Sermons on Jim Schaunessey:

What's Ahead For The Christian

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 16, 2012

A look at four of the great things we can anticipate being in our future.

The Big Idea: For the Christian, what’s ahead is better than what’s behind. - The specific context here is that things are going to be better for Israel. - In Romans 11 (see vv. 11-12, 28-29), Paul makes it clear that God is not done with Israel. - Those passages speak of how the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 3:16-17

Denomination: Baptist

Worship Fully - Escape The Noise Series

Contributed by Jim Martin on Nov 19, 2012

This sermon is the first of a four sermon series for a church that is supporting International Justice Mission through Advent Conspiracy. This sermon elaborates on the topic of Worshipping Fully in the Advent season by exploring sciptures in Isaiah, encou

Worship Fully — Escape the Noise Isaiah 58 This sermon is one in a four-part series encouraging congregations as they join the Advent Conspiracy and Give More, Spend Less, Worship Fully and Love All. For the remainder of the sermon series, visit www.IJM.org/adventconspiracy. 1. Introduction to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-7

Denomination: *other

Jeremiah's Performance Review Series

Contributed by Jim Martin on Nov 20, 2012

In Jeremiah 19 there is the climactic scene where Jeremiah is instructed to smash at the gate of the city in front of the leaders of Jerusalem. The clash of worldviews and the significant emotional cargo of this passage seemed difficult to render to a mod

Jeremiah’s Performance Review by Jim Martin The River Church Community Sunday, November 18th, 2007 The River Church Community ACT I Scene 1 The intro has to set up that the book of Jeremiah and this story arc in the OT are all about God trying to warn his people that if they ...read more

Denomination: *other

The Part Of The Christmas Story That Speaks To Sandy Hook Tragedy

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 18, 2012

A look at the slaughter of the innocents story in light of the recent tragedy in Conn.

Prop: put a skull and crossbones “ornament” on the sanctuary Christmas tree. Talk about how it doesn't fit with the image. There's a story in the Bible that's part of the Christmas story that creates a similar disconnect. In fact, the disparity between it and the way we want the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

What Do I Do When God’s Leading Doesn’t Add Up? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 20, 2013

A look at the fact that the Magi did not come to Bethlehem but to Nazareth. The sermon uses that truth to talk about following God's direction instead of the man's leading.

STAR OF BETHLEHEM MYTH: The star led the Magi to Bethlehem. - We’ve all seen this in a hundred Christmas plays. - Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen to be the way that the Bible actually says the story happened. - This morning I want to talk about the way the Bible says the story ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

What Happens When We Get Tired Of Waiting On God’s Answer?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 20, 2013

A look at the consequences of trying to manufacture an answer rather than waiting on God to come through for us.

OUR SITUATION: We have a real problem and God seems to be late. - Genesis 16:1, 3. - Verse 3 notes that they’d been living in Canaan for 10 years at this point. Ten years is a long time to wait, especially for something as meaningful as a child. - We don’t want to minimize the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

When We're Embarrassed Of Jesus

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 27, 2013

A look at Peter denying three times and at five examples of times when we are embarrassed of Jesus.

EVERYONE LOVES JESUS IN CHURCH: Whether I’m embarrassed of Jesus often changes with a spike in the cost. - Mark 14: 27-31, 50, 67-68. - It’s easy to love Jesus when there’s no cost involved. It’s easy to love Him when there’s no pressure. - As the costs increase, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:66-72

Denomination: Baptist

What Exactly Does It Mean That Jesus "Carried Our Diseases"?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 4, 2013

A look at the peculiar phrase in Matthew 8:17 that Jesus "took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." It's an easy phrase to overlook, but what exactly does that mean?

WHAT DOES VERSE 17 SAY? It tells us that Jesus “received our sicknesses” and that he “bore our diseases.” - Matthew 8:17. - We read right past that phrase without thinking about it, but when you pause on it there is a peculiarity to it. What exactly does that mean? - I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:14-17

Denomination: Baptist

Why Am I Receiving So Much Flack For Trying To Follow God? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 10, 2013

A look at the negative reaction the Magi received when they arrived in Jerusalem. Often in our lives our attempts to follow God are not met with positive responses from those around us.

THE RESPONSE THE MAGI RECEIVED IN JERUSALEM: Their question didn’t bring joy, but instead brought surprise, anger, embarrassment, and fear. - Matthew 2:1-7. a. Surprise. - Matthew 2:3. - The people are surprised by this news. We know this because of the response. No one has any idea ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Is Divine Forgiveness A Do-Over?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 12, 2013

A look at how God's forgiveness does not always undo the consequences of our sin.

OUR QUESTION: Why won’t God fix my problem? - We see Him blessing others and wonder why those same blessings are flowing toward us. - We see God move powerfully in another’s life and we wonder, “Why not me?” The problem might hearken back to past mistakes. - There are ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:7-16

Denomination: Baptist

When You Don't Like Where God Is Leading You

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 19, 2013

A look at struggles we have with the idea that God gets to shape us rather than us being in charge of our lives ourselves. What does it mean to let Him shape us like a potter shapes the clay?

WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO BRING THAT INTO MY LIFE? We want to be shaped in the way we choose. - It can be painful to be shaped. - Like a potter pressing his fingers into the clay to mold it into a different shape would probably not “feel good” to the clay if it were sentient, so the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Of All The Options For A Sign, Why Did God Choose Circumcision?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 23, 2013

God could have had Abraham put a tattoo on his arm or any one of a thousand other signs, but instead He chose the sign of circumcision? Why in the world? And, beyond that, what relevance does that have for Christians today?

OF ALL THE POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR A SIGN TO THE ISRAELITES, WHY DID GOD CHOOSE CIRCUMCISION? The promise was a miraculous physical child that would be the father to a physical people, so the sign had to do with sex. - Genesis 17:4-13. - Notice in these verses all the physical signs: - v. 4 – ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

When We’re Scared To Go Against What Everyone Else Is Saying

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 29, 2013

A look at Pilate's desire to please the people and the ways that we often behave in the same way.

AN EASY TEMPTATION: We want to satisfy the crowd. - Mark 15:15. - Most of us like being liked. We want people to approve of us. - And it is nice when everyone is backing what we’re saying or what we’re doing. - This is probably the most important phrase in our passage for ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:6-15

Denomination: Baptist

Finding More Faith In The Face Of Life’s Storms

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 1, 2013

Why was Jesus so sharp in His rebuke of the disciples when they woke Him and told Him about the storm?

ISN'T THAT A LITTLE HARSH? Why does Jesus rebuke the disciples for what seems a pretty reasonable request? - Matthew 8:25. - Why are the disciples chastised for what seems a pretty reasonable response? Wasn’t fear a reasonable response? - Most of us would look at that situation and say, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27

Denomination: Baptist

How To Respond When Your Toes Get Stepped On

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 14, 2013

A look at how we should respond when an uncomfortable word of rebuke comes our way.

[Drama idea: Frame as a cheesy commercial. Three people on a pew, two getting convicted and visibly uncomfortable (squirming, facial agitation), one blithe and unconcerned. After a while, the other two ask him how he’s not bothered. He shows off his steel-toed boots. He got the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:11-18

Denomination: Baptist