Category: 2016 Sermons

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Sermon Audio: What Does God Owe Me
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 17:7-10
Duration: 24:26
Size: 11.1 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
What Does God Owe Me
Luke 17:7-10

In America, we have gotten our work ethic a little twisted we don’t just work to make a living; we work for perks.

Even worse, this attitude begins to affect how we look at God; He is just not blessing us like we deserve.

Jesus explodes such thinking with a mini-parable The Parable of the Unworthy Servant in verses 7 through 10.

1. We are Called to Faithfulness in Ordinary Tasks.

We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there.

2. Our Service is Only the Humble Fulfillment of Our Lord’s Legitimate Expectation.

The slave received and deserved no special treatment or thanks for doing his assigned task; they were his duties.

3. We Must Never Have The Attitude That God Owes Us Or Be Upset That God Did Not Do Something We Asked.

God owns us through the right of creation and through the price he paid to redeem us from sin, he thus owns us twice.

Jesus is telling us that we have nothing to get puffed up about, when we actually do as He has asked, this is the way we are supposed to live.

4. God Rewards Faithfulness Not Because He Has To But Because He Wants Too.

It was almost as though I could hear the voice, he leaned down and said, “But you’re not home yet.”

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Sermon Audio: Don’t Be A Stumbling Block
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 17:1-6
Duration: 26:38
Size: 12.1 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Don’t Be A Stumbling Block
Luke 17:1-6

What I choose to do is my business!

First, be careful that you’re not a negative spiritual influence.

Our first responsibility is to make sure that we do not negatively influence other Christians in their walk with God.

Every one of us will influence other Christians so as Jesus said in verse 3, “So watch yourselves…”

Second, be willing to forgive those who have hurt you but have repented.

Closely linked to the responsibility of not causing others to stumble into sin is the responsibility to help them when they do fall.

By being willing to lovingly confront the person who sinned against you.

Jesus is clearly talking about personal hurts done to you by another Christian as the phrase; “sins against you” makes clear.

By extending forgiveness immediately to the person who hurt you, if they repent.

We need to recognize that forgiveness is as much for our benefit as it is for the offender,

By being ready to forgive repeated failures.

So regardless of the personal nature of the offense or even in the event of the repetition of the offense, if the other person repents, you are to forgive them.

The problem was not the size of their faith but their willingness to forgive.

By Recognizing that forgiveness is not a matter of ability but of willingness.

The disciples are right in understanding that the kind of forgiveness that Jesus is calling for cannot happen apart from a work of the Holy Spirit, but they are wrong in their understanding of the nature of faith.

1. Be careful that you’re not a negative spiritual influence.
2. Be forgiving of those who have hurt you but have repented.

• By Being willing to lovingly confront the person who sinned against you.
• By Extending forgiveness to those who have hurt you but have repented.
• By Being ready to forgive repeated failures.
• By Recognizing that forgiveness is not a matter of ability but of willingness.

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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.