Sermons on Scars Of Persecution:

Ministry Is Messy Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Sep 13, 2021

Let’s live on mission even when ministry is messy.

I attended a church last weekend which was filled with praise, preaching, and prayer. I liked it so much I’m going to start attending there. Perhaps you’ve heard of it…it’s called Edgewood. Because I haven’t been here for a while, on Thursday, some of the SecondWinders asked me to introduce ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

There’s More To The Story

Contributed by John Newton on Nov 19, 2023

It seems that John has finished writing his gospel. But no! He adds another chapter.

For the last couple of Sundays we’ve been reading from John 20—the beloved disciple’s dramatic account of Jesus’ resurrection. We’ve stood with Mary Magdalene weeping outside the empty tomb as she mistook the risen Jesus for the gardener. And we’ve been with the disciples in the upper room as they ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-25

Denomination: Episcopal

When You Are Reviled Series

Contributed by Mike Lewis on Nov 28, 2023

We are at the end of our series on the Beatitudes here in Matthew chapter 5. It has been a great reminder to hear the good news Jesus gives through the introduction of his Great Sermon on the Mount. We are finishing up this week by reading the second half of the last beatitude.

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION OPERATION GREIF The year was 1944. In the runup to Germany’s last major offensive of World War II, Hitler gave orders for English-speaking German soldiers to form a special unit called Panzer Brigade 150. Members of the brigade would pose as American and British ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:11-12, Matthew 5:10, Matthew 5:10-12, 1 Peter 3:13-17, Matthew 6:34, Philippians 4:6-7, James 1:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Living Your Life Worthy Of The Gospel Series

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Apr 15, 2023

This sermon explains how the believer is to live their lives worthy of the Gospel of Christ: by standing firm in one Spirit, striving together, and without fear of persecution.

Living your Life Worthy of the Gospel of Christ Philippians 1:27-30 Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 How very sad it is that those who find the Treasure and Pearl in the field and become born again later choose envy, coveting, and self pleasure as their guiding ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

Denomination: Baptist

Prison Break

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 13, 2021

This message shows how the church advances in the face of spiritual opposition.

Title: “Prison Break” Text: Acts 12:1-10 Big idea: “Jesus has promised to build his church!” (so the word of God spread...12:24) Complement: to show God’s power and continued care for Jewish Christianity. Acts 12:1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-10, Ephesians 6:10-20

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Is A Real Christian?

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Apr 30, 2021

With cultural Christianity being the norm in America, nominal faith is what people see most often, and it’s what comes to mind when we tell people we’re a Christian. So, what is a "real" Christian? This message points out five traits.

I wish to begin our message this morning by sharing a story by Franklin Graham. He tells us, “Some years ago, I was in a cab when I asked the driver about his faith. He replied that he was a Christian, and I asked him how he became one. I’ll never forget his reply: ‘Oh, I was born a Christian’.” ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-5, 1 Peter 4:14-19

Denomination: Baptist

Acts Of The Apostles (20 Of 39)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 14, 2022

Today we enjoy the freedom we have in America, and think very little about the men and women who bought and paid for it!

Illus: It is easy for me to understand why some of the old soldiers who faced death itself, some even lost legs, eyes, arms, etc., become angry when they see people who have done nothing to win, or keep, their freedom, wanting to burn the symbol of that freedom, the flag. Well, that is not the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus' Heads-Up: The World Will Hate You (John 16:1-33) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Mar 29, 2022

So don't be surprised, or discouraged. Prepare yourselves, testify anyway, and don't fall away. Also, how the Spirit partners with you, in testifying to the world.

Let's start this morning by rereading John 15:18-16:4. In these verses, Jesus describes our relationship to the world: (18) If the world, you, it hates, know that me, before you, it has hated. (19) If of/from the world, you were, the world would love its own. Now, because of/from the world ...read more

Scripture: John 16:1-33

The Church Of Smyrna: Possessing The Wealth Of Heaven (Revelation 2:8-11)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Dec 18, 2023

Within the city of Smyrna, there existed a struggling Christian community undergoing intense and withering persecution. The Lord Jesus came to them with a word of comfort for their dark days. Even though they were poor, they were, in fact, rich beyond imagination.

In our look at the seven churches of Asia Minor described in Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3, we come to the second church the Lord Jesus addresses in terms of testimony and steadfastness to the Gospel. This is the church in the city of Smyrna, which was located about 35 miles north of Ephesus. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:9, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:16-17, 2 Timothy 3:12, Hebrews 11:36-38, Revelation 2:8-11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Journey Through Acts (Part 3) Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jan 16, 2024

In Acts 3, the healing of a beggar leads to a homily by Peter, which leads to harassment from the religious leaders.

The Journey: Following Jesus through Acts (3) Scott Bayles, pastor Scripture: Acts 3 Blooming Grove Christian Church: 7/9/2017 If you were with us the last couple weeks, you know we began a ten-week journey through the book of Acts. The very first followers of Jesus weren’t what you might expect. ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Free Indeed!

Contributed by Dwight Davis on Jan 28, 2024

This sermon exposes the blatant attack on religious liberty via the pandemic and the less than adequate response from the church. It encourages us to be watchful and aware of how the enemy is working to silence and control even God's people and what we can do to gain the victory!

Religious Liberty Sermon 2024 (Free Indeed!) It was Patrick Henry that once passionately exclaimed, “Give me liberty, or give me death! The obvious sentiment being that liberty, or freedom is well worth dying for. I don’t know about you, but I’m glad that he and the rest of our founding fathers ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-36, Galatians 5:1, Psalm 119:45-48, Romans 15:4

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

An Exposition Of 1 Peter, Part 15: Christ As The Example Of Submission And Suffering

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Apr 16, 2022

Jesus is the ultimate example of how to be a suffering servant. Let us follow His example

An Exposition of 1 Peter, part 15: Christ as the Example of Submission and Suffering 1 Peter 2:21-25 Introduction In the last study, Peter told those who were slaves how they should respond to unfair suffering because they were Christians. Slaves were supposed to adopt the religion of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:21-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Paul’s Witness To The Resurrection Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on May 22, 2023

The fourth major testimony of Christ's resurrection listed was that of the apostle Paul himself. He was a special and unique witness of the risen Lord.

[RESURRECTION REALITIES SERIES] 1 CORINTHIANS 15: 8-11 PAUL’S WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION [Acts 9:1–8, 17] The first eleven verses of chapter 15 reviews evidence or the proof of Jesus' resurrection, [a truth the Corinthians already believed (vv. 1, 11)]. For it is on the foundation of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

We, The Church, Are The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:1-19) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jun 18, 2023

Here, the church joins John in giving clear testimony about Jesus. We have a ministry that combines power, with suffering. Through this combo, the world turns, fears God, and gives Him glory. A no-rapture, academically rigorous reading of Revelation.

This week, we have the privilege of working our way through Revelation 11. This is a rich, complex chapter. It's also a chapter where there's a lot of debate about how to read it. A friend of mine has a study Bible, and his notes told him that the chapter should be read literally. But ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 11:1-19

What Do You Expect From God?

Contributed by Joel Pankow on May 20, 2022

Paul tells us to expect trouble in this world, not riches and success.

5.22.22 Acts 14:8–22 (EHV) 8 In Lystra there was a man who was sitting down because he had no strength in his feet. He had never walked because he was lame from birth. 9 When he was listening to Paul as he was speaking, Paul looked at him closely and saw that he had faith to be healed. 10 ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:8-22

Denomination: Lutheran