Richmond Community Church

Sermon: iTruths For an iPod Generation – iSurrender
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: James 4:1-10
Duration: 23:39
Size: 10.8 MB

iTruths For an iPod Generation
iSurrender
James 4:1-10

The things of this world might keep you entertained, but they can’t give true satisfaction.

James 4:1-2

If you have God… what else could you possibly need?

James 4:4-9

If you want God… there’s a price to be paid:

Matthew 16:24

In order to obtain the satisfaction God wants to give you and I, we need to transform ourselves into little “i”s.

Only Jesus says: “Deny yourself…” deny yourself… deny yourself.

Essentially, James is telling us that when those emotions take over – it means WE have taken over. Our pride has been offended… and we’ve forgotten God.

How would you deal with it if someone did that to you… would you be angry?

Genesis 50:16-21

Joseph had the power… he had the opportunity… to exact his just revenge. But he refused to do that.

Matthew 5:5

Because of his meekness and his humility – God lifted Joseph up and gave him a great inheritance.

Romans 8:28

God is telling us that if we let Him be in control; if we look to Him for our total satisfaction in life; if we come to Him and humble ourselves before Him… He will make all things work together for Good in our lives.

Socrates said: “Know yourself”
The psychiatrist says: “Express yourself”
Many Counselors will say: “Love yourself”
The hedonist says: “Enjoy Yourself”
The waiter will tell you: “Indulge yourself”
The Personnel manager advises you: “Assert yourself”
Health aid companies advertise: “Take care of yourself”
Leisure time industries will tell you: “Pamper yourselves”

Only Jesus says: “Deny yourself”

Next Week
iGive
Acts 4:15-37

Sermon: Grandparent’s Legacy
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Duration: 23:27
Size: 10.7 MB

Grandparent’s Legacy
Grandparent’s Day Message
Genesis 5:21-32

Genesis 6:8-9
Hebrews 11:5

#1 Noah was a righteous man in a totally corrupt age.
Ezekiel 14:13-14
Genesis 6:5-7
II Corinthians 6:16-18

#2 Noah followed God’s instructions exactly.
Genesis 6:14-16
Genesis 6:22
Genesis 11:10
Hebrews 11:5-8
Hebrews 11:8
Hebrews 11:17
Hebrews 11:11

#3 Noah totally submitted his life to God.
Hebrews 11:7
Genesis 7:16
Genesis 7:15
Genesis 2:5-6

Sermon: God & Work – A Labor Day Message
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Duration: 17:55
Size: 8.20 MB

God & Work – A Labor Day Message

I Thessalonians 4:11
II Thessalonians 3:10-12

#1 God has always honored and provided work.

Genesis 2:2
Genesis 2:15
Luke 2:8
Mark 6:3
Luke 10:7
Genesis 3:17-19

#2 The American work system is not the Christian way.

Ephesians 6:5-9
Ephesians 4:28

#3 The Christian does the best we can for others.

Colossians 3:22-24
Matthew 7:12

Sermon: Get Your Feet Wet
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Matthew 14:29
Duration: 22:06
Size: 10.1 MB

Get Your Feet Wet
Matthew 14:29

The purpose for these kinds of moments is to help us live through and overcome, in Jesus’ name and power, those moments of fear and uncertainty, and break through to a higher level of faith and confidence in the Lord and through the Lord.

Then, at some point, he had this powerful moment when from deep within himself, Peter heard himself utter, Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you.

“Where is God calling you to walk on the water?”
John Ortberg

Four indicators God is calling you to “get out of the boat”

1. Fear

This is the easiest indicator for Peter to get out of the boat, he was afraid of going down with it!

What fear are you experiencing that might be a sign that God wants you to get out of the boat and take a step of great faith to overcome that fear that is blocking your path?

2. Frustration

Maybe you are frustrated about a situation and you are not sure you can take much more.

Is there an area of frustration you have that might be God’s way of getting your out of your boat?

3. Compassion

Many people experience a compassion that comes out of a frustration that ‘something is not right’ and it leads them to compassionate acts.

What moves you to compassion? What breaks your heart? Who breaks your heart?

4. Prayer

It is often during boat rocking, storm surging, wave crashing, moments that we get on our knees, bury ourselves in our Heavenly Father’s lap, and find the strength and the will to get up and get out of the boat and walk toward the Lord.

Greater is He that is within us than he that is in the world!

Where does some change need to take place in your life so that you will respond, by faith, to Jesus’ call to get out of your boat, your place of comfort, and go to Him and follow Him?

Sermon: Get Your Feet Wet – Progress Not Perfection
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Matthew 14:30-31
Duration: 26:41
Size: 12.2 MB

Get Your Feet Wet
Progress Not Perfection
Matthew 14:30-31

Whether or not storms come, we cannot choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can.
-Max Lucado

“The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.”

These moments of fear are just moments, significant to be sure, but just moments that will form part of their historic memory and vital message of the Christian Gospel in the decades, and for us, centuries ahead.

Can’t we also look back and see the progress that we have made in our own faith journey through what now we see were “getting out of the boat” moments.

Those who take bold chances don’t think failure is the opposite of success. They believe complacency is.

1. Choose to learn from failure.

To face our own failure, not so-and-so’s failure, my failure requires a strength of character and will that, only comes as we surrender our will to God’s and choose to learn.

But to overcome; to learn from our failures, requires us to make the choice to learn.

2. Cultivate hope.

As followers of Christ, expressing hope not naïve optimism, is critical these days, though our anxieties and fears loom large.

Hope believes that there are greater things ahead in the midst of the storms and fear.

3. Get back up.

He stopped literally living in the mud and dirt, got back up and started for home.

There will be more moments in which you are challenged to get out of the boat. But for now, you need to be rescued.

Next week
Get Your Feet Wet
Matthew 14:29