Sermons on Jim:

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

Answering Questions Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Dec 14, 2009

Have you ever asked a question and not gotten the answer you were looking for? I think we all have. The fact is, that just because a person is asking a question, doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re looking for an answer. Especially if the answer goes ag

Have you ever asked a question and not gotten the answer you were looking for? I think we all have. Many times we will even ask a question with an answer already in our heads that we are looking for. Sometimes, we will even frame the question in such a way that even the way we ask it is designed ...read more

Scripture: John 6:22-59

Denomination: Baptist

Who The Light Of Christmas Is Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Dec 14, 2009

This is the second message of a three part Christmas series on the first 7 verses of Isaiah 9. Today’s message focuses specifically on the answer to the question, “Who Is Jesus?” Do you know the answer? This is the perfect season to find out.

Who is Jesus to you? Lots of people believe in Jesus. Many atheists and agnostics believe in Jesus. They will say that He was a real historical person. They will say He was a great teacher of morality. They will say He might have even thought that He was a prophet. They might even say that He ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:7

Denomination: Baptist

In Christ

Contributed by Jim Drake on Apr 14, 2009

Are you a Christian? According to some recent statistics, over 80% of Americans call themselves by that label. But being a Christian is far more than giving yourself a label. Being a Christian is being in Christ. In this Easter Sunday message, we’re going

http://brushforkbanner.blogspot.com Are you a Christian? These days, that question isn’t so simple, is it? Because all kinds of people call themselves Christians. Over the past couple of weeks, I have read reports about a “pastor” in the Netherlands who calls himself an atheist Christian. He ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

How Do We Influence Our Society?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 17, 2009

We’ve tried all sorts of ways of trying to impact our culture. What does Jesus have to say about the way to make a difference in society?

How Do We Influence Our Society? It’s not through programs. It’s not through politics. It’s not through buildings. It’s not through books. It’s not through ideas. - Only focus on the negative ideas here. 1. Programs. - “If our church could get more programs going, we could make a huge ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

All In Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Jul 6, 2009

If we want to do God’s work in God’s way, we won’t have any parade leaders. We will only have real, committed leaders who are burdened by God, are committed to the Great Commission and are not distracted by discouragement or opposition. We will only have

http://brushforkbanner.blogspot.com/ Leadership is a tricky thing, isn’t it? Leadership is one of those things that is hard to define and quantify. Sometimes good leadership isn’t recognized when it is present, but it sure is easy to see when it’s not there. One thing about leadership—we all ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:14-19

Denomination: Baptist