Sermons on Persecution Refines:

The Wisdom Of God And The Witness Of Martyrs

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 1, 2018

The wisdom of every age considers the Catholic faith a folly. The only promise Christ made about this life is that we would be blessed through the agency of persecution.

Thursday of the 22nd Week in Course 2018 St. Donatian of Africa The wisdom of any secular age considers the Christian faith to be folly. The reason for this is that the wisdom of a given secular age is focused on how to attain pleasure, status or power. It is essentially centered on the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11, 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Denomination: Catholic

Giving It All Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Nov 4, 2017

Jesus celebrates the sacrifice of the giver, not the size of the gift.

Beth and I had the joy of serving at the Fall Festival of Fun on Tuesday night. I’m thankful to Sheila Kuriscak and her team for creating this family-friendly outreach. Our job was to greet people as they came in and give kids bags for all their candy. I would estimate that more than 70% of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Denomination: Baptist

The Marks Of Maturity

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Mar 4, 2016

Only when we can say, 'For me to live is Christ' can we truly say, 'to die is gain'. Spiritual maturity is the outcome of a life truly surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord.

INTRO Away back in the 1980’s when I began ministry at Abbeyhill Baptist Church a fellow Minister in the City was faced with a problem. A homeless person had turned up at church and the church did not know what to do with him. Rather than doing nothing this colleague who was the Pastor of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Take A Stand For The Cause Of Christ! Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Apr 28, 2018

How can we do take a stand for the cause of Christ? 1. Defend each other (Acts 16:35-39). 2. Develop each other (Acts 16:40). 3. Depart to serve the Lord (Acts 16:40-17:1). 4. Deliver the Good News (Acts 17:1-9).

Take a Stand for the Cause of Christ! The Book of Acts - Part 56 Acts 16:35-17:9 Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - August 31, 2014 "Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross; Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From victory unto victory His army shall ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Daniel-The Lions Didn’t Hurt Him!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 23, 2020

Daniel and the lions' den is a familiar and fantastic story. I've loved this story ever since on of the first times my aunt and grandmother read it to me, and I'm grateful for their love. This one is dedicated to you, Aunt V!

Daniel-the lions didn’t hurt him! Introduction: After Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, Daniel’s life was spared and he was given a position under the new rulers. Eventually some of the other officials became jealous and conspired to have Daniel put to death—by being thrown into a den of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8

Denomination: Baptist

Smyrna: Riches Within Poverty

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jan 12, 2020

The second church Jesus instructed John to pen a letter was the church in Smyrna. It was situated within a city of great wealth and affluence, and yet many believers lived in poverty. They were not rich by the world's standards, but they were rich in grace.

Smyrna: Riches within Poverty Revelation 2: 8-11 Today we come to Smyrna, the second church within the series of letters John was instructed to write in the Revelation. It is interesting to note, that of the seven churches, only two received all praise and encouragement from the Lord, with no ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of Earnest Prayer Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Nov 7, 2020

God often does the unexpected when we’re earnest in prayer.

A week ago, I listened to the Voice of the Martyr’s podcast called VOM Radio and learned about Petr Jasek, a believer from the Czech Republic, who was imprisoned in Sudan for 14 months. He served as the Africa Regional Director for Voice of the Martyrs and traveled to Sudan on their behalf. BTW, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

All In For Our Lord Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 21, 2020

Almost certainly in our lifetime we will also have to follow Christ to our own cross. Probably not a bloody martyrdom, but the culture hates the Church and all who follow Christ.

Monday of the 24th and Last Week in Course 2020 Bl. Miguel Agustin Pro Today, in the glaring light of our proclamation on Sunday that Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe, we are invited to consider the virtues of those who will be found worthy to live forever in that marvelous, unimaginably ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 9:4, Luke 21:1-4, Revelation 14:1-5

Denomination: Catholic

"i Will Proclaim The Truth" Series

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Dec 24, 2020

The Bible says that both people and society will grow more wicked as the time approaches for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The preacher is to face this with the soul-convicting, life transforming power of the Word and Spirit, no matter the cost.

Anyone who makes the ridiculous statement that the Bible is merely a human book, and nothing more than a collection of inspiring stories has let others do their thinking for them, mimicking someone else's skepticism, or have claimed to have read it to end up condemning what it says about the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-9, Matthew 24:9-12, Mark 13:9-13, Luke 21:12-19, Romans 1:18-32, Romans 3:10-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Defending The Faith Sermon I: God Needs No Defenders But Our Christian Faith Does Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 6, 2020

In times of upheaval when attacks against Christians by unbelievers and scoffers are ramped up, mature Christians persevere in their devotion to Christ and defend their Faith in a spirit of God's love and mercy.

IN TIMES LIKE THESE --- GOD NEEDS NO DEFENDERS BUT OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH DOES In a recent episode of the TV Program Family Feud the question put to 100 women was: “If you arrived in heaven and found that there were no men there, what would you say” . . . and the number one ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:1-4, Jude 1:20-25

Judgement Begins With The House Of God

Contributed by Paul Green on Mar 12, 2023

God’s judgement is inescapable. How do you think you will fair on that day? What are the deeds in your life that you will need to give account of? Will they commend you or will they condemn you?

Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over. The problems began when Chippie's owner decided to clean Chippie's cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:67, James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-4, Hebrews 12:10, Ezekiel 9:6, Jeremiah 25:29, Amos 3:2, 1 Peter 4:12-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Why Does The World Hate Us?

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Sep 24, 2022

One of the things that confuses many Christians is the attitude of non-Christians toward them. Even in the United States we experience backlash against us as Christians.

Alba 9-15-13 (Revised 9-18-2022) WHY DOES THE WORLD HATE US? John 15:18-25 A woman in India watches as her sister is dragged off by Hindu nationalists. She doesn’t know if her sister is alive or dead. A man in a North Korean prison camp is shaken awake after being beaten unconscious; the ...read more

Scripture: John 15:18-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

For Increasing Faith Series

Contributed by Scott Jewell on Feb 11, 2024

Paul gives thanks for the church at Thessalonica because they were growing despite persecution. How can we learn to pray from his example?

From time to time, I enjoy reading prayers parents share that were prayed by their children. Here are just a few prayers of thanks that I have come across. Dear Lord, thank you that we can come to church today and thank you that no one got their head crushed or lost their arm on the way here. Dear ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Daniel - A Furnace Of Fire Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on May 26, 2023

Their loyalty to God could not be threatened or coerced or manipulated. It didn’t exist only when times were good and things were going their way, No!! It was constant, fierce and unshakable:

May 27, 2023 Daniel had said that Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold – GOOD – but he also said that Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom would come to an end – BAD. After a period of time, Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and arrogance got the better of him and he “forgot” the role the God of the Universe had ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-30

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

More Pentecost

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 12, 2023

Acts 3 & 4 tell the story of a healing miracle and the pushback against the gospel.

Title: “More Pentecost” Text: Acts 3-4 Subject: How does the Holy Spirit speak and act after the events of Pentecost? Complement: He keeps on filling his people for witness! Preaching idea: The Holy Spirit freshly fills God’s people to empower us for witness. Acts 3 One day Peter and John were ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Acts 13:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational