Sermons on Respond To Persecution:

Lessons From A Suffering Church Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 14, 2014

The Church at Smyrna was a suffering church. They had experienced past afflictions and were going to encounter sever trials so they are encouraged to endure. A suffering church needs to look to their Lord and look to their future.

Lessons from a Suffering Church Revelation 2:8-11 8 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty-- yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

God's Favor Is Required Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jul 22, 2013

Even in the face of persecution, God still delivers His favor on the church! In 2013, we must stand strong and tall, persevering constantly as we seek God’s favor.

God’s Favor Is Required Acts 15:1-21 Introduction Two weeks ago we defined our purpose for each of us to pray over and consider -- Our purpose is: “Connecting people with Jesus Christ and each other” Last week we examined the “how” of accomplishing our ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mission And Suffering Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 29, 2014

We must not marvel that we suffer pain and persecution when we carry the message of Christ to our culture.

Thursday of the 14th Week in Course Lumen Fidei Pop singers and bands engage in a ritual–they all do. There’s a warmup act, usually a second or third rate band. It’s their Introit and Gloria, except the praise is of the human act to follow. There’s audience ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:8-14

Denomination: Catholic

The Blessed Ones

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Sep 26, 2013

The first set of four beatitudes focus on our vertical relationship to God, the second set of four on our horizontal relationship to people. Each of the eight builds upon the other so that there is an amazingly beautiful and compelling progression.

Opening illustration: How good are you at making enemies? No, I didn’t ask how good you are at making friends. That’s easy. Just be a good Joe, an easy spender, a tolerant sort of fellow who never offends anybody. But how good are you at making enemies? If you are a child of God and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Different Set Of Beatitudes

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 8, 2013

A sermon on the poor, the mourning, the hungry, and the persecuted (Introduction taken from Sermon Central's Adrian Pratt at: http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/inside-out-and-upside-down-adrian-pratt-sermon-on-christian-love-33979.asp)

HoHum: Inside out and upside down. What on earth was Jesus talking about here? Blessed are the poor? Happy are the hungry? Fortunate are the tearful? I never heard anybody say, “Isn’t this great, I’m starving!” I have never seen a person sobbing their heart out with a smile ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:20-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Will Be Hated By All; Not A Hair On Your Head Will Perish

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 10, 2013

With the Church under attack, what must we do?

33rd Sunday in Course 2013 You Will be Hated by All But Not a Hair of Your Head Will Perish It was a cool November morning and the Catholics of San Antonio were riding high. Our first Catholic president, who had a year ago faced down the mighty Soviet empire over ballistic missiles in Cuba, was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:5-19

Denomination: Catholic

The Sayings Of Jesus Part 2 Series

Contributed by Martin Holland on Nov 20, 2013

Jesus continues His sermon on the Beatitudes of His followers.

The Sayings of Jesus Part 2 Matt. 5:7-12 Last week we discussed the first four of the Beatitudes and identified these four attitudes are that which takes place inwardly. These are I believe are necessary in order for us to demonstrate the other four attitudes in a way in which it will pleasing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

Standing Firm In The End Times (Part 1)

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Apr 27, 2009

Message one about dealing with understanding what is to come if the end times come in our lifetime.

Standing Firm in the End Times (Part 1) Matthew 24:9-14 March 15, 2009 Me: I’ve never been a person who seeks out hard times or rough situations. I’ve had a lot of them, but it’s been those times where I’ve felt God’s presence and His strengthening to help me move on and do what I needed to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:9-14

Denomination: Wesleyan

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

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

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

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

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

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