Sermons on Jim Croce:

How Can I See God As Being Closer To Me? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 6, 2024

Genesis 2:7 speaks of Adam receiving the breath of life. John 20:22 speaks of Jesus giving the spiritual breath of life (the Holy Spirit). This sermon unpacks the parallels and their implications.

- As we have throughout this series, this morning I want to look at the connection between a passage early in Genesis and one late in John. We’ll start in Genesis 2:7. - In that verse it tells us that the “Lord God . . . breathed in [the man’s] nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:4-7, John 20:21-22

Denomination: Baptist

What Is The Importance Of The Wound In Jesus’ Side? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 16, 2024

What are the connections between the wound in Jesus' side and the wound in Adam's side for the creation of Eve?

- This sermon series is examining several of the parallels between the early chapters of Genesis and the late chapters of John. In particular, we are largely talking about the way that Jesus is “re-creating” things. - On the subject for today, there are actually four parallels within the larger ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-25, John 19:34

Denomination: Baptist

The Connections Of Father, Son, And The Disciples Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 13, 2022

This passage is flooded with information about the connections between the Father, the Son, and the disciples. What specifically can we learn from it?

- [Probably best to do on a Wednesday evening – lots of points.] - This passage is dense. Lots going on. It’s deep and complex. - One of the things worth pulling from this passage: there is an almost overwhelming about of information on the connections between Father, Son, and the disciples. - ...read more

Scripture: John 17:6-26

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Jesus Praying For Us? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 13, 2022

Jesus prays for His disciples and for those who will believe through them. What does He pray?

REVEALING THE HEART: You can learn a lot about someone from how they pray for you. - John 17:9. - I learn a lot about people when I ask “what’s the most important thing I can be praying for you?” That tells me a lot about what their priorities and loves are. - Do they ask for prayer for their ...read more

Scripture: John 17:9-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel Of Might Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 4, 2022

The arrest of Jesus puts a spotlight on the "Gospel of Might" versus the "Gospel of Jesus." What are the differences? And how does the backward stumbling that's described there sum it all up?

THE GOSPEL OF MIGHT: By all outward indications, Jesus is in a losing situation. - John 18:1-11. - Pieces of this outward situation: a. Jesus has a betrayer with inside information. - John 18:2. b. Jesus is in an enclosed area. - John 18:1. - It’s an olive grove and they went “into it,” so ...read more

Scripture: John 18:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Forgotten Trial Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 17, 2022

This overlooked portion of the trial of Jesus reveals a deep lesson on power.

- Talk about how this is the forgotten part of the trial, as well as the overall pieces of the trial. - There are basically three pieces to the religious trial and three pieces to the civil trial: 1. Religious trial. a. Here before Annas. b. Before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57-68; ...read more

Scripture: John 18:12-24

Denomination: Baptist

When We Fail Jesus Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 27, 2022

A look at Peter's betrayal and what we can learn from it concerning the times we fail Jesus.

OVERCONFIDENT FAITH: Peter fails Jesus three times. - John 18:15-18, 25-27. - Sometimes we have false confidence. - We think too highly of ourselves or too lightly of sin or Satan. - What was at the heart of Peter’s denials? a. Fear of death? b. There was a convenient way out (just lie)? c. ...read more

Scripture: John 18:15-27

Denomination: Baptist

Five Challenges With Finding The Truth Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 9, 2022

Pilate's iconic "What is truth?" question is the centerpiece of a passage that highlights several of the ways that we struggle with truth in our lives.

PILATE ASKS A GREAT QUESTION: “What is truth?” - John 18:38a. - Many ways to take it: sincere, sneering, lost, confused. - But at the end of the day, it is an essential question. - It’s not enough to be sincere in our beliefs, we need to sincerely believe something that’s true. - What about ...read more

Scripture: John 18:28-40

Denomination: Baptist

When You Have To Say No Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 14, 2023

Right after the violently negative response at Nazareth, Jesus finds adoration at Capernaum. But that doesn't mean everything is good there.

TALK OF THE TOWN: After rejection at Nazareth, Jesus finds adoration at Capernaum. - Luke 4:31-37 (especially vv. 32 and 36). - cf. vv. 24-30. THE PROBLEM: Two missions were in conflict. - Luke 4:32, 36, 38-39, 42-43. - What a great situation in many ways: a. They were amazed at His ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:31-44

Denomination: Baptist

Why Was Jesus So Popular? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 18, 2023

This passage gives us insight into why Jesus became so popular so quickly. It also points out to us something that we emphasize in the modern American church that was not a part of Jesus' popularity.

VERSE 15 IS THE CENTERPIECE OF THIS PASSAGE: This is a story and testament to Jesus’ quickly rising popularity early in His ministry. - Luke 5:15. - It would be easy to see this passage as another miracle story, but I think it serves a more specific purpose in Luke’s gospel. Jesus has just called ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:12-16

Denomination: Baptist

A Solution To Most Arguments Among Christians Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 15, 2023

This sermon series looks at Romans 14. This opening sermon examines the big picture of how Christians should handle these issue we disagree on.

A FACT OF LIFE: There are going to be disputable matters Christians disagree on. - Romans 14:1b, 2, 5a. - Verse 1b introduces the term “disputable matters.” Now Paul has a lot to say about this and we are going to unpack this chapter over the next five weeks and detail the major points he makes. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Strength In Service

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Jun 24, 2022

God has blessed us with the gift of masculine strength--not only physically, but with a crucial moral and spiritual responsibility--to be used only and always in the service of love.

You may have seen the maternity shirt that says, “A man did this to me, Oprah.” Men are responsible for a lot of things that determine the kind of world we live in, for better or worse. This morning, Father’s Day, I’d like to highlight the “better.” (I’ve never understood why someone would ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

What Do I Want More Than Jesus? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 24, 2022

This is a passage that clearly indicates what Pilate prized more than anything else. What can we learn from him?

- Paint a picture of all the conflicting priorities we try to hold onto simultaneously: money, family, relationships, morality, power, religion, etc. THE BIG QUESTION FOR THIS MORNING: What’s the last thing in your hands? - When we think of all those things, there are situations where we have to ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Problems And Consequences Of Half Obedience Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 9, 2022

King Rehoboam provides a striking example of what half obedience can lead us into.

- This sermon series will start with Rehoboam and go through the Babylonian captivity. - Rehoboam is the son of Solomon. TIMES THAT HALF OBEDIENCE CREATES PROBLEMS: 1. When we listen for what we want to hear. - 2 Chronicles 10:1-19. - Asks for three days, listens to the wrong counselors. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 10:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

A Picture Of A Backslider Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 9, 2022

In this sermon series about various kinds of backsliding situations, King Asa provides a straightforward backsliding warning.

- This is a picture of a backslider and there are many elements here that are in many backsliding stories. I should note as we start that every spiritual journey is unique, so I’m not saying that every backsliding story has all these elements. But I do think there is a lot in this story that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 14:1-15

Denomination: Baptist