Sermons on Jim Elliot:

When Someone Betrays Christ Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 23, 2020

A look at the disciples' response to Jesus' shocking declaration that one of them would betray Him. How do we handle things today when someone betrays the cause of Christ?

WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO WALKS AWAY FROM CHRIST: There are a lot of casualties along the road. - Luke 20:23. - It’s obviously a tragedy to watch someone walk away from Christ or to betray Christ. What makes that even more of a tragedy is the ripple effect. - It might be someone who gives up ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:20-23

Denomination: Baptist

How To Be Great In Jesus’ Kingdom Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 24, 2020

Jesus calls us to be servant rather than elevating themselves. What exactly should we do if we do want to be great?

IS IT WRONG TO WANT TO BE "GREAT"? Jesus doesn’t say “don’t be great” but instead tells them how to be great. - Luke 22:24-27. - Matthew 5:19; Matthew 20:26; Mark 10:43. - It could have been when the disciples argued over being great that Jesus replied, “No. You will never be great. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

When Church Seems Like A Fly-By-Night Operation Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 27, 2020

It's easy to look at your local church and be underwhelmed by what you see. Jesus' words here point us toward a higher vision of the Kingdom that He is inaugurating.

AMATEUR HOUR: Sometimes the church can seem like a fly-by-night operation. - We all have stories of churches behaving poorly. We all have stories of churches who were laughably bad at what they were doing. - I remember as a young Christian being preached at by my pastor that we should bring our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus’ Response To Our False Confidence, Struggle, And Failure Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 31, 2020

Jesus predicts Peter's denial. These verses give us three harsh realities and three promising truths.

- This section comes right after a couple verses about being conferred a kingdom and the ultimate victory that kingdom will experience. In the meantime, though, there are the challenges of real life. Three Harsh Realities in this Passage: 1. The reality of false confidence. - Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-34

Denomination: Baptist

Facing Resistance To The Gospel Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 6, 2020

Jesus tells His followers that He is being numbered among the transgressors. What does that mean for us today as we try to follow Him?

WHAT I DON'T KNOW: What exactly is going on with the swords here? - Luke 22:36, 38. - The references to swords garner the most attention from most readers. They are intriguing statements that are not easily understood. - I wish I could tell you that I have an incisive, succinct explanation ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:35-38

Denomination: Baptist

Why Is It Significant That Jesus Died At Passover? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 5, 2020

It's an overlooked detail of the Last Supper story that it happened at Passover. What's the importance of that? What's the connection between Passover and the Last Supper?

AN OVERLOOKED DETAIL: Why is it significant that Jesus died at Passover? - Luke 22:7-8. ISRAEL'S PASSOVER: Enslaved people longing for freedom and to go home are freed by God’s decisive miracle through the Passover lamb. - Exodus 12:1-14. - Unpack Passover in general – focus here on the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:7-8

Denomination: Baptist

Seeing More Of God’s Provision And Guidance In My Life Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 11, 2020

This is a memorable story of God's provision and guidance for Peter and John. How can we see more of God's provision and guidance in our lives?

SEEING GOD GUIDE AND DIRECT: Why don’t we see God’s daily provision and guidance much today? - Luke 22:7-13. - We say that we believe in God and that is still working in the world today, but we don’t see as much of His provision and guidance as we would like. - How can we see more? - This ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

Why Is There An Extra Cup In Luke’s Last Supper? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 24, 2020

A look at an initially confusing part of Luke's Last Supper passage and the significance of what the "extra cup" means.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH VERSE 17? Why is there an extra cup in Luke’s version of the Lord’s Supper? - Luke 22:17. - Verse 17 speaks of Jesus taking the cup. But then v. 19 has Him taking the bread and then v. 20 has Him taking the cup. What’s going on? Is there supposed to be two cups? Why ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:14-20

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

The Shepherd's Voice

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Nov 20, 2020

God is the faithful shepherd of our souls, who loves us and wants to guide, protect and care for us. May we listen well for his voice--through Scripture, prayer and fellow believers.

“The Shepherd’s Voice” John 10:1-15 Read John 10:1-15 The owner of a sheep ranch in Australia was arrested and charged with stealing his neighbor’s sheep. He vigorously maintained his innocence, however, claiming it was one of his own flock who had been missing, whom he had merely recovered ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-15

How Elizabeth Encouraged Mary Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 23, 2020

Mary has just received overwhelming news. To whom does she look? Elizabeth is the only one in the world that she knows of also dealing with a miraculous birth, so she quickly turns to her. How can we encourage others like Elizabeth encouraged Mary?

SOMEONE ELSE: Mary was encouraged by what God was doing in Elizabeth’s life. - Luke 1:36, 39. - Mary had gotten mind-blowing news. Why did the angel mention Elizabeth? Because Elizabeth had gone through something similar. Certainly it was not a virgin pregnancy, but it nonetheless was a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:34-41

Denomination: Baptist

When My Situation Seems Impossible Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 30, 2020

The angel tells Mary that nothing is impossible with God. This sermon looks at five things that seem impossible that God has made possible.

“NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD”: “Well, then, give me a million dollars!” - Luke 1:37. - Shallow requests. WHAT ARE SOME WORTHWHILE REQUESTS THAT SEEM IMPOSSIBLE? 1. “I wish I could have my slate wiped clean.” - Luke 24:47. - Matthew 26:28; Luke 3:3; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; Hebrews 9:22. - ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:34-38

Denomination: Baptist

How Does Trust Lead To Power? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 2, 2020

This sermon looks at Mary's submission to the angel's message, saying that she is the Lord's servant. What can we learn from Mary? And how does having trust in God lead to seeing power from God?

“I DON'T WANT TO BE A SERVANT!”: How does trust lead to power? - Luke 1:38. - We don’t want to be a servant. - It’s challenging for us today to embrace being a servant. We are far more familiar with being a consumer, where we are the one who is being served and whose needs are being ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:34-38

Denomination: Baptist

Brother Jesus

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Dec 3, 2020

God, in Jesus, identifies with us and reveals his love for us in as real and personal a way as possible. And the more we come to understand and appreciate the full humanity of Christ, the stronger our relationship with God will be.

Hebrews 2:10-18 (Read Hebrews 2:10-11, 14-18) In 1980 a woman named Rosie Ruiz ran the NY City Marathon and finished first in the Women’s Division--or so it seemed initially. After she received the star treatment at the finish line, though, some of the event staff realized that they hadn’t ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:10-18