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2016-03-20: We Would Like To See Jesus

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Sermon Audio: We Would Like To See Jesus
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: John 12:12-21
Duration: 21:14
Size: 9.72 MB

We Would Like To See Jesus
Palm Sunday 2016
John 12:12-21

There was a great crowd there that day that had come to celebrate the Feast of the Passover.

As the crowd begins to honor Jesus, I’m sure it gets the attention of the Roman soldiers.

Yes, I bet some of these soldiers probably laughed at the antics of the Jerusalem crowd that day, and at the sight of this so-called King.

And then there was probably another group of people there that day. If we go back to some earlier verses in John 12:9, we see those people.

The crowd came to see the spectacular, that is, to see Lazarus, the man rumored to have been raised from the dead.

How many come to church just because it is the thing to do, the place to be, the place where everyone else is?

And then there was another group of people there that day. The religious leaders were there.

These preachers and teachers, these church leaders, were only interested in themselves.

Yes, there were some of these bad shepherds in the crowd that day. And they even went so far as to plot to do away with Jesus.

Oh yes. I almost forgot one. You see, there was one more group there that day.

When we really seek Jesus, that’s when the name of God is glorified. That’s when real worship occurs.

“We would like to see Jesus.”

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2016-03-13: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – What If Hell Is Real

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Sermon Audio: What If Hell Is Real
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 16:19-31
Duration: 23:19
Size: 10.6 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
What If Hell Is Real
Luke 16:19-31

Your not believing in Hell don’t lower the temperature there one degree.

I. THE COMPARISON BEFORE DEATH

The rich man could have easily assisted Lazarus, but he ignored him and went on enjoying his recognition and his riches.

II. THE COMPARISON AFTER DEATH

The revelation of where each man ended up after death would have astonished Jesus’ original audience and shattered their long held assumptions about wealth being a sign of Gods’ favor and blessings.

III. THE CORRECTION OF MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HELL

Misconception #1

Hell is nothingness we will just sees to exist, hearing, seeing and feeling nothing.

Misconception #2

Not realizing that the choices we make in this life fix our destiny in the next.

Misconception #3

After I spend some time in Hell I will be able to get out.

Misconception #4

Hell won’t be so bad, I’ll be there with my buddies.

Once we have that matter established in our own lives then we must think of others.

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2016-03-06: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – The Law and the Kingdom of God

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Sermon Audio: The Law and the Kingdom of God
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 16:14-18
Duration: 21:03
Size: 9.63 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Law and the Kingdom of God
Luke 16:14-18

Just as there was resistance in some states ratifying an end to slavery in the United States, so there is resistance in some people accepting God’s kingdom.

I. The Ridicule of the Pharisees

The Pharisees apparently regarded money as their rightful reward for their faithful observance of the law.

Which master are you serving? Is Jesus Christ the master of your heart, or are you still slaving away for money?

II. The Response of Jesus

A. The Misunderstanding of Possessions

The Pharisees believed that the abundance of their possessions proved that God had blessed them.

Therefore, they presented themselves to people as justified before God.

We may try to justify ourselves before others – and God – by means of our church attendance, or ministry activity, or financial giving, or any one of a number of religious activities.

Money and possessions do not save us. Jesus saves us. And Jesus teaches that disciples serve God and not money.

B. The Misunderstanding of the Kingdom

John began preaching the good news of the kingdom of God, and Jesus and his disciples continued to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God.

Religiosity has never and will never save anyone.

C. The Misunderstanding of the Law

The civil and ceremonial aspects of the law found their fulfillment in Jesus, while the moral law has ongoing and continuing validity.

The Pharisees thought that they were pleasing God by keeping his law. But, in fact they were perverting God’s law and were displeasing him.

What gets us into the kingdom of God is the work that Jesus did in his life by his perfect obedience to the law of God and by his death on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin.

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2016-02-28: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – The Shrewd Steward

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Sermon Audio: The Shrewd Steward
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 16:1-13
Duration: 21:09
Size: 9.68 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Shrewd Steward
Luke 16:1-13

The most common feature of Jesus’ parables is their shock value.

THE PARABLE OF THE SHREWD STEWARD

Does it come as a shock to you that you are a steward and as a steward you don’t own anything.

  • We are stewards of our material possessions.
  • We are stewards of our time. (Ephesians 5:15-16)
  • We are stewards of our gifts and abilities (I Peter 4:10)
  • We are stewards of the Gospel. (I Thessalonians 2:4)

The man in the parable was in trouble because he had forgotten that stewardship involves not only responsibility and privilege but it also involves accountability.

What the steward is probably doing is discounting the face value of notes by suspending the interest charges.

It is obvious that Jesus is not commending this man for being underhanded or dishonest.

THE PRINCIPLES OF SHREWD DISCIPLESHIP

1. We Are Called To Use Opportunities Wisely

Good businessmen, either then or now, see the possibilities and seize the opportunities in the world around them.

Shrewdness about money, will force us to realize that although money can be powerful it is limited, temporary and temporal.

2. We Are Called To Use Material Possessions Faithfully.

I Corinthians 4:2, “2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”

3. We Are To Serve God Wholly

The truth about money is that we can either be stewards of it or we can be servants of it.

How Are You Doing With Your Stewardship?

  • In the Area of Material Possessions?
  • In the Area of Time?
  • In the Area of Gifts and Abilities?
  • In the Area of the Gospel?