Sermons on Scars Of Persecution:

News From The Front Lines Series

Contributed by Patrick O'loughlin on Sep 19, 2011

Part 1 of a series of messages on the book of Philippians. This message addresses our need to remember the persecuted church around the world.

Text: Philippians Chapter 1:1-14 Title: News from the Frontlines Introduction 2 Saturday’s ago a few of us went to the “Voice of the Martyrs” conference in Worcester and we learnt about how much persecution Christians suffer in other parts of the world. Seeing the pictures and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Discipleship Part 7: Character Traits Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Apr 17, 2011

Party seven focuses on the character traits of a peacemaker and the persecuted.

Discipleship Part 7: Character Traits Scriptures: Matthew 5:3-11; Romans 12:18-21; 2 Timothy 3:12-14 Introduction This morning we will conclude this portion of the series dealing with the character traits of a disciple based on the beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. To date we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Three Aspects Of Kingdom Faithfulness

Contributed by Martin Wiles on Oct 5, 2010

When we live a dedicated life of obedience, we can expect persecution for our faith.

Three Aspects of Kingdom Faithfulness Matthew 5:10-12 INTRODUCTION A. Savonarola, Italian preacher 1. Greatest reformers of church period, condemned personal sin and ecclesiastical corruption. 2. Paved the way for the Protestant Reformation. 3. Biographer said of him: His preaching was a voice of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

Responding To Enemy Behavior

Contributed by Martin Wiles on Oct 15, 2010

Believers should respond to opposition with love, prayer and a witness for their Savior.

Responding to Enemy Behavior Matthew 5:43-48 INTRODUCTION A. Lifeguard rescuing a drowning person. 1. Suppose it was your best friend or just a casual acquaintance. 2. We would probably risk our life to save them. 3. But suppose the drowning person was a contemptible person, your enemy. 4. Someone ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Baptist

Anything Except Facing My Accountability To God Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 14, 2011

Society at large and individuals in general despise the idea of facing a God who holds them accountable and whose wrath is incurred.

Anything Except Facing My Accountability to God (Acts 14:1-20) 1. Sometimes there is no answer to conflict. It just is. 2. From Reader's Digest: "On his birthday, my husband was stuck driving our six rambunctious children around. As usual, they were yelling, punching, and annoying one another. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:1-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Growth In Suffering Series

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Mar 10, 2011

The Early Church experienced growth in numbers, and growth in depth and growth in community. It also experienced a growth in suffering. Jesus said blessed are those who suffer and are persecuted because of him! This talk encourages the church to proclaim

Although I’ve only seen part of it on YouTube there is a humbling episode from the 1961 British film called, ‘Whistle down the Wind’. A group of Lancashire children have experienced the death of a kitten. They had prayed fervently that the little cat would get well, but instead it died. They ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-32

Denomination: Anglican

How To Lose Friends And Anger People Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on May 10, 2010

God prepares his people for persecution so that we will not fall away when proving that there are things in life worth dying for.

Scripture Introduction Dale Carnegie pioneered work in public speaking and was famous for helping others become successful. In 1936 he published How to Win Friends and Influence People; since then it has sold more than 15 million copies. Two of his most famous maxims are, “Believe that you ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Part 16 - Matthew 10:21-42 - Got To Get A Message To You. Hold On, Hold On! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on May 22, 2010

Matthew 10:23 says "I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel." Reminds me of that song by the Bee Gees in 1968 "I've Gotta Get a Message to You. Hold on! Hold on!"

Part 16 - Matthew 10:21-42 - GOT TO GET A MESSAGE TO YOU. HOLD ON, HOLD ON! I recently read of a teenager in Florida in America who fled for her life from her Muslim family after she converted to Christianity. Fathima Rifqa Bary says her family will murder her in what is known as an "HONOUR ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:21-42

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Part 18 - Matthew 10:37-42 - My Family Is Acting Like They Belong To A Cult Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on May 27, 2010

For some Christians in the world today, the choice concerning family is a different one, especially in some parts of the Muslim world. Battle lines are drawn and it becomes a CHOICE BETWEEN FAMILY AND CHRIST. Becoming a Christian means certain OSTRACISM b

Part 18 - Matthew 10:37-42 - MY FAMILY IS ACTING LIKE THEY BELONG TO A CULT! We came to Sydney to live from the beautiful Whitsundays. Why would anyone leave the Whitsundays and come to the big city? We were Pastors of a great Church of people we had come to love. We had been there for 10 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:37-42

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Responding To Ridicule

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 18, 2010

When reason fails, some turn to ridicule. They choose laughter over logic. Should the Christian respond? If so, how? Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Responding to Ridicule Nehemiah 4:1-3 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Responding2Ridicule.html Sanballat has always lived in every time, and taken form in every church. He and others like him believe if God's kingdom is built up it will hurt their cause. They don't want to see it happen. They ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Trusting God In An Unjust World Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Sep 19, 2010

In today's lesson we learn that we can trust God even though the world is filled with injustice.

Scripture We like stories with happy endings. Whether the story is in a book or movie or even in real life, we like stories with happy endings. Sometimes, however, stories don’t have happy endings. Sometimes stories have sad endings. And although we prefer stories with happy endings to ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Hold On! Series

Contributed by Allen James on Sep 29, 2011

Part 6 of 7 in our summer series exploring the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3. Today's message examines the letter to the Church at Philadelphia.

Opening: On the top of your notes... How many doors are in this room/sanctuary portion of the building? Don’t turn and count... just take a guess... write it down. (WB ~ 20/NR ~ 12). How do you know that? I’m told ppl who are bored w/ sermons count all types of things... pews... ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

Praying In The Face Of Opposition

Contributed by David Wilson on Oct 3, 2011

When threatened, the church responded with a prayer of personal commitment rather than praying against those who were persecuting them.

Praying in the Face of Opposition TEXT: Acts 4:23-31 BACKGROUND: After the glorious healing of the crippled man at the gate of the temple, Peter (with John alongside him) preaches a powerful message to those who are amazed. This upsets the elders and the teachers of the law who seize Peter ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-31

Denomination: Baptist

Hatred

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Oct 15, 2011

They know the way they are living, so to put a Christian down makes them feel better about themselves.

Strife-bitter conflict or rivalry: bitter and sometimes violent conflict, struggle, or rivalry Hatred is inescapable. Sooner or later, despite all our precautions, someone, somewhere will hate us. And if we're followers of Jesus, it will happen sooner rather than later. In John 15:18-16:4, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:12

Denomination: Baptist