Sermons on F Jim Cymbala:

The Miracle Of Grace

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Aug 15, 2020

Grace is the kind, merciful, generous love of God for us, and the essence of our witness in the world.

During a conference on World Religions, scholars were debating what belief, if any, was unique to the Christian faith. They agreed that it wasn’t morality, or compassion, or a belief in judgement and an afterlife. Other great religions included those same teachings. So the question was ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-10

The Next Event On The End Times’ Timeline Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 17, 2020

This sermon looks at the Rapture and the details surrounding it.

WHAT'S THE NEXT EVEN ON THE END TIMES' TIMELINE? The Rapture. - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. a. First, like much of the end times’ timeline, this is not something we would necessarily guess. - 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – “we do not want you to be ignorant” - This points to it being something ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54

Denomination: Baptist

Under The Mercy

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Aug 27, 2020

We're all sinners, saved only by the great mercy of God.

1 Timothy 1:12-17 (Greet the congregation with “Good morning, saints.” After they reply, greet them again with “Good morning, sinners.” They’ll probably miss a beat before replying, but the point will be made.) We’re both saints and sinners, aren’t we? We’re saints seeking God, and sinners ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

How Sin Gets Us To Bite The Hook Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 1, 2020

Paul tells us that Satan can appear as an angel of light. That is a clear picture of the way that Satan and temptation works. What can we learn from it?

[Have a fishing pole with a hooked worm.] SATAN APPEARS AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT: Sin takes what is good and twists it just enough. - 2 Corinthians 11:14. - Genesis 3:1. - What does it mean that Satan appears as an angel of light? It means that Satan in tempting us often comes to us in the form of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

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

Why Are John’s Disciples So Worried About Jesus’ Disciples Fasting?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 2, 2021

The question from John's disciples about fasting reveals a serious disconnect to what Jesus is trying to accomplish.

WHY DON'T THEY FAST? The question from John’s disciples shows that they missed the point that Jesus just made. - Matthew 9:13-14. - In v. 14, John’s disciples come and ask about why Jesus’ disciples aren’t fasting. In other gospels, it gives us more information that the Pharisees were in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:14

Denomination: Baptist

Could Mary Have Been Stoned For Adultery?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 3, 2021

The title question leads us into a deeper appreciation of the sacrifice that Joseph made in standing with Mary.

A QUESTION: Could Mary have been stoned for adultery? - Matthew 1:18-19. - This is a question that has bugged me for a while. If Mary is presumed to be an adulteress, could she have been stoned? WERE THEY MARRIED? Betrothal was more like marriage than engagement. - Matthew 1:18-19. - Unlike ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-19

Denomination: Baptist

How Simeon Had Peace At His Death Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 17, 2021

This sermon focuses on the interesting comment that Simeon makes that, having seen the Messiah, he is now ready to die in peace. What would it take for us to die in peace?

READY TO GO? What would make you say, “Now I can die in peace”? - I ask this question in the half-joking way that we usually use this phrase. Someone meets their sports hero and then says, “Now I can die in peace.” Some teen girls go see Shawn Mendes in concert and leave saying, “Now I can die ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-32

Denomination: Baptist

Simeon’s Answer To "hope So" Faith Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 23, 2021

Simeon says, "My eyes have seen your salvation." Could that be true today too?

A COMMON ANSWER ABOUT BEING SAVED: “I hope so.” - Often when you ask someone if they are going to heaven, they will answer, “I hope so.” - Or you might ask someone if they’re saved and they’ll reply, “I think so.” - [Maybe share those two as more developed stories.] - Maybe you’re in that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-30

Denomination: Baptist

Grace And Peace

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Jan 3, 2023

Paul begins every one of his thirteen letters with these words of blessing: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” It’s arguably the greatest of all the biblical benedictions, but it goes mostly ignored.

Franklin Roosevelt was greeting guests at the White House one evening as they came through the reception line. He disliked this ritual, however, since everyone always spoke their rehearsed lines without actually listening to what was said. So, feeling mischievous that evening and to test his ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-8, Romans 5:1

Blessings In Disguise

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Jan 18, 2023

Hand-in-hand with God’s blessing there is always testing to deepen our bonds of intimate love and trust. Those two forces work together for our good.

We see in this familiar passage two of the foundational stories of the Gospel: Christ’s blessing by God, followed very closely by his temptation. These are also the two universal realities of the spiritual life: both blessings and trials. After his baptism, Jesus saw the Spirit descending on ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

The Responsibility Of The Watchman Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 12, 2024

A challenging passage on the essential responsibility of the spiritual watchman. How does this idea apply to today?

IN ANCIENT DAYS: There would be a watchman on the city wall to warn of impending danger. - Ezekiel 3:17. - 2 Samuel 18:24-27; 2 Kings 9:17-20. - In ancient times there was literally a watchman on the city wall, scanning the horizon for danger. When an army appeared, the quick alarm spread by the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 3:16-21

Denomination: Baptist