Sermons on jim croce: showing 2,566-2,580 of 6,444

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

When We Ask God To Go Away Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 16, 2020

There are times when we instantly reject the message of God because it offends us and hurts us. We don't even want to consider it's true. But what happens when we ask God to go away?

- Image: a broken mirror with most of the pieces missing. - Maybe do the image as a drawing on a piece of butcher paper, with four of the ten pieces colored in blue to look like a mirror. - Discuss how little of yourself you would know if you had such a limited mirror. We look at ourselves and ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

Longing For The Good Old Days

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 19, 2020

Many Christians long for a bygone era of glory - the early church, perhaps, or the 1950s. This sermon looks at that desire to go backward and where we should focus instead.

LONGING FOR THE "GOOD OLD DAYS": 1. THE EARLY CHURCH. - Acts 2:1-4, 41-47; Acts 15:1-41; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. - Probably the first time that comes to mind is the early church as the “good old days.” - And as we look at Acts 2:1-4, 41-47, there is much to rejoice in. - But we have to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Would God Ever Take Away His Word? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 24, 2020

What would it mean if God withdrew the knowledge of His Word?

- Unpack vv. 11-12 and the threat to take away the word of the Lord. - We don’t really know what to do with that. Let’s try to figure it out. WHAT MIGHT THAT LOOK LIKE? 1. Rejecting God’s truth, people do what they want. 2. Things start falling apart. 3. The consequences of their sin make ...read more

Scripture: Amos 8:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

Trying To Escape God’s Judgment Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 26, 2020

We don't like to think about the Day of Judgment. And when we do, we like to impose our own thoughts on how it will go. What does this passage tell us about our ability to get away from God's judgment?

- There are additional things going on in this passage, but I want to focus on the overarching idea: trying to escape the judgment of God. UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS: 1. GOD IS THE JUDGE. - Genesis 18:25. - God plays many roles – Creator, Sustainer, Father. He also plays the role of Judge. 2. HE ...read more

Scripture: Amos 9:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Is It Naïve To Be Hopeful Amid All The Despair? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 7, 2020

The book of Amos contains some challenging and painful truths. Now, as the book ends, there is a word of hope. It speaks to us in our worry: is it naive for us to be hopeful amid all this world's despair?

- Set up a collapsed tent on state where the pulpit normally is. This is the image for the sermon. LIVING IN FRAUGHT TIME: Right now there is much to worry over. - Amos 9:11 – “David’s fallen tent.” - Think of all the references in the Old Testament to the “house of David.” With that in ...read more

Scripture: Amos 9:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

Is This Vision From God?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 22, 2020

When is a vision actually from God?

A DIVINE VISION? Not every spiritual vision is from God. - People sometimes get overly impressed by spiritual visions. People sometimes uncritically accept any claim of a spiritual vision without considering whether it’s true or not. - We want to discuss spiritual vision in this message and ...read more

Scripture: Job 4:12-21

Denomination: Baptist

Finding God's Blessing After We've Been Wandering Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 18, 2019

This sermon discusses the need to return to God, not just return to doing good. Is religious activity enough to get God's blessing?

- Background on the book: - Addressed to the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon in 538 B.C. Two years later they started to work on the temple, but opposition led that to be put aside for 16 years. - This opening statement comes right after the restarting of the temple project. - ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 1:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

What Jesus Is Doing When He Seems Distant Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 18, 2019

Where is God when He seems distant?

- The Jews here had returned from Babylon to Jerusalem. They were surrounded by strong enemies and their attempts to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem had just gotten restarted. - Here we have eight night visions designed to encourage God’s people. As I noted last week, the theme of Zechariah can ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 1:7-17

Denomination: Baptist

When The World Becomes Too Enticing Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 18, 2019

Some important reminders for those who are enticed to run with the world.

- This sermon handles the second vision (1:18-21) and the third vision (2:1-13). - It is tempting to spiritualize the truths contained in this passage, but I think there is a larger truth that is well worth our time in focusing on the straightforward, long-term truth shared here. - In some ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Picture Of Salvation Before Salvation Was Possible Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 18, 2019

An amazing prophecy that points us directly to what Jesus did for us.

A PICTURE OF SALVATION BEFORE SALVATION WAS POSSIBLE: - “Angel of the Lord” generally means pre-incarnate Jesus in OT passages. 1. We are morally filthy. - Zechariah 3:3. - Isaiah 64:6. - The Hebrew for “filthy” literally means “excrement-covered.” 2. Satan (accurately) accuses us. - ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Encouraging Vision For The Spiritually Overwhelmed Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 18, 2019

This vision points us to the great power of the Spirit.

- The last vision concerned cleansing our souls; this vision concerns our work for God. WHAT IS THE SYMBOLISM? 1. The solid gold lampstand symbolizes our work to shine the light to the nations. - Zechariah 4:2, 10b. - 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6-7. - The obvious symbolism of a light points toward ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 4:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

When The Word Brings The Nuclear Option Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 18, 2019

This vision points us to the destructive power of the Word when people reject it.

WHAT DOES THE VISION MEAN? 1. God’s Word is not hidden and is seeking you out. - Zechariah 5:1-2. - Let’s begin with the vision statement in v. 2 and its three pieces. a. “Scroll.” - This obviously points us to God’s Word. A scroll is parchment with writing, which is how the manuscripts were ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 5:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

The Downside Of An Economic Upturn Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 18, 2019

We as Americans are consumed with prosperity. This passage points out the place of prosperity in the rise and power of Babylon in the end times.

- To gain the world and lost your (national) soul, that’s indeed a tragedy. - We want to talk about gaining the world tonight and what the tragic cost sometimes is. FOURTH OF JULY CHURCH SERVICE: We praise God for letting us participate in America’s prosperity. - Churches often celebrate God’s ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 5:5-11

Denomination: Baptist