Category: 2016 Sermons

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Sermon Audio: A Three Fold Warning!
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 21:5-38
Duration: 22:19
Size: 10.2 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
A Three Fold Warning
Luke 21:5-38

They admired the temple for is architectural grandeur, and its expensive decorations.

In the midst of all these tumultuous end times events Jesus specifically warns the believer about three very real dangers.

First he warns, DON’T BE DECEIVED

Dispute: The first thing that Satan did in tempting Eve was to dispute the Word of God.

Deny: The next thing Satan does is contradict the word of God.

Displace: God’s Word. May I suggest to you that Satan telling Eve that because she will be as God is she can decide for herself what is good and what is evil.

Secondly he warns, DO NOT BE AFRAID.

It is a mistake to take these separate happenings as infallible indications that the end of the age is immediately in sight.

People need not be caught unprepared. God warns and provides an escape to those who will heed the rumblings.

Rather than being blown away by persecution (whether it is religious, secular or domestic) we are to persevere, to endure, to stand firm.

Third, He warns, DO NOT BE DISTRACTED

His message is that people across the world in that day were caught up in doing the ordinary things.

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Sermon Audio: The End Of Times? Fear? Hopefulness!
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 21:5-19
Duration: 19:32
Size: 8.94 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The End Of Times? Fear? Hopefulness!
Luke 21:5-19

Listen, the world is falling apart, and the church can’t do a thing about it.

Fear about the end of time, or gladness that we who believe will be with Christ at the end of time.

The world may be falling apart around you, but having faith in Jesus will save you.

As we live out our days and await eternity – whenever It may come – why not spend every day trying to experience in some way the joy of living, no matter how many days we may have to live?

A pickle jar was and is a symbol of hope in their world.

Where is your pickle jar?

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Sermon Audio: Beware Of The Scribes
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 20:45-21:4
Duration: 18:44
Size: 8.58 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Beware Of The Scribes
Luke 20:45-21:4

Then Jesus contrasted the actions of the scribes with those of a poor widow.

Any sin separates us from God and so in that sense all sin is the same.

I. Avoid Condemnation from Jesus

A. Jesus’ Criticisms

Although Jesus’ warning was in relation to the scribes, it seems that it was directed to all in any position of religious leadership.

1. Pride

Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and yet he temporarily set aside the glory of heaven in order to come to earth to serve sinful persons like us.

2. Greed

Jesus literally owned only the clothes on his back and was teaching his disciples to be content with what they had.

3. Hypocrisy

However, praying so that others may see us or hear what we say is hypocrisy.

B. Jesus’ Judgment

The only way to escape condemnation is to repent of our sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, for there is “now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”.

II. Seek Commendation from Jesus

A. Jesus’ Observations

So, Jesus was near the Trumpets when he saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.

B. Jesus’ Comments

First, when it comes to giving, the spirit in which I give determines its value.

Second, the value of my giving is determined by the sacrifice which it involves.

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Sermon Audio: Whose Son Is The Christ?
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 20:41-44
Duration: 20:44
Size: 9.49 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Whose Son Is The Christ?
Luke 20:41-44

Wright goes on to say that some people struggle with the nature of Jesus’ identity.

The problem for the people in Jesus’ day is that the kind of Christ that they were expecting was very different than the one God sent.

I. Jesus Is David’s Son, Therefore Affirming His Human Nature

In Jesus’ day the people all agreed that the Christ would be a descendant of King David. So that is where Jesus started.

Meticulous records were kept in the temple, and no one accused Jesus of not being a physical descendant of King David.

II. Jesus Is David’s Lord, Therefore Affirming His Divine Nature

Psalm 110 is a messianic psalm – a psalm that makes explicit prophecies about the coming of the Christ.

Most English translations print this Lord with a capital letter to show that it refers to God himself.

Psalm 110 then is a dialogue between the LORD God (Jehovah) and the Lord Christ.

Yet, here is King David giving honor to the Christ, acknowledging the superiority of his descendant.

Jesus wanted to help his listeners understand that his resurrection from the dead would be crucial to understanding his identity, particularly his divine nature.

So, Jesus is David’s son, therefore affirming his human nature. And Jesus is also David’s Lord, therefore affirming his divine nature.