Tag: Acts: Life In The Spirit

Sermon Audio: Dynamics of Effective Discipleship
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 20:1-12
Duration: 21:53
Size: 15.0 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Dynamics of Effective Discipleship
Acts 20:1-12

As the disciples followed Jesus, they learned by watching Him, listening to Him, imitating Him, making mistakes, studying the Scriptures in light of His instruction, asking questions, and so on.

I. Effective Discipleship Is Marked by a Positive Team Approach (Acts 20:1-6)
Let’s focus for a moment on Paul’s model of discipleship. As was his custom, he got together with the disciples at Ephesus and encouraged them.

We also need to realize that we can be much more effective at being and making disciples if we will get together as a team and encourage one another.

II. Effective Discipleship Is Marked by a Sense of Spiritual Community (Acts 20:7)
They realized that they needed one another and they needed the ministry that would take place as they interacted together.

III. Effective Discipleship Calls for a Complete Trust in God (Acts 20:8-12)
He just ran down and embraced the young man, and with complete and total confidence in God, he offered reassurance to those around him that everything was okay.

The more you know Jesus, the more reason you will have to trust Him in every area of your life.

Sermon Audio: Marks of a Spiritual Person
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 19:21-41
Duration: 24:12
Size: 16.6 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Marks of a Spiritual Person
Acts 19:21-41

Spiritual people are followers of Christ who bring life and hope to those around them.

I. Spiritual People Are Motivated to Encourage Christ’s Church (Acts 19:21-22)
It was the Holy Spirit who gave him direction and motivation to visit and strengthen the churches scattered all across the region and beyond.

Encouragement! We all need it, and we all can give it away to others.

II. Spiritual People Make Truth-in-Love the Bottom Line (Acts 19:23-27)
So, the Way is exclusive. It is not just another path; Jesus is the path to God.

However, because Paul loved Jesus and people, he made the truth about Jesus the bottom line.

III. Spiritual People Can Overcome Intimidation from the Enemy (Acts 19:28-41)
Satan’s greatest tactics are things like confusion, fear, and intimidation.

We can overcome intimidation if we will submit ourselves to God and allow His grace to work in us. The love that God has for us is the perfect antidote for fear and intimidation.

Sermon Audio: Gaining Spiritual Authority
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 19:13-20
Duration: 20:59
Size: 14.4 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Gaining Spiritual Authority
Acts 19:13-20

I’m talking about the authority that God has given every true believer over the powers of darkness–the devil and his evil companions.

I. Spiritual Authority Comes through Relationship, not Ritual (Acts 19:13-16)
Some people think that if you just say the right words, then you can tap into powers higher than yourself.

The only way your name gets written in heaven is by putting your trust in Jesus for forgiveness and starting a relationship of love and obedience to Him.

See, Satan does have power, and without the power of God in us through faith in Jesus, we don’t stand a chance against him.

II. Spiritual Authority Is Given to Bring Honor to God (Acts 19:17)
If we begin to think that this spiritual authority is all about us, we will become less effective for the Lord, and will find ourselves drifting away from Him.

III. Spiritual Authority in Action Can Result in Widespread Acts of Repentance (Acts 19:18-20)
Revival is about waking up from our slumber, awakening our conscience, experiencing true sorrow for sin, and doing something about it with God’s help.

Sermon Audio: Living Like a Christ Follower
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 19:8-12
Duration: 19:14
Size: 13.2 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Living Like a Christ Follower
Acts 19:8-12

Due to a recording issue, audio used here was taken from the live stream.

A Christ follower is someone who has asked Jesus to become their forgiver and leader.

I. Christ Followers Learn to Be Boldly Persuasive with the Good News (Acts 19:8)
Stay in the word, and stay filled with the Spirit.

II. Christ Followers May Need to Redirect their Ministry Efforts (Acts 19:9a)
We may face times when we need to reevaluate our direction.

III. Christ Followers Learn to Utilize their Surroundings to Spread God’s Word (Acts 19:9b-10)
We often talk about how important it is to simply live a Christian life and let people see Jesus in us.

What can you do to more effectively spread the good news about Jesus?

IV. Christ Followers Can Be Used to Do Extraordinary Miracles (Acts 19:11-12)
Take the authority God has given you (just as Jesus gave His disciples authority over evil spirits), and be all that He wants you to be as you minister for Him.

Sermon Audio: God’s Great Desires for the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 19:1-7
Duration: 22:03
Size: 15.1 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
God’s Great Desires for the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Acts 19:1-7

“And there is only one way to Heaven. It’s Jesus Christ!”

1. That’s why God wants us to comprehend His gospel.
What we don’t know can hurt us, for all eternity. So, we must have a basic understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. God wants us to communicate His gospel.
No one has ever been saved without the working of the Holy Spirit in their heart.

The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead who gives us the new spiritual birth of eternal life.

3. God wants us to put confidence in His gospel.
When those disciples of John the Baptist heard the good news about Jesus, they “believed on Him.”

4. God wants us to have confirmation of His gospel.
Every time we see Christians speak in tongues in the Book of Acts, it is to give confirmation of the good news about Jesus Christ.

Speaking in tongues in Acts 2 gave confirmation that the good news had arrived.

Here God gave confirmation that the good news was for all men, both Jews and Gentiles.

God confirmed the gospel to them, and He confirms His good news to all believers.

They are drawn to a church when they see people within that church genuinely caring for one another.