Sermons on Persecution:

Handling Ridicule Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Jan 12, 2015

there will always be people trying to ridicule God and Christianity; how should christians respond?

We return to our study of 1 Samuel in the Old Testament. The Israelites wanted a king to rule over them just like other nations. Although God was not pleased with this, God chose a king to teach God’s Chosen People Israel a lesson; and of course, God has preserved His Word for us to learn ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 11:1-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Living As Exiles - Embracing Our Weirdness

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Jan 19, 2017

What we believe and what we practice as those who are in Christ is strange to the world. Let's embrace it

Living as Exiles – Embracing our Weirdness TCF Sermon January 3, 2016 Does anybody really make New Year’s resolutions anymore? It can be a helpful exercise, but for many of us, they just end up being a to-do list for the next week or two, that quickly falls by the wayside in the face of everyday ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:20-32, Romans 12:14-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Steadfast Church

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Sep 14, 2015

The church needs to stand up and be counted on in this dark world.

A STEADFAST CHURCH ACTS 7:54 – ACTS 8:4 AS I WAS PREPARING FOR TODAYS MESSAGE I CAME ACROSS AN ILLUSTRATION THAT I FOUND TO BE QUITE INTERESTING, AND APPROPRIATE FOR TODAY’S WORLD. A MAN WHO WAS TAKING A TOUR OF MILITARY CHAPELS, SAID THAT ONE PROBLEM THEY WERE FACING WAS HAVING A ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Ultimate Good Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Mar 6, 2017

Trusting God for the good as well as the bad in life, because He will achieve His purpose for the ultimate good in our lives.

Reading the story of the life of David, from the beginning (1 Samuel) until now (end of 2 Samuel), is like reading a man going through a Christian boot camp. • David went through a lot, to be where God wants him to be and do what God wants him to do. God was training His servant. • David went ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When Men Revile You

Contributed by Nnaemeka Durueke on Jul 9, 2016

IN THIS LAST DAYS, PERSECUTIONS MUST ABIDE BUT LET US NOT BE MOVED FROM OUR LOVE AND TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT ONLY KILL THE FLESH AND NOT THE SPIRIT

WHEN MEN REVILE YOU MAIN TEXT: MATTHEW 5:11 “Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake”. LUKE 6:28 “Bless them that curse and pray for them which despitefully use you”. The word ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:11-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Growth Through Oppression

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on May 3, 2014

Are you really ready for radical growth?

Exodus 1:8-12 8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:8-12

Denomination: Baptist

Remember The Earlier Days Series

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Jun 14, 2014

To show that we need to remember our roots and how we suffer for the sake of the gospel and move on towards GOD's plan for us.

I. EXORDIUM: Do you remember the days when you got born again? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that we need to remember our roots and how we suffer for the sake of the gospel and move on towards GOD's plan for us. IV. TEXT: Hebrews 10:32 (New International Version) ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:32

Denomination: Pentecostal

When Bad Things Happen To Good People

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on May 2, 2011

Pastor Lee Strobel commissioned a national survey and asked people what question they’d ask if they could only ask God one thing. The Number One response was: “Why is there suffering in the world?” Why does God allow the righteous to suffer? I mean, I’m

WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE INTRODUCTION: Pastor Lee Strobel commissioned a national survey and asked people what question they’d ask if they could only ask God one thing. The Number One response was: “Why is there suffering in the world?” Why does God allow the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Where Is Our Focus?

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Aug 19, 2013

Life is never going to be easy, so sharing the Gospel will not be easy work! Jesus taught us this, the Disciples knew this as truth, so when it comes to sharing Christ will we submit to Him or still remain focused on ourselves?

Where is our Focus? Acts 16:16-40 Introduction The Christian brothers and sisters at Antioch had good reason to rejoice -- They had been at the center of a great controversy; and stood firm in it -- The controversy? Answering, “What must we do to be saved?” Two weeks: We ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-40

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"It Is For Your Good That I Am Going Away."

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Aug 21, 2013

We often wish Jesus was still here today. We envy the disciples who had God in their presence. They could be with him and talk with him-physically. But here we see Jesus telling them that it’s a good thing that he’s leaving them. Let’s find out why.

“IT IS FOR YOUR GOOD THAT I AM GOING AWAY” John 16:1-7 INTRODUCTION: We often wish Jesus was still here today. We envy the disciples who had God in their presence. They could be with him and talk with him-physically. But here we see Jesus telling them that it’s a good thing that ...read more

Scripture: John 16:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

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

Recycling Our Pain Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Jun 8, 2015

Listen. God never wastes a hurt. What good is a trial if something good doesn’t come from it? Let’s look at the first of two questions I want us to try to answer.

“Recycling our Pain” Matthew 5:10 In my personal study of the gospels one of the things I have noticed is that some of the teachings of Jesus are just very difficult for us to follow. At times when we read them they don’t even make sense. For instance, Jesus said: • If ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10

Denomination: Baptist

"Team Extreme" Series

Contributed by Kendall Hicks on Apr 25, 2016

The idea for this series came from a series of the same name that is offered free by Life.Church. You can find it at open.church. There you will find videos, transcripts, outlines, and graphics. This message is loosely based on the life.church series.

INTRO: For the last few weeks, we’ve been a series on the family called “Bless This Home.” During this time, we have taken a few of Jesus’ beatitudes from Matthew 5 and have applied them to our families. You’ll remember that we defined BLESSED as having a much ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational