Sermons on Persecution:

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

Believe In Jesus (John 20:24-31) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Apr 21, 2022

The goal of the gospel: step up, and be strengthened in your faith. Here, Jesus shows kindness to Thomas, and gives him what he needs to come to full "belief."

Let's start today by rereading last week's passage. John 20:19-22. This is the moment Jesus first reveals himself to all his disciples after rising from the dead: (19) Then, when it was evening on that day-- the first day of the week, and the doors having been shut where the disciples ...read more

Scripture: John 20:24-31

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

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

Gentle Jesus Meek And And Mild? Really

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Aug 16, 2025

Jesus obviously had not read Dale Carnegie's book "How to make friends and influence people" He hated hypocrisy and called it as it was even if it meant offending the Jewish religious hierarchy

Lk 12:49-56: Gentle Jesus meek and mild? You will probably recall that famous Anglican hymn writer Charles Wesley’s hymn that start with the words “Gentle Jesus meek and mild” I have a great respect for John and Charles Wesley but I would have to say You have to be kidding - as we see in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56

Denomination: Anglican

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

Daniel - Lion's Den Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Jun 19, 2023

Dare to be a Daniel............

June 17, 2023 Daniel was now an old man. He had been in royal service for nearly 70 years and had remained faithful and loyal to God throughout his long life. Let us set the scene for our story…. Darius decided to divide the empire into 120 satrapies (provinces), assigning each a royal ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Rough Beginnings Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Sep 11, 2023

In this sermon, we consider the back story of the letters to the Thessalonians - the founding of the church. It's tumultuous beginning helps us to understand a bit of the environment into which the new church was planted and some of the ongoing struggles they faces.

Pre-quals Every story has a back story. We may not always gain insight into the back story, but there are things impact characters and cultures. When George Lucas wrote the original Star Wars series, he had in his mind some of the events leading up to the movie that many of us were first ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-10, 1 Thessalonians 1:1

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

Burn Your Bridges

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Sep 25, 2024

There are things that, as Christians, we must burn in our lives. This message looks at people who burned bridges for their faith.

Good morning to the Lord’s beloved! Many people don’t know this, but Julius Caesar was once a rebellious Roman. He first became a champion of the people by leading the Roman military towards the conquest of great foreign lands. He advocated for reforms of an aging Senate and, fearing his uprising, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:32-39, Hebrews 11:1-2, Daniel 3:1-18, Acts 3:1-10, Acts 4:1-6, Acts 4:19-20, Acts 6:1-15, Acts 7:52-56, John 14:15, John 14:21, Ephesians 4:32, Philippians 3:7-14, Ephesians 5:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Saul - Paul Lesson 7 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Nov 7, 2025

The most defining experience of your life will be touching/encountering Jesus.

(All Scripture quoted in this lesson is from The Bible by Jesus unless otherwise noted). A. INTRODUCTION: SAUL PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 1. Saul was a successful failure. He was going to top of the religious ladder. “Paul was better qualified than all the legalists . . . the best of all . . . born ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Transition From "Jews For Jesus” To "Semi-Jews For Jesus” Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 20, 2009

Sometimes our routines keep God from working, so He brings change and even persecution to awaken us as to what He is doing.

The Transition from “Jews for Jesus” to “Semi-Jews for Jesus” (Acts 8:1-8) 1. People try playing all sorts of tricks. Two friends run into each other while walking their dogs. One suggests lunch. The other says, "They won’t let us in a restaurant with pets." Undeterred, the first guy and his ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible