2020-05-10: Acts: Life In The Spirit — Overcoming Barriers to the Good News

Sermon Audio: Overcoming Barriers to the Good News
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 14:1-18
Duration: 23:20
Size: 10.6 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Overcoming Barriers to the Good News
Acts 14:1-18

The Mother’s Day videos shared in today’s worship service live stream are at the end of this post.

With God’s help, we can learn to naturally and effectively share His love with others.

I. The Power of the Spoken Word (Acts 14:1-3)
When we share the words containing the good news about Jesus, we must be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

We can let people know that God loves them and wants to help them by the power of the spoken word and through a lifestyle of living out that word.

II. The Power of Presence (Acts 14:2-3a)
Never underestimate the power of presence.
Just being there for somebody often does more for them than all the words you can say.

Be such a friend that even if they never seem to take a step toward God, you will still be their friend!

III. The Power of Miracles (Acts 14:3-10)
However, I believe that He wants to do even more miracles while we are sharing the good news about Jesus.

IV. The Power of Humility (Acts 14:11-18)
Pride is a dangerous thing, and it has resulted in the fall of many great men.
We just need to be humble and obedient, just doing what He has asked us to do.

2020-05-03: Acts: Life In The Spirit — Ministry That Makes a Difference

Sermon Audio: Ministry That Makes a Difference
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 13:42-52
Duration: 26:09
Size: 11.9 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Ministry That Makes a Difference
Acts 13:42-52

God wants your life to make a lasting difference in the people around you.

I. Life-Changing Ministry Leaves the Door Open (Acts 13:42)
If we try to force someone to receive God’s love and forgiveness, we are probably closing the door on future opportunities to share the love of Jesus with them.

1) Pray for them.
2) Build a genuine friendship.
3) Let it happen naturally.
4) Always be sensitive.

II. Life-Changing Ministry Strengthens Others (Acts 13:43)
Discipleship. It involves teaching them how to stay connected to God.

Let’s make it part of our lifestyle to strengthen and encourage others to grow in their faith.

III. Life-Changing Ministry Can Impact an Entire Community (Acts 13:44)
Are we using our gifts to make a difference in our church and community?

IV. Life-Changing Ministry Boldly Faces its Opposition (Acts 13:45-46,50-51)
We just need to know what God has called us to do and then ask Him to empower us to do it effectively.

V. Life-Changing Ministry Flows from the Mission of God (Acts 13:47-49)
God’s mission is designed to reach all around this earth and cover it with His love and forgiveness.

VI. Life-Changing Ministry Produces Joy and Spirit-filled Believers (Acts 13:52)
The Bible tells us that joy is some of the evidence that the Holy Spirit is leading our lives.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit results in greater power, boldness, and a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to us and through us.

2020-04-26: Acts: Life In The Spirit — God’s Extraordinary Promise

Sermon Audio: God’s Extraordinary Promise
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 13:13-41
Duration: 21:28
Size: 9.83 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
God’s Extraordinary Promise
Acts 13:13-41

Let’s look at several clues that will deepen our understanding of God’s greatest promise.

I. God’s Promise Is Seen in Israel’s History (Acts 13:17-25)
All of God’s activity as seen here was aimed at bringing the Messiah to Israel and the world, just as He had promised.
Genesis 3:15
Genesis 26:4
Deuteronomy 18:15
Acts 3:24-26

II. God’s Promise Is for All Who Believe (Acts 13:26)
Paul was able to stand up in this Jewish synagogue, surrounded by Jews and devout Gentiles, and say that the message of God’s promise had been sent to them.

III. God’s Promise Is Often Overlooked (Acts 13:27-29)
People often see only what they are looking for. Those in Israel who were looking for the promised Messiah found Him when they found Jesus.

IV. God’s Promise Is Meant to Be Shared (Acts 13:30-32a)
Paul mentions that those who followed Jesus during His earthly ministry saw Him after His resurrection and became His witnesses to the Jewish people.
Acts 1:3:
I Corinthians 15:4-8

V. God’s Promise Is Fulfilled in the Person of Jesus (Acts 13:32b-39)
It’s all about Jesus! Paul shows these Jews and God-fearing Gentiles that Jesus fulfills the criteria for being the Messiah.

VI. God’s Promise Is Unbelievable to Those Who Reject Him (Acts 13:40-41)
God chose to send His Son Jesus to take our place, so we would not have to face eternal separation from Him in everlasting torment.

2020-04-19: Acts: Life In The Spirit — Power to Work and to Win

Sermon Audio: Power to Work and to Win
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 13:1-12
Duration: 21:54
Size: 10.0 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Power to Work and to Win
Acts 13:1-12

God wants to fill us with His Spirit so we can reach lost people and win spiritual battles.

I. God Has an Intentional Plan to Reach Unreached People (Acts 13:1-6a)
Part of God’s intentional plan to reach unreached people is to communicate His intentions to us.

God calls each of us to a specific work, and it is good for us to recognize the validity and worth of each one’s calling.

So, whether we are senders or sent ones, or both, God wants us in the game!

II. God Has Enemies Who Will Oppose His People (Acts 13:6b-8)
Make no mistake about it–If you are trying to reach people with the good news about Jesus, you will face opposition!

III. God Gives Us the Power and Boldness We Need to Win (Acts 13:9-12)
It was a Holy Spirit-inspired boldness that would not tolerate the lies and deception of the devil.

God wants you to have the power and boldness you need in order to win spiritual battles.

He also wants to empower you to win people to Him who have not yet been reached with the good news about Jesus.

2020-04-12: Rediscover Easter

Sermon Audio: Rediscover Easter
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 24:1-9
Duration: 22:13
Size: 10.1 MB

Rediscover Easter
Luke 24:1-9

They had seen him beaten, they seen him crucified, they had seen him killed and they had seen him buried and they knew the dream was as dead as the dreamer.

We believe, as did the early church, that Christ had risen from the dead that there was actually a physical resurrection.

Anyone can claim to be the Son of God. But if someone could substantiate the assertion by returning to life after being certifiably dead and buried–well, that would be a compelling confirmation that he was telling the truth.

And while there are all kinds of people who will lie there are very few who will maintain that lie in the face of torture and death.

In other words, it would take you from breakfast on Monday until Friday at dinner time listening around the clock to hear the testimony of those witnesses.

Because the Tomb Was Empty His Enemies Knew they Were Wrong
But the empty tomb would change the lives of those closest to Jesus and ultimately would change the face of the world.

Because the Tomb Was Empty Peter Knew He Was Forgiven
Come on Peter, what is going on? This is Jesus, the same Jesus that called you from being a fisherman and turned you into a fisher of men.

And when Jesus hung on the cross, with the blood from the crown of thorns dripping into his eyes, and he pulled himself up by the iron nails driven through his wrists and said Father forgive them, he was looking for Peter.

God’s forgiveness is there for each one of us but first we need to acknowledge our wrongs, and be sorry that we did it, not just sorry we got caught doing it, but sorry that we disappointed Jesus.

Because the Tomb Was Empty Thomas Knew He Was Blessed
Doubting Thomas indeed. But he probably verbalized it better, saying I won’t believe unless I can see it myself.

Everything that Jesus Christ said and did could be duplicated or fabricated right up to his resurrection.