Sermons on Rejoice In Persecution:

Suffering: Why? Series

Contributed by Bob Faulkner on Oct 19, 2015

One man's attempt to unravel the Scriptural reasons for suffering, especially the suffering of the people of God. Not an easy task.

SUFFERING, per the BIBLE Another man’s attempt to figure it out… It’s not as easy as we are led to believe. We get sick and right away someone tells us we are being judged of God. Maybe. Another person gets sick, and he is told there is no spiritual significance to the illness. ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:21

Denomination: Assembly Of God

For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 22, 2014

Becoming the best version of ourselves also involves fleeing from sin and the occasions of sin.

Laetare Sunday 2014 For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free From the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians: For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. 24 Now ...read more

Scripture: John 6:14-15

Denomination: Catholic

Suffering For Righteousness

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Feb 26, 2020

Dealing with trials and adversity are a part of everyone's life - some more than others. We don't enjoy suffering, and yet the Word of God teaches us that we are to rejoice in them and even be happy as we suffer reproach. Peter explains this difficult doctrine in our text.

Suffering for Righteousness 1 Peter 4: 12-16 Peter had spent considerable time in the preceding verses dealing with Christian character and conduct in the midst of a fallen world. He was well aware of the struggles and persecution many within the church faced. Although they were forced to deal ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-16

Denomination: Baptist

Tribes, Trials, Trust Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Aug 12, 2024

In this sermon, we consider James' opening remarks to believers as they face trials and persecution.

How do you respond when your rights as a citizen or resident of the United States collides with the life that God has called you to live as a follower of Christ? Can there be a conflict? This week, one of the the guys who came through for training was a man named Stephen. Story: malfunctioning ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-8, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Acts 8:1, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

Denomination: Baptist

More To Being A Christian Series

Contributed by Michael Dephillips on Feb 8, 2003

A look at the persecuted church

A study of the Book of Revelation < The persecuted Church> #5 Rev. 2:8-11 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; [9] I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Paul's Pain

Contributed by Jordan Wirkkala on Dec 12, 2007

Finding purpose in persecution

Paul’s Pain: Finding purpose in persecution -I went snowboarding for the first time and got hurt pretty bad with all of the constant falling. My wife snowboards and I was hoping to get a little compassion. She would have except for the fact that she could not stop laughing at me. -The pain that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Seven, Part 8

Contributed by David Taylor on Jan 9, 2014

Smyrna: Comfort for the Persecuted

The Seven, part 8 Smyrna: Comfort for the Persecuted Revelation 2:8-11 July 7, 2013 Review: We have seen that the Revelation was written to address specific issues with seven churches in Asia Minor at the end of the first century. We saw in chapter one that John describes a portrait of the Lord ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Addressing The Council (Acts 23)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 12, 2025

Persecution from within.

Were many Jews in Jerusalem unwilling to accept Paul’s teaching about Jesus? Have many churches repented of doctrinal error or stubbornly hardened their hearts? Let’s review Acts 23. Did Paul speak plainly to the Jewish Council in Jerusalem? Now looking intently at the Council, Paul said, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Attitude Of Gratitude

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Sep 26, 2020

When we look at how God instructed the Israelites to celebrate TWO harvest festivals we find there is a lot we can apply to how we thank God for his goodness to us. There are some surprises!

Today we’re celebrating Harvest Festival. This year, coronavirus restrictions have resulted in a rather muted celebration. We aren’t meeting at church and we don’t have the usual piles of food to give to the food bank, or a beautiful harvest loaf. I’m going to take a look at some passages and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 65:9-13, Exodus 23:16, Deuteronomy 16:13, Deuteronomy 16:16

Denomination: Baptist

Breakthrough To Freedom! Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 24, 2020

We cannot allow fear to rob us of our freedom to worship God. Men and women died giving up their safety to give you the freedom you have today in this country.

Breakthrough to Freedom! Thesis: We cannot allow fear to rob us of our freedom to worship God. We have to choose freedom over fear and safety because our only allegiance is to God and that’s what makes us really free. Men died giving up their safety to give you the freedom you have today in this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:16, Galatians 5:1, John 8:36

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Taking A Look At Faith

Contributed by Daren Mitchell on Dec 8, 2012

When it comes to faith I believe in two things; God can and God cares. Why did the followers of Jesus mentioned in the Hebrew writers' description endure the horrific treatment of persecution? Why did they keep their faith in Jesus as the Son of God eve

Last week we took a look at failure. We discussed that God’s love is unconditional. He doesn't remove love because of your failure or give you some love when you succeed. He loves you because He made you. Paul made his case that even with his failures; God was using Him to unleash His power ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:32-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Worthless, Worthless Garbage

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 8, 2011

To be transformed by God is to show that everything that everything else we have pursued so intensely in life amount to no more than "a pile of dung."

Worthless, Worthless Garbage Phil 3:1-11 Feb 6, 2011 Intro: How many of you know what this is: I’ll give you a hint: it is the world’s third most valuable commodity, after sugar and coffee. I’ll give you another hint – next week is valentines’ day and millions of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Righteous Indignation Series

Contributed by Johnny Levy on Oct 17, 2020

We need to be made ready, by the power of the holy spirit, to suffer persecution with grace and humility. Jesus is, and will always be, the greatest example in history of denying his own rights and giving up his own power.

See text below, or you can go here to view the formatted google doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y21NRp3VJodNVGQuBn80Oykf5ywzJx13RAzaFjhsitc/edit You can see the actual execution of this sermon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoY-gkamBaU&t=277s ***OUTLINE*** Summary / ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:11-23, John 15:20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Letter To The Church In Smyrna

Contributed by Claude Alexander on May 20, 2020

The church poor by wordly standards but rich by heavenly standards.

Letter to the church in Smyrna Rev. 2: 8-11 The Book of Revelation is an example of apocalyptic literature, a type of Jewish-Christian writing that flourished especially between 250 BC and 150 AD. The chief example in the Old Testament is Daniel 7-12. This type of literature communicates about ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Doing The Will Of God When Your Faith Is Under Fire - Part 1

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Nov 19, 2020

Today Christians all over the world are under fire for their faith. Even in the United States of America, Christians are being persecuted because of their faith in Jesus Christ...

Background (1 Pet 1:1 NKJV) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, In this letter, the Apostle Peter is addressing Jewish Christians who had been persecuted and fled their homes and lands. These people were called ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:21-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible