Sermons on Jim Patrick:

Why Don’t I Sense God’s Closeness More Often?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 3, 2018

Jesus said the kingdom is near, yet often we don't sense God's closeness. This sermon looks at five places where we're likely to meet God.

A GOOD QUESTION: Why don’t I sense God’s closeness more often? - Most of us can tell you about moments in our lives when we sensed God’s closeness. - One such moment for me was when the Holy Spirit spoke to me at 4 a.m. in Guangzhou, China. The presence of the Holy Spirit was so palpable and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

When Your Theology Bumps Into The Facts Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 16, 2021

A lengthy story about a man born blind provides a clear picture of what happens when your theology bumps into inconvenient facts. Will you reach for God or cling to your predetermined ideas?

SEEING THE LIGHT: The man was blind but saw by believing and obeying Jesus. - John 9:1-7. a. We’ll get more into the confusion in a moment, but the disciples echo the prevailing theology of the time and presume that someone must have sinned for him to be blind. - vv. 1-2. - It was a theology ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Baptist

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Feb 18, 2021

“Mercy triumphs over judgment” is one of the most important declarations in all of scripture-- both for our own salvation, and in how we reflect God’s love for a fallen world.

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment James 2:13 (Read Mark 1:40-45) Spiros Zodhiates was a Greek scholar and Christian leader who told of once preaching on the love of God to a leprosy colony in India. Their members were so moved by his message that they came forward to embrace him afterwards. He said ...read more

Scripture: James 2:13, Mark 1:40-45

Grant Us Wisdom

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Feb 22, 2021

We live in the Information Age, a time in which entire libraries of knowledge are available to us. And that’s a blessing. But as followers of Jesus, let’s also remember that wisdom and understanding are even more crucial to making a difference for God in our generation.

Read Luke 2: 39-52 When I was a young boy, I had what should have been a teachable moment. My mother, siblings and I were just returning home from being out for the afternoon, and as she pulled in the driveway she said, “I want everyone to come straight into the house. We’re going to eat very ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:39-52

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

How Can You Tell Who Is Ready To Receive God

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 6, 2013

A look at how we frequently judge the inward readiness by the outward appearance and why that doesn't work.

HOW CAN YOU TELL WHO IS READY TO RECEIVE GOD? Outward appearance is a poor indicator of inward readiness. - Jonah 3:5-10. - Focusing on outward appearance hurts our witnessing because we don’t want to be mocked. - There are many who appear to be far away from God because they are in fact very ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:5-10

Denomination: Baptist

Why Christians Need Ongoing Repentance Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 13, 2013

A look at some of the reasons why Christians need ongoing repentance and what that looks like in practice.

A SMILE ON GOD'S FACE: God delights in repentance. - Jonah 3:10. - Many have an exclusive view of God as the mean headmaster or the zealous judge, but one of the things that the Bible makes clear is that God loves seeing the prodigal return home. God loves repentance. - Here God has every ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:10

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Grace Toward People You Can’t Stand

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 16, 2013

A look at the personal resentments that we hold onto as well as how God expects us to change to see those people the way He does.

WHAT GOD BELIEVES: We want God’s actions to line up with our pre-existing beliefs. - We want God to work within the confines of our pre-existing beliefs and values. We don’t want to have to go through the hard work of changing what we think and believe. - We want to love God and be a ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Grace Toward People You Can’t Stand

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 18, 2013

We want God's grace given to us but we're not as happy when God's grace is extended to the person who hurt us. This message looks at Jonah's anger and what God expects of us toward those who've hurt us.

WHAT GOD BELIEVES: We want God’s actions to line up with our pre-existing beliefs. - We want God to work within the confines of our pre-existing beliefs and values. We don’t want to have to go through the hard work of changing what we think and believe. - We want to love God and be a ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

The Hidden Work That Brings God’s Power

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 18, 2013

This encounter makes no sense (why would Matthew just get up and follow this man) unless you know the behind-the-scenes encounters that happened prior. This message unpacks the need for that hidden work in our lives to see God moves powerfully.

WHY DOES MATTHEW FOLLOW A STRANGER? The public commitment was preceded by behind-the-scenes work. - Matthew 9:9. - Matthew 4:18-22; John 1:35-42. - Matthew doesn't follow a stranger. He had a previous relationship with Jesus. This public moment was preceded by behind-the-scenes things. - The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9

Denomination: Baptist

Why Would God Stoop To Reveal His Will Through Dice Tossed By Pagan Sailors Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 27, 2013

God reveals Jonah's guilt through dice tossed by pagan sailors. It's so undignified. Why would God stoop to reveal His will in such a way?

REALLY, GOD? Why would God stoop to reveal His will through dice tossed by pagan sailors? - Jonah 1:7. - When you think about this situation, it just all seems so undignified. We’ve got these sailors (whom we can safely presume were not having Sunday School on the ship) rolling dice and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:7

Denomination: Baptist

How Can Prayer Be A Witnessing Tool? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 29, 2013

Everyone believes in prayer in a crisis and that's an opportunity for us to point them to God.

AN OPEN DOOR: Everyone believes in prayer in a crisis. - Jonah 1:6 – “The captain went to him and said, ‘How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god!’” - In the section, notice two things: a. It’s the captain that asks Jonah to pray. - Now, there’s ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:6

Denomination: Baptist

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