Category: 2024 Sermons

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:47 — 15.1MB)

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.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:39 — 12.7MB)

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.

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2024-12-15: Empty the Jar at Christmas — The Gifts We Bring

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:59 — 11.3MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Matthew 2:9-11

Empty the Jar at Christmas
The Gifts We Bring
Matthew 2:9-11

I suspect that each of those gifts was more like wrapping paper. Beautiful on the outside, but inside–there was something valuable hidden!

So hidden within that gift of Gold, was a proclamation: Jesus is King.

So, Frankincense was an offering (or a gift) to God. And hidden within that gift (to Jesus)…was this message: Jesus was God in the flesh.

So, the gift Myrrh the Wise-men brought declared Jesus had come to be our Priest.

The question today is this: What can I bring to Jesus? What kind of gifts can I bring to a God–a King–a Savior…who has everything?

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2024-12-01: Empty the Jar at Christmas — Ready for the Journey

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:41 — 14.3MB)

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

Empty the Jar at Christmas
Ready for the Journey
Matthew 2:1-2

I believe he did this to bring the point home that Jesus is for all of mankind.

The Persian wise men of their time likely learned about prophecies like Numbers 24:17.

Many had heard the shepherds declare that they had seen the messiah and were filled with wonder.

Again, I believe God had a greater purpose in sending the wise men and having Matthew include them in his gospel message.

And that is what some of you were. But…that’s the part that matters–who you are now.

Empty the jar–it’s about holding nothing back from God as we worship Him.

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2024-11-17: Lies People Believe — I’ve Got Too Much Dirt

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:26 — 14.8MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Romans 5:6-11

Lies People Believe
I’ve Got Too Much Dirt
Romans 5:6-11

Now, if someone with as much dirt as Barabbas could become a follower of Jesus, do you really think you have too much dirt for God to handle it?

Jesus, however, gave His life even though none of us deserve His sacrifice.

Exhibit A, Paul’s life before knowing Jesus.
Even though he thought he was acting with great zeal on behalf of God, he was actually sinning against the God he proclaimed to love.

Exhibit B, the life accomplishments of Paul as a Christian.
Eventually, it’s believed that Paul’s faith cost him his life.

Exhibit C, what motivated him to go through it all.
Even as His enemy, He sent His son Jesus to die on the cross. Jesus did all the work to reconcile me to God.

We’ve taken the plunge and accepted the gift of grace that God offered through Jesus’ sacrifice.

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2024-11-10: Lies People Believe — I Am What I Am

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:22 — 13.5MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Corinthians 5:14-17

Lies People Believe
I Am What I Am
II Corinthians 5:14-17

The phrase simply means–I have no choice–that’s just the way it is.

But that doesn’t stop people from continually protesting: “I can’t help myself”, “I can’t change who I am”. “It’s not my fault!”

To people who engaged in sin who said, “I was born that way” Jesus said “You must be born again.”

Jesus came to transform people…to remake them.

Now the problem is this: the people who buy into that mindset often face hopelessness and despair.

The first step to being healed of your sin. Recognize that you’ve messed up and want to change–REPENT!

The Christian is never trapped by their past. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

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2024-11-03: Lies People Believe — I Did It My Way

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:17 — 12.6MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Proverbs 3:5-10

Lies People Believe
I Did It My Way
Proverbs 3:5-10

But, when it comes to the more serious decisions of life, if we insist on doing things our way, it can get real dangerous…real quick.

It’s an impressive song about facing life’s difficulties…and triumphing over the challenges — I Did It My Way!

It’s no longer going to be your will that guides you…but God’s.

But when churchgoers do this (when they insist on doing things their way), they don’t think of it defying God.

If Jesus is not the Lord of your life — somebody’s got to be.

Nothing he had done compared to what Jesus had done…for him.

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2024-10-27: Lies People Believe — God Doesn’t Understand Me

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:37 — 11.6MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 6:19-21

Lies People Believe
God Doesn’t Understand Me
Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 6:19-21

They don’t feel they can get close to Him. God seems distant and uncaring.

We wish God would…just do something! But when we can’t see Him do that something, many people struggle in their faith.

So, Joseph was still a slave, but at least God blessed him while he was there. I mean…it could be worse.

In the midst of his suffering, Joseph decided to focus on that “Truth.”
And that “truth” was that God would always be there for him.

And the first lie is that God doesn’t care. That He’s not there. And that He just doesn’t understand us.

We live in a fallen world where the things we cling to fail us. And that’s why Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble.”

She got to the point where she knew God was always near her and that He would never leave her or forsake her.