Tag: Val Watkins

Sermon Audio: Jesus Still Conquers Sin
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 4:31-37
Duration: 19:49
Size: 9.07 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Jesus Still Conquers Sin
Luke 4:31-37

If you can’t see it, feel it, touch it, taste it, or smell it – it doesn’t exist.

Jesus teaches us that there is still hope in this world for defeating the evil in our world.

I. Evil is conquered by the preaching of Jesus.

The best thing we can do for you is to show you what the Biblical writers wrote.

II. Evil is conquered by the presence of Jesus.

They wanted to find a church where they would experience the presence of Jesus.

III. Evil is conquered by the power of Jesus.

Whatever evil you may be facing in your life, the power of Christ is your answer.

Christ said that by faith the size of a mustard seed a believer can command the mountain to depart.

IV. Evil is conquered by the popularity of Jesus.

When people experience true Christianity, they don’t want anything to do with evil.

Sermon Audio: Preaching is Risky
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 4:21-30
Duration: 17:01
Size: 7.79 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Preaching Is Risky
Luke 4:21-30

In a sense they were saying, how can he say that the scripture has been fulfilled in me when Jesus is just the son of a carpenter?

They also were thinking in their hearts, why doesn’t he do miracles here as he did Capernaum. Prove to us he is the Messiah.

The people’s expectation of the preacher Jesus was different than Jesus’ own expectations.

We want to hear from God through our preacher what we want to hear, not what God through the preacher is trying to say.

And through God’s word, Jesus is meddling in our lives. He is telling us that through his word we can find the authority for our lives.

God could have cried out from outer space a million years, saying, “I love you, I love you,” but we would not have believed him.

Sermon Audio: The Fulfillment Of The Word
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 4:14-21
Duration: 30:42
Size: 14.0 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Fulfillment Of The Word
Luke 4:14-21

We love to hear each other’s stories because as a people we are not only a pilgrim people, we are also a story people.

Christians must therefore learn to tell their stories, don’t keep your stories to yourselves.

The stem of our stories is Christ in the world, bringing God to a world of darkness in the light of His word.

Fasting is one of the ways of cleansing ourselves and preparing for the presence of God in us.

That gospel, the good news was fulfilled in the hearing of those who were listening to Jesus, and today that same message is still being fulfilled.

SO WHAT IS YOUR STORY?

Sermon Audio: Three Big Temptations In Life
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 4:1-13
Duration: 22:26
Size: 10.2 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Three Big Temptations In Life
Luke 4:1-13

The Devil can’t make us do anything. He may be clever, but he’s not all powerful.

1. He lays out the bait.
2. Then comes the appeal.
3. The struggle begins.
4. The temptation ends with the response.

This morning we are going to see Jesus meet and master temptation.

We are the most susceptible to temptation when we are alone.

1. The Temptation To Do It Yourself

The devil is well aware that God exists and I don’t think that he expends a great deal of effort trying to dissuade us from a belief in God.

The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier.

We regularly are tempted to go outside the confines of God’s will to satisfy our personal needs or desires.

2. The Temptation To Take The Easy Way

The devil was offering Jesus a kingdom without the cross.

Our world teaches us to avoid pain, to take the easy way, the path of least resistance.

3. The Temptation To Not Believe It Until You See It

This would be the equivalent of saying to God – “I won’t believe in you until I see you show it to me by my terms.”

The one thing common to all three temptations is that they attempted to distract Jesus from his mission or destroy his relationship with His heavenly Father.

Verse 13 reveals that the Devil will always be lurking in the shadows, watching, waiting for the next vulnerable moment.

When you are weak – expect a major assault.
When you resist – be ready for a different approach.
When he leaves – count on another attack.