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

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

Free Pass

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Nov 14, 2016

We are given a Free Pass on our past, but does this give us a license to continue doing what we want when we want with who we want. Jesus makes it clear that in Him we are not condemned but must sin no more.

Title: Free Pass Place: BLCC Date: 11/20/16 Text: John 8.2-11; Romans 6.1-4; Hebrews 10.26-31 CT: We are given a “Free Pass” on our past. [Screen 1] FAS: In an interview with New York magazine, the late Supreme Court Justice Scalia explained his beliefs about the reality of the Devil. ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Denomination: Christian Church

The Punk In Me

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Nov 22, 2016

Under the right circumstances even the best of us will will say no to God and let our "punk within us" take over. Only Jesus can deal with the "punk" in me. God makes a way to deal with our sinful nature through a child at Christmas.

Title: The Punk In Me Date: 11/27/16 Place: BLCC Text: Matthew 1.18-21, John 1.9-14, Colossians 1.19,27 CT: Only Jesus can deal with the punk in me. [Screen 1] FAS: I had the privilege to sit and listen to Max Lucado back in October down in Pigeon Forge. He opened with a story that many of us can ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-21

Denomination: Christian Church

Holes At Christmas

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Dec 1, 2016

Only the Holiness of God can fill the holes in our hearts and soul. An answer to the holes many of us find ourselves in at Christmas.

Title: Holes At Christmas Date: 12/4/16 Place: BLCC Text: Luke 2. 1-7, John 14.9, Psalm 11.3-4 CT: The holiness of God fills our empty holes. [Screen 1] FAS: One of the most popular films at Christmas is a movie my daughter still watches every year as a marathon of this movie has happened every ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Christian Church

Holding On To Christmas

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Dec 7, 2016

How are we as followers of Jesus to react to the "Christmas War" that is going on in our society? We find the answer in 1 Peter 3.8-16. We must be careful as followers of Christ to reveal His way not ours.

Title: Holding On To Christmas Date: 12/11/16 Place: BLCC Text: 1 Peter 3.15 CT: Christmas is about revealing His way not ours. [Screen 1] FAS: I imagine that almost everyone here this morning is familiar with Charlie Brown in the comic strips. Christmas for me as a child was filled with Charlie ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-16

Denomination: Christian Church

That's Why I Pray

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Jan 3, 2017

I pray because my Savior Jesus prayed.

Title: That’s Why I Pray Place: BLCC Date: 1/8/17 Text: 1 Thessalonians 5.17 CT: I pray because my Savior Jesus prayed. FAS: Play "That’s Why I Pray" video by Big and Rich [Screen 1] LS: I’m begging for forgiveness I wanna make a difference Even in the smallest way. I’m only one person, but I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Denomination: Christian Church

What Shakes When We Pray

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Jan 11, 2017

Prayer still shakes up our lives when we receive God’s power.

Title: Prayer: What Shakes When We Pray? Place: BLCC Date: 1/15/22 Text: Acts 16.16-33 [Screen 1] FAS: Television interviewer and journalist Larry King describes three farmers who gather daily in a field during a horrible drought. The men are down on their knees, looking upward, and praying the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-33

Denomination: Christian Church

Community-God's Church

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Jan 17, 2017

We as followers of Jesus are called to be the church. What would God think of the church today and what it is doing? What would Jesus want us to do as the church? What would Jesus think of our service? What would He notice?

Title: Community-God’s Community Date: 1/29/17 Place: BLCC Text: 1 Corinthians 1.2 CT: We as followers of Jesus are called to be HIS church. [Screen 1] FAS: I read an interesting book recently by J.D.Vance. (A young man in his 30s). It is titled, “Hillbilly Elegy”. It caught my interest by ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

How We Slam The Church Door In God’s Face

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 22, 2017

This passage shares that God's prophet was banned from God's house. What are some ways that we do similar things?

NOT WELCOME: Am I slamming the door of God’s house in God’s face? - Jeremiah 36:5. - Can you imagine a visitor walking up to the church door on a sunny fall morning and having one of our greeters slam the door in their face and lock it from the inside? That would loudly and clearly let the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 36:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Why Don’t We Fear God?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 27, 2017

A look at good fear and bad fear as well as the reasons that we don't fear God anymore.

“FEAR NOT?”: Does the Bible contradict itself on whether we are to fear? - Matthew 10:28. - There are places in the Bible where believers are instructed to “fear not.” There are also places in the Bible where it’s clear that the people should have had fear. So which is it? Are we to fear or to ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 36:9-26

Denomination: Baptist