Richmond Community Church

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:25 — 21.6MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Galatians 4:12-20

Galatians
Seven Habits of Highly Effective Lovers
Galatians 4:12-20

There are 7 habits of highly effective lovers that will improve not only our marriages, but also our relationships with our friends, our adult children, and even our co-workers.

WE MUST CHANGE OURSELVES for others without demanding that they change for us.

We must accept people just as they are, unconditionally, even with their imperfections.

If they do, then you have learned to love like God loves us, unconditionally.

Relationships are enriched when lovers give up something special for the one they love.

True love is not blind to the truth. On the contrary, it acknowledges the truth even when it’s painful.

They set people free in their relationships without trying to control the one they love.

And that’s what we must do if we want to be highly effective lovers. We must suffer when the one we love suffers.

We don’t always know what to do when someone we love is hurting. That’s okay, because the best thing we can do is cry–not in a manipulative way, but with genuine tears of sorrow.

In a word, we must demonstrate GRACE in all our relationships. We must love freely and without conditions.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:30 — 17.5MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Galatians 4:1-11

Galatians
The Freedom of Maturity
Galatians 4:1-11

Instead, God has something for us, His adult children, that works a whole lot better than any “law.”

For nearly 1500 years, from the time of Moses until the time of Christ, WE WERE CHILDREN in God’s eyes.

But now, since Christ has come, WE ARE ADULT SONS OF GOD.

God gave us Jesus to set us free from the rules and regulations, which were our guardians and trustees.

God did not send His Son to teach us a lesson like we were little children. No. God sent His Son to redeem us, to free us up to be His adult sons.

This the language of a man, inspired by the Holy Spirit, who had the highest respect for women, putting them on the same level as men.

Please, let Him fill your heart with hope, no matter who you are or how bad off you are.

Stop trying to earn God’s favor when you already have it.
Stop trying to prove yourself to a God who already approves of you as adult sons and heirs.
Stop trying to get God’s blessing through your busyness.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:09 — 18.0MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:23-29

Galatians
Freedom’s Relationships
Galatians 3:23-29

What will it take to launch us out of our legalistic systems, which can only take us down?

Get out from under those unrealistic expectations, which can only lock you down, and enjoy your freedom.

God has freed us from all that. So, get out of prison, and stop listening to your babysitter.

So quit trying to prove yourselves because you don’t have to with God. He already accepts you as you are.

When we trust Christ, God clothes us with Christ who died on a cross for us.

No matter who we are as a believer in Christ, it makes no difference with God. He loves us all the same!

God does not view us as any less valuable, because we struggle. He treats us all the same, so we have nothing to prove.

We are free from the pressure to perform, because God already treats us as His full, adult, incredibly successful children.

There is no pressure to perform anymore. You don’t have to work to please Him anymore because He is already pleased with you.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:26 — 17.5MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:15-22

Galatians
Freedom’s Promise
Galatians 3:15-22

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:40 — 14.9MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:6-14

Galatians
Freedom’s Blessing
Galatians 3:6-14

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:29 — 16.8MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:1-5

Galatians
Freedom’s Spirit
Galatians 3:1-5

The question is: How do we live the Christian life without crashing? How do we maintain a dynamic spiritual vitality without burning out?

That’s how we got started in the Christian life. We began with a simple faith in Christ who loved us and died for us.

If you want God’s Holy Spirit within, then stop trying to chase after Him; stop working so hard to get Him. Instead, simply receive Him by resting quietly in Christ.

All we need to do is trust our Coach. All we need to do is trust God’s Holy Spirit as He leads us through life.

In other words, don’t give up the fight yet! Keep on living your life by faith in Christ, not somebody’s religious system.

But that’s exactly how God supplies His Spirit to those of us who believe. He supplies His Holy Spirit with great, extravagant abundance!

He supplies His Spirit as a life-long companion and close friend, as One who walks with us through every step of our lives.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:23 — 22.9MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Galatians 2:11-21

Galatians
Freedom’s Power
Galatians 2:11-21

The rules are good, but they don’t make us better people, do they? If anything, they just make us feel guilty when we don’t follow through.

When we try to make ourselves look good by following a list of rules, then we divide ourselves from one another.

When we try to make ourselves look good by following a list of rules, then we divide ourselves from one another and it causes a lot of hurt.

Trying to abide by any external standard does nothing to change us on the inside.

We don’t make ourselves better people by trying to follow a list of rules. In fact, we make ourselves worse! We divide ourselves. We deceive ourselves. And we deny the gospel.

So if you truly want to become a better person, don’t trust a law; Trust the Lord! Put your faith in Christ.
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If you want to find true righteousness before God, if you want to hit a homerun with Him, if you truly want to be a better person, then don’t depend on a list of rules; instead depend on the Lord.
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