Sermons on Jim Elliot:

How God’s Blessings Can Lead To Pride Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 17, 2015

A look at the ways that God's blessings can lead us away from Him. Uzziah provides a clear example of the problem.

WHEN GOOD THINGS GO BAD: Sometimes God’s blessings lead people away from God. - 2 Chronicles 26:16. - This is not just something we see here. In the Mosaic Law, as God tells Israel that their obedience will lead to Him blessing, He then explicitly warns them that there is a great danger ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 26:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

Hearing The Word More Clearly In Worship Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 22, 2015

Four insights on receiving more from the Word in worship.

WHY DID THEY PUBLICLY READ THE SCRIPTURE? Because most of the church could not read. - 1 Timothy 4:13. - Why does Paul command for the Word to be read in worship? During that era (and the majority of the eras since), most of the church was illiterate, as was most of the population in general. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:13

Denomination: Baptist

Nehemiah's Nemeses

Contributed by Jim Bennett on May 2, 2015

Some reflections on Nehemiah's opponents, Sanballat and Tobiah; sermon for a church about to vote on a building program.

Last week as we spoke about Nehemiah and God’s vision for the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall, I hope one theme came through loud and clear: When God wants something, He’s going to get what He wants. The only question for us is, “Who is on the Lord’s side?” In ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:10

Denomination: Baptist

Two Keys To The Path To Spiritual Growth Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 4, 2015

What are some of the keys to pursuing spiritual growth?

THREE MISTAKES CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GROWTH: 1. I’m already there. - “This is as good as it’s going to get.” - “I’m mature enough.” - “My life looks like the other Christians around me.” - We need to recognize that God has more for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

Anger Management Series

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Apr 2, 2021

Anger is a two-edged sword: our disciplined responses to conflict can reflect spiritual wisdom and bear witness to the transforming power of grace. How well we control anger can reveal a lot about our spiritual health.

An OR nurse in Georgia tells the story of a couple arriving at the hospital, both of them with gunshot wounds. The husband had overslept on his first day on the job because his wife forgot to set the alarm, and he expressed his displeasure by shooting her in the arm. Not to be outdone, she ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-21

Is It Naïve To Be Hopeful Amid All The Despair? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 7, 2020

The book of Amos contains some challenging and painful truths. Now, as the book ends, there is a word of hope. It speaks to us in our worry: is it naive for us to be hopeful amid all this world's despair?

- Set up a collapsed tent on state where the pulpit normally is. This is the image for the sermon. LIVING IN FRAUGHT TIME: Right now there is much to worry over. - Amos 9:11 – “David’s fallen tent.” - Think of all the references in the Old Testament to the “house of David.” With that in ...read more

Scripture: Amos 9:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

Is This Vision From God?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 22, 2020

When is a vision actually from God?

A DIVINE VISION? Not every spiritual vision is from God. - People sometimes get overly impressed by spiritual visions. People sometimes uncritically accept any claim of a spiritual vision without considering whether it’s true or not. - We want to discuss spiritual vision in this message and ...read more

Scripture: Job 4:12-21

Denomination: Baptist

Would God Ever Take Away His Word? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 24, 2020

What would it mean if God withdrew the knowledge of His Word?

- Unpack vv. 11-12 and the threat to take away the word of the Lord. - We don’t really know what to do with that. Let’s try to figure it out. WHAT MIGHT THAT LOOK LIKE? 1. Rejecting God’s truth, people do what they want. 2. Things start falling apart. 3. The consequences of their sin make ...read more

Scripture: Amos 8:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

Trying To Escape God’s Judgment Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 26, 2020

We don't like to think about the Day of Judgment. And when we do, we like to impose our own thoughts on how it will go. What does this passage tell us about our ability to get away from God's judgment?

- There are additional things going on in this passage, but I want to focus on the overarching idea: trying to escape the judgment of God. UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS: 1. GOD IS THE JUDGE. - Genesis 18:25. - God plays many roles – Creator, Sustainer, Father. He also plays the role of Judge. 2. HE ...read more

Scripture: Amos 9:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

How God Responds To Our Generosity

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 16, 2019

It's difficult to be generous with our money. Seeing how God has promised to respond to our generosity is encouraging and that's exactly what this passage provides.

SCARED TO BE GENEROUS: “I would be more generous, but I’m barely making it now.” - We all know that generosity is admirable. We know that it’s embarrassing to be identified as being stingy. - But we struggle to be generous. One of the reasons that we don’t end up being as generous as we would ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

What Prosperity Gospel Preachers Don’t Want You To Know Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 22, 2019

This passage includes the words "you will be made rich." Does that mean the prosperity gospel is true? Or is this passage actually pointing us toward using God's blessings in a way that doesn't further the American Dream?

A SWEET SOUND TO A PROSPERITY GOSPEL PREACHER: “You will be made rich.” - 2 Corinthians 9:11a – “You will be made rich.” - As most of you know, there is a heretical teaching that God’s purpose in your life is to shower you with material and financial blessings. Under this teaching, signs of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Are The Results Of My Generosity? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 24, 2019

What can I expect to see happen when I am generous? Obviously, the financial need will be met, but is there more beyond that? This passage points to 7 results.

THE RESULT OF MY GENEROSITY? We usually presume the only result of my generosity is that a need gets met. - There is a need expressed, someone gives, and so that need gets met. Game over, end of story, right? - We’ve been digging for weeks now into chapter 9, which has so much to teach about ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:12-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Secret Of Contentment Series

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Mar 27, 2021

Envy is a sin and a curse, one more form of unbelief that denies God’s goodness. Its answer is found in learning the secret of contentment: our complete dependence and trust in God’s amazing love.

The Secret of Contentment A mother and her young son were out one day for a walk when the weather suddenly turned dangerous. A tornado funnel formed overhead and came right towards them. Seeing this, they took shelter at the base of a tree and clung to its trunk. But although the mother was ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:11-13

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

How To Treat The Believers We Disagree With Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 26, 2023

This sermon delves into Romans 14 and brings out the point that we are to accept each other and how to do that.

- Sermon series: “How to Disagree.” Last week we established that there are disputable matters, which is an important category to understand. There may be theological issues about which sincere believers can have honest disagreement. - Having established that, we move today onto the next logical ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1

Denomination: Baptist