Sermons on Jim Croce:

When What God Asks Seems To Be Too Much Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 22, 2024

This passage challenges the self-centered "gospel of self-fulfillment" that is too often proclaimed today. What does it mean that God wants us to focus on the "gospel of kingdom fulfillment"?

A HARSH STORY: God gives Ezekiel a task that overwhelms him. - Ezekiel 3:14-15. - 2 Corinthians 1:8-11; 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 16-18. - This is a tough story and it’s going to lead us in this sermon to some difficult points. - We’ve been talking for the first two sermons in this series about the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 3:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

Godly Ambition

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Mar 27, 2024

The nature of the Church, consists of a 2000-year-old chain of disciples who live their faith devoutly and inspire others to do the same. And every one of us is meant to be a link in that chain, for our own lives to carry and pass the torch of God’s love in Christ.

Godly Ambition 2 Timothy 2:1-7 Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin spent ten years researching and writing a book on Abraham Lincoln’s White House years (Team of Rivals). She says she was surprised, through studying his life and character, to discover one quality in particular that stood out as ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

The Responsibility Of The Watchman Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 12, 2024

A challenging passage on the essential responsibility of the spiritual watchman. How does this idea apply to today?

IN ANCIENT DAYS: There would be a watchman on the city wall to warn of impending danger. - Ezekiel 3:17. - 2 Samuel 18:24-27; 2 Kings 9:17-20. - In ancient times there was literally a watchman on the city wall, scanning the horizon for danger. When an army appeared, the quick alarm spread by the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 3:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Problem With A Religion Of Rules Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 11, 2022

Two Sabbath stories bring out some key dangers of a rules-based religion.

- We have two stories here that both look into the rules the religious leaders had back in Jesus’ day concerning the Sabbath. THE PROBLEM WITH A RELIGION OF RULES: 1. WE ARE SELECTIVE ABOUT WHICH RULES WE PAY ATTENTION TO. - Matthew 12:1-5, 9-11. - The Pharisees considered themselves to be the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Big Problem With The Pharisees, Sadducees, And Herodians

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 22, 2022

All three of these groups dealt with the same problem: hypocrisy. How do we combat that?

ACROSS THE BOARD: The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians all get the same criticism. - Matthew 16:11; Mark 8:15. - In our passage we see the Pharisees and the Sadducees criticized. Let’s add another group before we move on. - In Mark 8:15 we have a similar passage. This is after the feeding ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:5-12

Denomination: Baptist

Blessed With Every Blessing

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Mar 2, 2022

We’re thoroughly blessed and cherished--absolutely, unconditionally and infinitely--by God, the great Lover of our souls. What would your life look like if you lived believing that wholeheartedly?

Henri Nouwen, the late Dutch Catholic priest, had a very interesting life and ministry--teaching courses on spirituality at Harvard and Yale, spending a year at a Trappist monastery, serving as a missionary to the poor in South America, and finally, coming home in the closing chapter of his life ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-8

How To (Mis)interpret The Bible

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 9, 2022

While this passage teaches about divorce, it also provides an interesting case study in how believer manipulate what the Bible says for their own benefit. We'll look at five aspects of that.

- Probably the most obvious way to preach this passage would be to preach a sermon about what the Bible says about divorce. That’s an important subject, but I’m interested in something else as I dig in. - This passage provides an interesting case study into how we interpret (or, more accurately, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Consecrate Yourselves Series

Contributed by Jim Moynihan on Mar 17, 2022

Before God can do any great work through his people, he must do a great work in his people.

Henry Blackaby tells the story of a missionary family assigned to a predominately Moslem urban center in 1985. After decades of work they had started only 5 small churches. Some friends asked them to consider going to a place where the people were more responsive to the gospel. But, they were ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"I Know My Sheep And They Know Me” Series

Contributed by Jim Moynihan on Mar 17, 2022

All of us can and need to have and nurture a personal relationship with God through Jesus.

Our focus today is that we all can and need to have and nurture a personal relationship with God through Jesus. This is more than just having a salvation experience with Jesus. We can actually know God personally. A. God DESIRES an Intimate Relationship with Us - Verses 1-11 In verses 1-5 ...read more

Scripture: John 10:14-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Great Adventure

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Mar 18, 2022

The Christian life is as good as it gets, with its promise of greater love, joy and peace. Those rewards, and more, are there for everyone who actively follows Christ and lives their faith in the spirit of the great adventure it was always meant to be.

Philippians 3:10-14 In the 1980’s a Californian named Larry Walters, a 33 year old truck driver, rigged 42 weather balloons to an aluminum lawn chair and then had two friends untie the tethers from the bumper of his Jeep. Expecting it to drift gradually up and away, instead he streaked into the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14

What Jesus Said The Holy Spirit’s Job Was Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 23, 2022

In this passage Jesus teaches us several key truths about what the Holy Spirit will do for us after Jesus leaves.

- While this is not an exhaustive study of the role of the Holy Spirit, this is a key moment. Jesus will soon be leaving, as He reminds His disciples within the passage. In this larger passage, He has several big subjects He wants to cover with His disciples before He leaves. One of those is who He ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What Did Jesus Say Will Complete Our Joy? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 29, 2022

In this passage Jesus previews the new era that He is about to bring. Of great importance is the direct relationship with God this will bring and the accompanying great prayer power.

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS SAYING: Jesus starts by telling them a major transition is coming. - John 16:16-22. - There is a lot of uncertainty from the disciples about what Jesus is talking about in these sayings. The meaning is hidden to them. - Of course, we know that He is referring ...read more

Scripture: John 16:16-33

Denomination: Baptist

Looking At Our Mess And Hopelessness, Where Was Jesus? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 24, 2024

The phrase "in the middle" appears early in Genesis, late in John, and late in Revelation. The connection between the three speaks to an amazing title for the cross of Jesus.

“Looking at Our Mess and Hopelessness, Where Was Jesus?” Genesis 2:4-9 - [There is a verse that needs to be quoted in the outline.] SERIES SET-UP: There are significant parallels between the beginning of Genesis and the end of John. - Genesis 1:1; John 1:1. - Romans 8:19-22. - This is not ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:4-9, John 19:17-18, Revelation 22:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Can We Become Something Better Than We Are? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 29, 2024

Adam is "the man." Christ is "the man." What do we learn from the first Adam and the second Adam?

A PROFOUND QUESTION: Can we become something better than we are? - Am I stuck being who I am? Is there hope for improvement? TWO REPRESENTATIVE MEN: There is a first Adam and there is a second Adam. - Genesis 2:7, 20; John 19:5. - This sermons series is about the parallels between the early ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:4-7

Denomination: Baptist

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