Biblically Based, Christ Centered, Caring Community in Annapolis, MD
Disciples are called to follow Jesus, which means they must deny themselves and take up their cross, enduring persecution and suffering in this age while looking forward to the eternal reward they will be granted at the return of Christ.
Mark 8:34-38
The beheading of John the Baptist is a sober reminder to Christians of the difficulties and costs of the mission we have been given by Jesus, but we must not shrink from calling others to repentance and faith.
Mark 6:7-30
God’s people will continue to go through trying times, but as they trust in God’s Sovereignty and their future eternal reward it will enable them to stand strong to the end.
Daniel 12
Daniel was given a vision of two future kingdoms and an evil ruler who will desecrate God’s Temple and persecute God’s people, but he saw God intervene to destroy the persecutor and deliver His people, for the Sovereign God rules over the kingdoms of mankind.
Daniel 8:1-27
Daniel has a vision of four great beasts and a little horn that oppress God’s people, but the Son of Man has established the eternal kingdom of God which grows throughout history and will be given to God’s covenant people.
Daniel 7:15-28
Daniel still faced persecution under the new kingdom, reminding us that God’s people must always live by trust in God rather than man in the land of our exile.
Daniel 6
The Church is the community of those who are God’s people through faith in Christ and are therefore exiles in this world. Consequently, they must persevere through suffering and persecution, knowing God is worth far more than this passing age.
Hebrews 11
Jon Hicks has worked with ICC to help the persecuted church around the world.
Holy joy is found in the growing faith of those we love, even in the midst of persecution and suffering.
1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:10
God’s holy people receive the Gospel as the Word of God rather than a human teaching, but those who reject it remain under God’s wrath.
1 Thessalonians 2:3-16
The church must not be fooled by Satan or his servants into compromising with idolatry or sexual sin and must call all members to repentance for such sins.
Revelation 2:12-17
The church must be faithful, even when persecuted and killed, knowing that God is Sovereign and eternal life awaits His people.
Revelation 2:8-11
God calls His people to suffer and sacrifice in order to penetrate new areas with the Gospel.
Acts 9:15-16
This week we were blessed to have Phil Sabella from International Christian Concern. He shared with us about the persecuted church and other things that ICC is involved with.
Christians should expect to be ostracized and persecuted by the world for our faith.
2 Timothy 3:10-13
Guest speakers from International Christian Concern share about work in Bangladesh to rescue children who have been kidnapped and trafficked to be forcibly converted to Islam, and have now been rescued and placed in a safe situation.
Ed Lyons of Persecution Project Foundation shares with Bay Ridge Christian Church about the persecution of Christians in Sudan.
Romans 8:18
God is on a mission to glorify the name of His Son, Jesus. There are times that God has chosen to use persecution to ensure that the gospel of His Son goes forth and that His Church thrives.
Acts 8:1-8
Luke describes the early church as thriving with continuous growth as it is strengthened by the Spirit through the means of grace to fulfill the Great Commission – even in the face of severe opposition.
Acts 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20
Youseff Ouramane shares about God’s work in Algeria.
Acts 8:1-8
As citizens of the heavenly Kingdom believers must live worthy of the Gospel, walking in unity with each other and standing with courage when faced with opposition.
Philippians 1:27-30
God sovereignly works by His Spirit to draw people from all backgrounds to Himself, and to sustain our joy even in times of suffering.
Acts 16:11-40
Dave Hermreck with Voice of the Martyrs
The imprecatory psalms cry out for God to act against the enemies of God and His people.
Psalm 137
As Christian, persecution is an ever-present reality that we must fight through prayer and action.
2 Timothy 3:12