Sermons on F Jim Cymbala:

The Problem Of Weeds

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Oct 14, 2020

This parable may very well be one of the most important teachings for the church to hear in helping us to understand the nature of our witness for good in the world.

The Problem of Weeds Read Matthew 13:24-30 Everyone who has ever farmed or gardened, or taken care of a lawn, is only too familiar with the vexing reality of weeds. Weeds are essentially a mundane example of the fall of Creation and the presence of sin in the world. The dictionary defines them ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

What Jesus Brings Us Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 21, 2020

This passage early in John gives us important answers to what John did, who Jesus is, and what Jesus brings us.

WHO JOHN THE BAPTIST IS: He is the witness. - John 1:6, 7, 8, 15. a. He was sent from God. - v. 6. b. He was a witness to the light. - v. 7. c. He was not the light. - v. 8. d. He declared Jesus was God Incarnate. - v. 15. WHO JESUS IS: He is God. - John 1:9, 10, 11, 14, 18. a. He ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-18

Denomination: Baptist

How To Avoid Seeing God Move In Your Life Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 23, 2020

Jesus' healing on an invalid suffering for 38 years provides an interesting example of ways that we sometimes miss out on what God is willing to do in our lives.

HOW TO AVOID SEEING GOD MOVE IN YOUR LIFE: 1. CONSIDER IT TOO LATE. - John 5:5. - Life has a way of beating us down. Especially when we are continually pummeled over many years. - This invalid had been there for nearly four decades. It’s hard not the lose your hope by that point. - Many of ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Son’s Connection To The Father Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 30, 2020

This deep, dense, and challenging passage details the connections between the Son and the Father. What specifics can we learn from it?

EQUAL WITH GOD: The Jews thought Jesus was claiming to be equal with God the Father. - John 5:18. - What exactly is going on in this interaction that the Jews thought Jesus was claiming to be equal with God the Father? a. In v. 16 the Jews persecute Jesus because He violated their rules for the ...read more

Scripture: John 5:15-30

Denomination: Baptist

Six Testimonies About Jesus Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 3, 2020

Jesus says that He's not going to testify about Himself, but He's got an impressive lineup of witnesses to who He is. What can we learn from them?

- v. 31. Six Testimonies about Jesus: 1. The positive testimony of John the Baptist: Jesus is the Perfect Lamb. - John 5:31-35. 2. The positive testimony of the work: Jesus is the Suffering Messiah. - John 5:36. 3. The positive testimony of the Father: Jesus is the Beloved Son. - John ...read more

Scripture: John 5:31-47

Denomination: Baptist

Would God Ever Take Away His Word? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 24, 2020

What would it mean if God withdrew the knowledge of His Word?

- Unpack vv. 11-12 and the threat to take away the word of the Lord. - We don’t really know what to do with that. Let’s try to figure it out. WHAT MIGHT THAT LOOK LIKE? 1. Rejecting God’s truth, people do what they want. 2. Things start falling apart. 3. The consequences of their sin make ...read more

Scripture: Amos 8:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

Trying To Escape God’s Judgment Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 26, 2020

We don't like to think about the Day of Judgment. And when we do, we like to impose our own thoughts on how it will go. What does this passage tell us about our ability to get away from God's judgment?

- There are additional things going on in this passage, but I want to focus on the overarching idea: trying to escape the judgment of God. UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS: 1. GOD IS THE JUDGE. - Genesis 18:25. - God plays many roles – Creator, Sustainer, Father. He also plays the role of Judge. 2. HE ...read more

Scripture: Amos 9:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Is It Naïve To Be Hopeful Amid All The Despair? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 7, 2020

The book of Amos contains some challenging and painful truths. Now, as the book ends, there is a word of hope. It speaks to us in our worry: is it naive for us to be hopeful amid all this world's despair?

- Set up a collapsed tent on state where the pulpit normally is. This is the image for the sermon. LIVING IN FRAUGHT TIME: Right now there is much to worry over. - Amos 9:11 – “David’s fallen tent.” - Think of all the references in the Old Testament to the “house of David.” With that in ...read more

Scripture: Amos 9:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

Is This Vision From God?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 22, 2020

When is a vision actually from God?

A DIVINE VISION? Not every spiritual vision is from God. - People sometimes get overly impressed by spiritual visions. People sometimes uncritically accept any claim of a spiritual vision without considering whether it’s true or not. - We want to discuss spiritual vision in this message and ...read more

Scripture: Job 4:12-21

Denomination: Baptist

Life Is In The Blood

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Jul 31, 2020

There could never be a more personal, more sacrificial or more sacred expression of God’s saving love than the shed blood of Jesus.

“Life is in the Blood” Hebrews 9:11-15, 19-28 Two missionary doctors working in India, both surgeons, were frustrated by the unwillingness of most Indians to donate blood. To the Indians, blood was life, and they couldn’t get past the idea of sacrificing any of their precious life-force. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:11-28

Is This The End? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 5, 2020

This sermon begins the "Is This the End?" sermon series by looking at three of the biggest mistakes we make when it comes to the end times.

- About fifteen years ago, a giant, killer hurricane was heading out of the Atlantic heading for New Orleans. This caused enormous fear, because New Orleans was judged to not be ready for a direct hit from a hurricane. There were mandatory evacuations of seven parishes as well as voluntary ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

The Easy Way To Love Your Neighbor Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 14, 2020

The story of the Samaritan and his compassion is instructive for us to consider how we treat our neighbors.

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR: Loving your neighbor is not difficult as long as you get to define “neighbor.” - Luke 10:29. - We often define “neighbor” as those we like and who like us back. People like us who we are comfortable around. - Further, we define “love” cheaply: liking a post, offering a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Baptist

Why Is It Significant That Jesus Died At Passover? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 5, 2020

It's an overlooked detail of the Last Supper story that it happened at Passover. What's the importance of that? What's the connection between Passover and the Last Supper?

AN OVERLOOKED DETAIL: Why is it significant that Jesus died at Passover? - Luke 22:7-8. ISRAEL'S PASSOVER: Enslaved people longing for freedom and to go home are freed by God’s decisive miracle through the Passover lamb. - Exodus 12:1-14. - Unpack Passover in general – focus here on the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:7-8

Denomination: Baptist

How Can God Do Great Things Through Someone Like Me? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 6, 2018

A look at why it's ok that we are merely "jars of clay."

A Picture Of Us And God: We are the plain pot; Christ is the magnificent flower. - 2 Corinthians 4:7. Living This Truth Out: 1. It’s ok to admit your shortcomings. - 2 Corinthians 4:7 – “jars of clay.” 2. Accept that you’re the plain pot and Christ is the magnificent flower. - 2 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7

Denomination: Baptist

How God Grows Us Through Struggles Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 7, 2018

This difficult passage points us toward who we are in Christ and how He grows us.

HOW GOD GROWS US THROUGH STRUGGLES: 1. AN EASY LIFE? God does not take away our struggles, though He does ensure they don’t overwhelm us. - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. - In verses 8-9, Paul shares four statements that we’d rather not hear. They speak clearly to an uncomfortable truth: God’s goal is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-11

Denomination: Baptist