Author: Tim

Sermon Audio: Into Life
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 12:6-11, Romans 6:2-14
Duration: 26:57
Size: 18.5 MB

A Journey of Repentance
Into Life
Acts 12:6-11, Romans 6:2-14

Death is not an end point for us, as Christians. Physical death is not, and neither is spiritual death.

Every time a sinful action or attitude creeps up, we must cooperate with God in putting it to death and live differently.

Do you catch it? It is the same with us–Jesus has already accomplished everything at the cross, it is done, and yet we must trust and act.

Rather, I am talking about the Biblical truth of death to self—of having the old, sinful self “crucified with Christ”, of taking everything that I am and handing it over to God to be tested in the fire, to be purified, so that everything that remains would be pleasing to God.

The final step along the journey of repentance is the step into life. Into the life of God, into the fullness of God.

Sermon Audio: “Through” Death
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Romans 6:2-14
Duration: 26:55
Size: 18.4 MB

A Journey of Repentance
“Through” Death
Romans 6:2-14

A couple of weeks ago, I invited you to come along on this journey of repentance. I promised you it would not be easy, but that it would lead to life and to freedom.

Do you see? It is not our work, it is God’s work, but we must make the space for God to do the work.

What is the next step? It is death. It is dying to self, dying to sin, being united with Jesus’ in His death, being “crucified with Christ”, and then passing through death into the next step.

Because, you see, the death we are talking about is the death of sin.

This step in the journey of repentance is not an easy step, and that is why I’ve called this step “through” death.

As we walk this Lenten Road of repentance and obedience, let me challenge those of you who have not been baptized to really consider taking that step.

Sermon Audio: Surrender
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Romans 6:2-14
Duration: 25:32
Size: 17.5 MB

A Journey of Repentance
Surrender
Romans 6:2-14

At the heart of the word “repentance” is the idea of change. Of heading one way, then stopping and heading the other way.

The fact is that you are “dead to sin but alive in God.” The truth is incredible–the battle has already been won!

We have not surrendered those areas of our lives to God, allowed His Holy Spirit into them, and cooperated with God’s desire and effort to change us and make us new.

To choose to say, before God and everyone else, “I am helpless, I am unable, I surrender to You, my Lord God, and I let you be in control.”

Who would concentrate on the outside when the problem is on the inside?

Only God can change the inside. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to enter in and clean out the rot, the stench, the filth.

We can live in our own strength, which leads to death, or we can surrender to God and let Him be our Lord and our Savior, let Him begin to transform us from the inside.

As long as you and I remain in control, our lives will be a mess.

Sermon Audio: The Journey Begins
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Mark 1:15
Duration: 27:44
Size: 19.0 MB

A Journey of Repentance
The Journey Begins
Mark 1:15

As great as that journey was, however, allow me to suggest that the only journeys of eternal significance are the journeys of our souls.

Repentance is more than merely acknowledging that a wrong has been done, repentance digs much deeper.

And repentance is the message for us today.
• 1. Conviction: where sin is admitted.
  2. Contrition: where sin is abhorred.
  3. Conversion: where sin is abandoned.

In true repentance, there is conviction, contrition, and conversion as one turns from his sin to Christ for salvation.

God’s way is not through self-help, the encouragement to find the good in yourself, or through cheap entertainment.