Sermons on Jim Chandler:

Why Would God Be Willing To Forgive Someone Who Has Done What I Have?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 20, 2013

Jesus is not only willing to forgive us - He is willing to make us clean. How do I experience that in my life?

OUR DOUBT: Why would God forgive someone who has done what I have? - Mathew 8:2 – “if you are willing” - Acts 5:31; Acts 13:38; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:9. - We doubt that God would be willing to forgive us. - We struggle to believe that God would be willing to mess with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

How God Deals With Those Who Know Almost Nothing About Him Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 27, 2013

A look at what outsiders the Magi were and the amazing fact that God invited them into the Christmas story anyway.

ASTROLOGERS?! REALLY?: God doesn’t care how little you know about Him. - Matthew 2:1-2 – “Magi” - The Christmas story and its details are so familiar to us that we fail to see the uncomfortable details that should shock us. - One such detail: Magi come to bow down to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

The Problem With Relying On Your Heart When Judging Right And Wrong

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 5, 2013

A look at the danger that comes with claiming that our conscience is the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong. We have traded blush on our cheeks for a shrug of our shoulders.

GETTING RID OF SHAME: We frequently trade blushing for shrugging. - Jeremiah 8:12. - This is such a rich phrase here in verse 12 – they don’t even know how to blush. - Sometimes we act like the heart and conscience will always be a reliable artiber of what’s right and wrong, ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 8:12

Denomination: Baptist

What Does Spiritual Confidence Look Like?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 6, 2013

A look at what it means to step out in faith that what Jesus says is settled.

HOW TO AMAZE JESUS: Move forward confident that what Jesus said is settled. - Matthew 8:8-10. - In verses 8-9 the centurion says something simple but extraordinary. The soldier understands authority: he tells one of his underling soldier to do something and they go do it. He is a man of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:5-13

Denomination: Baptist

What Should I Do When I’m Not Sure Of God’s Leading? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 13, 2013

This passage deals with the myth that the Magi followed the Star of Bethlehem all the way to Jerusalem. In truth, the star disappeared and then reappeared after they were in Jerusalem. The message applies this phenomenon to the way that God often guides

STAR OF BETHLEHEM MYTH: The Magi followed the star from their homes all the way to Jesus. - This is the version of the story that we’ve seen shared in countless Christmas plays, movies, and cards. - And, as we’re going to be discussing at several points in this series, the fact that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

What Do I Do When God’s Leading Doesn’t Add Up? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 20, 2013

A look at the fact that the Magi did not come to Bethlehem but to Nazareth. The sermon uses that truth to talk about following God's direction instead of the man's leading.

STAR OF BETHLEHEM MYTH: The star led the Magi to Bethlehem. - We’ve all seen this in a hundred Christmas plays. - Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen to be the way that the Bible actually says the story happened. - This morning I want to talk about the way the Bible says the story ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

What Happens When We Get Tired Of Waiting On God’s Answer?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 20, 2013

A look at the consequences of trying to manufacture an answer rather than waiting on God to come through for us.

OUR SITUATION: We have a real problem and God seems to be late. - Genesis 16:1, 3. - Verse 3 notes that they’d been living in Canaan for 10 years at this point. Ten years is a long time to wait, especially for something as meaningful as a child. - We don’t want to minimize the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

When We're Embarrassed Of Jesus

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 27, 2013

A look at Peter denying three times and at five examples of times when we are embarrassed of Jesus.

EVERYONE LOVES JESUS IN CHURCH: Whether I’m embarrassed of Jesus often changes with a spike in the cost. - Mark 14: 27-31, 50, 67-68. - It’s easy to love Jesus when there’s no cost involved. It’s easy to love Him when there’s no pressure. - As the costs increase, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:66-72

Denomination: Baptist

The Part Of The Christmas Story That Speaks To Sandy Hook Tragedy

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 18, 2012

A look at the slaughter of the innocents story in light of the recent tragedy in Conn.

Prop: put a skull and crossbones “ornament” on the sanctuary Christmas tree. Talk about how it doesn't fit with the image. There's a story in the Bible that's part of the Christmas story that creates a similar disconnect. In fact, the disparity between it and the way we want the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

Why Would God Stoop To Reveal His Will Through Dice Tossed By Pagan Sailors Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 27, 2013

God reveals Jonah's guilt through dice tossed by pagan sailors. It's so undignified. Why would God stoop to reveal His will in such a way?

REALLY, GOD? Why would God stoop to reveal His will through dice tossed by pagan sailors? - Jonah 1:7. - When you think about this situation, it just all seems so undignified. We’ve got these sailors (whom we can safely presume were not having Sunday School on the ship) rolling dice and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:7

Denomination: Baptist

How Can Prayer Be A Witnessing Tool? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 29, 2013

Everyone believes in prayer in a crisis and that's an opportunity for us to point them to God.

AN OPEN DOOR: Everyone believes in prayer in a crisis. - Jonah 1:6 – “The captain went to him and said, ‘How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god!’” - In the section, notice two things: a. It’s the captain that asks Jonah to pray. - Now, there’s ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:6

Denomination: Baptist

The Parts Of Our Lives That Are Off-Limits To God Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 2, 2013

A look at how we only let God into certain parts of our lives when He needs to be "Lord of all" in our lives.

WHY WEREN'T THE SAILORS BOTHERED EARLIER? Because they believed in small, provincial gods. - Jonah 1:7, 10. - One of the unusual things about this verse is that it tells in verse 10 that Jonah had told them previously that he was running away from God. You would think that when the storm arose ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:10

Denomination: Baptist

When We Act Like Stubbornness Is A Spiritual Gift Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 13, 2013

A look at the dangers of stubbornness.

WHEN WE DON'T LIKE WHERE GOD IS LEADING: Jonah would rather die than change. - Jonah 1:12. A CROSS PROBLEM: Too many Christians are more defined by crossed arms than by the cross of Christ. - Too many of us confuse stubbornness with conviction. - What’s the difference? Conviction has to ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:12

Denomination: Baptist

How To Pray For Someone Deep In Sin Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 15, 2013

A look at how we need to be praying sometimes for God to put a 'whuppin" on someone.

HOW TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE DEEP IN SIN: it’s ok to pray for God to “whup” someone. - Jonah 1:17-2:1. - Verse 17a – The Lord prepared the trial and rebuke. - Verse 17b – Jonah still did not immediately repent. - Verse 1 – Three days later, Jonah finally ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Why Was The One Sign Jesus Would Give "the Sign Of Jonah"? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 30, 2013

A look at whether Jonah died in the whale as well as what the specific significance of the "sign of Jonah" is.

WHAT IS THE SIGN OF JONAH? Is the point that Jonah was in the whale or that Jonah was dead? - Matthew 12:38-40. - The point of the miracle is less the miracle of being in a whale or the specific time frame (“three days and three nights”) and more the miracle of resurrection. WHAT EXACTLY ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:2-9

Denomination: Baptist