Sermons on Jim Schaunessey:

The Problem With Relying On Your Heart When Judging Right And Wrong

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 5, 2013

A look at the danger that comes with claiming that our conscience is the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong. We have traded blush on our cheeks for a shrug of our shoulders.

GETTING RID OF SHAME: We frequently trade blushing for shrugging. - Jeremiah 8:12. - This is such a rich phrase here in verse 12 – they don’t even know how to blush. - Sometimes we act like the heart and conscience will always be a reliable artiber of what’s right and wrong, ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 8:12

Denomination: Baptist

What Does Spiritual Confidence Look Like?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 6, 2013

A look at what it means to step out in faith that what Jesus says is settled.

HOW TO AMAZE JESUS: Move forward confident that what Jesus said is settled. - Matthew 8:8-10. - In verses 8-9 the centurion says something simple but extraordinary. The soldier understands authority: he tells one of his underling soldier to do something and they go do it. He is a man of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:5-13

Denomination: Baptist

Why Does God Make Us Wait?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 1, 2012

A look at some of the major reasons that God doesn't always answer our prayers when we want Him to.

A Nagging Question: Why does God make us wait? - Genesis 15:1-3. The questions linger in our minds. Even someone with as great a faith as Abraham struggled with these questions. I want to look at some of the main reasons that He makes us wait. I realize this is not as good as telling you that ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-3

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

Four Lies We Believe About Who Jesus Is Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 24, 2013

A look at some of the ways that we make up who Jesus is rather than digging into the Scripture to find out who He really is.

WHY DO I NEED TO READ THE BIBLE IF I'VE ALREADY ACCEPTED JESUS? You have not just been called to believe in Jesus, but to follow Jesus. - Matthew 4:19; Matthew 8:22; Matthew 9:9; Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; Matthew 19:21; Mark 1:17; Mark 2:14; Mark 8:34; Mark 10:21; Luke 5:27; Luke 9:23, 59, 61; ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

How To Use The Bible To Win Spiritual Victories Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 31, 2013

This sermons gives practical advice on how to use the offensively (offensively as in offense and defense). What does it mean that the Bible is the sword of the Spirit - our one offensive weapon in the armor of God.

[Skit idea: A guy talking big (“saved by God, power of Holy Spirit, etc.,” he has a sword of the Spirit) then when an enemy comes and engages him in battle, he cowers, girl-screams, hops backward in retreat, head tucked down, blindly and wildly waving his sword around in the general ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

When The Enemy Fights Back: Using The Bible Defensively Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 6, 2013

A look at how to use the Bible to defend ourselves against spiritual attacks. I include 8 specific examples of how this can happen in our lives.

HOW CAN THE BIBLE BE USED DEFENSIVELY? Untruths threaten to push us down the wrong path. - Matthew 4:1-11; Ephesians 6:11; 1 Peter 5:8. - We talked last week about using the Bible offensively – using it to win spiritual victories. - This week we’re going to talk about using the Bible ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-11

Denomination: Baptist

Five Keys To Getting A Strong Start In The Bible Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 7, 2013

This message gives some basic advice for those ready to begin reading the Bible regularly.

[Possible skit: two people bragging about how much they’ve studied the Bible; get in an epic Bible trivia contest; as they give each other increasingly obscure questions and answers, they ignore or brush off people (the homeless person – “Do you know where I could get something to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:22-25

Denomination: Baptist

Fighting The Self-Centered Tendencies Of Facebook, Twitter, And Youtube Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 12, 2013

A look at the self-centeredness that is encouraged by Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The message then details what the Biblical idea of servanthood and how that leads to a life of impact.

THE MOST COMMON "PRODUCT" OF FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND YOUTUBE: We are self-centered, endlessly focusing attention on ourselves. - Philippians 2:3-4. - Let me acknowledge first that I am not saying that Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are intrinsically evil. They’re not. I use each and there ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

Four Truths To Deflate Self-Centeredness Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 16, 2013

A look at four passages in Luke that help us to puncture the self-centered tendencies that come so naturally in our culture.

WHAT JESUS EXPECTS: He told us to be servants, but it’s hard to know how to move in that direction in such a self-centered culture. - Luke 22:24-27. - It is a little difficult for us to understand how to be servants when we’re so used to being the center of attention: a. Stores cater ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:24-27

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