be assured of eternal life, even in the face of physical death.

I’d like to begin this morning by reading a portion of an article from the January 2008 issue of “Christianity Today” titled “A Victorious Family.” [Read first part of article]. We’ll come back and finish this account of Necati and Semse a little later, but ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Redeem Your Suffering

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Sep 15, 2009

We must guard against the worldly pressures and fears that threaten us to "tone down" the Gospel message.

FEAR! A WORD THAT IS ONLY 4-LETTERS, BUT ONE THAT CAN REAP DEVESTATING CONSEQUENCES. FEAR IS SO POWERFUL THAT IT CAN PARALYZE, CONTROLL, AND MANIPULATE US. FEAR CAN COMPELS US TO DO IRRESPONSIBLE THINGS AND CAN EVEN HINDER US FROM LIVING RESPONSIBLY AND LIVING FRUITLESS LIVES. THIS IS WHY I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-21

Denomination: Free Methodist

Standing Firm In The End Times (Part 1)

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Apr 27, 2009

Message one about dealing with understanding what is to come if the end times come in our lifetime.

Standing Firm in the End Times (Part 1) Matthew 24:9-14 March 15, 2009 Me: I’ve never been a person who seeks out hard times or rough situations. I’ve had a lot of them, but it’s been those times where I’ve felt God’s presence and His strengthening to help me move on and do what I needed to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:9-14

Denomination: Wesleyan

Dying For The Cause

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 2, 2009

The name Smyrna comes from the word for myrrh…which is known for releasing its wonderfully delightful fragrance…when crushed! This suffering church is symbolic of the 10 Great Persecutions from the 1st-3rd C. Link inc. to text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

READING SOMEONE ELSE’S MAIL Dying For the Cause of Christ Rev. 2:8-11 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/DyingForCause.html Many years ago, when communism still held the Soviet Union in its iron clench, a little group of Christians met behind closed doors in the underground. This was a secret ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Facing Opposition, Finding Strength

Contributed by Tim Hbc on May 7, 2009

In Acts 4 we see a church alive and on fire. But it is also a church under attack. How did the first believers cope with opposition?

Introduction Once upon a time, an atheist lived in a small town. The atheist wasn’t a bad man, he just didn’t believe. He wasn’t interested in church… and there was only one in the area. It was cold and dead. More of a social club for the deceased. One day the church building caught on fire. The ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:18-31

Denomination: Baptist

Alive, But Still In Danger

Contributed by Tommy Davis on May 23, 2009

This sermon confronts the fact that although Christians are alive through Christ, they are still endangered to the prince of this world.

Alive, But Still In Danger A sermon presented by Rev. Tommy L. Davis, Pastor, New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, Motts, Alabama Text: John 12:9-11 9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised ...read more

Scripture: John 12:9-11

Denomination: Baptist