Sermons on Severe Persecution:

Persecution And Renewal: Why Opposition To The Church Could Signal Revival

Contributed by Ronald Moore on Jun 22, 2025

Recent years have witnessed a troubling rise in the persecution of Christians across the globe. In some countries, believers face brutal oppression — imprisonment, physical violence, even martyrdom.

Recent years have witnessed a troubling rise in the persecution of Christians across the globe. In some countries, believers face brutal oppression — imprisonment, physical violence, even martyrdom. Even in Western societies that pride themselves on tolerance and pluralism, there is an escalating ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12, 1 John 4:4, Matthew 5:11-12, Acts 5:41, John 15:20, Matthew 28:20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Casualties Of War

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 15, 2001

Response to the Wedgewood shootings One need not have the prophetic gifts to read the signs of the times.

Amos 7:14  Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:  One need not have the prophetic gifts to read the signs of the times. Well, here we are again mourning another act of ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 4:2, Isaiah 5:20

Denomination: Baptist

Preparing For The Best Series

Contributed by Steve Smith on Oct 14, 2008

Persecution can and is real. The key is how we approach it. Peter offers 2 lessons of encouragement: We must "Cultivate Christian Love" and "Practice the Lordship of Christ".

INTRODUCTION Persecution is real for the believer. While it comes in many different ways, it is real – The group we’ve been studying about in 1 Peter suffered this horror in much a different way than we do as Christians today: Dr. M.R. DeHaan put it this way: In the early days of the church. . . , ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-15

Denomination: Baptist

A Tale Of Two Cities Series

Contributed by Bill Burress on Oct 27, 2008

The Destruction of two Babylons.

“A Tale Of Two Cities” Between the 16th & 19th chapters of Revelation we are given a destruction of two cities, each called Babylon. One is a religious system and the other is an economic metropolis. Last week in n the 17th chapter of Revelation we saw the religious influence ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

That Same Old Song And Dance Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 3, 2008

When we are bound by stubborn patterns, we can become hostile when our stubborn ways are exposed.

That Same Old Song and Dance (Acts 7: 1-53) 1. It is natural for all of us to get absorbed in our own worlds; as a result, we often lose sight of the big picture. 2. Our nation’s current economic meltdown is causing us to rethink life and the way we do things in this country. 3. But God’s ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:1-53

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"Obama Wins!"

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Nov 8, 2008

Reveals the Christian’s response to the election.

“Obama Wins!” November 9th, 2008 1 Peter 2:13-17; Romans 13:1-7 Obama wins! The newspaper shouts out at me Wednesday morning. The news commentators are virtually dancing in glee on TV. The gays in San Francisco are literally dancing in the street. The TV shows the terrorist and our enemies ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-17

Denomination: Holiness

The Martyr's Testimony Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 10, 2008

God is very good at confusing us and leaving our heads in a spin, but He knows what He is doing, even if we can’t figure it out. But eventually his plan becomes clear, either in the distant future (eternity) or in retrospect (in this life).

The Martyr’s Testimony (Acts 7:51-8:4) 1. According to an AP article yesterday (Nov. 8), "WASHINGTON – The nation’s jobless ranks zoomed past 10 million last month, the most in a quarter-century, as piles of pink slips shut factory gates and office doors to 240,000 more Americans with the holidays ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Fiery Furnace

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Aug 25, 2008

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego fought fire with faith.

THE FIERY FURNACE (Daniel 3:1-30-fighting fire with faith) INTRODUCTION: Testing-we seldom enjoy it. We don’t like having to endure the challenges that test our knowledge, patience or faith. But, the only way we will find out the value of something is if it’s been tested. Consumer Reports has been ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Crown Of Life

Contributed by David Moore on Aug 27, 2008

To show how the crown of life is awarded to believers who endure hardship for the cause of Christ.

The Crown of Life Text: James 1:12 Introduction: Last Sunday evening we considered together the matter of faithfulness and the possibility of winning the incorruptible crown. But there is one aspect of faithfulness, that we did not touch on last week, which I want to consider tonight, and that is ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

God Uses Ordinary People: Stephen Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Aug 31, 2008

God loves to do the extraordinary with the ordinary.

God Uses Ordinary People: Stephen Acts 6-7 Rev. Brian Bill 8/31/08 Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player – too good, it turns out because Jericho is a pitcher with a 40-mile-an-hour fastball. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven, Connecticut told his coach ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God-Are You There?

Contributed by Vonnie E James on Sep 10, 2008

A sermon of hope for persons who are going through persecutions, trials, temptations, testings and tribulations.

 Introduction: Brethrens: to believe, now that one is in Christ, that one will not have problems in life: persecutions, trials, temptation, tribulation, testing, may be understandable-but that is naivety and ignorance. We need to add to our faith knowledge-[2 Peter 1:5-8] To believe ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Tackling Your Fears Series

Contributed by Charles Whitmire on Sep 21, 2008

In this message we look at persecution and sharing our faith and life.

When I was a boy there was a side lot on our church property where we would play football. I remember playing with my best friend. It was just the two of us, so it wasn’t really football - it was more of a game of tackle the guy with the ball. I used to pretend like I was Tony Dorsett. I would get ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

For Righteousness Sake Series

Contributed by Mitchell Skelton on Mar 22, 2009

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10

INTRODUCTION The preacher of an underground Chinese church tells others of the precautions they must take to avoid government persecution. Each time their church reaches ten to fifteen members, they split to reduce attention. They also alternate meeting places for the same reason. Because phone ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bound And Determined Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Mar 30, 2009

Paul is warned not to go to Jerusalem, but he is bound and determined to trust God and go, even if it costs him dearly.

“Bound & Determined” Acts 21:1-16 July 6, 2008 Two questions as we begin this morning: how do you know you are really trusting God? What do you do when the will of God involves doing something that will really cost you? I. A Desperate Plea - :1-6 READ VV. 1-3 - This ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Suffering For Jesus Series

Contributed by Allen James on Feb 14, 2010

Final message in Approved series through the Beatitudes explores the idea of being persecuted for righteousness sake.

Suffering for Jesus • Matthew 5:10-12 Two Common Approaches re: Suffering for Jesus: Too Light-hearted about it… Confuse Temptation and Trials with persecution… Introduction: Persecution is more about our spiritual preparation than it is about our personal ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Baptist