Sermons on Jim Eliot:

The Parts Of Our Lives That Are Off-Limits To God Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 2, 2013

A look at how we only let God into certain parts of our lives when He needs to be "Lord of all" in our lives.

WHY WEREN'T THE SAILORS BOTHERED EARLIER? Because they believed in small, provincial gods. - Jonah 1:7, 10. - One of the unusual things about this verse is that it tells in verse 10 that Jonah had told them previously that he was running away from God. You would think that when the storm arose ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:10

Denomination: Baptist

When We Act Like Stubbornness Is A Spiritual Gift Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 13, 2013

A look at the dangers of stubbornness.

WHEN WE DON'T LIKE WHERE GOD IS LEADING: Jonah would rather die than change. - Jonah 1:12. A CROSS PROBLEM: Too many Christians are more defined by crossed arms than by the cross of Christ. - Too many of us confuse stubbornness with conviction. - What’s the difference? Conviction has to ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:12

Denomination: Baptist

How To Pray For Someone Deep In Sin Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 15, 2013

A look at how we need to be praying sometimes for God to put a 'whuppin" on someone.

HOW TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE DEEP IN SIN: it’s ok to pray for God to “whup” someone. - Jonah 1:17-2:1. - Verse 17a – The Lord prepared the trial and rebuke. - Verse 17b – Jonah still did not immediately repent. - Verse 1 – Three days later, Jonah finally ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Why Was The One Sign Jesus Would Give "the Sign Of Jonah"? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 30, 2013

A look at whether Jonah died in the whale as well as what the specific significance of the "sign of Jonah" is.

WHAT IS THE SIGN OF JONAH? Is the point that Jonah was in the whale or that Jonah was dead? - Matthew 12:38-40. - The point of the miracle is less the miracle of being in a whale or the specific time frame (“three days and three nights”) and more the miracle of resurrection. WHAT EXACTLY ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:2-9

Denomination: Baptist

How To Respond To Newly-Delivered People Who Still Are A Mess Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 30, 2013

How do we respond to those who are new Christians and who still "smell" of their former sinful lives?

“WHAT'S THAT SMELL?”: People just spiritually delivered by God usually don’t “smell good.” - Jonah 2:10. - Jonah didn’t smell good. - People coming out of sinful lives don’t usually “smell good.” - There’s lingering sin. There are ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:10

Denomination: Baptist

Why Does God Give Second Chances? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 30, 2013

A look at four reasons that God grants second chances.

WHY DOES GOD GIVE SECOND CHANCES? He is a God of justice and love. - Jonah 3:1. - There are other options than second chances: a. He could offer no second chance. - The first offense could be sufficient to end our chances. - He doesn’t want to do that, though, because He loves us and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1

Denomination: Baptist

Ten Biblical Promises To Claim For Powerful Prayer

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 5, 2013

Many Christians don't know specific verses to claim in their prayers. Here are ten good ones.

WHY IS HAVING A VERSE IMPORTANT? Having a Bible promise helps move us from wishing to confidence. - Romans 4:21; Romans 8:31-32; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Hebrews 4:16. TEN BIBLICAL PROMISES TO CLAIM FOR POWERFUL PRAYER: 1. God will fulfill His promises. - 2 Corinthians 1:20. 2. I can trust God ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:18-21

Denomination: Baptist

What’s The Danger In Having A God Of Second Chances?”

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 16, 2013

A look at the dangers that come with presuming on God giving a second chances. Thankfully, He is a God who loves giving second chances, but sometimes we get in trouble by expecting they'll always be available.

DOES GOD ALWAYS GIVE A SECOND CHANCE? Second chances are a gift, not a right. - Jonah 3:1. - We should not presume on God’s mercy. - There are times when a window of opportunity on a second chance closes: a. Timing issue with the opportunity. - Example: my church plant getting ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1

Denomination: Baptist

Why Feeling Sorry About Your Sin Isn’t Repentance

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 19, 2013

A look at real repentance versus the emotion that we often mistake for repentance.

THE NEXT STEPS (LITERALLY): Even after surviving the whale ordeal and getting a second chance, Jonah’s repentance begins with a lot of walking. - Jonah 3:3. - This is a fact that at one level seems rather obvious but that hit me hard a while back. As I considered the story of Jonah, I had ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:3

Denomination: Baptist

Finding More Faith In The Face Of Life’s Storms

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 1, 2013

Why was Jesus so sharp in His rebuke of the disciples when they woke Him and told Him about the storm?

ISN'T THAT A LITTLE HARSH? Why does Jesus rebuke the disciples for what seems a pretty reasonable request? - Matthew 8:25. - Why are the disciples chastised for what seems a pretty reasonable response? Wasn’t fear a reasonable response? - Most of us would look at that situation and say, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27

Denomination: Baptist

How To Respond When Your Toes Get Stepped On

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 14, 2013

A look at how we should respond when an uncomfortable word of rebuke comes our way.

[Drama idea: Frame as a cheesy commercial. Three people on a pew, two getting convicted and visibly uncomfortable (squirming, facial agitation), one blithe and unconcerned. After a while, the other two ask him how he’s not bothered. He shows off his steel-toed boots. He got the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:11-18

Denomination: Baptist

Why Do We So Seldom See God Do Great Things?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 17, 2013

A look at how and why we settle for less than God's best.

WHY DO WE SO SELCOME SEE GOD DO GREAT THINGS? Often in our spiritual lives, we become content with second-best plans. - Genesis 17:16, 18. - Abraham had so come to accept his Plan B (having Ishmael by Sarah’s maidservant) that when God speaks of the fulfillment of His original great promise ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:15-22

Denomination: Baptist

Why It's So Easy To Shift From Honoring God To Mocking Him

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 22, 2013

A look at the mock "worship" that the soldiers give Jesus and five ways we too often mock Him in our everyday Christian lives.

THE SOLDIERS' MOCKERY: The soldiers’ “worship” was a mockery because their actions and words didn’t match their heart. - Mark 15:16-20. - It’s interesting when you dig down into the passages just how much they mimic a worship experience in their mockery of Jesus: a. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:16-20

Denomination: Baptist

Why Doesn't Someone Do Something About The Evil In The World?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 25, 2013

A look at how often we choose our peace and our property over standing up to the evil in the world.

[Open sermon with "Bubble Creek Canyon" video from BluefishTV.com] OUR PRAYER: We want to be insulated and isolated from the evil in the world. - Matthew 8:28, 32-34. - There are two mentions of violence in this passage. - First, there are two men who are demon-possessed. They are men of great ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:28-34

Denomination: Baptist

How To Avoid Hypocrisy In Your Life

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 29, 2013

A look at four keys to avoid hypocrisy in our lives.

WHAT IS SO BAD ABOUT HYPOCRISY? For the Christian, it’s the false security; for the non-Christian, it’s the disillusionment that happens when you look closely at Christians’ lives. - Luke 12:1 – “hypocrisy.” a. For the Christian, it’s the false ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:1-3

Denomination: Baptist