Playlist: Martyrdom (topic)

listen:

Prudence

Sermonette by Ronny H. Graham

We should not bring about needless persecution on ourselves or on the body of Christ because of our foolish texting, posting, tweeting, or e-mailing.


Persecution

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Although many have gone through sore trials, virtually no one has gone through the nightmarish persecutions suffered by the early Christians in Imperial Rome.


They Could Not Destroy It!

Commentary by Martin G. Collins

Miraculously, each attempt to destroy the Scriptures resulted in the printers doubling their production. Christ has always supplied the means to spread the Word.


Facing Times of Stress: Forewarned of Persecution!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Under the best of times, God's people are not immune to persecution. Persecution for righteousness' sake is evidence that God's people have Christ's Spirit.


Matthew (Part Six)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Those who are meek are capable of anger but keep it under control. They are humble, open-minded, willing to listen, don't jump to conclusions, and aren't defensive.


Tested: Our Trust in God's Promises

Sermonette by Austin Del Castillo

There is an apparent contradiction between God's promises to protect and heal, and the persecution, health crises, and death that we all experience.


Overcoming Destructive Fear

Sermon by Clyde Finklea

Jesus cautioned His disciples not to have any destructive fear. The worst fear of all is that which would cause us to deny Christ—namely, the fear of man.


Suffering Disgrace For Christ's Name

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

We can always expect new challenges, including persecution, and must never be content with standing still, but must press on to spiritual maturity.


The Handwriting Is On the Wall (2011)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

While love grows cold because lawlessness abounds, the church may well have to go underground in order to survive. We must prepare for horrific times.


Facing Times of Stress: Grieved by Various Trials

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Faith from God will be required to endure and profit from trials, bringing about character and genuineness of faith, as well as patience and trust in God.


Those Who Are Persecuted

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Persecution is already here, part and parcel in the lives of followers of Christ. If we are persecuted for following God's instructions, we will be blessed.


Letters to Seven Churches (Part Three): Smyrna

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Christ prepared the members of Smyrna for martyrdom, promising them eternal glory for enduring a relatively short time, looking at things from a hopeful perspective.


Death, or Not A Hair of Your Head?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Our challenge in the wake of the terrible things we witness now is to retain confidence that God is in control, even though our faith will be sorely tested.


Facing Times of Stress: When God Is Silent (Part Two)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

What appeared to be a series of judicial set-backs for Paul was actually the outworking of God to place him before even higher levels of secular leadership.


A Place of Safety? (Part 5)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Obsessing about the Place of Safety is a sure way to disqualify oneself from it. God calls some faithful, zealous ones for martyrdom during the Tribulation.


Not One Stone Upon Another

Sermonette by Levi W. Graham

We, as God's spiritual Temple, will be a stumbling block and rock of offense to the world, leading to untimely martyrdom for many.


How Much Do You Value the Kingdom of God?

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Martyrdom is not a penalty because a person has failed to qualify for the Place of Safety; rather, it is a badge of honor for those who have overcome.


God's Special Presence and Direct Intervention

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The scattering of the early church strengthened it, allowing fresh seed to be scattered in new fields. The 'bad' thing actually increased the church's power.


Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen (Part Four)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The Arnoldists, Albigenses, Cathers, Waldensians, and the Lollards all had Sabbath-keepers in their ranks. Gradual syncretism is a pattern of church history.


Principled Living (Part Five): Witnessing of God

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Our best witness is often through our unspoken behavior; what we do speaks volumes. God gives us a charge to bear His name with dignity in all our actions.


Acts (Part Twelve)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Paul and Barnabas developed the church in the cosmopolitan city of Antioch, the location from where the term 'Christian' originated.


The Mark of the Beast

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Will we trust God in the basic areas of life—food, clothing, and water—or compromise, accepting the mark of the beast to save our physical lives?


Deuteronomy (Part 6)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God is absolutely faithful to finish what He started, knowing the end from the beginning. Our strength is dependent upon the relationship we have with God.


Famine (Part Three): The Abundance of God's Salvation

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

After Christ's return, famine will be the penalty for not keeping His Feast of Tabernacles. God will establish conditions in which famine will never occur again.


Knowing Christ (Part 2)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Christ's sacrifice was not merely substitutionary, but representative, with Christ giving us a pattern for life - mortifying our flesh and putting out sin.


The Handwriting Is on the Wall (1995)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Because restraints that once held human nature in check have been removed, the US has grown increasingly more corrupt, approaching conditions before the Flood.


I Know Your Works

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Contrary to Protestant understanding, our works emphatically do count - showing or demonstrating (not just telling) that we will be obedient.


Trumpets Is a Day of Hope

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We are on the threshold of the greatest period of testing ever to come upon mankind. We need a sense of hope and faith to stay focused on our calling.


The Adversary

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Pride, vanity, presumption, and self-absorption led to Satan's demise. Satan's madness (that he is his own god) is the spirit of this world,


Letters to Seven Churches (Part Four): Pergamos

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Cultural compromise, such as found in Pergamos, brings judgment from Jesus. To those who refuse to compromise their convictions, Christ promises eternal life.


Stewardship of God's Temple (Part Seven)

Sermon by David F. Maas

The antidote to double-mindedness and distractions is single-minded focus on God's law through meditating God's word, thus guarding our hearts.


Zephaniah (Part Three): Quick Destruction, Eternal Restoration

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Zephaniah has messages for the remnant of physical Israel, the house of David, and for the faithful remnant from the Israel of God.


William Tyndale: The Rest of the Story

Commentary by Clyde Finklea

William Tyndale's desire to translate the Bible into English aroused the ire of governmental and church elites, resulting in his martyrdom.


The Global Environmental Ethic (Part Three)

Commentary by Martin G. Collins

The UN Environmental Project espouses an environmental ethic, an eco-spirituality designed to enforce a global reference for earth and an international earth sabbath.


Faithful Stephen

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Christ does not want His staff to exercise Gentile patterns of tyrannical, top-down leadership, but to humbly serve people without striving for greatness.


Sons of Thunder

Sermonette by Ronny H. Graham

James and John had great zeal, but initially lacked eloquence and wisdom. Similarly, we need God to redirect our efforts to His purpose rather than our own.


What's So Bad About Babylon? (2013) (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Because Babylon is a system, we cannot physically flee it. We have to flee by keeping our minds clean from the customs, traditions, and cultural influences.


Becoming Like Little Children

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Kim Myers

The Millennium and subsequent Kingdom of God with the New Jerusalem, a venue of peace and innocence, will be bequeathed to the humble and pure of heart.


What Would You Die For?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Christian martyrs, convicted by God's truth, having an ardent love for Christ, have attained a special place of honor because of their ultimate sacrifice.


Promised: Protection and Healing

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God gives several conditions for receiving protection and healing, including God's sovereignty, God's purpose, and one's level of growth.


John (Part Twenty-Four)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Though Christ knows that we will inevitably fail, as all of the disciples stumbled, He knows He can pull us through as long as we yield to Him.