2017-01-29: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – The Last Discourse

Luke - The Investigative Gospel

Sermon Audio: The Last Discourse
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 22:21-38
Duration: 25:16
Size: 11.5 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Last Discourse
Luke 22:21-38

But they were having a hard time wrapping their minds around what Jesus was saying to them.

Eventually, they would understand Jesus’ teaching. But that night they did not understand his teaching and showed several areas of failure.

I. Deception (Luke 22:21-23)

Judas had already met with the religious leaders and planned to betray Jesus to them.

As they continued to ask each other about the identity of the one who would be guilty of deception, they all fell into another failure.

II. Dissension (Luke 22:24-30)

Three times in these verses Jesus reminded his disciples to lead “as one who serves.”

III. Denial (Luke 22:31-34)

But the reason Peter did not fail is not primarily because of his faith but because of Jesus’ intercession for Peter.

When there is no danger, it is easy to say how bold we will be for Jesus.

IV. Dullness (Luke 22:35-38)

However, Jesus also prepared his disciples to understand that after his arrest, crucifixion, and death, things would change.

And if that is true for the apostles, who were with Jesus for three years, we ask ourselves, “What hope is there for us? Can we do any better?”

He took on our flesh, lived among us, and ultimately died between two thieves.

It is because Jesus identifies with us, atones for our sin, and then intercedes for us.

2017-01-22: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – The Passover With The Disciples

Luke - The Investigative Gospel

Sermon Audio: The Passover With The Disciples
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 22:7-20
Duration: 23:37
Size: 10.8 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Passover With The Disciples
Luke 22:7-20

In a very intentional way Jesus chose to have a Passover meal as his last meal with his disciples.

I. The Preparation for the Passover (Luke 22:7-13)

Most likely, Jesus sent Peter and John on this errand because he did not want Judas to know ahead of time where they would celebrate the Passover meal.

In fact, throughout the next thirty-six hours or so, it may seem as if things were out of control, but everything was developing according to God’s divine plan.

II. The Eating of the Passover (Luke 22:14-18)

You may recall that the Passover meal commemorated the deliverance of the people of Israel from their slavery in Egypt.

There were several stages in the Passover meal, which was spread out over a period of hours and interspersed with conversation.

He was about to suffer and be crucified in order to save sinners, but his great desire was to eat his last meal with those whom he came to save.

The people of God would celebrate the new sacrament of the new covenant in Christ by eating the bread and drinking the wine of the Lord’s Supper.

The Lord’s Supper is a celebration of the new covenant.

III. The Institution of the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19-20)

The unleavened bread was now given a new and greater significance. It represented Jesus’ body and the affliction he would endure on the cross.

By calling the cup “the new covenant in my blood,” Jesus was replacing the old covenant of the constant shedding of blood of the sacrificial lambs at Passover with the once-for-all shedding of his own blood to pay the penalty for our sin.

He would give a meal to his disciples to remember before making the sacrifice they would never forget.

2017-01-15: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – The Plot To Kill Jesus

Luke - The Investigative Gospel

Sermon Audio: The Plot To Kill Jesus
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 22:1-6
Duration: 20:38
Size: 9.45 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Plot To Kill Jesus
Luke 22:1-6

In Luke 22 the focus shifts from Jesus’ interaction with the religious leaders and teaching of his disciples to the events that lead up to Jesus’ death on the cross (Luke 22-23), followed by the account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead (Luke 24).

I. The Attempt to Kill Jesus (Luke 22:1-2)

Passover commemorated the deliverance of the people of Israel from their slavery in Egypt (see Exodus 12).

The religious leaders’ frustration with Jesus had been growing over the years.

Luke noted that the first ones to seek actively the death of Jesus were the religious leaders.

All teachers of God’s word must be examined in light of God’s word.

II. The Agreement to Kill Jesus (Luke 22:3-6)

Because the religious leaders feared the people, and they did not want to cause a riot, they were not able to find a way to kill Jesus.

A. A Diabolical Reason (Luke 22:3)

Luke did not elaborate on what is meant by Satan who entered into Judas.

Judas ought to cause every professing Christian to examine himself daily to see whether he is in fact a genuine Christian.

B. A Financial Reason (Luke 22:4-6)

There is nothing sinful about money in itself. It is the love of money that is the problem.

2016-12-25: A Child Is Born

Sermon Audio: A Child Is Born (Sorry for the ground-loop hum. -Tim)
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38
Duration: 16:25
Size: 7.51 MB

Advent 2016
A Child Is Born
Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38