Category: 2016 Sermons

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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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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?

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Sermon Audio: The Older Brother
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 15:25-32
Duration: 30:31
Size: 13.9 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Older Brother
Luke 15:25-32

But the most important part of the parable is really how the story ends: with the self-righteous older son refusing to share in his father’s welcome.

We will do almost anything, suffer almost any hardship, travel almost any distance, to get where we all eventually want to be: home.

I. The Older Son’s Absence

He was oblivious to what had just transpired at home between his father and his younger brother.

II. The Older Son’s Anger

The older son was angry because the younger son had been accepted into a relationship with the father.

III. The Father’s Appeal

Like he did with the younger son, he publicly humbled himself to go to his older son and find yet another lost son.

IV. The Older Son’s Answer

The older son had served his father many years and never disobeyed his command. But, he did not do so because he loved his father.

All these years the older son had been serving his father for what he could get from him.

V. The Father’s Assertion

Jesus did not end the parable. Jesus wanted them – and all of us too – to consider how to respond to the invitation to join the banquet.

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Sermon Audio: The Gracious Father
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 15:17-24
Duration: 22:15
Size: 10.1 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Gracious Father
Luke 15:17-24

This parable in Luke 15 is the most beautiful illustration in all of Scripture about God’s joy over the recovery of lost sinners.

The parable of the lost son is a dramatic illustration of the love of a father for his son, and wants him back.

I. The Younger Son’s Plan

Eventually, the younger son was so hungry that he came up with another plan.

If the younger son repents and makes his way home by his own efforts, then the third part of the parable is exactly opposite to the first and second part of the parable.

The younger son thought that if he softened his father’s heart with his apologetic statement, he could present his plan to be treated as one of his father’s hired servants.

II. The Father’s Welcome

A. He Receives His Son

He knew that if he were to get to his son before any of the villagers, and publicly receive him and welcome him, then no one in the village would treat his son badly.

No matter how far we have wandered into the far country of sin, God welcomes sinners to himself.

You see, the father did not demonstrate grace in response to his son’s repentance. No, the son demonstrated repentance in response to his father’s grace.

B. He Celebrates His Son

In response to the father’s love and grace, he has repented and reconciled the relationship with his father.