2025-12-21: Classic TV Christmas – Die Another Day

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Micah 5:2

Classic TV Christmas
Die Another Day
Micah 5:2

Just a two-hour walk from the sleepy little town of Bethlehem where Christ was born to the bustling streets of Jerusalem where Christ was crucified (just outside of the city).

The historical journey from Bethlehem to Calvary should be a short one but too many people prefer the cradle to the cross.

People prefer to talk about births and babies rather than crucifixions and corpses, but whether we want to admit it or not there is but a short distance, historically, between Bethlehem and Calvary.

The converse is also true. Calvary would not have been what it was if God had not chosen to enter this world as a child and to live as a man.

After all, Bethlehem holds the promise of eternal life but it’s Calvary that holds the gift of eternal life.

And there are a lot of people just like that innkeeper. They’re not antagonistic about the real meaning of Christmas, but they don’t really care.

People like Herod like Christmas, but they’d prefer to keep Christ out of it.

The reason the Christian faith has survived and flourished over the past 2000 years is that there have been some who, after the angels have gone and the heavens are still and life is life, they still believe.

However little that we know of the wise men we do know that they came from a great distance bearing their gifts of love.

Because it’s only when we are completely sold out to Jesus that we will be able to make the trip from Bethlehem to Calvary.

2025-12-14: Classic TV Christmas – Three Men And A Baby

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Matthew 2:1-12

Classic TV Christmas
Three Men And A Baby
Matthew 2:1-12

We picture the shepherds there gathered around the manger when these three wise guys show up.

What I want to do today is look at the Biblical account of the wise men, see what they have to teach us, and see if we can apply it to our lives today.

And it would serve us well to learn about this same Jesus today through the same method of reading the Bible.

You know what? God wants to speak to you in a way that you can understand, too.

The wise men, on the other hand, did follow God’s direction. They chose to be seekers, not sitters. They put feet to their faith.

You can trust Him. Follow the direction God gives you.

Express your love to Jesus. Worship Him.

He wants and deserves the very best that you have to offer.

2025-12-07: Classic TV Christmas – Angels In The Outfield

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 2:1-18

Classic TV Christmas
Angels In The Outfield
Luke 2:1-18

The Savior–yes, the Messiah, the Lord–has been born, This message, more than any other message ever spoken, changed the world and has the potential to transform lives even today.

Most people desire to have political peace. It’s the absence of war.

But like political peace, social peace was not the primary peace Christ came to offer.

Spiritual peace is what you need to help you get through it. It’s a peace that is the direct result of knowing that God is in control and that he cares for you.

He came to make a difference in every life, from the lowest to the highest.

And the greatest need that each one of us has in our lives, whether we’re aware of it or not, is our need for God.

The shepherds were given a message of peace, they were told of a personal Savior, and they were given directions on how to find this Savior. How did they respond?

1. They went to find Jesus.
2. They worshiped God.
3. They told others about Jesus.

2025-11-16: Galatians – Seven Habits of Highly Effective Lovers

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.

2025-11-09: Galatians – The Freedom of Maturity

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.

2025-11-02: Galatians – Freedom’s Relationships

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.