Sermons on Jim Eliot:

Taking Sin Seriously Within The Church

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 13, 2005

This message deals with the four biggest questions about the lost discipline of church discipline.

Taking Sin Seriously Within The Church - Answering Four Key Questions: 1. What? “The church must discipline serious sin.” - v. 3. - Many have given into the idea that we are to be completely non-judgmental, but “Judge not” is not all Jesus said on the subject. - Matthew 7:1 vs. John 7:24. - ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing With Gossip - "You're Not Going To Believe What I Heard"

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 14, 2005

This message answers 4 of the biggest questions about gossip, including what is gossip (and what’s acceptable conversation) as well as how to deal with someone wanting to share gossip with you.

1. When Is It Gossip And When Is It Acceptable Conversation? “The difference is in motive and accuracy.” - Ephesians 4:15. - One struggle that people have is that they believe that “not gossiping” means ceasing to having any conversation about people and what’s going on in their lives. Most of ...read more

Scripture: James 3:5

Denomination: Baptist

Seven Weeks Later…

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 26, 2005

A Communion Meditation for Sunday, September 4, 2005

One of the most important ways that the Bible can come alive to us is to be able to link events in the New Testament to events in the Old Testament. As we are able to do so (and a good cross-reference Bible helps) we are able to gain a fuller understanding of how Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Old ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1

Denomination: Church Of God

The Importance Of Community

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 26, 2005

Inaugural sermon for fall 2005 series through the book of Acts

My colleague in ministry, Arnetta Bailey, writes of the fears that we all have when we enter into a new experience with a new group of people: ‘Can you remember what it was like to start a new job or walk into a new church?’ she writes. ‘Perhaps you scanned the room for a friendly face. Was there ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:43-47

Denomination: Church Of God

Two Kinds Of Healing

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 26, 2005

The second in a series through the book Acts during Fall 2005

A woman who worked for a vet was to have knee surgery. She was nervous about the procedure and asked her boss if he had any advice. He replied, rather half-mindedly, ‘Just turn your worries into prayers, get plenty of rest, and don’t lick your incision.” I do not think that the latter piece of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-16

Denomination: Church Of God

Discovering The Impact Of Knowing Your Purpose ("40 Days" - Week 1)

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 5, 2005

This message explores what the Bible has to say about Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth as well as what happens in our lives as we live for God’s purposes.

What Were The Purposes Of Jesus’ Life? 1. Jesus came to give us an opportunity to be forgiven. - John 12:27 - “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” (NKJV) 2. Jesus came to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:43

Denomination: Baptist

Six Detours On The Path To Worshiping God

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 5, 2005

We know that we are to be worshiping God as a part of our daily lives, yet many Christians go for days without much thought of Him. What are the "detours" that get us side-tracked in that way? (This message was preached during week 2 of "40 Days.")

Key Definition: “Worship is honoring God’s greatness and goodness.” - Whether in church on Sunday or in our everyday lives, every time we acknowledge how great God is and/or how good He’s been to us, that is an act of worship. It is an act of honoring Him for who He is and/or what He’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:4-8

Denomination: Baptist

Courting Sin Within The Church

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 5, 2005

This message answers four key questions on the question of Christians suing each other.

1. What’s The Problem? - Believers were suing each other in court. - What does Paul think of this? - v. 1 - “Dare any of you. . .” - v. 6 - “But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!” - v. 7 - “already an utter failure” - Paul is shocked and dismayed that their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Why We Have Fathers

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jul 4, 2004

We have fathers because God made it so “in the beginning.”

I intended last week to launch our summer sermon series, “God, I have a question,” but the Holy Spirit so moved us through Pat’s moving testimony and singing that there was nothing more that could have been said after those moments of heart felt honesty and thankfulness to God for both His ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:4

Denomination: Church Of God

Allies For The Children

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jul 4, 2004

We need to be allies of God for the children.

A teacher asked her students to list what they thought were the present Seven Wonders of the World. The students cast the most votes for 1. Egypt’s Great Pyramids 2. Taj Mahal 3. Grand Canyon 4. Panama Canal 5. Empire State Building 6. St. Peter’s Basilica 7. China’s Great Wall While gathering the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:8-9

Denomination: Church Of God

Out Of Many, One

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jul 4, 2004

A July 4th communion meditation

The Fourth of July is upon us again and we it is a time of picnics, fireworks, and celebration! We sing “Happy Birthday” to ourselves as Americans and we again both celebrate and are reminded of our nation’s birth and life. There are many commercial reminders of this national holiday that offer us ...read more

Scripture: John 17:21

Denomination: Church Of God

How Far Do You Have To Go To Be Used By God?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 29, 2005

This message looks at the calling God has placed on the lives of all Christians and how He wants us to use us right where we are.

- This passage is structured like a Big Mac: vv. 17, 20, 24 as the bread (pointing out that we are to remain in the situation where we were called) and vv. 18-19 and 21-23 as the meat (giving two illustrations of that). Three Questions On Being Used By God: 1. How many Christians are called? ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

Denomination: Baptist

Narnia: The Cure For Turkish Delight

Contributed by Jim Schultz on Dec 22, 2005

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe teaches us a few things about the nature of sin and the solution to the problems sin causes.

The Cure For Turkish Delight Imagine a land in which it’s always winter and never Christmas. Narnia--land cursed by White Witch. She wouldn’t allow Father Christmas to come… Edmund finds out about the power of this Witch’s curse when he tries her Turkish Delight. Voluneer tries some Turkish ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Narnia: The Power Of A Story That Is True

Contributed by Jim Barnes on Dec 24, 2005

A Christmas Eve message utilizing the film version of "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and the conversion of C.S. Lewis as tools for challenging listeners to decide whether the Christmas story is truth or fiction.

Title: “The Power of a Story That Is True” Text: Matthew 1:18 - 2:23 Date: December 24, 2005 (Christmas Eve) People love good stories don’t they? If they didn’t, books and movies wouldn’t be so popular. There’s just something about a good story that stirs our emotions and moves us in a way ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making Sense Of The Mess In Israel And The Middle East

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 3, 2002

An attempt to clarify the details of the murky situation in Israel and the Middle East.

[This message was written during the unrest in Israel during the spring of 2002.] Our Goal: “Being aware of the situation when you ‘pray for the peace of Jerusalem.’” The Two Major Combatants: 1. Israel. - almost exclusively Jewish. - the vast majority of its people ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-4

Denomination: Baptist