Sermons on Scars Of Persecution:

Smyrna: Riches Within Poverty

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jan 12, 2020

The second church Jesus instructed John to pen a letter was the church in Smyrna. It was situated within a city of great wealth and affluence, and yet many believers lived in poverty. They were not rich by the world's standards, but they were rich in grace.

Smyrna: Riches within Poverty Revelation 2: 8-11 Today we come to Smyrna, the second church within the series of letters John was instructed to write in the Revelation. It is interesting to note, that of the seven churches, only two received all praise and encouragement from the Lord, with no ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Is A Christian?

Contributed by Grant Adams on Feb 2, 2020

I remember hearing a story of a young boy asking his father what is a Christian? After the father explained, the young boy asked, “Dad have I ever seen a Christian?”

The word Christian is a very loose term; at least we use it very loosely, and it has become, in America, a meaningless term. To some, it means anybody living in the United States, and is not Jewish. The term Christian has been so abused and diluted that it has very little meaning to most of us ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16, Acts 11:26

Denomination: Baptist

Two Sides To Hall Of Faith

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Feb 12, 2020

Are you ready to be a Stephen or a Demas?

Hebrews 11:35b ... others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:35-40

Denomination: Baptist

Expect Opposition Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Feb 17, 2020

Don't be surprised when people push back.

Expect Opposition Acts 6:8-15 Rev. Brian Bill February 15-16, 2020 Play Clip from “Bible Project” That clip comes from “The Bible Project.” If you’d like to watch the entire video covering the first twelve chapters of Acts, you can find it on Sermon Extras on our app. Have you ever been ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:8-15, Matthew 5:17

Denomination: Baptist

Trust In God's Strength Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Feb 24, 2020

An Old Testament lesson of what Jesus teaches in his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:1-12.

They stared into the flames. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego watched as the soldiers who had brought them to this place fell over dead due to the overwhelming heat. Can you imagine what must have gone through these three men’s minds as they heard the crackling of the fire, felt the intense heat, ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:13-30, Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

A Church That Is Alive

Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Dec 12, 2015

A sermon examining the church that is alive and moving forward for Christ.

A Church That Is Alive Acts 8:4-12 Thom Rainer wrote a book titled "The Autopsy Of A Deceased Church." In this book he addresses 12 common factors in churches that are dying or seemingly dead. Rainer states that as many as 100,000 churches could be dying. He adds "Their time is short, perhaps ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:4-12

Denomination: Baptist

Genuine Faith In The Midst Of Trials Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Feb 8, 2016

This is the first message in a series through the book of James. This messages is the first looking at the subject of genuine faith when we face persecution.

GENUINE FAITH – PART 1 GENUINE FAITH IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS JAMES 1:1-4 JAMES, A SERVANT OF GOD AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, TO THE TWELVE TRIBES SCATTERED AMONG THE NATIONS: GREETINGS. 2  CONSIDER IT PURE JOY, MY BROTHERS, WHENEVER YOU FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS, 3  BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THE ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Please Deliver Me, Lord! Series

Contributed by Bobby Oliver on Jun 26, 2018

Deliver me from persecution, deliver me from righteous judgment, and deliver me completely.

Please Deliver Me, Lord! Psalm 7:1-17 - We’re continuing our study through the book of Psalms. - This week, we’re going to look at a time when David cried out to God for deliverance. - One of the important things to do when we read a Psalm is to look at the title and see if it tells us the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 7:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Patience Series

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Sep 12, 2016

Christians are being martyred all across the Middle East in countries that once tolerated them. Churches are being destroyed and brought to rubble. Entire Christian communities are being wiped out and even crucifixion is back. Can we patiently wait?

Patience 2 Peter 3 For many of us patience is a virtue that is difficult to cultivate in our hustle bustle society. The world moves at the speed of the internet while many of us are left trying to keep up. I’m reminded of that old ketchup commercial for Heinz were two small boys are ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Trust After Tragedy

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 23, 2020

Trust is easy in the easy times. Tragedy is when you find out if you truly trust.

I was asked how you have trust or faith after tragedy and an hour or so later Pastor Mike asked me to speak tonight. I took that as my cue to speak on that topic. I have been through a few tragedies in my life and never thought of myself as a trauma survivor until I was trained to ...read more

Scripture: Job 13:15, 3 John 1:2, 2 Timothy 4:20, Philippians 2:25-27, John 16:33, 2 Timothy 3:12, Romans 8:17, Romans 8:35, Philippians 1:29, 1 Peter 4:16, Jeremiah 29:10-14, John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 1:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Daniel-The Lions Didn’t Hurt Him!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 23, 2020

Daniel and the lions' den is a familiar and fantastic story. I've loved this story ever since on of the first times my aunt and grandmother read it to me, and I'm grateful for their love. This one is dedicated to you, Aunt V!

Daniel-the lions didn’t hurt him! Introduction: After Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, Daniel’s life was spared and he was given a position under the new rulers. Eventually some of the other officials became jealous and conspired to have Daniel put to death—by being thrown into a den of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel Of John: An Introduction Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Dec 31, 2021

Arguably with no other book, is there a larger disconnect between academic, scholarly understanding, and the way the church reads it. The intro is designed to bridge part of that gap, and explain my own approach to John.

First of all, a note on my approach: This series uses a literary/narrative approach to John, along the lines proposed by scholars like Adele Berlin, Frank Kermode, Robert Alter, or Charles Talbert, to name just a few. I assume that the author/narrator of John-- who I call "AJ"-- had ...read more

Scripture: John 9:22, John 12:42-43, John 16:1, John 2:23, John 6:66  (view more)  (view less)

1 Thessalonians 2 Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Jun 8, 2022

To be an agent of Jesus in this life, we must be willing to faithful, gentle and sacrificial in our lives and expect people to take our actions for granted

This week we start the second oldest book in the New Testament as recorded in its publishing. We began with James on our year-long journey chronological study of the New Testament. Hence the reason we are calling this message series Chronos. It's a word that means “time.” We will be journeying ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12, 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Famous Last Words On Judgment Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 26, 2024

4 things revealed in the wrath of God from Revelation 15 & 16 (Material adapted from Nancy Guthrie's book on Revelation called "Blessed," chapter 8 entitled, "Blessed by Being Ready for the Return of Jesus")

HoHum: I remember studying Jonathan Edwards sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, in literature class. “The wrath of God is like great waters that are shut up for the present; they increase more and more, and rise higher and higher, till an outlet is given; and the longer the stream is ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 7:9, Revelation 6:10, Luke 18:8, John 19:30, Matthew 26:39, Galatians 3:26-27  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Judgement Begins With The House Of God

Contributed by Paul Green on Mar 12, 2023

God’s judgement is inescapable. How do you think you will fair on that day? What are the deeds in your life that you will need to give account of? Will they commend you or will they condemn you?

Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over. The problems began when Chippie's owner decided to clean Chippie's cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:67, James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-4, Hebrews 12:10, Ezekiel 9:6, Jeremiah 25:29, Amos 3:2, 1 Peter 4:12-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist