Intr.:     Believers in Christ still face persecution around the world, especially in Muslim and Communist countries.

1)      People Persecute Christians for Personal Reasons (14:3-5).

a)       Due to a perceived offense to a family (14:3).

b)       Due to the predictable outcome of faithfulness (14:4).

c)        Due to the private operation of fear (14:5).

2)      People Persecute Christians for Political Reasons (14:6-12).

a)       Illicit pleasures can cause persecution (14:6).

b)       Ill-advised promises can cause persecution (14:7).

c)        Intentional pressure can cause persecution (14:8).

d)       Insurmountable pride can cause persecution (14:9).

3)      People Persecute Christians for Providential Reasons—God Seeks Spiritual Benefits.

a)       Persecution promotes personal perseverance (Matt. 10:22).

b)       Persecution produces public pronouncements (Mark 13:9).

c)        Persecution brings rewards from God (Luke 6:22-23).

 

Conc.: Be fully aware that speaking up for Christ may cost you your head. But the reality for most of us is that giving our all to Jesus Christ means that we go through life spending ourselves in little acts of love, rather than going out in a flash of glory. And maybe that’s harder.