Sermons on Jim Croce:

Why Does God Allow These Struggles?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 28, 2017

A look at the Christmas passage - specifically, the struggle of Mary and Joseph having the baby in Bethlehem far from home. A look at four ways God uses our struggles in our lives.

Mary And Joseph’s Road Trip: “Why does God allow these struggles in my life?” - Luke 2:3-6. - The trip to Bethlehem under such difficult circumstances had to be a struggle. Did they have questions? I know I would have. “God, why are You allowing this?” “God, have You forgotten us?” “God, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Joseph-Revenge Series

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Nov 29, 2017

Leave vengeance to God.

Title: Joseph-Revenge Place: BLCC Date: 12/3/17 Text: Romans 12.17-19 CT: Leave vengeance to God. [Screen 1] Matt Woodley told this story. My friend Steve warned me that he didn't believe in forgiveness. "God could never forgive me," he said. "Okay, maybe he could forgive 70 percent of my ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:17-19

Denomination: Christian Church

What Am I Supposed To Do With My Unanswered Questions?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 1, 2017

This message focuses on Luke 2:6-7 and the unanswered questions that Mary and Joseph must have had as they end up in with no decent place to stay when the baby comes. How could God be with them and she have to put the baby in a manger?

SOME OF MARY AND JOSEPH'S QUESTIONS: “God, why have the birth so far from home?” “God, why didn’t You provide a place for us to stay?” “God, how can this be the place for the miracle child to be born?” - Luke 2:6-7. - I’m sure when the angel visited Mary and told her that she’d be carrying this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas Eve Sermon: "Am I 'strong In Spirit'?"

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 5, 2017

A look at Luke 1:80 where it says that John the Baptist "become strong in spirit." This is the verse before the famous Christmas story (Luke 2:1-7). The sermon encourages people to "train themselves in godliness" and become more like Christ.

- Story from Preaching Today of the person pointlessly trying to visit every Starbucks in America. - “Accomplishing” something that really doesn’t amount to much. - What we accomplish with our lives is what v. 80 got me to thinking about. - This verse comes just before that famous Christmas ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Why Did The Angels Announce The Birth To Shepherds?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 6, 2017

A message about the choice to proclaim the news of Christ's birth to the lowly shepherds. The sermon looks at how the shepherds were a foreshadowing of who the ministry of Jesus would focus on.

OF COURSE IT WAS SHEPHERDS: We act like this was an inevitable part of the story, but it wasn’t. - Luke 2:8-12. - The Christmas story is so familiar that we presume that each part had to happen that way. “Of course the shepherds heard from the angels. It had to be like that.” Only it didn’t. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-12

Denomination: Baptist

Grace Upon Grace

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Dec 7, 2017

God's grace covers us all.

Sunday Night: Grace Upon Grace Place: BLCC Date: 12/10/17 Text: John 1.6-18 CT: God’s grace covers us all. In the last days of the Civil War, the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia, fell to the Union army. Abraham Lincoln insisted on visiting the city. Even though no one knew he was ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-18

Denomination: Christian Church

Joseph-Fullness Of Time Series

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Dec 7, 2017

We must trust God with our life. This sermon used to support our church moving forward into a new building due to God given growth.

Title: Joseph-Fullness of Time Place: BLCC Date: 12/10/17 Text: Galatians 4.4 CT: We must trust God with our life. [Screen 1] FAS: Here is a story about a married woman who decided to go on her own private vacation to Europe. She went from the Midwest to London and then she was planning to go ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Where Is My "Great Joy"?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 15, 2017

Starting from the angels promise of "good news of great joy," this sermon asks why Christians often don't see "great joy" in their lives.

WHERE IS IT? The angel promised that this was good news of great joy. - Luke 2:10. - This passage has been repeated frequently enough during Christmastime that sometimes lose sight of its truth and just treat it as a cliché. The angel meant what he said: this was a message of good news of great ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-12

Denomination: Baptist

Bent

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Dec 15, 2017

God loves in the manger, on the cross He saves you.

Title: Bent Date: 12/17/17 Place: BLCC Text: Psalm 139. 13-14 CT: In the manger God loves you, through the cross He saves you. [Screen 1] While working as a journalist for the Chicago Tribune, Lee Strobel was assigned to report on the struggles of an impoverished, inner-city family during the ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Who Does Jesus Say I Am?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 19, 2017

This sermon looks at the three titles about the newborn baby shared in Luke 2:11. It then unpacks what that title means and what it tells me about who I am and how I should live my life.

- In the midst of this Christmas proclamation from the angel, verse 11 has an amazing amount of information about this newborn child. Specifically, it shares three titles with us that each point us to a different aspect of who this child is. - As we unpack these titles, each gives us insight into ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-12

Denomination: Baptist

Looking For God In The Wrong Places

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 20, 2017

The sermon focuses on the unimpressive sign the angels point to: a baby in a manger. Not much that's flashy about that. What are the ways that God comes into our lives that don't initially look impressive but are important and meaningful.

That’s All You’ve Got? Taken at face value, the angel’s sign is pretty unimpressive. - Luke 2:12. - Luke 4:17-21; Luke 4:41; Luke 5:14; Luke 13:18-21; 1 Corinthians 1:26-30. - We get entranced by the Christmas story and the swaddling clothes and manger and don’t see it for what it is. In fact, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-12

Denomination: Baptist

Bethlehem’s Promise

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Jan 1, 2018

Jesus entered the world not to demand our allegiance but to display his affection.

Title: Bethlehem’s Promise Date: 12/24/17 Place: BLCC Text: Philippians 2.5-11 CT: Jesus entered the world not to demand our allegiance but to display his affection. [Screen 1] FAS: In his book Hidden in Plain Sight: The Secret of More, author and pastor Mark Buchanan illustrates God's love through ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Christian Church

Grace Is Greater Series

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Jan 4, 2018

We have to experience God’s grace to understand it.

Title: Grace Is Greater Place: BLCC Date: 1/7/18 Text: Hebrews 12.15 CT: We have to experience God’s grace to understand it. [Screen 1] FAS: I am a firm believer in following Jesus. I could preach about following Jesus every week and be correct in what I need to do. Truth is known, I do preach ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Three Words That Reveal God’s Intentions

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 9, 2018

A Christmas sermon focusing on the angels' proclamation: "on earth peace." The message looks at four mistakes that those three words help us avoid.

WHAT'S HE UP TO? It’s helpful to know someone’s intentions. - Luke 2:14. - Three words that reveal God’s intentions: “on earth peace.” - As the angels share the message the Lord gave them to tell the shepherds, we learn about God’s intentions. This child who has been born in Bethlehem has come, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

Grace Greater Than Regret Series

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Jan 9, 2018

Grace has the power to redeem regret

Title: Grace Greater Than Regret Place: BLCC Date: 1/14/18 Text: Matthew 26.31-35; Luke 22.61-62 CT: Grace has the power to redeem regret. Play video FAS: Your biggest regret in life? If it's anything like these random New Yorkers, it has one very important word in it. Students from Strayer ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:26-31

Denomination: Christian Church