Persecution of the Church
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Church is always persecuted
Church is always persecuted
Do you know that the church is currently being persecuted around the world?
388M christians are experiencing persecution today
1 in 7 christians persecuted in world
1 in 5 persecuted in Africa
2 in 5 persecuted in Asia
What can that look like?
Video: Persecuted Christians in Pakistan: How They Suffer—and How You Can Pray (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mATdRtRCCuM)
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Persecution has been throughout history!
Did you guys run to the window this morning during sunrise? Do you marvel at sunlight? Of course not because it's a given.
Persecution is like the sun rising up in the east. It's normal. It has been in most countries throughout centuries.
Today's persecution in the world:
In North Korea, you will be sentenced for life
In Afghanistan, a mob will kill you if they think you’re a christian
A butcher was killed by people because he sold meat to christians
A grenade was thrown into a believer’s house and killed him.
We take things for granted
Muslim women attended a baptism in USA and when the person was baptized, she was startled! She didn't understand why everyone was chill about it … she turned to her American guest and said she wanted to scream from excitement. She prayed that one day her dream would come true and she would see that Christians are able to be baptized and witness baptism without being persecuted
You live in a fairly rare society in history.
Insert text about how holy people will be persecuted
If it wasn't for the government, church would persecute you (Catholic church or Protestants killing their opponents)
Setting the target on the persecutor
Setting the target on the persecutor
Passage - pray for the persecuted
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Saul became a target of many believers when he started persecuting the church. They started to pray for him!
Watch video: “INDIA: Hindu man who persecuted Christians converts” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Uw2FCzP22w
Choosing to suffer for Christ’s sake
Choosing to suffer for Christ’s sake
So you realize that many people choose to suffer to Christ?
When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.
Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
Paul chose to suffer. Prophets told him about his persecution and what did he say?
Show video: John Chau | Day of the Christian Martyr (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNksqCzMKkk)
Why do it?
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Why? This is how church grows. Suffering and pain of believers are like seeds that are planted.
Why? This is how you get access to people you wouldn't otherwise - rebels, military people, rulers
Example of Paul
This Muslim person was a leader of an extremist group. He cut off the head of more than 100 people himself.
His miraculous testimony
he has been serving God and didn't want to lose his family.
Why does God want to take them as well? Is Jesus a worth it? He said - YES!
Why?
Only true Christians are ready to go through suffering for Jesus Christ
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
In China, pastors are considered not tested and trusted until they have served a term in prison. In china, that's very hard to evangelize because you don't know who will report to you and you will end up in prison. Pastors often gets sent to prison and evangelism becomes the hardest work of women at times. De facto they do a pastor's role, a missionaries role but they don't make a claim for any position or authority
What’s our response?
What’s our response?
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
For today, remember that if acts 1:8 doesn't happen, acts 8:1 will
If you don't pay a small cost for standing up for Christian values and truth, they will come a day when you're going to have to pay a prison term for it
Imagine this: during Paris Olympics when Jesus was mocked during the opening ceremony, there was a billboard in Iran stating “Indeed, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Son of Mary, is a messenger of God”.
Muslims are willing to stand for Jesus and not allowed him to be mocked while a Christian Nation is allowing the mocking of Jesusm
What has become of the Christian fabric in the west?
Christianity has become TOO shallow and because the christian foundation is eroding in the west, we’ll pay a great price!
Half of christians are not true christians. they will betray Jesus when hardships come
If people can’t lose their job, how would they give up their life?
If you fall into pressure and avoid saying that you’re a christian against LGBT values,
Try preaching the prosperity Gospel during persecution!
When Jesus met Paul she told him that he would suffer for Him.
Are you ready to suffer for jesus?
If not then you have yet to become a true follower
Are you praying for them? For the persecution to stop?
One Chinese Christian said that to pray for persecution to stop, is to pray for people to stop following Jesus.
Jesus said - I was persecuted and so will you be
God’s in control and persecution glorifies his name:
Revelation 6:10–11 “They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.”
It can come to you today:
Columbine school shooting
Best or goes to prison in Canada for not officiating gay couple
Person arrested in the UK for praying silently across an abortion clinic
Isabel Vaughan-Spruce (UK, 2024–2026): A charitable volunteer who was criminally charged for silently praying within an abortion clinic's "buffer zone." Her trial, scheduled for early 2026, is a major test of the Public Order Act 2023.
Stephen Green (UK, 2025): In January 2025, a court confirmed a guilty verdict for a Christian preacher who was ordered to pay over £7,500 in fines and costs for silently holding a sign with a Bible verse near a clinic.
Adam Smith-Connor (UK, 2024): A military veteran and Christian father who was convicted and fined for "disapproving of abortion" while praying silently with his back to a clinic.
LGBT issues:
Barry Neufeld (February 2026): Just last month, a former B.C. school trustee was ordered by a Human Rights Tribunal to pay $750,000 for "hate speech" and "discriminatory content" after he posted Christian-based views on gender and sexuality.
Päivi Räsänen (Finland, 2025–2026): A member of the Finnish Parliament and a physician, she has been in a six-year legal battle for a 2019 tweet quoting the Bible on marriage. Despite two unanimous acquittals, the state prosecutor appealed to the Supreme Court of Finland, where a hearing was held in October 2025. Prosecutors are seeking tens of thousands of euros in fines and the censorship of her publications.
The Hitching Post (Idaho, US, 2024): Ordained ministers Donald and Evelyn Knapp faced a city ordinance that could have resulted in 180 days in jail and $1,000 fines for each day they refused to perform same-sex weddings at their for-profit chapel. After a lengthy legal challenge, the city eventually backed down in mid-2024, affirming their right to operate according to their conscience.
You might think it’s unfair… why me when others get to enjoy their freedom?
Persecution is going to make you a stronger Christian
Think about how much you pray right now and how much you read the Bible
YOu have to grow now to be ready to to face persecution
What does persecution look like in the future? No escape with data and AI.
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
1) Do you take persecution as something normal to occur? Why not?
2) What are you afraid of in persecution? If persecution comes your way, what does that tell you about God? Is he asking too much of you? Is he unfair?
3) Read and answer:
John 15:18–20 – "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you... A servant is not greater than his master."
Matthew 10:22 – "And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."
If persecution is normal and expected, why are we not persecuted? Would we be ready to accept persecution when it start in the US?
4) How do you understand this passage? 2 Timothy 3:12 – "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Is there a case that christians today should already be facing persecution in the US and they’re just trying to avoid it?
What would happen if someone mistreats you for your faith? Should you fight back (legally) or accept that persecution/suffering for Jesus’ sake?
What do we learn from Paul and Jesus about their approach to persecution?
5) learn and pray about persecuted christians in various countries (search country profile in Open Doors USA or VOM)
