Sermons on Jim Eliot:

Why Does God Make Us Wait?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 1, 2012

A look at some of the major reasons that God doesn't always answer our prayers when we want Him to.

A Nagging Question: Why does God make us wait? - Genesis 15:1-3. The questions linger in our minds. Even someone with as great a faith as Abraham struggled with these questions. I want to look at some of the main reasons that He makes us wait. I realize this is not as good as telling you that ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Answers To Five Big, Basic Spiritual Questions

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 8, 2011

Jesus shares the answers to some of life's biggest questions

Sermon Outline: Can We Know What’s Going On? After last week’s emphasis on mystery and humility, Jesus lays out some clear answers to some of life’s biggest spiritual questions. - John 3:3, 5-8. Answers To Five Big, Basic Spiritual Questions: 1. What is our starting spiritual ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

Galatians - Freedom In Christ - Introduction (Part 1 Of Many) Series

Contributed by Jim Mazzulla on Jul 18, 2011

If you are a Christian but not experiencing FREEDOM AND JOY this study is for you. If you are not yet a follower of Christ - Here you will find out how to be a follower of Christ!

Galatians Study - FREEDOM in Christ Also, we ask that everyone be kind and loving to each others comments. I personally will not allow bashing or arguing. If you find at anytimeyou don't agree or like the group you can always leave. We do want productive hungry Christians sharing their insights ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Is Repentance Essential To Living Fully For God?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 19, 2012

A look at what repentace is and why it's so necessary.

Basic outline: “It’s His Job, Right?”: We expect God to be merciful, but we forget that repentance is required. - Jeremiah 3:12b (merciful/angry forever). What’s It Look Like? Repentance is less a charge of emotion and more a change of direction. - Jeremiah 3:13b ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 3:11-14

Denomination: Baptist

What Does God Expect Of His Pastors?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 26, 2012

A look at God's complaints about Israel's shepherds and what that means for pastors today.

OUTLINE: The Pastor Is God’s Representative, Right? There are a lot of Biblical references where God is displeased with pastors. - Jeremiah 3:15; Jeremiah 23:1-4; Ezekiel 34:1-31; Matthew 23:1-39. What A Good Shepherd Looks Like: 1. The focus is on the sheep, not the pastor. - Ezekiel ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 3:15

Denomination: Baptist

What's Ahead For The Christian

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 16, 2012

A look at four of the great things we can anticipate being in our future.

The Big Idea: For the Christian, what’s ahead is better than what’s behind. - The specific context here is that things are going to be better for Israel. - In Romans 11 (see vv. 11-12, 28-29), Paul makes it clear that God is not done with Israel. - Those passages speak of how the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 3:16-17

Denomination: Baptist

Avoiding Spiritual Near-Sightedness That Leads Us To Do Evil In God's Name

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 4, 2011

The chief priests were meticulous in making sure the "blood money" didn't go into the treasury while they were actively working on a murder. What are ways we see the small things while missing the big picture?

Diagnosing Spiritual Near-Sightedness: There is a “spiritual eye condition” that allows people to see small things clearly while being blind to big things. - Matthew 27:6. - References in Matthew to clear “eyes”: Matthew 6:22-23, 7:3-5, 13:15-16. - We are going to go ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Problem With Doing What Feels Right

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 14, 2011

This sermon looks at the difference between doing what feels right and what is right.

Listen To Your Heart: In determining what to do, for many the key question is “what do you feel like you should do?” - We are encouraged to “follow our heart” by listening to our emotions and doing what they’re telling us to do. - This presumes that whatever our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:15-23

Denomination: Baptist

Worship Fully - Escape The Noise Series

Contributed by Jim Martin on Nov 19, 2012

This sermon is the first of a four sermon series for a church that is supporting International Justice Mission through Advent Conspiracy. This sermon elaborates on the topic of Worshipping Fully in the Advent season by exploring sciptures in Isaiah, encou

Worship Fully — Escape the Noise Isaiah 58 This sermon is one in a four-part series encouraging congregations as they join the Advent Conspiracy and Give More, Spend Less, Worship Fully and Love All. For the remainder of the sermon series, visit www.IJM.org/adventconspiracy. 1. Introduction to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-7

Denomination: *other

Jeremiah's Performance Review Series

Contributed by Jim Martin on Nov 20, 2012

In Jeremiah 19 there is the climactic scene where Jeremiah is instructed to smash at the gate of the city in front of the leaders of Jerusalem. The clash of worldviews and the significant emotional cargo of this passage seemed difficult to render to a mod

Jeremiah’s Performance Review by Jim Martin The River Church Community Sunday, November 18th, 2007 The River Church Community ACT I Scene 1 The intro has to set up that the book of Jeremiah and this story arc in the OT are all about God trying to warn his people that if they ...read more

Denomination: *other

The Part Of The Christmas Story That Speaks To Sandy Hook Tragedy

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 18, 2012

A look at the slaughter of the innocents story in light of the recent tragedy in Conn.

Prop: put a skull and crossbones “ornament” on the sanctuary Christmas tree. Talk about how it doesn't fit with the image. There's a story in the Bible that's part of the Christmas story that creates a similar disconnect. In fact, the disparity between it and the way we want the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

What Can God Do Through Me?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 6, 2011

A look at the calling God places on each of us as well as some of the excuses we use to try to avoid that calling.

GOD ONLY CALLS PREACHERS, RIGHT? We all have a calling from God. - Jeremiah 1:5. - NT references to call/jobs: Matthew 21:28; Mark 13:34; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 1 Corinthians 16:15-16; Philippians 4:3. - Does God call only preachers? - There can be a call for someone to be a preacher, but a ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10

Denomination: Baptist

“what Subject Is Important Enough To Be In 45 Of Jeremiah’s 52 Chapters?”

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 16, 2011

This sermon looks at the biggest subject in Jeremiah: idolatry.

Talking About It Again And Again And Again: The biggest subject in Jeremiah is that God’s people had wandered off after idols. - Jeremiah 2:5, 11, 13. - v. 5, 11 – Following worthless idols. - Back in Israel’s day the idols were usually literal idols. Figures of wood or clay ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Re-Aligning My Heart

Contributed by Jim Erwin on Oct 22, 2010

God wants me to have a heart re-alignment.

Re-Aligning My Heart Jeremiah 11:1-17 Is your heart “in alignment” this morning? Is your heart “out of sync?” I need to re-align my heart. Example: Alignment on your car My van has alignment problems. I can tell because when I drive my van and let go of the wheel it starts to veer to the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 11:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Giving Myself A Spiritual Check-Up

Contributed by Jim Erwin on Oct 22, 2010

There are going to be times when you question God’s call on your life. It is during these times in which you need a spiritual check-up.

Giving Myself a Spiritual Check-Up Jeremiah 12:1-17 When we pick up Jeremiah, we see that he starts with similar “complaints” against God. The prophets in the Old Testament would complain in their prayers to God. Their main question is: Why do you let the evil continue when I am having such a hard ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 12:1-17

Denomination: Baptist