Sermons on Jim Schaunessey:

Why Do We Ask Less From God Than He’s Willing To Give?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 12, 2013

This message looks at the healing of the paralytic and asks why we settle for less than God's best when we ask from God. It then looks at four examples of how we do similar things today.

- We want to begin with something that stands out early in the story: the fact that they obviously come for physical healing, but Jesus responds to the man by saying that his sins are forgiven. - Why would Jesus do that? Was He unaware of what they’d come for? (Obviously not.) Was He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-8

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

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

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

Resolution Number 1: Live Free In Christ

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 18, 2008

The first of a four part series entitled, ‘Four Resolutions for 2008’

For this sermon series there is a temporary change in the public reading of scripture. I am appreciative of our worship leaders who read the main sermon text each week. (Even when they have those hard to pronounce Old Testament words in them!) (Slide 1) The reason for this change is that we are ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-26

Denomination: Church Of God

Resolution Number Three: Live Well With Others

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 18, 2008

The third of a four part series entitled, ‘Four Resolutions for 2008’

We are now more than half way through first month of 2008 and this is the third of a four part series, ‘Four Resolutions for 2008.’ Four chapters, all from the New Testament, are being studied for the purpose of making four important resolutions for this year: (Slide 1) • Live Free in ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-32

Denomination: Church Of God

Resolution Number 4: Find Your Place And Serve

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 18, 2008

The fourth of a four part series entitled, ‘Four Resolutions for 2008’

In his book, Maximizing Your Effectiveness, Aubrey Malphurs says, ‘most people have a profound inner desire to accomplish something of importance with their lives during their brief stay on planet earth. They want more than anything to lead fulfilling, productive lives that leave them with a deep ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 12:1-31

Denomination: Church Of God