Sermons on Jim Schaunessey:

What Does It Mean That Christ "reconciled" Us? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 9, 2018

Paul here uses an interesting and unusual phrase: "reconciled." What exactly does it mean that Christ has reconciled us?

WHAT DOES "RECONCILE" MEAN? It is bringing two things into agreement. - 2 Corinthians 5:18-21. - The key word in this passage is “reconcile.” This is not a word that we use much in sermons or Bible study, but it’s a good Bible word and it has an important truth to teach us. This ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Denomination: Baptist

One Way We Accidentally Trip Up New Believers Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 14, 2018

The Christian life is challenging and one way we trip up new believers is by giving them false expectations about what the journey will be like. This passage details the difficulties Paul encountered and serves as a good summary of the struggles any believer may encounter.

HOW WOULD THEIR MINISTRY BE DISCREDITED? If their children in the faith didn’t continue the race. - 2 Corinthians 6:3b – “. . . so that our ministry will not be discredited.” - Paul talks elsewhere about his children in the faith being his joy. And certainly they were. Here we see another truth ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

Denomination: Baptist

A Secret Weapon For Getting People To Want Jesus Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 19, 2018

In this passage Paul speaks of throwing his "heart wide open" to the Corinthians. Could it be that the deep relationships that will come from doing that might be the church's secret weapon for attracting people to Jesus in a culture overwhelmed by loneliness?

DANGER SIGNS ON CHURCH FRIENDSHIPS: Shallow conversation, safe prayer requests, and busy pastors. - Sometimes church members can be mean to each other, but even in good times many church friendships are characterized by their lack of depth. What are some of the signs? a. Shallow conversation. - ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:11-13

Denomination: Baptist

Paul’s Harsh Advice On Who To Marry Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 28, 2018

This is a challenging passage. Paul repeatedly emphasizes the vast difference between Christians and non-Christians that makes marriage a non-starter. Why does Paul think that Christians should not marry non-Christians?

OVERKILL? Why does Paul make such a big deal about this? - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. - Paul here argues that Christians should not marry non-Christians. That strikes many people as overkill. Is it really that big a deal? Is it really worth the repetition that Paul makes here? This is the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Denomination: Baptist

How Do We Purify Ourselves? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 9, 2019

Some practical help on moving from just wanting to be forgiven of our sins to wanting to be freed from our sins.

WHY WOULD I WANT TO BE PURIFIED? Do I want to be forgiven of sin or freed from sin? - 2 Corinthians 7:1. - Many Christians are content to merely be forgiven of their sins. Indeed, many presume that’s all there is to salvation. - There’s meant to be much more than that, though. Jesus didn’t ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1

Denomination: Baptist

How God Comforts The Downcast Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 16, 2019

This passage shares the encouraging truth that "God . . . comforts the downcast." It also points out one of the major ways that He does that: through the people He's put around us.

DOES GOD CARE ABOUT THE DOWNCAST? He cares enough that He has put the answer all around us. - 2 Corinthians 7:6 – “God . . . comforts the downcast” - We doubt. We feel discouraged and downcast and we wonder if God cares. - And this is a big deal because there are so many today who struggle ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:2-7

Denomination: Baptist

How To Handle Your Guilt Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 22, 2019

Many today want to put aside any mention of shame as inappropriate. Paul, though, speaks of godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. What's the distinction and how can sorrow be a good thing?

SMILEY RELIGION: “God wants me to be happy.” - 2 Corinthians 7:8. - Today so many presume that God’s job is to make them happy. The only way they think about God is that He is there to answer our prayers and bring good things into our lives. - Biblical ideas like carrying your cross, losing ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Should A Good Church Family Look Like? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 31, 2019

A look at six characteristics of a good church family.

The Spirit of a Church: Churches have a spirit about them, whether good or bad. - By “spirit” here, I don’t mean that churches have a soul or anything like that. No, I simply mean that churches have a mood, a personality, a spirit about them. - We’ve all experienced what I’m talking about. Have ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

How Can I Have A Generous Heart When Money Is Tight? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 6, 2019

Paul commends the Macedonians for being generous even in their poverty. What can we learn from them about giving well?

CAN YOU BE BOTH? It’s telling that the Macedonians were poor and generous. - 2 Corinthians 8:1-2. - Verse 2 gives us a striking statement. Paul shares with us that the Macedonians were extremely poor and richly generous. Those aren’t two phrases that we normally put together. - If you’re here ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-3

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