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Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Matthew 5:10-14

If we stand up for Jesus, we will be persecuted. The only way to escape it is to compromise—to conform to this world. Instead, we must decide now that we will learn to stand for Jesus, no matter what happens.

Matthew 5:10 reveals, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Adrian Rogers says, “Persecution that you receive is the thermometer that registers your love and your courage for the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The first reason we are persecuted is because of the life we show.

Persecution means to divide; Christians are persecuted because we are different, distinct by our righteousness.

The second reason we are persecuted is due to the lies we suffer.

Jesus was crucified because of false witnesses; likewise, Christians will be blamed for things they have not done.

But the main reason for our persecution is the Lord we serve.

Jesus says, “for my sake.” (See Matthew 5:11.) The world hates Jesus Christ because He stands against the very things the world stands for: liquor, abortion, pornography, pride, racism, hatred, and selfishness.

Jesus was an exposer of sin; He came to condemn sin and destroy the works of the devil. And as followers of Christ, whom He has called salt and light (irritants and exposers), we can expect to endure personal insult and physical intimidation. There will be social injustice coming from all sides: from the religious world, from the government, and even from our own families.

But we can enlist our persecution for the glory of God. Because we are children of the King, we reign in life and can return good for evil.

We must also rejoice in the Lord; we have been identified as followers of Christ, and associated with the Lord... what an honor!

Finally, we should respond in love. We could be great witnesses if we respond to the hate of this world with the love it desperately needs.

These are days of golden opportunity to stand up and share Christ with others; let us not waste them by living in fear of persecution.

Apply it to your life

Knowing the reasons for persecution and the results of it, what is your response? Are you willing to follow Jesus in a world that hates Him? When you are persecuted, rejoice in the Lord and respond in love.

If you’ve ever second-guessed a hiring decision—or worried about choosing the wrong person—this episode will give you a practical path forward. Chad Carter, the principal chair for C12 forums in East Tennessee and author of The Predictive Hiring Model, shares six key disciplines that can help you reduce turnover, avoid costly mistakes, and consistently hire the right people for your team.

Find full show notes here: https://bit.ly/446chadcarter

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How can you deal with your spouse if they struggle with substance abuse? There are two approaches that are equally important: Tender love, and Tough love.

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The struggle of unforgiveness … that’s the topic on today’s BOLD STEPS with Pastor Mark Jobe. We’re going to talk about the trap of unforgiveness … and the relationship between our joy and grieving the Holy Spirit. It’s an important concept to grasp. And one that can easily rob us of our spiritual joy and become destructive in our attitudes and behavior.

Bold Step Gift: Lies Boys Believe: And The Epic Quest For Truth

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In this episode, Paul instructs Timothy on choosing

leaders for the church. He lists qualities necessary for overseers

(like bishops or pastors) and deacons, emphasizing good character,

family management and spiritual maturity. Paul concludes with

the mystery of godliness about Christ’s life, death, and ascension,

urging Timothy to uphold these truths in church leadership.

Some years ago, after exchanging heated words, Carolyn and I resolved our conflict through compassion and love for each other. I confessed my wrongdoing, and she prayed for me, referencing Ezekiel 36:26: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” I sensed that God was conducting a form of spiritual heart surgery on me, taking away my fears and bitterness as He enfolded me in His love.

God delights for us to engage with the Scriptures as I did back then, but it’s important to note the passage’s original context. Ezekiel spoke on God’s behalf to His people with the promise that He would cleanse them. Why? “It is not for your sake . . . I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name” (v. 22). God would do His purifying work among His people so that all the nations would revere Him and know that He is God.

God works His purposes in our lives not only to help us flourish and grow, but so we would bring Him honor. Even as He gave the Israelites the promise of a new heart and a new spirit, so through the inward work of the Holy Spirit, God replaces our cold and hardened hearts with those that receive and share His love and life.

Continuing our study through 1 Samuel, Pastor Doug Sauder takes us through 1 Samuel 25 where we find the story of David, a man named Nabal, and his wife Abigail. In this message, we go deep into the difference between being a wise person and a foolish person.