Sermons on Jim Croce:

Why Was Jesus Born Into A Family That Was Poor?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 5, 2018

Luke's gospel tells us that Mary and Joseph offered the poor person's sacrifice when taking Jesus to the Temple. Why would God have chosen for His Son to be born into a poor family?

TWO YOUNG PIGEONS: Jesus’ family gave the poor offering. - Luke 2:24. - Leviticus 12:8. - Unless you know the Old Testament background, the mention of dove/pigeon offering is one that we would pass right over. We have no frame of reference on what it means. - When we look back in Leviticus, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

Grace Is Greater-Life Is Hard-God Is Good

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Feb 7, 2018

Our pain draws us closer to Jesus and makes us more like Him

Title: Life is hard-God is good. Place: BLCC Date: 2/11/18 Text: Romans 8.28 CT: Our pain draws us closer to Jesus and makes us more like Him [Screen 1] Doctors make a lot of recommendations for their patients. But do they incorporate these suggestions into their own lives? An article in The ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Four Ways To Better Love Those Away From God

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 16, 2018

Starting with Jesus hanging between two criminals, this sermon focuses on how Jesus was a "friend of sinners" and offers four ways we can improve in that endeavor.

WHICH IMAGE FITS BETTER: Black tuxedo or orange jumpsuit? - Mark 15:27. - Here we have the stark image of Jesus hanging between two criminals. These are orange jumpsuit kind of people. - On the other hand, we have the respectable crowd, perhaps wearing a black tuxedo to show their classiness. - ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

The Advice That Can Divert You From God’s Will

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 23, 2018

Looking at those who shouted at Christ while He was on the cross, this sermon explores how their demands would have led Christ directly away from doing God's will. How often does the advice the world gives us every day do the same thing?

ADVICE FROM THE CROWD: “Good advice” from the world can divert you from God’s will for your life. - Mark 15:29-32. - While Jesus is on the cross, the crowd throws several suggestions His way. When you dig into them a little, it’s interesting to see how deeply counterproductive they are. There ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:25-32

Denomination: Baptist

The Four Miracles Surrounding Jesus’ Death

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 28, 2018

A look at the four miracles that happened at the death of Jesus (darkness, veil, earthquake, and the resurrected saints) and what the spiritual significance of each was.

- We often preach about the amazing things that accompanied Jesus’ resurrection from the death. The scene on Easter morning certainly deserves attention from us. - It’s not just the resurrection of Jesus that had miracles though. The death of Jesus also was accompanied by miracles as well. - ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Why Are We So Stingy? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 18, 2018

Jesus calls us to "freely give," yet many of us aren't free with our generosity. This sermon looks at the problem and steps forward.

A DIFFICULT QUESTION: Are we stingy? - We don’t like to think of ourselves as being stingy. It’s an ugly word. It’s a small word. But I think a case can be made that many of us are stingier than we’d like to admit. Consider some numbers. - Four stats: a. American Christians today give a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Life Bigger Than Money Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 23, 2018

This message focuses on stepping out of the American Dream's pursuit of escalating standards of living. Instead we are to hold our money lightly and "freely receive, freely give."

- In some ways this is the second part of last week’s sermon. Last week we looked at this passage in Matthew 10:8 about freely receiving and freely giving. We talked about living life with an open hand and whether we are living stingy lives. - I want to return to that same passage this morning ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Problem With ‘what’s Best For Me’

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 19, 2018

A look at God's call to be concerned for the vulnerable.

Our Starting Point: “What’s best for me?” - We usually end up with a self-centered mentality. We look out for ourselves. And that is certainly encouraged within our society. We are a “winner-take-all” place where everyone looks out for themselves. - What responsibility do we have to those ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Partnership That Brings Spiritual Power Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 27, 2019

Using Mary and the birth of Christ, this sermon explores the partnership of our willingness and the Holy Spirit's power to bring about amazing results.

SEEING THE POWER OF GOD: God’s vision for Mary involves a combination of her willingness and the Holy Spirit’s power. - Luke 1:35. - In this situation, it means that Mary’s humble willingness to trust and serve team up with God’s power. The result is the miraculous birth of the Savior. - In the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Ignoring Those On The Edges Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 14, 2020

An overview of how central it is to our Christian faith to care for those on the edges of society.

LOOKING OUT FOR #1: Sometimes we let an “I got mine!” attitude come into our spiritual lives. - Our society in general has a lot of the “I got mine!” mentality. Everyone looking out for themselves. - That can easily creep over into a spiritual attitude that is simply focused on “me and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:14-21

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

What’s The Danger In Having A God Of Second Chances?”

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 16, 2013

A look at the dangers that come with presuming on God giving a second chances. Thankfully, He is a God who loves giving second chances, but sometimes we get in trouble by expecting they'll always be available.

DOES GOD ALWAYS GIVE A SECOND CHANCE? Second chances are a gift, not a right. - Jonah 3:1. - We should not presume on God’s mercy. - There are times when a window of opportunity on a second chance closes: a. Timing issue with the opportunity. - Example: my church plant getting ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1

Denomination: Baptist

Why Feeling Sorry About Your Sin Isn’t Repentance

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 19, 2013

A look at real repentance versus the emotion that we often mistake for repentance.

THE NEXT STEPS (LITERALLY): Even after surviving the whale ordeal and getting a second chance, Jonah’s repentance begins with a lot of walking. - Jonah 3:3. - This is a fact that at one level seems rather obvious but that hit me hard a while back. As I considered the story of Jonah, I had ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:3

Denomination: Baptist

How Can You Tell Who Is Ready To Receive God

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 6, 2013

A look at how we frequently judge the inward readiness by the outward appearance and why that doesn't work.

HOW CAN YOU TELL WHO IS READY TO RECEIVE GOD? Outward appearance is a poor indicator of inward readiness. - Jonah 3:5-10. - Focusing on outward appearance hurts our witnessing because we don’t want to be mocked. - There are many who appear to be far away from God because they are in fact very ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:5-10

Denomination: Baptist

Why Christians Need Ongoing Repentance Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 13, 2013

A look at some of the reasons why Christians need ongoing repentance and what that looks like in practice.

A SMILE ON GOD'S FACE: God delights in repentance. - Jonah 3:10. - Many have an exclusive view of God as the mean headmaster or the zealous judge, but one of the things that the Bible makes clear is that God loves seeing the prodigal return home. God loves repentance. - Here God has every ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:10

Denomination: Baptist