2025-02-16: A New Heaven and A New Earth – All Things Made New

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Revelation 21:1-5, II Peter 3:9-12

All Things Made New
A New Heaven and A New Earth
Revelation 21:1-5, II Peter 3:9-12

Christians have had hopes pinned to heaven ever since Jesus rose from dead.

The former things have passed away…Behold I’m making all things new.

In other words, there was a promise of heaven for the Old Testament saints. But until Jesus came and died for their sins (as well as ours) they weren’t going there!

Our scripture this morning is that it tells us what IS going to be in heaven…and what is not going to be in heaven.

But Heaven will be a place where there’s no more tears or death or mourning or crying or pain.

God’s going to be the only thing that will make heaven worth dwelling in.

2025-02-09: The New Commandment – All Things Made New

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: John 13:34-35

All Things Made New
The New Commandment
John 13:34-35

There should be a truth that–in everything we say–people should sense what we’re saying is: “I Love You… Jesus speaking.”

Jesus says we need to focus less on ourselves and more on others: Philippians 2:3 “…in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

It’s “new” because it runs counter to our natural human tendencies.

So how do you fight that false theology? First, you define what love is.

So, first, you define what love is… then you work at showing love.

Compete–outdo one another–to show love, because what you do for others, you do for Jesus.

2025-01-19: The Power of New Promises – All Things Made New

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Corinthians 1:18-22

All Things Made New
The Power of New Promises
II Corinthians 1:18-22

That’s what the world wants to know about us: can they trust us? Because, if they can trust us, odds are they’ll trust God as well.

The Bible is a book of promises: According to one source “The New Testament has 750 promises, …”

He gave us those promises so that we would know He’s got our back.

The thing about promises though, they don’t happen “right now.” A promise is usually made about something that is in the distance.

So, Jeremiah (if you will) was looking forward to Friday, because God’s promises are always faithful.

Without Jesus you can’t have the Holy Spirit! Without Jesus you can’t have the guarantee of heaven.

God offered us His promises because He loves us.

2025-01-12: Singing A New Song – All Things Made New

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Psalm 40:1-5

All Things Made New
Singing A New Song
Psalm 40:1-5

“(God) put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God”

Music, especially singing, takes a person’s mind off the suffering and soothes tension.

But when people sing a new song, they do tend to think about the words because they’re new.

So, it doesn’t matter what song of praise you sing, if it works for you, sing it.

And that’s the foundation of our new song–a song not just of how much Jesus loves me, but a song of how much we love Jesus.

The songs we sing every Sunday can offer hope to a hopeless world.

Sing therefore because you have a song to sing. Not because you’re good at it but because you love Jesus.

2025-01-05: A New Name Written Down in Glory – All Things Made New

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Revelation 2:17

All Things Made New
A New Name Written Down in Glory
Revelation 2:17

But names are important. They can shape how we think about ourselves–how we view ourselves.

II Corinthians 5:17 — “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

His love is higher than the heavens and his forgiveness removes our sins as far as the east is from the west.

Now, there’s a difference between something that’s been “made new” and something that’s been jimmy-rigged.
Jesus said He “came to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

Martin Luther said “Jesus Christ never died for our good works. They were not worth dying for. But he gave himself for our sins, according to the Scriptures.”

2024-12-29: Empty the Jar at Christmas — The Journey He Made

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: John 1:1-5, John 1:9-14, Philippians 2:5-11

Empty the Jar at Christmas
The Journey He Made
John 1:1-5, John 1:9-14, Philippians 2:5-11

Today, I want to focus on the journey that Jesus made because that’s what Christmas is all about.

John begins by presenting three truths to show that the Word is God in John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word–the Word existed eternally.

John is proclaiming this to be true for the Word–from the beginning of time, light has always overcome darkness.

Even worse though–His own people, the Jews, not only didn’t receive Him, they even rejected Him.

He came to this earth, lived without sin, taught people how to live for God, healed the sick and raised the dead, then gave up His own life out of love for humanity.

We’re told that Jesus was obedient to the will of God–even to the point of death on a cross.

Jesus is the light that shines on all, the creator of all, the man who died and raised for all. He made this journey out of love for all.

2024-12-22: Empty the Jar at Christmas — The Sacrifice We Make

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Matthew 2:13-15

Empty the Jar at Christmas
The Sacrifice We Make
Matthew 2:13-15

I’ve done a study on the nativity stories in Matthew and Luke, and I found that Joseph never said anything, anywhere in the Gospels.

Joseph was kind of like the “silent partner” in the story. He never speaks up, never complains. He just does what he’s told.

God knew Joseph could be trusted to do what God wanted done.

Now, here’s the deal–you and I–our lives have a plan!

They didn’t view the time and the money and effort as being a sacrifice–they saw them as gifts of love.

If you love me, do whatever you’ve gotta do to take care of my church–my people…if you love me.