Richmond Community Church

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Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: John 18:1-14

The Final Week
Who Are You Looking For?
John 18:1-14

You know, Jesus loved to ask questions. As I was doing some web surfing, I discovered that Jesus asked over 300 questions in the four gospels.

In fact, Judas was at the Last Supper… and Jesus even washed Judas’ feet.

Jesus came to save the worst of sinners, whether Judas, Paul… or me.

One problem too many people have is that they are afraid that they don’t know enough to witness to others.

There’s a common agreement amongst a lot of scholars that when you read a person’s name in the Gospels it’s probably because he/she had become a Christian.

The way for us to touch people for Jesus is to share how Jesus touched us.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:19 — 16.0MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: John 17:1-26

The Final Week
The Prayer of Love
John 17:1-26

And a lot of scholars call this prayer: Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, because in this prayer Jesus is interceding for His church just like a High Priest in the Old Testament would have interceded for God’s people.

And so, in the vital prayer, just days before His crucifixion, Jesus was praying for the Father to protect the church from those dangers.

But here’s the deal: Satan can’t touch you IF you stay close to God.

Because when you quote Scripture…you’re quoting God. You can’t get a higher authority than God.

Jesus prayed that we would be unified: One church, with one message, and one Savior.

More often congregations are torn apart because of conflicts between members…and those conflicts can escalate because other members take sides.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:14 — 16.0MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: John 16:1-15

The Final Week
The Power That Empowers
John 16:1-15

He’s come to convince the world of their need for Jesus–their need to be saved!

Our job is to witness to them. not condemn them.

And so, the Spirit’s job (and ours) is to point to Jesus’ righteousness (not our righteousness).

Instead, He focuses on convicting people–that they are 1) Sinners, 2) they’re not righteous, and 3) they will face judgment.

Sometimes He convicts people through Scripture.

Sometimes, the Spirit sets people up for you through circumstances.

Sometimes, the Spirit sets people up for us by convicting them of their sin.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:55 — 14.4MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: John 14:15-27

The Final Week
It’s What’s on the Inside That Counts
John 14:15-27

You see, Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, and it’s a fundamental teaching in Scripture that the Spirit dwells inside of each believer.

The apostles were able to do some very powerful and amazing things. I believe that the Holy Spirit was moving powerfully in their midst.

But the real problem here is that, not only that they were false prophets, but their arrogance serves to undermine the faith of real Christians in the ability of God’s Spirit to really do things.\

He dwells INSIDE of us and He knows exactly what we’re thinking and how we’re feeling.

We can be so filled with God’s powerful Spirit that we refuse to see reason for despair/surrender.

That means that, if you belong to Christ and the Spirit of God is inside of you, when you come before the throne of God at the resurrection that SEAL/MARK of the Holy Spirit is the only thing God’s going to look at.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:39 — 19.0MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: John 13:1-20

The Final Week
Washing Feet Reveals The One
John 13:1-20

Judas was trusted with keeping the funds for the group but was a thief and had been skimming from the purse.

Jesus knew this would lead to Peter’s denial, just as He knew about Judas’s betrayal.

I mean, sure, we’d been arguing that day, but I never thought he’d actually ask Jesus when he could stop forgiving his brother.

So, as we live out our faith, we strive for perfection but can be assured that God will forgive and restore our relationship when we fall short and need His forgiveness.

Synoptic gospels each tell about the disciples arguing to be considered the greatest when Jesus becomes king.

Jesus gets up, removes his outer garment, ties a towel around his waist, washes the feet of the disciples, dresses, and returns to his place at the table.

That’s what Jesus is telling us by washing feet. We need to be looking for how we can serve; see a need, fill a need.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:12 — 18.7MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: John 12:44-50

The Final Week
Believe In Me, I’ll Save the World
John 12:44-50

God’s plan to save the world is not at all what we expected.

When you see Jesus, you see the Father. We can believe in Jesus to save the world because He is one with the Father.

I want you to realize that Jesus is a much more brilliant light, He shines into every nook and cranny.

Jesus tells us it’s not His role to judge. As such, it’s not our role either. It’s God’s role to judge.

Jesus taught as one who had authority. This amazed the people, who contrasted this to the scribes.

We can believe in Jesus to save the world because He is God’s faithful messenger.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:07 — 13.1MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: John 12:28-43

The Final Week
Not the Jesus They Wanted
John 12:28-43

People don’t reject the Bible because it contradicts itself. They reject the Bible because it contradicts them.

Jesus didn’t fit into the box they’d built for Him.

To this day, the Jews struggle with the idea that Isaiah 53 describes the Messiah who would suffer and die for our sins.

The Jesus people get isn’t always the Jesus they want. And so, there are people who mangle the Bible to get what they want!

Jesus was the mighty King, the LORD of hosts, the One who VOLUNTARILY stepped down out of heaven to pay the price for our sins.

But the Cross was more about God’s love than it was about our guilt.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:01 — 13.7MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: John 12:12-19

The Final Week
The King Is Coming
John 12:12-19

Jesus entered that same city! The crowds went wild and spread their coats and palm branches on the road before Him.

TOO LATE! Jesus had already been there and done that. That’s what this Triumphal entry into Jerusalem was all about.

He’d come to be humble King, and His kingdom was to be a humble kingdom made up of servants… not warriors.

So, 1st Jesus came, humble upon a donkey, to teach us what being Christian’s all about. It’s all about humility and servanthood to others.

Jesus came to change our lives. To give us hope, and courage and the wisdom to build His Kingdom the way He wanted it done.

BUT JESUS DID! Jesus came to Jerusalem for those He loved. And Jesus is coming back… and He’s coming back for me.