Sermons on Jim Patrick:

How To Pray For Someone Deep In Sin Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 15, 2013

A look at how we need to be praying sometimes for God to put a 'whuppin" on someone.

HOW TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE DEEP IN SIN: it’s ok to pray for God to “whup” someone. - Jonah 1:17-2:1. - Verse 17a – The Lord prepared the trial and rebuke. - Verse 17b – Jonah still did not immediately repent. - Verse 1 – Three days later, Jonah finally ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Why Was The One Sign Jesus Would Give "the Sign Of Jonah"? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 30, 2013

A look at whether Jonah died in the whale as well as what the specific significance of the "sign of Jonah" is.

WHAT IS THE SIGN OF JONAH? Is the point that Jonah was in the whale or that Jonah was dead? - Matthew 12:38-40. - The point of the miracle is less the miracle of being in a whale or the specific time frame (“three days and three nights”) and more the miracle of resurrection. WHAT EXACTLY ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:2-9

Denomination: Baptist

How To Respond To Newly-Delivered People Who Still Are A Mess Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 30, 2013

How do we respond to those who are new Christians and who still "smell" of their former sinful lives?

“WHAT'S THAT SMELL?”: People just spiritually delivered by God usually don’t “smell good.” - Jonah 2:10. - Jonah didn’t smell good. - People coming out of sinful lives don’t usually “smell good.” - There’s lingering sin. There are ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:10

Denomination: Baptist

Why Does God Give Second Chances? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 30, 2013

A look at four reasons that God grants second chances.

WHY DOES GOD GIVE SECOND CHANCES? He is a God of justice and love. - Jonah 3:1. - There are other options than second chances: a. He could offer no second chance. - The first offense could be sufficient to end our chances. - He doesn’t want to do that, though, because He loves us and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1

Denomination: Baptist

Ten Biblical Promises To Claim For Powerful Prayer

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 5, 2013

Many Christians don't know specific verses to claim in their prayers. Here are ten good ones.

WHY IS HAVING A VERSE IMPORTANT? Having a Bible promise helps move us from wishing to confidence. - Romans 4:21; Romans 8:31-32; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Hebrews 4:16. TEN BIBLICAL PROMISES TO CLAIM FOR POWERFUL PRAYER: 1. God will fulfill His promises. - 2 Corinthians 1:20. 2. I can trust God ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:18-21

Denomination: Baptist

Shouldn’t We Put Family First?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 20, 2013

A look at the difficult passages where Jesus calls us to "hate" our families. Why would He ask something like that?

IT SOUNDS GOOD AND RIGHT: “Family first.” - “Family first” comes naturally for us because it’s so easy to love your family more than anything. - Sure, they aggravate us sometimes, but they are our deepest earthly relationships. When a family is as it should be, they ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-27

Denomination: Baptist

If I Have 600 Facebook Friends, Why Do I Still Feel Lonely?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 23, 2013

This message addresses the ironic situation we find ourselves in today: more connected than ever yet lonelier than ever. The message focuses on the idea that having 2 or 3 good friends is more important than having 600 Facebook "friends."

[Video: see attached sheet – “The Innovation of Loneliness” – only use part of it – it’s at vimeo.com/70534716] FIRST THINGS FIRST: It’s a lie that you can have 600 friends. - For our purposes this morning, I want to use the terms “friends” ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1

Denomination: Baptist

How Exactly Does The Holy Spirit Comfort Us?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 26, 2013

A look at the four places in John where the word "paraclete" is used and how each shares a way the Holy Spirit comforts us.

HOW EXACTLY DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT COMFORT US? The Greek word "paraclete" is used only four times in John and they all occur within three chapters. These four uses tell us four ways that the Holy Spirit comforts us. 1. We are comforted because we know He won't leave us hanging. - John ...read more

Scripture: John 14:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Five Ways Churches Fall Short When God Calls Them To Evangelize Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 28, 2013

This sermon looks at five ways that churches aren't as evangelistic as we should be.

- The beginning of the book of Jonah is very clear: a call for Jonah to share a message with the people of Nineveh. Within the statement that God makes, there are five phrases that are worth our attention as they point toward some of the things that we do wrong. Five Ways Churches Fall Short ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

What Should I Do When God's Leading Makes Me Uncomfortable? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 30, 2013

A look at moments when where God is pointing us is not where we want to go.

WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN GOD'S LEADING MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE? There are times we’re fine with the Lord and then He pushes us in a direction we don’t like. - Jonah 1:3. - Our walk with God seems fine. Everything is going ok. We’ve been fine with what He’s asked of us in the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:3

Denomination: Baptist

When God Sends A "Great Storm" Into Your Life Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 11, 2013

A look at why God sends storms our way.

WHY WOULD GOD DELIBERATELY SEND A "GREAT STORM" INTO YOUR LIFE? The two most likely reasons are pruning or discipline. - Jonah 1:4; John 15:1-8. WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF OUR DISOBEDIENCE? The two biggest are a bad witness for God and bad results for us. WHY WON'T GOD LET US WALK AWAY? Because ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:4

Denomination: Baptist

How Can Jonah Sleep So Soundly When Running Away From God? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 11, 2013

A look at how a defiant attitude can cause us to not care that we're disobeying God.

HOW CAN JONAH SLEEP SO SOUNDLY WHEN RUNNING AWAY FROM GOD? Defiance can overwhelm any sense of guilt. - Jonah 1:5. - There are other possibilities here for why Jonah is able to enter into a deep sleep: it could have been physical exhaustion; it could have been that he’s so tormented by his ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:5

Denomination: Baptist

Moving Beyond Prayer As 911 Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 17, 2013

A look at how we too often only pray in emergencies and some steps toward a deeper prayer life.

[Skit: Say that you’re going to demonstrate the way that we often pray. Say, “Dear God. . .” and have someone respond over the sound system, “911. What’s your emergency?”] EVERYONE BELIEVES IN PRAYER SOMETIMES: Everyone prays in an emergency. - Jonah 1:5. - ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:5

Denomination: Baptist

Going Overboard About Our Possessions Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 18, 2013

The main idea shared here is "don't go overboard about things you'd throw overboard." The message looks at how often only a life-threatening situation can cause us to let loose of our possessions.

MAN OVERBOARD: Don’t go overboard about things you’d throw overboard. - Jonah 1:5. - This trip was undertaken for financial reasons. They didn’t just set sail because they wanted to see the ocean for a while. They did it because there was money to be made. They didn’t ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:5

Denomination: Baptist

Is Fruitfulness Hidden Or Obvious? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 6, 2014

A look at Jesus' insistence that a good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit. Includes an explanation concerning the thought that most lives are a mixed bag of good and bad fruit.

WHAT EXACTLY DO WE MEAN BY "FRUIT"? Generally when we talk about fruit there are two kinds: internal soul transformation and external people impact. - 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23; Galatians 5:22-23; Colossians 1:10. A. Internal soul transformation. - By this I mean that God is shaping you into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:15-20

Denomination: Baptist