Sermons on The Rewards Of The Persecuted:

The Empire Strikes Back Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Mar 27, 2008

Exposition of Acts 12:1-17 regarding the attack of Herod on the church and the churches response to persecution

Text: Acts 12:1-17, Title: The Empire Strikes Back, Date/Place: NRBC, 3/30/08, AM A. Opening illustration: Ignatius Kung was ordained as a Bishop of Shanghai in 1949, shortly after the communists took over China. The Chinese government pressured him to align his loyalties to the "Chinese Catholic ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Boldness In The Face Of Opposition Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Oct 27, 2025

Spirit-filled believers are empowered to stand fearlessly for Christ, even in the face of threats, persecution, or opposition.

BOLDNESS IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Acts 4:13-20 Key Verse: “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20) Supporting Texts: Joshua 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:7; Ephesians 6:19-20; Proverbs 28:1 INTRODUCTION: The early Church faced fierce ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:13-20

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

The God Who Gives Double For Trouble Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 31, 2025

No matter what you have gone through, your story is not over. The same God who restored Job, promoted Joseph, and remembered Hannah is still the same today. Your affliction is not the end — it is the setup for a double portion.

THE GOD WHO GIVES DOUBLE FOR TROUBLE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Isaiah 61:7 Supporting Texts: Job 42:10, Zechariah 9:12, Joel 2:25-26, Psalm 126:5-6, Romans 8:18 INTRODUCTION: Life sometimes brings pain, shame, and loss, but God is never unaware of what His children go through. When we ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Model Church – 2 Series

Contributed by Shine Thomas on Nov 12, 2019

The early church was a dynamic, growing church that turned the world of its day upside down! In spite of incredible opposition and terrible persecution.....

Follow us on: Website: https://cityharvestag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CityHarvestA... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cityharvestag/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CityHarvestAGChurch/featured INTRODUCTION: The early church was a dynamic, growing church that turned the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:6, 1 Timothy 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:8

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Looking Beyond Suffering Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Dec 10, 2007

In this world we will have suffering and at specific times the church will be impacted by tribulation. At such times the church needs to look to their Lord and to their future reward.

Revelation 2:8-11 LOOKING BEYOND SUFFERING Matthew 5:11-13 If the first mark of a true and living church is fervent love, the second is the ability to endure suffering. Being willing to suffer or sacrifice for another proves the genuineness of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Raised From Death Unto Life

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Feb 12, 2020

Peter knew the church faced much persecution in the first century. As they continued to endure adversity, he pointed them to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Persecution might continue, but they had been raised from death unto life in Christ.

Raised from Death unto Life 1 Peter 4: 1-6 Peter set the tone for the message he sought to convey as he introduced himself to the reader. He addressed them as strangers scattered throughout the Roman provinces. This served two basic principles – 1) Peter revealed to the believers that he was aware ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Did I Tell You To Do That?

Contributed by Jack Valentino on May 24, 2005

Do not think that God will reward you by Harming who you think is His enemy!

Did I tell you to do that? You’ll be happy to know that the Lord has released me from I Samuel and now He has me in II Samuel. As I was reading in the 4th Chapter the Lord started to speak with me concerning these passages. It is just after David is anointed King. Turn to II Samuel chapter 4 1 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 4:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Like Is Like The Olympics

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 23, 2004

The Olympics: 1- the sports 2- the training 3- the spectators 4- the rules 5- the rewards

INTRO.- ILL.- A man was discussing his tennis technique with a friend. He said, “My brain immediately barks out a command to my body: ‘Run forward, and fast.’ It says, ‘Start right now. Drop the ball gracefully over the net and then race back to position.’” His friend replied, “And then what ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

All The World Is A Stage

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 28, 2013

The deed is done before the all-seeing God. His approval is reward enough in itself.

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE. Matthew 6:1-6; Matthew 6:16-21. “All the world’s a stage,” Shakespeare reminds us, “and all the men and women merely players.” “And one man,” continues the playwright, “in his time plays many parts…” Jesus’ teaching on almsgiving, prayer and fasting in the Sermon on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-21, Matthew 6:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus And Lazarus Series

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Feb 28, 2010

Jesus raises dead things. Lazarus, jolted out of his reward, was just the first.

Sermon for CATM – February 28, 2010 – Journeying with Jesus: Lazarus (John 11:1-44) Today we continue our Journey with Jesus to the cross. This is the second in a series on the events that lead up to Jesus’ own suffering and death on the cross. Last week we looked at the Transfiguration. We ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Know Thy Works

Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Dec 8, 2011

The works of every congregation and that of each individual member are known by God and shall be rewarded by Him.

I KNOW THY WORKS STUDY TEXT: Rev. 2:1-7 - A letter was written by the Lord to each of seven churches about their conduct and to either commend their actions or condemn them with a call for repentance. - In the introductory part is the comment “I know thy works”. Every one’s works ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

I Know Thy Works

Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Dec 8, 2011

The works of every congregation and that of each individual member are known by God and shall be rewarded by Him.

I KNOW THY WORKS STUDY TEXT: Rev. 2:1-7 - A letter was written by the Lord to each of seven churches about their conduct and to either commend their actions or condemn them with a call for repentance. - In the introductory part is the comment “I know thy works”. Every one’s works ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Habits Of Pruning, Part 2: Fasting (Matthew 6:16-18) Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Feb 13, 2021

Fasting is probably the least understood of the spiritual disciplines. But it has the potential to be one of the most rewarding.

[I am very grateful to SermonCentral contributor Jim Luthy for his sermon "To Fast or Not to Fast." His opening illustration and structure formed the backbone of this sermon.] Good morning. Please open your Bibles to Matthew 6. How many of you are tea drinkers? I know we are in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18, Jeremiah 14:10-11, Isaiah 58:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

Almsgiving And Prayer.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 5, 2023

The deed is done before the all-seeing God. His approval is reward enough in itself.

ALMSGIVING AND PRAYER. Matthew 6:1-9. Jesus’ teaching on almsgiving, prayer and fasting in the Sermon on the Mount is replete with the language of the stage. MATTHEW 6:1. We are not to do our alms in order to be seen of men: to do so is just theatre. For that there is no reward from our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational