Sermons About Persecution
Faithful Under Fire
The second church on John's postal route would have been the church at Smyrna. This city competed with Ephesus as the "key" city of Asia Minor and was steeped in deep patriotism and fierce loyalty to Rome. Into this environment steps a marginalized group of Christ-followers declaring that Jesus (not Caesar) was Lord! ...and all hell begins to break loose. As Thomas Torrence says: "The church cannot be the church, without causing trouble!" The key to understanding and embracing this text and this teaching comes in the first phrase: I am the First and the Last, who died and came to life again! Embedded in that statement is the hope these people needed....AND the hope WE need! Key Passage: Revelation 2:8-11
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Light the Fire Again!
Revelation is a letter, a prophecy, and an apocalypse. In the first case, it is a letter addressed to seven churches in Asia Minor. The churches are commended for their positive traits, and challenged to make changes where they are falling short. Together, we might entitle this section, "Faithful Under Fire" as we see these early churches standing in a culture of persecution and all the temptations to spiritual compromise that went with it. The first church on the postal route, is the seaport city of Ephesus. We know more about this congregation than perhaps any other in the New Testament. The challenge they faced is one that is very real for us today as well. To prime the pump; give some thought to how you might rate your "spiritual passion." If you had to choose a number from 1 to 10 (1 being cold and 10 being white-hot) where would you place your passion level? Was there a day when it burned brighter? Key Passage: Rev 2:1-7
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When Jesus Speaks
God has spoken most completely in His Son. Jesus' work for us includes His speaking as the eternal Son via the prophets, earthly Son during his ministry, and exalted Son thru the apostles to provide Scripture (inspiration). He now works in those who believe thru illumination that we might understand and apply Scripture. He also works thru us in evangelization & discipleship to help others understand and apply Scripture. Do you listen?
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Abraham's Sons: A Figurative Story
Galatians 3:26 says: We are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, We have to understand that Galatians is a letter to believers in Christ Jesus. They had professed there faith. This letter means nothing to the world. But now the question is: Are you taking your salvation into your own hands thru works or do you put it in Christ's hands?
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Hope through Despair (Psalm 119:81-88)
The psalmist is going through a deep spiritual struggle. He feels abandoned by the Lord; his inner spiritual strength is gone; his previous fellowship has been taken away; the intimate delight is a distant memory. He is desperate for deliverance; he lacks a sense of God’s compassion; he feels God’s delay in judging his persecutors, until the point that he is despairing even of life. He is in a spiritual valley. “The midnight of the Psalm, and very dark and black it is†(Spurgeon). Spurgeon himself is said to have struggled at times with depression. This teaches us that even the most eminent of saints are not beyond the flaming arrows of our adversary and are not immune at times to letting their guard down and having those arrows embedded into the heart. Thankfully, for the believer, that no a single arrow of Satan, no matter how well suited and painful it may be, is ever a death blow. A believer may be weakened by Satan’s attacks but he is never defeated and cannot be ultimately. We have the divine resources of an indestructible life in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 2:16-18; 4:15-16; 7:25). (In the world you have troubles, but take courage. I have overcome the world [John 16:33]); what is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith (1 John 5:4).Hope in and faithfulness to the Word of God are anchors to the soul in spiritual struggle and persecution.
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How to Find Strength in Difficulty and Live with Boldness (Ps. 119:41-48)
Adversity and difficulties are a part of life, so how does a Christian find strength to persevere and stand firm against opposition? The psalmist answers those questions and provides encouragement for living godly in this present evil age.
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Pray for the Persecuted Church
The second Sunday in November is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. This sermon seeks to raise awareness and call upon the church to pray.
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Galatians 5.7-12: The Supremacy of Christ in Truth
Paul encourages the Galatians to live a life of obedience to the truth of God. They have been hindered from doing such by some false teachers. Paul in a most graphic manner wishes those hindering the Galatians to be rendered powerless. In this passage Paul takes us from the track and field arena, to the kitchen and to the movies with a closing scene that would cause the FCC and the MPAA to cringe. Paul's prayer is that truth with prevail in our life!
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What will you sacrifice for the cause?
Many Christians across the world sacrifice, money, stature, safety, and even their lives for the call of Christ. Here in America, we are unlikely to experience the type and scope of persecution our friends endure. We will not be called upon to give such a great sacrifice, but What will you sacrifice for the cause?
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