Sermons on Jim Croce:

Pass It On-Evangelism

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Apr 20, 2018

To live for him we must serve his mission to evangelize.

Title: PASS IT ON-Evangelism Date: 6/29/14 Place: BLCC Text: 2 Kings 5.1-15 CT: To live for him we must serve his mission to evangelize. FAS: There's a scene in Herman Melville's (author of Moby Dick) novel White Jacket that focuses on the ship's chief surgeon, Cadwallader Cuticle, M.D. The ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-15

Denomination: Christian Church

Pass It On-Priorities

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Apr 21, 2018

Put God first above all things to reach God’s Ideal!

Title: Pass It On-Priorities Date: 5/25/2014 Place: BLCC Text: Genesis 22.1-14 CT: Put God first above all things to reach God’s Ideal! FAS: Father 'Replaces God' with His Hobby At the age of 47, the writer William Giraldi's father died tragically in a motorcycle accident. Giraldi's father was a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14

Denomination: Christian Church

Why Don’t I Sense God’s Closeness More Often?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 3, 2018

Jesus said the kingdom is near, yet often we don't sense God's closeness. This sermon looks at five places where we're likely to meet God.

A GOOD QUESTION: Why don’t I sense God’s closeness more often? - Most of us can tell you about moments in our lives when we sensed God’s closeness. - One such moment for me was when the Holy Spirit spoke to me at 4 a.m. in Guangzhou, China. The presence of the Holy Spirit was so palpable and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Empty Promises Of Easter

Contributed by Jim Dillinger on Apr 6, 2016

the difference between politician's empty promises and God's empty promises.

The Empty Promises of Easter Luke 24:1-12 We are in the midst of another political season. A season filled with all kinds of promises to all kinds of groups. Promises to reform this, fix that, build a wall , give you free college and healthcare, and support this value system or that value ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Porn Promises A Shortcut That’s Really A Dead-End Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 27, 2018

Using the Temptation of Christ as a text, this sermon examines how sex is a good gift from God, but porn tries to offer a shortcut to sexual satisfaction.

AN OVERLOOKED TRUTH: Sex was God’s idea and it is a good gift from Him. - Genesis 2:20-25. - The church often comes across as anti-sex. We talk a lot about what’s wrong with the way our culture handles sex. This sermon series largely falls into that category, so I’m not saying that there is no ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Five Key Spiritual Truths For Battling Porn Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 10, 2018

A look at five essential spiritual truths to defeat porn in your life. Lots of Scripture references for further research.

What Does The Truth Matter? The truth will set you free. - John 8:31-32. - These verses are often quoted in a poetic way – and they are beautiful words. But they also speak to an essential spiritual idea. That idea is that the truth will set you free. It will set you free from sin. - I want ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-32

Denomination: Baptist

Practical Strategies For Conquering Porn Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 10, 2018

Some insight for defeating the temptation of pornography in your life.

Practical Strategies For Conquering Porn: 1. You have to want to break free. - This will not happen by accident or without a struggle. - It will be a battle. - You have to be willing to do the work to get free. 2. Staying away beats willpower. - A strategy for failure is to continue to put ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Encouragement For ‘silence Saturdays’ Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 10, 2018

There are times in our walk of faith when God seems silent, as He did on the Saturday of Holy Week. A look at how to deal with the times of silence.

The Day After: The disciples were confused and depressed on the “Silence Saturday.” - John 19:30; John 20:13, 19. - I want to introduce a term to you: “Silence Saturday.” - When we think of Holy Week, we think of the various important days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday. Generally ...read more

Scripture: John 19:30

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

The Comfort That God Gives Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 22, 2018

This passage repeats "comfort" again and again. What does Paul teach us hear about God's comfort?

HARD ROAD: This life is tough and we will need some comfort along the way. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. - Even if you were only half paying attention when I read the passage, you know the main word: “comfort.” It’s littered throughout the verses. - Comfort is something that we all need from time to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

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

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

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