Sermons on Jim Patrick:

One Way We Accidentally Trip Up New Believers Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 14, 2018

The Christian life is challenging and one way we trip up new believers is by giving them false expectations about what the journey will be like. This passage details the difficulties Paul encountered and serves as a good summary of the struggles any believer may encounter.

HOW WOULD THEIR MINISTRY BE DISCREDITED? If their children in the faith didn’t continue the race. - 2 Corinthians 6:3b – “. . . so that our ministry will not be discredited.” - Paul talks elsewhere about his children in the faith being his joy. And certainly they were. Here we see another truth ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

Denomination: Baptist

A Secret Weapon For Getting People To Want Jesus Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 19, 2018

In this passage Paul speaks of throwing his "heart wide open" to the Corinthians. Could it be that the deep relationships that will come from doing that might be the church's secret weapon for attracting people to Jesus in a culture overwhelmed by loneliness?

DANGER SIGNS ON CHURCH FRIENDSHIPS: Shallow conversation, safe prayer requests, and busy pastors. - Sometimes church members can be mean to each other, but even in good times many church friendships are characterized by their lack of depth. What are some of the signs? a. Shallow conversation. - ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:11-13

Denomination: Baptist

Paul’s Harsh Advice On Who To Marry Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 28, 2018

This is a challenging passage. Paul repeatedly emphasizes the vast difference between Christians and non-Christians that makes marriage a non-starter. Why does Paul think that Christians should not marry non-Christians?

OVERKILL? Why does Paul make such a big deal about this? - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. - Paul here argues that Christians should not marry non-Christians. That strikes many people as overkill. Is it really that big a deal? Is it really worth the repetition that Paul makes here? This is the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Denomination: Baptist

Does God Do Anything Exciting Anymore?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 26, 2018

The shepherds were excited to go see the baby Jesus. Have we lost our enthusiasm for what God is doing in the world?

COULDN'T WAIT: The shepherds were eager to go see what God was doing. - Luke 2:15-16. - Consider for a moment the eagerness, curiosity, and enthusiasm of the shepherds. They’re genuinely excited to go look into what God is doing. - They were deeply affected by the good news. - I want to talk ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-18

Denomination: Baptist

Grace-Greater Than Vengeance

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Jan 31, 2018

God’s grace is greater than anything that has been done to you.

Title: Grace Greater Than Vengeance Place: BLCC Date: 2/4/18 Text: 2 Timothy4.14-18 CT: God’s grace is greater than anything that has been done to you. [Screen 1] FAS: According to Rick Atkinson in The Guns at Last Light, as WW2 drew to a close, American took more reprisals against German ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:14-18

Denomination: Christian Church

Why Was Jesus Born Into A Family That Was Poor?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 5, 2018

Luke's gospel tells us that Mary and Joseph offered the poor person's sacrifice when taking Jesus to the Temple. Why would God have chosen for His Son to be born into a poor family?

TWO YOUNG PIGEONS: Jesus’ family gave the poor offering. - Luke 2:24. - Leviticus 12:8. - Unless you know the Old Testament background, the mention of dove/pigeon offering is one that we would pass right over. We have no frame of reference on what it means. - When we look back in Leviticus, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

Grace Is Greater-Life Is Hard-God Is Good

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Feb 7, 2018

Our pain draws us closer to Jesus and makes us more like Him

Title: Life is hard-God is good. Place: BLCC Date: 2/11/18 Text: Romans 8.28 CT: Our pain draws us closer to Jesus and makes us more like Him [Screen 1] Doctors make a lot of recommendations for their patients. But do they incorporate these suggestions into their own lives? An article in The ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Four Ways To Better Love Those Away From God

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 16, 2018

Starting with Jesus hanging between two criminals, this sermon focuses on how Jesus was a "friend of sinners" and offers four ways we can improve in that endeavor.

WHICH IMAGE FITS BETTER: Black tuxedo or orange jumpsuit? - Mark 15:27. - Here we have the stark image of Jesus hanging between two criminals. These are orange jumpsuit kind of people. - On the other hand, we have the respectable crowd, perhaps wearing a black tuxedo to show their classiness. - ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

The Advice That Can Divert You From God’s Will

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 23, 2018

Looking at those who shouted at Christ while He was on the cross, this sermon explores how their demands would have led Christ directly away from doing God's will. How often does the advice the world gives us every day do the same thing?

ADVICE FROM THE CROWD: “Good advice” from the world can divert you from God’s will for your life. - Mark 15:29-32. - While Jesus is on the cross, the crowd throws several suggestions His way. When you dig into them a little, it’s interesting to see how deeply counterproductive they are. There ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:25-32

Denomination: Baptist

The Four Miracles Surrounding Jesus’ Death

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 28, 2018

A look at the four miracles that happened at the death of Jesus (darkness, veil, earthquake, and the resurrected saints) and what the spiritual significance of each was.

- We often preach about the amazing things that accompanied Jesus’ resurrection from the death. The scene on Easter morning certainly deserves attention from us. - It’s not just the resurrection of Jesus that had miracles though. The death of Jesus also was accompanied by miracles as well. - ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Did God The Father ‘turn His Back’ On Jesus?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 6, 2018

This sermon looks at Jesus' "forsaken" cry from the cross. It examines two arguments: one that the Father did turn His back on Jesus at that moment; the other that the Bible does not teach that.

A CROSS QUESTIONS: DID GOD THE FATHER "TURN HIS BACK" ON JESUS WHEN HE WAS ON THE CROSS? - Mark 15:34. - The phrase “turn His back” does not appear anywhere in Scripture, but it’s come into our popular religious vocabulary. Commenting on the passage we just read, we often say that when Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:33-34

Denomination: Baptist

Faith That Steps Out

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 20, 2018

A look at Joseph of Arimathea and his decision after the death of Jesus to go public with his faith. What holds us back from being public with our faith?

- Who is Joseph? - Joseph of Arimathea is the main person we’re going to look at here. The gospel of John tells us that Nicodemus accompanied him, but we’re going to focus on Joseph. Some details about him: a. He was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council (Mark ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:42-47

Denomination: Baptist

Four Mistakes In Approaching A Dangerous World

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 9, 2018

Jesus' words about sheep and wolves point us toward the right approach with interacting with the dangerous world around us.

FOUR MISTAKES IN APPROACHING A DANGEROUS WORLD: 1. IF THE WORLD IS MESSY AND DANGEROUS, IS THE WISE OPTION TO JUST WITHDRAW? No, Jesus is sending us out. - Matthew 10:16a. - Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 16:18. - Our tendency is to withdraw from the world because it’s a scary place. - Over time, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Is Porn Really All That Bad? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 18, 2018

This sermon looks at five opening questions about pornography.

FIVE STARTING QUESTIONS: 1. HOW SUBSTANTIAL A PROBLEM IS PORN IN AMERICA TODAY? Three numbers: a. Porn is about a $100 billion industry in America, which is 100 times higher than revenues 20 years ago. - Note that these numbers are just “the porn industry.” That is, the legal, W-2 filing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27-28

Denomination: Baptist

Porn Promises A Shortcut That’s Really A Dead-End Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 27, 2018

Using the Temptation of Christ as a text, this sermon examines how sex is a good gift from God, but porn tries to offer a shortcut to sexual satisfaction.

AN OVERLOOKED TRUTH: Sex was God’s idea and it is a good gift from Him. - Genesis 2:20-25. - The church often comes across as anti-sex. We talk a lot about what’s wrong with the way our culture handles sex. This sermon series largely falls into that category, so I’m not saying that there is no ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist