Sermons on Jim Schaunessey:

Grace Upon Grace

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Dec 7, 2017

God's grace covers us all.

Sunday Night: Grace Upon Grace Place: BLCC Date: 12/10/17 Text: John 1.6-18 CT: God’s grace covers us all. In the last days of the Civil War, the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia, fell to the Union army. Abraham Lincoln insisted on visiting the city. Even though no one knew he was ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-18

Denomination: Christian Church

Joseph-Fullness Of Time Series

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Dec 7, 2017

We must trust God with our life. This sermon used to support our church moving forward into a new building due to God given growth.

Title: Joseph-Fullness of Time Place: BLCC Date: 12/10/17 Text: Galatians 4.4 CT: We must trust God with our life. [Screen 1] FAS: Here is a story about a married woman who decided to go on her own private vacation to Europe. She went from the Midwest to London and then she was planning to go ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Why Are There Unfaithful Religious Leaders? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 9, 2020

What can we learn from the unfaithful religious leaders and Paul's faithful pastoral example?

WERE THERE BAD RELIGIOUS LEADERS BACK THEN? There have always been unfaithful religious leaders. - 2 Corinthians 11:20. - While we might think that our own time is uniquely bad, there have always been unfaithful religious leaders. - Five things v. 20 points out: a. Enslaves you. - Galatians ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

An Ode To The Messed-Up Church Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 11, 2020

This passage details the numerous efforts the Paul made to get the Corinthians back on track and the harsh reality that some churches are just a mess.

- Maybe start with the story of Pastor Mark and church “J.” THE SITUATION FOR THIS MESSED-UP CHURCH: 1. Paul handled his ministry there with integrity. - 2 Corinthians 12:11-12, 17-19. 2. Paul sacrificed for them. - 2 Corinthians 12:13, 14b, 15-16. 3. This was not the first time he’d tried ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Denomination: Baptist

Has God Forgotten Me?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 28, 2014

A look at the care that God has for us and the important difference between pep-talk self-esteem and God-spoke personal value.

A LINGERING QUESTION: Has God forgotten me? - What if God forgot about me? Has God forgotten me? Can I be confident that God is paying attention to me? - Reasons that we think that God has forgotten us: a. It’s taking longer than expected for God to answer our prayer. b. Events in our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

Why Is There So Much Arguing Among Christians? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 29, 2014

There is a lot of arguing among Christians. This sermon looks at why that's largely worthless and where God would have to focus instead.

ARGUING AND CONTROVERSIES: Sometimes we act like the symbol of our faith is a bullhorn. - 1 Timothy 1:4 (“promote controversies”), 6 (“meaningless talk”), 7. - Sometimes we act like a bullhorn is the symbol of our faith – we speak loudly to drown out the other ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:3-7

Denomination: Baptist

God's Job

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Sep 2, 2016

Conway Twitty. "That's My Job". The chorus says, "Everything I do is because of you." Isn't that what God does for us. God is to be seen as the perfect heavenly Father who may even have to say "no' sometimes.

FAS: Play video of “That’s My Job” Conway Twitty LYRICS: I woke up cryin' late at night when I was very young I had dreamed my father had passed away and gone My world revolved around him, I couldn't lie there anymore So I made my way down the mirrored hall And tapped upon his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Denomination: Christian Church

When You Feel Like Your Efforts Aren't Doing Any Good Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 4, 2015

A look at both the discouragement that comes when you're doing what's right without reward and the danger that comes when you're doing what's wrong without consequences.

WHY DO WHAT'S RIGHT? 1. With sin, sometimes we feel like we’re getting away with it. - Having no immediate, embarrassing, catastrophic punishment or consequence fall on us emboldens us to do it again. We begin to become callous. - There is a fear that first time that abates a little each time ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:24-25

Denomination: Baptist

How We Slam The Church Door In God’s Face

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 22, 2017

This passage shares that God's prophet was banned from God's house. What are some ways that we do similar things?

NOT WELCOME: Am I slamming the door of God’s house in God’s face? - Jeremiah 36:5. - Can you imagine a visitor walking up to the church door on a sunny fall morning and having one of our greeters slam the door in their face and lock it from the inside? That would loudly and clearly let the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 36:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Why Don’t We Fear God?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 27, 2017

A look at good fear and bad fear as well as the reasons that we don't fear God anymore.

“FEAR NOT?”: Does the Bible contradict itself on whether we are to fear? - Matthew 10:28. - There are places in the Bible where believers are instructed to “fear not.” There are also places in the Bible where it’s clear that the people should have had fear. So which is it? Are we to fear or to ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 36:9-26

Denomination: Baptist

Mistaking God’s Patience For Weakness Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 16, 2020

The Corinthians continued to sin despite Paul's repeated warnings. How had they taken his patience for weakness?

A THIRD TRY: Paul had been patient with the sinful Corinthians. - 2 Corinthians 13:1-2a. - Paul tells the Corinthians that he is planning to make a third visit to them. This has been necessitated by the ongoing questionable behavior of the church there. - Paul then quotes Deuteronomy about two ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Looking At Your Own Faith Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 25, 2020

Paul encouraged the Corinthians to examine their own faith. What does that look like?

WHO'S IN? There are a lot of questionable boundary markers for the Christian faith. - If you read the obituary page, you will discover some marvelous realities. Among them: a. Upwards of 90% of people are going to heaven. b. People are members of church despite the fact that they haven’t ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

How Does Personal Spiritual Growth Connect To The Church? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 30, 2020

Paul closes out his second letter to the Corinthians with a plea from his heart for their spiritual growth. Why do we today so seldom see that at a practical level in our churches?

- I should note as we begin that v. 8 is a difficult verse. Its meaning is not clear. It’s not essential to grasp that verse in order to be able to understand the larger point that Paul is making, so we’re just going to lay it aside this evening. There’s not any benefit tonight in spending a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

Reading The Bible Literally

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 7, 2020

Paul's instruction that the Corinthians were to "greet one another with a holy kiss" provides a nice open door for discussing whether we are to take the Bible literally. This message looks at four considerations that we need to keep in mind to read the Bible correctly.

- I have four questions for you as we begin. Let me hear an “Amen” if you agree with what I say: a. The Bible is the Word of God. b. We believe in the Bible. c. The Bible is literally true. d. When I came into church, I greeted everyone with a holy kiss. - Where were all the cries of “Amen” ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:12

Denomination: Baptist

The Problem Of Weeds

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Oct 14, 2020

This parable may very well be one of the most important teachings for the church to hear in helping us to understand the nature of our witness for good in the world.

The Problem of Weeds Read Matthew 13:24-30 Everyone who has ever farmed or gardened, or taken care of a lawn, is only too familiar with the vexing reality of weeds. Weeds are essentially a mundane example of the fall of Creation and the presence of sin in the world. The dictionary defines them ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43