Sermons on jim croce: showing 2,551-2,565 of 6,444

Why Am I Receiving So Much Flack For Trying To Follow God? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 10, 2013

A look at the negative reaction the Magi received when they arrived in Jerusalem. Often in our lives our attempts to follow God are not met with positive responses from those around us.

THE RESPONSE THE MAGI RECEIVED IN JERUSALEM: Their question didn’t bring joy, but instead brought surprise, anger, embarrassment, and fear. - Matthew 2:1-7. a. Surprise. - Matthew 2:3. - The people are surprised by this news. We know this because of the response. No one has any idea ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Is Divine Forgiveness A Do-Over?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 12, 2013

A look at how God's forgiveness does not always undo the consequences of our sin.

OUR QUESTION: Why won’t God fix my problem? - We see Him blessing others and wonder why those same blessings are flowing toward us. - We see God move powerfully in another’s life and we wonder, “Why not me?” The problem might hearken back to past mistakes. - There are ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:7-16

Denomination: Baptist

When You Don't Like Where God Is Leading You

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 19, 2013

A look at struggles we have with the idea that God gets to shape us rather than us being in charge of our lives ourselves. What does it mean to let Him shape us like a potter shapes the clay?

WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO BRING THAT INTO MY LIFE? We want to be shaped in the way we choose. - It can be painful to be shaped. - Like a potter pressing his fingers into the clay to mold it into a different shape would probably not “feel good” to the clay if it were sentient, so the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Of All The Options For A Sign, Why Did God Choose Circumcision?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 23, 2013

God could have had Abraham put a tattoo on his arm or any one of a thousand other signs, but instead He chose the sign of circumcision? Why in the world? And, beyond that, what relevance does that have for Christians today?

OF ALL THE POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR A SIGN TO THE ISRAELITES, WHY DID GOD CHOOSE CIRCUMCISION? The promise was a miraculous physical child that would be the father to a physical people, so the sign had to do with sex. - Genesis 17:4-13. - Notice in these verses all the physical signs: - v. 4 – ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

When We’re Scared To Go Against What Everyone Else Is Saying

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 29, 2013

A look at Pilate's desire to please the people and the ways that we often behave in the same way.

AN EASY TEMPTATION: We want to satisfy the crowd. - Mark 15:15. - Most of us like being liked. We want people to approve of us. - And it is nice when everyone is backing what we’re saying or what we’re doing. - This is probably the most important phrase in our passage for ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:6-15

Denomination: Baptist

Finding More Faith In The Face Of Life’s Storms

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 1, 2013

Why was Jesus so sharp in His rebuke of the disciples when they woke Him and told Him about the storm?

ISN'T THAT A LITTLE HARSH? Why does Jesus rebuke the disciples for what seems a pretty reasonable request? - Matthew 8:25. - Why are the disciples chastised for what seems a pretty reasonable response? Wasn’t fear a reasonable response? - Most of us would look at that situation and say, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27

Denomination: Baptist

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

Did God The Father ‘turn His Back’ On Jesus?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 6, 2018

This sermon looks at Jesus' "forsaken" cry from the cross. It examines two arguments: one that the Father did turn His back on Jesus at that moment; the other that the Bible does not teach that.

A CROSS QUESTIONS: DID GOD THE FATHER "TURN HIS BACK" ON JESUS WHEN HE WAS ON THE CROSS? - Mark 15:34. - The phrase “turn His back” does not appear anywhere in Scripture, but it’s come into our popular religious vocabulary. Commenting on the passage we just read, we often say that when Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:33-34

Denomination: Baptist

After Camping, We Should Shut Up About The Rapture, Right?

Contributed by Jim Bennett on May 22, 2011

A May 22, 2011 response to the false teachings of Harold Camping with regard to May 21, 2011 explaining that Christians need to declare the truths of Christ's return more enthusiastically than ever.

Because of the intense scrutiny brought upon the person and people of Jesus Christ by a false prophecy, I believe the Spirit of God has led me to give address the truth of Jesus Christ’s promised return for His bride. Jesus Christ didn’t return yesterday. There was no rapture. Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:6-11

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

Who Cares About The Poor? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 27, 2020

God slams Israel for their actions, primarily trashing their treatment of the poor. What do we learn about how to respond in our own lives?

A PERPETUAL TRUTH: The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. - Amos 5: 7, 10, 11, 12. - It’s a cliché for a reason. It’s the way of the world. - The poor typically get trampled. - Let’s look briefly at the specific accusations levied by God against Israel. a. v. 7 – “You who turn ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:4-17

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