Sermons on F Jim Cymbala:

How Is The New Covenant Better Than The Old? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 19, 2018

In what ways is the new covenant better than what Moses shared?

What Should We Do? Embrace the better new. - Sometimes Christians seem to pine for the Old Testament way of doing things. A couple examples: a. Getting to see God show up physically with smoke and lightning fireworks. b. Having a list of rules to follow. - A larger problem than that, though, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18

Denomination: Baptist

Why Jesus Rested Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 15, 2018

A look at how Jesus rested on the Saturday of Holy Week. It was the Sabbath day and He was able to rest because He had finished His work well.

Well-Earned Rest: Some of the best rest comes from finished work completed well. - Most of us have had that moment: you’ve been working hard all day on a project – maybe you’re painting a bedroom. It’s long needed work and today was the day. It took the better part of your Saturday, but as you ...read more

Scripture: John 19:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

Where Do I Find Hope When I’m Struggling? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 27, 2018

Encouragement for when we are in the midst of struggles.

Where Do I Find Hope When I’m Struggling? 1. Hardships are not unusual. - 2 Corinthians 1:8-9a. - There can be resentment in our relationship with God when hard times come. “Doesn’t God love me?” “Why is God allowing this?” It can lead us to question God. - This is particularly true if we’ve ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Was The Early Church The "Golden Age"? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 31, 2018

Christians today tend to romanticize the early church as a Golden Age when passages like this one present a picture of a church with plenty of struggles. What does that mean for how we should view the church today?

- Read 2 Corinthians 1:12-17 and 2:1-10. An Early Church Story: - What we are looking at today is just one story from the early church. 1. There was serious sin in the church. - 2 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. - We know this from 1 Corinthians 5 and Paul’s extensive instructions to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:12-17, 2 Corinthians 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

How God Responds To Our Generosity

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 16, 2019

It's difficult to be generous with our money. Seeing how God has promised to respond to our generosity is encouraging and that's exactly what this passage provides.

SCARED TO BE GENEROUS: “I would be more generous, but I’m barely making it now.” - We all know that generosity is admirable. We know that it’s embarrassing to be identified as being stingy. - But we struggle to be generous. One of the reasons that we don’t end up being as generous as we would ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

What Prosperity Gospel Preachers Don’t Want You To Know Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 22, 2019

This passage includes the words "you will be made rich." Does that mean the prosperity gospel is true? Or is this passage actually pointing us toward using God's blessings in a way that doesn't further the American Dream?

A SWEET SOUND TO A PROSPERITY GOSPEL PREACHER: “You will be made rich.” - 2 Corinthians 9:11a – “You will be made rich.” - As most of you know, there is a heretical teaching that God’s purpose in your life is to shower you with material and financial blessings. Under this teaching, signs of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Are The Results Of My Generosity? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 24, 2019

What can I expect to see happen when I am generous? Obviously, the financial need will be met, but is there more beyond that? This passage points to 7 results.

THE RESULT OF MY GENEROSITY? We usually presume the only result of my generosity is that a need gets met. - There is a need expressed, someone gives, and so that need gets met. Game over, end of story, right? - We’ve been digging for weeks now into chapter 9, which has so much to teach about ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:12-15

Denomination: Baptist

When Paul Got One-Star Reviews

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 30, 2019

The Corinthians criticize Paul's preaching. What can we learn from this conflict?

[First half of church fight story from Andy Stanley about his Dad - this can be found at the start of Andy Stanley's book Deep and Wide] TRASHING PAUL: It is both stunning and comforting that Paul got some negative reviews. - 2 Corinthians 10:1, 9-10. - We usually think of Paul as the great ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-2, 2 Corinthians 10:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Gaining More Confidence To Claim God’s Promises Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 12, 2018

If Paul here says that all God's promises are "yes" in Jesus, how can I have more confidence to claim those promises?

“‘Yes’ In Christ”: We are missing out on a great verse to boost our confidence in answered prayer. - 2 Corinthians 1:20. - This is such a great verse and yet it’s one that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. This is one that is worth regularly quoting in prayer. It’s just a vibrant ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

Worship That Displeases God Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 15, 2020

Israel was worshiping. They were even boasting about their worship. Yet it displeased God. What can we learn from them?

GOOD WORSHIP? Israel had lots of religious activity, but it was not pleasing to God. - Amos 4:4-5. - Religious activity is not always pleasing to God. - How can worship be bad? - It’s helpful to understand how evil works. Evil doesn’t usually come up with something altogether new. Instead, it ...read more

Scripture: Amos 4:4-5

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Goal In Bringing Hardship Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 20, 2020

It's shocking to many that God sometimes is the cause of hardship in our lives. When that happens, what is He hoping to accomplish?

“HE SAID WHAT?!”: Sometimes hardship is from God. - Amos 4:6-12. - This passage might have been shocking to you. “What do you mean God did all these things?” Today we sometimes think of Him exclusively as a kindly grandfather who would never say a cross word to anyone. That, however, is not ...read more

Scripture: Amos 4:6-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Problem With Wanting Jesus To Come Back Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 29, 2020

Israel cried out for the day of the Lord to come, but God warned them that they didn't really want that. Today many Christians say, "I just wish Jesus would come back!" but is that something we're actually ready for?

WHEN THE WORLD DEPRESSES US WITH ITS EVIL: “I just wish Jesus would come back!” - Amos 5:18-20. - The point of v. 19 is things going from bad to worse. - There are two illustrations. - In the first, a man runs from a lion. But then, exhausted, he runs right into a bear. - In the second, a man ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:18-27

Denomination: Baptist

The Problem With Prosperity Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 3, 2020

The leaders of Israel were enjoying their prosperity. What does God have to say to them?

BLINDING: Money is not evil, but it is dangerous. - 1 Timothy 6:10. - The dangers of money are not a new problem. Here we are way back in the Old Testament and we see the same thing (although back then it was probably a lot smaller percentage of the population). - It’s a telling passage and it ...read more

Scripture: Amos 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Good News And The Bad News About God Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 9, 2020

We all like to make our own estimations of what we think God is like. This passage is a reminder to us that we must accept God for who He is, not who we wish He was.

- Opening image: the result explosion of Facebook avatars. They are cute and fun and I don’t have a problem with them. But if I may make a gentle observation: some of you don’t look like you think you look! - I’m sure some people intentionally upgraded their appearance, but there are others who ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

God Is Love

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Oct 19, 2022

God wants us to live in the blessing, joy and peace of knowing that we’re his beloved children.

1 Corinthians 4:3-5; 1 John 4:9-18 (selected verses) I spent a summer while I was in seminary as a student minister at Acadia National Park in Maine, where I was assisted by a young volunteer named Martha. Martha was an old soul, wise beyond her years. I say that because during that summer ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:9-18, 1 Corinthians 4:3-5