Sermons on Jim Elliot:

When You Reach The End Of The Line Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 31, 2022

Exile is imminent because of the judgment of God. What does the final chapter before that teach us?

CYCLES AND CRASHES: This era of Israeli history comes to a final descent. - 2 Chronicles 36:1-14. - Let’s talk for a moment about cycles vs crashes. Cycles are those ups and downs that are part of everyday life. They are what we expect. Things are a little better then they’re a little worse but ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 36:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

In This Together

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Sep 30, 2022

We need each other in order to become whole and to live in the fullness of God’s blessing.

In May of 1953, two men became the first in history to summit Mount Everest: Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand beekeeper and explorer, and a man named Tenzing Norgay, his Sherpa guide from Nepal. Hillary’s name remains famous for this inspiring achievement, but how many of us remember Tenzing Norgay? ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:8-13

God Is Love

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Oct 19, 2022

God wants us to live in the blessing, joy and peace of knowing that we’re his beloved children.

1 Corinthians 4:3-5; 1 John 4:9-18 (selected verses) I spent a summer while I was in seminary as a student minister at Acadia National Park in Maine, where I was assisted by a young volunteer named Martha. Martha was an old soul, wise beyond her years. I say that because during that summer ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:9-18, 1 Corinthians 4:3-5

Rising Popularity And The Upside-Down Kingdom Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 25, 2021

A golden opportunity for increased popularity presents itself, but Jesus uses the occasion to talk about what glory looks like in His "upside-down" kingdom.

THE MOST POPULAR GUY IN TOWN? Jesus’ popularity reaches a new level when even the Greeks are interested in Him. - John 12:20-22. A RELATED IDEA? Jesus’ response is focused on glory. - John 12:23. - Is Jesus interested in glory the way that everyone else is or is He pointing them toward ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-34

Denomination: Baptist

Washing Feet And A Kingdom Of Power Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 22, 2021

This passage gives us the dynamic example of Jesus washing feet. How can Jesus lay aside the traditional power structures to be able to live like that? The answer is in this passage.

PETER'S EMPHATIC "NO": Peter was deeply offended by Christ’s offer because he was still thinking of a traditional power structure. - John 13:6-10a. - The disciples were still expecting the inaugural of a traditional kingdom. - Rome was going to be overthrown, the Jewish nation was ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

How To Be More Encouraging To Our Brothers And Sisters In Christ Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 24, 2023

Romans 14 is a key passage on potential disagreements with fellow believers. What does this passage teach us about being more encouraging in our church families?

DANGER SIGNS: 1. AM I TRIPPING UP MY BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST? - Romans 14:13b, 15b. - In church arguments and fights, so often our focus is on showing everyone how right we are. - Here, though, in v. 13b, we are instructed not to put a stumbling block in front of a brother or sister. - Let ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

If Not Disputable Matters, What Should Our Focus Be On? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 31, 2023

This sermon is the conclusion of the "How to Disagree" sermon series. In this message, we look at what we should be focused on instead of arguing over secondary issues.

A BIGGER VISION: Are we thinking of denominational correctness or of the expansive kingdom of God? - Romans 14:17a. - [Note: focus here on the Kingdom; leave the other for the second point.] - So often we get down into the weeds on all these disputable matters that we’ve been discussing for the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

What This Salvation Is Going To Produce Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 7, 2023

This sermon series is going to look at Romans 1-8 in seven sermons. This first sermon focuses on "what." This passage tells us what salvation is going to produce, then the following chapters tell us how it happens

- This is a sermon series that summarizes Romans 1-8 in seven sermons. So we are just hitting the big ideas. - By the very nature of that, there will be much interesting material that we will have to skip over. It’s not unusual for pastors to do a sermon series on Romans 1-8 and take 50+ sermons ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Starting Point Of Salvation Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 21, 2023

Paul starts his gospel presentation at a surprising point: the wrath of God. Is it justified? If so, why?

- Last week’s sermon was Paul’s introduction, which gave a summary. Now we are starting to work through what Paul shares as an explanation of the gospel. WHAT IS THE BIG QUESTION PAUL IS STARTING WITH? Is the wrath of God justified? - Romans 1:18a. - The first four words are “the wrath of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Love Conquers All

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Nov 27, 2023

The love of God overcomes fear if we choose to open our hearts to its supreme reality. The greatest source of blessing and peace we can ever know is found in trusting in his love.

A pastor shared the story of going deep-sea fishing in Florida with his brother when their boat lost all of its electronics, including the communications and GPS functions. They were out of sight of land, and since it was an overcast day there was no way for them even to tell east from west. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43, 1 John 4:16-18

How Faith Brings Salvation Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 29, 2023

This part of Paul's argument gets into what exactly Jesus does for us.

- [Don’t read the whole passage to open the sermon.] - Review of the sermons up to this point: a. Overview. b. We are all sinners. - Having established the problem, we are now starting to get into the answer and how exactly God is working in that. WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR SALVATION? ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Where Does This Salvation Place Me? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 5, 2023

What is the position that this salvation puts me in?

WHERE DOES THIS SALVATION PLACE ME? I have peace with God. - Romans 5:1-2. - Pieces of this passage: a. We talked in the last sermon about being justified by faith. - v. 1a. b. Where that salvation places me is that I now have peace with God. - v. 1b. c. Jesus made that happen. - v. 1c. d. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

How Do We Live Out This Salvation? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 11, 2023

Paul now shifts to a major misunderstanding about grace and explains what living out this salvation should look like.

A LOOPHOLE? Can we just keep sinning and use grace as an excuse? - Romans 6:1-2. a. Grace is the means by which salvation comes to us, but grace is easily misunderstood. - v. 1. - We closed out with grace last week. It’s the reality that we cannot earn our salvation but we receive it as a free ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

If I’ve Received Salvation, Why Do I Still Struggle? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 18, 2023

Romans 7 delves into the struggles we as Christians experience in this world: wanting to follow God yet often caught up in our sin nature. What does Paul teach us about how we are to look at that reality?

DEAD MAN WALKING: Dying with Christ is important because it means we’ve been freed. - Romans 7:1-4a. - Chapter 7 obviously flows from chapter 6. Last week in chapter 6 the big ideas we talked about were the (a) we are dead to sin and alive to Christ and (b) that we have to choose if we are going ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

Why Does Jesus Tell His Disciples Not To Tell People That He Is The Christ Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 1, 2025

This passage provides an interesting insight into why Jesus told His disciples not to tell anyone He was the Christ.

KEEP QUIET: Proclaiming that Jesus was the Christ would create a lot of wrong expectations. - Luke 9:18-21. - It’s an odd thing to hear Jesus telling His disciples to not tell people that He is the Christ. You would generally think that He would want it proclaimed often and loudly from every ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:18-26

Denomination: Baptist