Category: 2017 Sermons

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:00 — 10.5MB)

Sermon Audio: The Ascension Of Jesus
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 24:50-53
Duration: 22:59
Size: 10.5 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Ascension Of Jesus
Luke 24:50-53

The ascension of Jesus in Luke 24:50-53 shows us the remarkable manner in which Jesus left his disciples.

I. The Benediction at Jesus’ Ascension (Luke 24:50-51)

What a glorious forty days that must have been for the apostles!

The “Coming” and the “Going:: between them they sum up Luke’s message of salvation.

Jesus’ benediction upon his disciples as he parted from them and was carried up into heaven was intended to remind them of all that he came to do when he came to seek and to save the lost.

They must ever be dismissed in the name of the Lord with the assurance of the power and presence of the Triune God to accompany them always.

II. The Reaction to Jesus’ Ascension (Luke 24:52-53)

How did this company of weak disciples, now left for the first time like orphans in the midst of a hostile world, not give in to despair but instead react with great joy?

The remedy is to look to Jesus and remind ourselves of who he is and what he has done to rescue us from the world, the flesh, and the devil.

III. The Implications of Jesus’ Ascension

A. The Ascension of Jesus Marked the Completion of the Work of Salvation

There is nothing to be added to what Jesus has done to save sinners.

B. The Ascension of Jesus Marked the End of His Limitations

After Jesus completed his work of salvation on earth, he ascended to heaven to be with his Father again, and to return to the glory he had before he left heaven.

C. The Ascension of Jesus Signaled the Sending of the Holy Spirit

D. The Ascension of Jesus Marked the Start of His Preparing Believers’ Heavenly Home

E. The Ascension of Jesus Marked the Passing of the Work of Evangelism to His Followers

The Acts of the Apostles, describes Jesus’ work that was continued through his apostles, and the rest of the New Testament describes how Jesus’ Church is to continue the work of evangelism until he returns.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:03 — 9.2MB)

Sermon Audio: Jesus Appears To His Disciples
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 24:36-49
Duration: 20:03
Size: 9.17 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Jesus Appears To His Disciples
Luke 24:36-49

You can have hope without faith, but you can not have faith without hope!

Jesus’ appearance to his disciples in Jerusalem in Luke 24:36-49 shows us how they came to recognize that Jesus was indeed alive.

I. The Reappearance of Jesus (Luke 24:36)

As with most people, they have to be persuaded. The disciples are as skeptical as the rest of humanity.

II. The Reassurance by Jesus (Luke 24:37-43)

A. Their Panic (Luke 24:37)

But this was no spirit that they saw, because Jesus gave proof that he was no spirit.

B. His Proof (Luke 24:38-43)

They were seeing and touching the resurrected, glorified Lord Jesus Christ!

The empirical evidence of Jesus’ resurrection is stated briefly: Jesus appears to them, speaks with them, and eats before them. Truly he is raised.

III. The Revelation by Jesus (Luke 24:44-49)

We must understand that one of the reasons Jesus taught them from Scripture was that he did not want them to rest their belief in his resurrection on their personal experience alone.

So, never think that you need to have a certain intellectual ability to understand the gospel.

So, if you have repented of your sins and received forgiveness of your sins, then you are commissioned by Jesus to tell others how they too can find forgiveness for their sins.

So, we have a very good reason to tell others about Jesus: not only is Jesus alive, he has changed us, and we are now empowered by the Holy Spirit to live for him and tell others about him.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:52 — 9.1MB)

Sermon Audio: On The Road To Emmaus
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 24:13-35
Duration: 19:51
Size: 9.09 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
On The Road To Emmaus
Luke 24:13-35

Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35 shows us how they came to recognize that Jesus was indeed alive.

I. The Reunion with Jesus (Luke 24:13-16)

The two disciples walking to Emmaus thought he was just another traveler, and they did not recognize him.

II. The Request from Jesus (Luke 24:17)

III. The Reply to Jesus (Luke 24:18-24)

Instead of being the only person who did not know what was happening, Jesus was the only person who did!

The two disciples told Jesus the astonishing news about the empty tomb and the angelic announcement about Jesus’ resurrection.

IV. The Rebuke by Jesus (Luke 24:25-27)

What any preacher would give to hear that sermon, when the Word of God Incarnate explained the Word of God written!

Instead, it is a book about Jesus Christ and God’s redemption that is found in Jesus alone.

V. The Recognition of Jesus (Luke 24:28-32)

It was a divine act that enabled them to recognize Jesus because Luke said that their eyes were opened.

The point is that every person today may have a similar experience as the two disciples in that it is the opening of the Scriptures that causes our hearts to burn.

VI. The Report about Jesus (Luke 24:33-35)

While the apostles did not expect resurrection, once they saw it, they were ready to die for the faith because they knew that death could not conquer them.

Application:

First, if you are not a Christian, believe that Jesus is indeed alive. Turn to God in faith and in repentance.

Second, if you are a Christian, tell others about Jesus.

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Sermon Audio: The Resurrection
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 24:1-12
Duration: 22:41
Size: 10.4 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Resurrection
Luke 24:1-12

Jesus of Nazareth was verifiably dead. He was crucified with two thieves by Roman soldiers.

The resurrection of Jesus in Luke 24:1-12 shows us what happened to the women at the empty tomb of Jesus.

I. They Were Perplexed (Luke 24:1-4a)

The women went to the tomb of Jesus that first Sunday morning to complete the burial process.

At this point the women simply did not know where the body of Jesus was. The empty tomb intensified their grief.

II. They Were Rebuked (Luke 24:4b-5)

You see, the angels said to the women that they were mistaken in coming to anoint a lifeless corpse when they should have known he would be alive.

III. They Were Instructed (Luke 24:6-8)

Jesus had predicted his death and resurrection on several occasions.

Luke 9:22; Mark 9:31; Luke 18:31-33

At the end of the day, every one of us comes to believe the good news of the gospel because we believe the Word of God.

God is the divine author of the Word of God, let us hear his Word, and heed his Word.

IV. They Were Witnesses (Luke 24:9-12)

Like the women initially, the other disciples had not expected Jesus to rise from the dead.

The women were witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection, and the people to whom they witnessed should have believed their message.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:11 — 10.6MB)

Sermon Audio: The Lamb and The Cross
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Duration: 23:11
Size: 10.6 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Lamb and The Cross

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Sermon Audio: Jesus Is Buried
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 23:50-56
Duration: 23:46
Size: 10.8 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Jesus Is Buried
Luke 23:50-56

Interestingly, we actually know quite a bit about the burial of Jesus Christ.

The burial of Jesus in Luke 23:50-56 shows us the actions of some of Jesus’ disciples.

I. The Burial of Jesus Shows Us the Boldness of Joseph of Arimathea (Luke 23:50-54)

Joseph did not consent to the Jewish Sanhedrin’s decision to have Jesus sent to Pilate in order to be sentenced to death by crucifixion.

Now that Jesus was dead, Joseph had a decision to make. Would he go public with his discipleship?

It was at the cross where Joseph took his stand, confessing Jesus in his death.

II. The Burial of Jesus Shows Us the Obedience of the Women from Galilee (Luke 23:55-56)

These women had supported Jesus during his public ministry for much of the previous three years.

And so they lingered at the cross, no doubt stricken with grief and sorrow, and yet also hoping and praying that somehow God would enable them to take care of Jesus.

One of the applications we should take from the women from Galilee is this: how well do we honor God on the Lord’s Day?

What is so interesting about Joseph and the women is that they were bold and obedient on Friday.

“It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’!”