Sermons on Jim:

How Simeon Had Peace At His Death Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 17, 2021

This sermon focuses on the interesting comment that Simeon makes that, having seen the Messiah, he is now ready to die in peace. What would it take for us to die in peace?

READY TO GO? What would make you say, “Now I can die in peace”? - I ask this question in the half-joking way that we usually use this phrase. Someone meets their sports hero and then says, “Now I can die in peace.” Some teen girls go see Shawn Mendes in concert and leave saying, “Now I can die ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-32

Denomination: Baptist

Simeon’s Answer To "hope So" Faith Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 23, 2021

Simeon says, "My eyes have seen your salvation." Could that be true today too?

A COMMON ANSWER ABOUT BEING SAVED: “I hope so.” - Often when you ask someone if they are going to heaven, they will answer, “I hope so.” - Or you might ask someone if they’re saved and they’ll reply, “I think so.” - [Maybe share those two as more developed stories.] - Maybe you’re in that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-30

Denomination: Baptist

Marveling At Jesus Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 2, 2021

They marveled over the things Simeon said about the Child King. What can we learn about Jesus from the other places in Luke where this Greek word for "marvel" shows up?

The Response to Simeon’s Words: They marveled at Jesus. - Luke 2:33. - Luke 2:18. - Same Greek word in both verses. - We are going to look at places in Luke (and one in Mark) where this Greek word shows up. What can we learn from it? Marveling at Jesus: 1. They marveled at His power. - ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-33

Denomination: Baptist

Everlasting Father Series

Contributed by Jim Paice on Dec 13, 2021

What comes to mind when you think about the word "everlasting"? Do you find it hard to imagine something that could possibly last forever? Well good news - you're not alone! This message investigates the three things that are everlasting, and to whom they belong.

MAIN IDEA - The three things that last are 1. The Word of God, 2. The soul of man, and 3. The love of God. INTRO / WELCOME Good morning and Merry Christmas. If you’re joining us for the first time this month, we are in the middle of a series called “the NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES” which is based ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

The Controversy And Confrontation That Jesus’ Kingdom Brings Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 14, 2021

A look at the three closing promises Simeon makes - all of them challenging. What do we learn from these and where do we see these happening in Jesus' ministry?

SAFE AND HARMLESS? Is Jesus’ Kingdom like “no more tears” shampoo? - Have a bottle of Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo and talk about the old “no more tears” promise. It was safe and harmless. A PIERCING SWORD: Simeon speaks of a Kingdom that is less happy and harmless and more controversial ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-35

Denomination: Baptist

The Consequences Of The Father And Son Glorifying Each Other Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 6, 2022

This passage highlights the selflessness that exists between Father and Son. What does that bring about?

- I want to start this evening with something unusual: a tweet that actually stuck with me. (Most are immediately disposable.) - I’m not sure why exactly it has stuck with me, but it has. It’s been a while so I may not have all the details perfect but I do know the gist of the message. - A woman ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Connections Of Father, Son, And The Disciples Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 13, 2022

This passage is flooded with information about the connections between the Father, the Son, and the disciples. What specifically can we learn from it?

- [Probably best to do on a Wednesday evening – lots of points.] - This passage is dense. Lots going on. It’s deep and complex. - One of the things worth pulling from this passage: there is an almost overwhelming about of information on the connections between Father, Son, and the disciples. - ...read more

Scripture: John 17:6-26

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Jesus Praying For Us? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 13, 2022

Jesus prays for His disciples and for those who will believe through them. What does He pray?

REVEALING THE HEART: You can learn a lot about someone from how they pray for you. - John 17:9. - I learn a lot about people when I ask “what’s the most important thing I can be praying for you?” That tells me a lot about what their priorities and loves are. - Do they ask for prayer for their ...read more

Scripture: John 17:9-21

Denomination: Baptist

Love Conquers All

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Nov 27, 2023

The love of God overcomes fear if we choose to open our hearts to its supreme reality. The greatest source of blessing and peace we can ever know is found in trusting in his love.

A pastor shared the story of going deep-sea fishing in Florida with his brother when their boat lost all of its electronics, including the communications and GPS functions. They were out of sight of land, and since it was an overcast day there was no way for them even to tell east from west. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43, 1 John 4:16-18

How Faith Brings Salvation Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 29, 2023

This part of Paul's argument gets into what exactly Jesus does for us.

- [Don’t read the whole passage to open the sermon.] - Review of the sermons up to this point: a. Overview. b. We are all sinners. - Having established the problem, we are now starting to get into the answer and how exactly God is working in that. WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR SALVATION? ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Where Does This Salvation Place Me? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 5, 2023

What is the position that this salvation puts me in?

WHERE DOES THIS SALVATION PLACE ME? I have peace with God. - Romans 5:1-2. - Pieces of this passage: a. We talked in the last sermon about being justified by faith. - v. 1a. b. Where that salvation places me is that I now have peace with God. - v. 1b. c. Jesus made that happen. - v. 1c. d. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

How Do We Live Out This Salvation? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 11, 2023

Paul now shifts to a major misunderstanding about grace and explains what living out this salvation should look like.

A LOOPHOLE? Can we just keep sinning and use grace as an excuse? - Romans 6:1-2. a. Grace is the means by which salvation comes to us, but grace is easily misunderstood. - v. 1. - We closed out with grace last week. It’s the reality that we cannot earn our salvation but we receive it as a free ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

If I’ve Received Salvation, Why Do I Still Struggle? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 18, 2023

Romans 7 delves into the struggles we as Christians experience in this world: wanting to follow God yet often caught up in our sin nature. What does Paul teach us about how we are to look at that reality?

DEAD MAN WALKING: Dying with Christ is important because it means we’ve been freed. - Romans 7:1-4a. - Chapter 7 obviously flows from chapter 6. Last week in chapter 6 the big ideas we talked about were the (a) we are dead to sin and alive to Christ and (b) that we have to choose if we are going ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

What Is The End Result Of This Salvation? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 8, 2024

Paul concludes Romans 1-8 by talking about walking in the Spirit and the certainty of our hope in Christ.

WALKING FORWARD: Living by the Holy Spirit is effective. - Romans 8:1-13. a. No condemnation but how do I live it out? - Romans 8:1. b. Life in the Holy Spirit sets me free. - Romans 8:2-4. c. This is a choice of what’s in our minds. - Romans 8:5-8. d. This is not optional. - Romans ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-39

Denomination: Baptist

Strength In Service

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Jun 24, 2022

God has blessed us with the gift of masculine strength--not only physically, but with a crucial moral and spiritual responsibility--to be used only and always in the service of love.

You may have seen the maternity shirt that says, “A man did this to me, Oprah.” Men are responsible for a lot of things that determine the kind of world we live in, for better or worse. This morning, Father’s Day, I’d like to highlight the “better.” (I’ve never understood why someone would ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13-14