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The Persecuted Church

Because Christian persecution is so rarely seen in our culture it can be easy to overlook what’s really going on in the rest of the world. In 2015 we saw a record number of Christians killed simply because they believed in Jesus. In many parts of the world Christians are regularly imprisoned or threatened simply for being a Christian.

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Persecution is to be expected

John 15:20 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

Luke 9:23–26 23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Persecution is to be celebrated

Matthew 5:11–12 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

2 Corinthians 12:10 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Acts 5:41–42 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

What do we do? 

  1. Prayer
  2. Partnerships
  3. Perspective
  4. Perseverance