Sermons on Jim Schaunessey:

The Da Vinci Code: Fact Or Fiction (Part One: Can The Bible Be Trusted?)

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 5, 2006

In the light of The Da Vinci Code’s accusation that what we read in the Bible is fiction, this message looks at four of the main accusations against the accuracy of the Bible and explains why the Bible can be trusted.

- Why are we going to talking about The Da Vinci Code over the next few weeks? Well, there’s a couple of reasons: 1. Dan Brown’s book makes some serious claims about Jesus that strike at the heart of what we believe. Because of the enormous popularity of this book and the likely blockbuster ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-13

Denomination: Baptist

Excusing Our Sin: "I'm A Good Person"

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 5, 2006

This message looks at what we really mean when we say, "He’s a good person" and what the Biblical standard is to be able to say that.

1. Our Belief: “I’m a good person.” 2. Some Examples Of God’s Standards: a. It’s a blot on our record every time we get angry at a friend without cause. - Matthew 5:21-22. - We’ll say, “Well, at least I’m not a murderer,” but here we see that we’re in danger of judgment for our unjustified ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:9-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Da Vinci Code: Fact Or Fiction (Part Two: Did Jesus Claim To Be God?)

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 14, 2006

In his book, Dan Brown claims that the deity of Jesus was a fourth-century creation. This sermon looks at Jesus’ own statements on the subjects and then examines the three ways we can respond to those statements.

The Da Vinci Code Claim: “The deity of Jesus was invented at the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.).” - A character in Brown’s book states, “Until that moment [the Council of Nicea] in history, Jesus was viewed by his followers as a mortal prophet. . . a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Road To Damascus

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 30, 2006

March 5, 2006 Communion Meditation and the first sermon of the 2006 Lenten Series

(Introduction to meditation was from Creative Communications for the Parish’s dramatic introduction, ‘This Lenten Road: The Road to Damascus’ © 2004 by Creative Communications for the Parish.) (1) Many years ago along one of our coasts a Navy Captain looked into the dark night and saw faint ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-20

Denomination: Church Of God

The Road To The Wilderness

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 30, 2006

Second sermon for Lent 2006

(The introduction to this sermon was dramatic reading from the Lenten Series, ‘The Lenten Road,’ published by The Center for Creative Communication for the Parish. © 2004) (1) Look at this photo for a moment. It’s magnificent! It’s majestic! It’s appealing! It’s warm! It’s sunny! What a beautiful ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

The Road To Jerusalem

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 30, 2006

Third Sermon for Lent 2006

Dramatic Introduction: ‘The Road to Jerusalem’ written by Arden and Peter Mead and published by the Creative Communications for the Parish, © 2004. (1) This past week there have been roads in our state and across the center of this nation and elsewhere that has not been hospitable to drivers. An ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-26

Denomination: Church Of God

The Road To Jericho

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 30, 2006

A communion meditation for April 2, 2006 and the fourth sermon in a 2006 Lenten Series

Dramatic Introduction: ‘The Road to Jericho’ written by Arden and Peter Mead and published by the Creative Communications for the Parish, © 2004 In their comments on our main text, Arden and Peter Mead ask the question, ‘Where do you picture yourself in the story of the Good Samaritan? With what ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Church Of God

The Bethany Road

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 30, 2006

The fifth sermon of a 2006 Lenten Series

Dramatic Introduction: ‘The Bethany Road’ written by Arden and Peter Mead and published by Creative Communications for the Parish, © 2004 (1) Sermon titles are a challenge for a pastor. There is an art to selecting a suitable title but it can be quite difficult to do so. Some pastors have simply ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-19

Denomination: Church Of God

The Road To Gethsemane

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 30, 2006

2006 Maundy Thursday meditation

(The meditation began with a dramatic dialogue, ‘The Road to Gethsemane.’ © 2004 by Creative Communications for the Parish) “The road to Gethsemane,” writes Arden and Peter Mead, “is a road to prayer.” It is a road to prayer because Jesus tells the disciples to ‘keep alert and pray.’ This begs the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Church Of God

The Tale Of Two Rooms

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 30, 2006

A 2006 post-Easter sermon

(1) When failure strikes, where do you go to regroup? I asked that question to several persons this week and here is what some of them said: (1A) One of them offered several different groups of people but ultimately said, “I drop to my knees, and pour my pain before the throne of God, and ask for ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-23

Denomination: Church Of God

The Da Vinci Code: Fact Or Fiction (Part Three: Was Jesus Married?)

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 2, 2006

This message deals with the Da Vinci Code’s lies about Jesus being married to Mary Magdalene and having fathered a child with her.

DAN BROWN’S CLAIMS: “Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. They had a child. After Jesus’ death, Mary fled to France. Today, there are physical descendants of Jesus’ bloodline.” - The Da Vinci Code makes some wild assertions here. Brown claims that after Jesus’ death Mary fled to France in the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31

Denomination: Baptist

Three Tough Issues On A Woman's Role In Church

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 2, 2006

These difficult passages deal with the controversial subjects of women being silent in church, women wearing head coverings, and male headship. This message looks at both sides of each Biblical argument.

- It’s Christmas Eve and the kids are off to bed. You pull out the box with one of their big gifts for Christmas morning. Before you’re off to bed, you just need to spend a few minutes assembling the toy. You open the box and pull out piece after piece after piece, along with several bags of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Denomination: Baptist

Taking Sin Seriously Within The Church

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 13, 2005

This message deals with the four biggest questions about the lost discipline of church discipline.

Taking Sin Seriously Within The Church - Answering Four Key Questions: 1. What? “The church must discipline serious sin.” - v. 3. - Many have given into the idea that we are to be completely non-judgmental, but “Judge not” is not all Jesus said on the subject. - Matthew 7:1 vs. John 7:24. - ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing With Gossip - "You're Not Going To Believe What I Heard"

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Sep 14, 2005

This message answers 4 of the biggest questions about gossip, including what is gossip (and what’s acceptable conversation) as well as how to deal with someone wanting to share gossip with you.

1. When Is It Gossip And When Is It Acceptable Conversation? “The difference is in motive and accuracy.” - Ephesians 4:15. - One struggle that people have is that they believe that “not gossiping” means ceasing to having any conversation about people and what’s going on in their lives. Most of ...read more

Scripture: James 3:5

Denomination: Baptist

Seven Weeks Later…

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 26, 2005

A Communion Meditation for Sunday, September 4, 2005

One of the most important ways that the Bible can come alive to us is to be able to link events in the New Testament to events in the Old Testament. As we are able to do so (and a good cross-reference Bible helps) we are able to gain a fuller understanding of how Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Old ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1

Denomination: Church Of God