Millions died for Christ rather than deny Him. This message confronts lukewarm Christianity and calls believers to courage, conviction, and bold faith.
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The Blood of the Martyrs, and You
This message is going to step on some toes and going to offend some people and to that I can only say one thing … good …
Thousands died for Christ in the first three centuries of Christianity
People today are saying Jesus never existed and everything was made up.
A powerful argument that Christ did die and rise from the dead is that people DIED refusing to deny what they saw. Millions of people have died for something they believe in, but ZERO people have died for something they KNEW to be a lie. And eyewitnesses refusing to deny they saw Jesus risen from the dead on pain of death, stood firm.
The very first Christian martyr was Stephen. John the Baptist was killed earlier of course, but we considered Stephen the first Christian martyr because he died AFTER Jesus rose from the grave
What did Stephen say that got him killed?
Acts 7:51-53
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
This was saying to the Jewish Sanhedrin, but doesn’t it sound like Stephen is speaking from the Grave straight to us today?
Then came the apostles
James, the son of Zebedee, was executed by the sword under King Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:2).
Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends, was crucified in Rome under Nero around AD 65 — upside down, by his own request, feeling unworthy to die in the same way as his Lord.
Paul, who once persecuted the church, was beheaded in Rome during that same persecution.
Andrew, Peter’s brother, was crucified in Achaia, continuing to preach to the crowd as he hung on the cross.
Thomas was speared to death in India after preaching that Jesus had risen.
Philip was executed in Hierapolis (modern Turkey) for preaching the gospel there.
James, the brother of Jesus, though not one of the Twelve, was the leader of the Jerusalem church. He was thrown from the temple and then stoned to death around AD 62 for refusing to deny that Jesus was the Messiah.
The next generation, the disciples of the disciples, followed in their footsteps:
Ignatius of Antioch (about AD 110) taught by John, was taken to Rome and thrown to the beasts. On his way there he wrote, “If Jesus Christ, who is our life, did not suffer, then my chains are meaningless.”
Polycarp of Smyrna (about AD 155) taught by John, who had been a student of the apostle John, was burned and stabbed when he refused to curse Christ, saying, “Eighty-six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”
Justin Martyr (about AD 165) was executed in Rome for boldly defending the faith, and in his court record we still read his words: “No one who is rightly minded turns from true belief in God to error.”
Then later here are some names you might not have heard before.
Under Decius (AD 250) and Valerian (AD 257-260), Christians were required to offer sacrifice to Roman gods and obtain a libellus certificate. Many refused.
Fabian, Bishop of Rome | Rome | Beheaded (AD 250)
Cornelius | Rome | Died in exile (AD 253)
Cyprian of Carthage | North Africa | Beheaded (AD 258)
Sixtus II & Lawrence the Deacon | Rome | Beheaded / burned (AD 258)
Fructuosus of Tarragona | Spain | Burned alive (AD 259)
Under Diocletian (AD 303-311) the empire tried to eradicate Christianity: scriptures burned, churches destroyed, clergy imprisoned.
Felix of Tibiuca | North Africa | Executed for refusing to surrender Scripture
Agnes of Rome | Rome | Teenage martyr; executed for refusing to worship idols
Sebastian | Rome | Shot with arrows & clubbed to death
George of Lydda (“St. George”) | Palestine | Executed for faith (~AD 303)
Maurice & Theban Legion | Switzerland (tradition) | Roman soldiers executed for refusing pagan sacrifice
Lucian of Antioch | Nicomedia | Tortured & killed (~AD 312)
And these are just the ones we have a record of as some of the most famous martyrs.
Nero, the Roman emperor was famous for lighting Christians on fire for illumination at night …
Thank the Lord all the persecution stopped…
Oh… wait….
I texted a brother in Nigeria after seeing an article about Christians murdered to make sure he was still alive…
“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” – Tertullian
The ancient Christian writer Tertullian is credited with the famous quote,197 AD in his work Apologeticus.
Christianity is the MOST persecuted religion of all time and we are the most persecuted worldwide today.
People are DYING all over this world because they are proclaiming Christ
How many of us are SCARED to tell our family, friends, coworkers and neighbors about Jesus for FEAR of offending them?
Charlie Kirk effect
I know a lot of people didn’t like him, but people are flicking to the church by the thousands due to his assassination
What are they going to find when they come to our church?
Millennials are FLOCKING to churches
Are they going to feel welcomed here?
Are they going to see Christians in this church who inspire them and light the fire in them to draw closer to God?
Or are they going to see Luke warm Christians?
Revelation 3:15-22
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
The Rich Entering Heaven … Luke Warm…
The poorest 5% of Americans are wealthier than 68% of the rest of the world?!
You’re RICH!
The American Church is Complacent…
You may not have the outward sins, but are you complacent?
Are you doing anything for Jesus? I don’t mean making a side dish for a church pot luck
I’m not talking about coming to church
I saw a video of an atheist who would make a better preacher than most actual pastors …
She said, “If I actually believed the stuff in the Bible, and I actually thought people would be burning in hell one day, I would be screaming at people and shaking them in their beds.”
Who among us has that kind of fire?
Who here is willing to even talk to someone about Jesus outside of church?
