Hatred on SermonAudio

Matt Slick Live (Live Broadcast of 09/10/2026) is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry (CARM). Matt answers questions on topics such as: The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues! You can also email questions to Matt using: [email protected], Put "Radio Show Question" in the Subject line! Answers will be discussed in a future show. Topics Include: Matt Discusses Online Interactions and Vitriolic Hatred Expressed/Sola Scriptura/The Sovereignty of God/ What About Charlie Kirk?/ Funerals and Burial/Looking to a Resurrection of The Body/What Happens to Our Money?/ Reformed Beliefs in Contrast to Pentecostals/ September 10, 2026

Marvel not that the world hates you as a Christian

Stress, grief, exhaustion, low blood sugar, hormonal problems, depression and severe trials can weaken us and intensify temptation. They can call for compassion and appropriate mercy - but do they remove personal responsibility? Are there also double standards? For example, women are sometimes given a free pass because of hormones or emotional suffering, while men are still expected to control anger, aggression and harmful behavior. Should either sex be excused? Real suffering may explain why obedience became harder, but it does not make cruelty, violence, hatred, adultery or abandonment of duty, right. The Biblical balance is compassion for suffering, but accountability for all evil responses.

"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it. For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, and those who plundered us requested mirth, saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" (Psalm 137:1-3, NKJV)

Joseph's brother's hatred of him reaches its natural conclusion in this morning's sermon.

✝️ The story of Edom and Israel is more than an ancient history lesson—it is a powerful warning about what can happen when hurt becomes hatred, hatred becomes pride, and pride leads to rebellion against God. From Jacob and Esau in Genesis to the judgment pronounced against Edom in Obadiah, Scripture reveals how deeply rooted bitterness can influence generations. ⚔️ Edom was descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob, yet centuries of conflict eventually turned brothers into enemies. When Jerusalem suffered, Edom rejoiced instead of showing compassion. But God saw their pride, remembered their actions, and declared that they would reap what they had sown. ⚖️ This devotion challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we holding onto resentment? Have we allowed someone else's failure to become a source of satisfaction? Are we trusting in our own strength rather than depending upon God? 🙏 "The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee." — Obadiah 3 (KJV) The story of Edom reminds us that God sees the heart, God judges pride, and God ultimately rules over every kingdom. 👑 Edom and Israel • Jacob and Esau • Pride and judgment • Hatred and bitterness • Book of Obadiah • Biblical lessons on pride • God's judgment

What if the persecution you experience for following Christ is not merely something to survive—but an opportunity God can use to advance the gospel? In Mark 13:9–13, Jesus prepares His disciples for persecution, arrest, trials, betrayal, hatred, and opposition because of His name. Yet His warning comes with an extraordinary purpose: persecution can become a platform for preaching the gospel, even before governors, kings, and the powers of this world. In this in-depth study of Mark 13:9–13, we examine Jesus' teaching on the Beginning of Pains, persecution, gospel proclamation, perseverance, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the relationship between the events surrounding AD 70 and the Second Coming of Christ. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

The sermon examines 1 John 3 to distinguish true faith from mere profession by highlighting two essential tests: correct doctrine and practical love. It contrasts the hatred of Cain with the sacrificial love of Christ, arguing that genuine justification by faith alone inevitably produces sanctification evidenced by loving the church. The preacher warns against the errors of legalism and antinomianism, asserting that true believers are marked by a desire to obey God and serve their neighbors in deed and truth. This active love serves as the primary evidence that one has passed from death into life and possesses saving faith. Ultimately, the message calls listeners to rest in Christ's righteousness while actively pursuing holiness and unity within the body of believers.

How do you respond when someone is difficult to love? What happens when the person who opposes you, insults you, or even mistreats you is someone you are called to love? Is your instinct to distance yourself, write them off, or even rejoice when they fail? In Romans 9, Paul reveals something astonishing: he carries "great sorrow and unceasing anguish" for his fellow Jews—the very people who had rejected his message, persecuted him, and sought to harm him. Yet Paul's response is not hatred, bitterness, or revenge. His transformed heart grieves for those who oppose him because he understands their condition—and he remembers that he once stood where they stand. This sermon explores what the gospel does to our hearts toward difficult people. Paul's story challenges us to consider whether the mercy we have received from Christ is shaping the way we view those who are hardest to love. Could God use even the painful experiences of our past to make us more compassionate toward others?

Jesus makes it as clear as possible that if we truly belong to Christ, the world will hate us because it hated Him first. John 15 makes it clear that there are only two spiritual camps: those who belong to Christ and those who belong to the world, and that a real disciple of Christ will not fit comfortably into a world that hates God, righteousness, and truth. Kindness, good works, and religious profession will not remove the reproach of Christ, because the world's hatred is ultimately against Jesus Himself and all who bear His name. The message calls us to openly confess Christ, live unashamed of His name, bear His reproach faithfully, and remember that whatever we suffer for Him now will be worth it when we stand before Him.