Sermons on Persecution Refines:

No Place Like Home

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Jan 9, 2022

We would sooner give up everything of human worth, even earthly joy, physical health and wholeness, than lose that gift. For this is our true home: in Zion, with God, and in his house. This is always home for God’s people: to be with Him!

There’s no place like home. You realize that when you’ve been away for a while: maybe on vacation, a business trip, or in the hospital. Home is a refuge. For when we’re at home, we’re surrounded by the familiar. Home is security and comfort. There’s no place like it. But how do we know when we’ve ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:4-6, Jeremiah 25:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Who Can Stand On The Great Day Of Wrath? The Church! (Revelation 7:1-8) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on May 12, 2023

A no-rapture, academically rigorous study of Revelation. We, the church, are the 144,000.

Last week, we saw the beginnings of God's plan for the world starting to unfold. In the first four seals of Revelation 6, we saw pictures of the wrath of God, and the wrath of the Lamb, being poured out on the world through the four horsemen of the apocalypse. They brought with them conquest, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:1-8

Standing Strong

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Aug 16, 2022

God is reminding us that trials are a part of the Christian life. Jesus never glossed over the challenges we face as His children. God reminds us that whatever trial we face, He is there waiting for us to turn it over to Him and stand strong.

I want you all to think back with me as we begin this morning. Many of us looked forward to leaving high school behind with all of its challenges. Then we began to experience a whole new set of challenges in college or in the workplace. We began wondering what direction we were going to take in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Shall We Have Justice For The Elect?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 14, 2022

If even a corrupt judge will wither under incessant pleading, can we not expect the most just of judges, God, will give us what we really need?

29th Sunday in Course 2022 We should all remember the story of the Israelites wandering in the desert around Sinai for forty years. That was God’s way of purifying them before bringing them to the land of promise, Canaan. As they moved around, they ran into various other nomadic tribes, and one of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Psalm 121:1-8, Exodus 17:8-13

Denomination: Catholic

Daniel In A Putrefying (Decaying) World Series

Contributed by Dotun Jegede on Feb 6, 2022

Daniel 6: 3-5 KJV 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him...

Daniel 6: 3-5 KJV 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him... 4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; for as much as he was ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:3-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jesus--Crazy Or Victorious?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 18, 2023

It appears here that the relatives of Jesus want to have Him committed to a mental ward.

Saturday of the 2nd week in Course 2023 Today’s Gospel is one of the shortest readings in the Lectionary. If you don’t pay attention, it’s over before you can grasp it. Why? Mark’s community of Rome was under almost constant persecution. So he took mostly Matthew’s Gospel and abridged it, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:2-14, Mark 3:20-21

Denomination: Catholic

Don't Be Terrified

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 6, 2022

Jesus said the gates of hell will not destroy His Church. He was not talking about a building. People are the Church. Let’s look at deception and endurance in Luke 21:5-19.

Jesus said the gates of hell will not destroy His Church (Matthew 16:18). He was not talking about a building. People are the Church. Let’s look at deception and endurance in Luke 21:5-19. Not One Stone Luke 21:5-6 Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:5-19

Denomination: Baptist

Inspiration

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Nov 20, 2022

Where do you get your inspiration from? Life has a lot of ups and downs so we need inspiration to keep going.

Inspiration – Rev. 11 and 19 LIfe is full of its ups and downs, it’s a fact of life, indeed everyday has something to answer for- some for joy and some – well perhaps best forgotten. Sometimes these situations make us laugh and even sing for joy, other times to just hold our heads in our hands in ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 11:15-18, Zechariah 6:9-15, Psalm 23:1-4

Show Your Faith

Contributed by Dennis Fox on Oct 22, 2023

Jesus says he will stand for us on Judgment Day. Will you stand up for him now or will you hide in the shadows.

Show Your Faith We’ve found out something interesting. Reality TV has nothing to do with reality. I’m betting that is a shock to no one. Karen and I had watched a reality show about couples who met abroad, until it turned into nothing but a parade of the absurd to the point we couldn’t even ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:16-19, Matthew 10:21-39

Denomination: Other

Sufferings Endured Is Not In Vain Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on May 9, 2025

Let's explore a few biblical examples that illustrate the purpose and value of suffering.

The Bible teaches that sufferings endured for the sake of faith and righteousness are not in vain. These experiences can shape our character, deepen our faith, and lead to eternal rewards. Let's explore a few biblical examples that illustrate the purpose and value of suffering. Job: Suffering ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18

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

The Separation Of Church And State

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jul 9, 2014

How does all of this "Separation of Church and State" fit in with what the Bible teaches? Should we as Christians lay aside our beliefs if and when the Lord calls us to serve in the government of our nation? God forbid!

Suppose your nation was fighting a war. And … there were great and talented leaders in charge. Your nation had never lost a war and was a dominant power in the world. However, in this nation public opinion was turning against the war and the elected officials who were worried about their ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 17:18-21

Denomination: Nazarene

Failure Not Final Sermon Vi: Why Would Anyone Go From Persecutor To Persecuted Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Mar 11, 2020

Since many folks in our culture appear to be consumed by hatred - much of it aimed at, but some of it by, Christians - we would be wise to review our Lord's confrontation with and transformation of Paul.

WHY WOULD ANYONE CHOOSE TO GO FROM PERSECUTOR TO PERSECUTED? You knew that any focus on the theme Failure Is Not Final with the Father had to get around to the persecutor who became the persecuted. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:9-20

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

I Saw The Tears Of The Oppressed.

Contributed by Mike Hays on Oct 18, 2000

We should pray for those around the world who are persecuted for their faith.

"I Saw The Tears of The Oppressed..." Ecclesiastes 4:1 When we woke up this morning we made a decision that we were going to go to church. Our decision was based upon ruling out the other options that presented themselves to us. Some of us struggled with whether or not to sleep in since it has ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ