Sermons on Jim:

Remember Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 16, 2009

How can this great book on leadership end this way? This chapter is a reflection on everything that has gone on up until this point. But it’s not a rose-colored reflection. It is an honest look at how quickly the remnant fell away and it demands an hones

That was a lot to read, so I want to briefly give you an overview of what’s going on here. Sometime, either before the chapter, or after verse 3, Nehemiah leaves town to fulfill the promise he made to the king back in chapter 2. We don’t really know exactly how long Nehemiah was gone. It could ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 13:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Source Of Suffering Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 16, 2009

Each of us has to deal with the question of suffering at one point or another. Today we are starting a new four part survey of the book of Job that will specifically deal with the question of suffering. The messages go together, so, if possible, you shoul

Over the next four weeks, we are going to be doing something a little bit different. Tonight, we’re going to allow Job to show us the Source of Suffering. Next week, we’ll see the Purpose in Suffering. After that, we’ll see how we should respond When Others Suffer around us. And we’ll finish ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Purpose In Suffering Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 16, 2009

Why? Isn’t that the question most of us ask when we experience suffering? Is there a purpose for suffering? If so, what is it? The answers to those questions are not easy to discover. And many times, when we find the answer, we don’t like what we find.

I’m sure that many of you were doing the same thing that I was doing on Thursday evening. We had finished with the evening session of the pastors conference and I was planning on going back to the room and doing some studying. My laptop had other plans. It crashed. So I turned on the TV to catch ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

When Others Suffer Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 16, 2009

We’ve all been around people who are suffering. When someone around us is suffering, those can be some of the most helpless times of your life. What do you do? What do you say? How should you react? That is what we will look at today in this message

We have all had someone close to us have to go through suffering. Whether it was someone as close as a spouse or a child, or whether it was only a friend or even an acquaintance. We’ve all been around people who are suffering. And I don’t know about you, but those times can be some of the most ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What Are You Looking For? Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 23, 2009

Have you found what you’re looking for? The people in our passage today thought they found what they were looking for in Jesus. But He wouldn’t have anything to do with them. Why was that? Because they were looking for a king, but they were looking for

One of the most popular music groups over the past 25 years has been a band called U2. The lead singer of U2 is a man named Bono. It seems like every couple of years it gets reported that Bono is a professing Christian. I don’t know whether he is or not. I do know that several years ago, he ...read more

Scripture: John 6:14-15

Denomination: Baptist

When I Suffer Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 30, 2009

This is our fourth and final look at suffering in the book of Job—and today we’re going to get personal. We’re going to talk about how to deal with it when we are the ones who are suffering. How can we suffer well?

Horatio Spafford was a very wealthy man. He was a very well-known lawyer in Chicago. He had a beautiful Scandinavian wife named Anna and they had a son and four daughters. Even though Horatio was a lawyer, he made most of his money as a real estate investor. By the late 1800s, he owned much of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Changing Directions

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 26, 2010

The sixth message in the 2010 Lenten series

This morning we begin with a few moments of review and reflection. First I am going to review the messages of this Lenten series and then give you a few moments to reflect on this Lenten series by taking time to write out your thoughts for your personal use. We have spent this Lenten season with ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:5-10

Denomination: Church Of God

If I’m Following God’s Voice, Why Do I Keep Running Into These Obstacles? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 27, 2010

Facing the struggles that so often following our step of faith.

THE WAY IT SHOULD BE: Following God’s voice leads to feelings of peace. - Judges 6:23-24. - In both v. 23 and v. 24, we see peace emphasized. When we follow God, this is what we expect: that our hearts would be filled with peace. - We may be expect a warm fuzzy glow from our conversation with ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

Is It Ok To Ask God For A Sign? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 27, 2010

This message looks at the unusual "fleece" request that Gideon makes and then considers whether we are allowed to make similar requests.

Is It Ok To Ask God For A Sign?: 1. This passage about Gideon’s fleece is a true story, but not an ironclad promise. - Judges 6:36-40. - God is under no obligation to answer “fleece” questions. - Not all Bible stories are directly applicable in the sense of being able to expect God to do the ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:33-40

Denomination: Baptist

Avoiding Three Common Misuses Of The Bible

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 30, 2010

Jesus points out some of the ways that the Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees are not interpreting the Word right.

Three Common Misuses Of The Bible: 1. The highest use of your Bible knowledge is winning a theological argument. - Matthew 22:15-22. - For many people, the ultimate use of their Bible knowledge is the ability to show others (both Christians and non-Christians) that “I’m right and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Denomination: Baptist

Doesn't "Turning The Other Cheek" Just Make Me A Doormat? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 13, 2010

A look at one of Jesus more difficult teachings and why it's worth our obedience.

- Our first reaction to reading Jesus’ words here is likely to be disbelief. “Is He serious? You’ve got to be kidding me!” - Which leads us to our first question. . . What Was He Thinking? Is Jesus naïve, stupid, or insightful? - Matthew 5:39-42. a. Is Jesus naïve? - ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Denomination: Baptist

How Can I "Love My Enemy" When I Can't Stand To Be In The Same Room As Him? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 21, 2010

A look at the difficult command to love our enemies.

What “Love Your Enemy” Is. . . And Isn’t: - Matthew 5:44. a. It is not excusing their actions, - Often those who are our enemies have done things to us that have hurt us. Many people misunderstand Jesus’ command to forgive as a call to excuse their actions. - ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Baptist

Are You A Peacemaker Or Peacekeeper

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 6, 2009

Initial 2009 Sermon and the first sermon in a series ‘2 Things 2 B in 09’

the years many people, including some of you, have sent me some really wonderful stories that often find their way into my sermons and this morning there is one that I received this week that provides an introduction, in probably one of my patented round about ways, to this sermon and sermon ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Denomination: Church Of God

Right!

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 6, 2009

Second sermon of initial 2009 series: ‘2 Things 2 B in 09’

(Slide 1) Whoever said that politics is boring? It certainly isn’t these days, is it? We have seen this week a person, appointed by an embattled governor to be the next senator of that state, refused admission to the United States senate chambers. Why? Because his papers were not in order as they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17

Denomination: Church Of God

Right!

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 6, 2009

Second sermon of initial 2009 series: ‘2 Things 2 B in 09’

(Slide 1) Whoever said that politics is boring? It certainly isn’t these days, is it? We have seen this week a person, appointed by an embattled governor to be the next senator of that state, refused admission to the United States senate chambers. Why? Because his papers were not in order as they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17

Denomination: Church Of God