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2015-01-11: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – There Is Purpose In The Storms

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:21 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: There Is Purpose In The Storms
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 8:22-25
Duration: 26:21
Size: 12.0 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
There Is Purpose In The Storms
Luke 8:22-25

Although the Sea of Galilee is only 5 miles wide and 13 miles long it has a history of terrible storms.

The disciples in obedience to his command hoisted the sail and begin the five mile trip across the lake.

Sometimes We Will Face Storms In Our Lives.

The once placid lake of our life becomes a storm tossed, angry, raging sea.

But no matter what storms come up in our life, we can call upon Jesus.

When We Are In A Storm We May Think That We Are Out of God’s Will.

You can find a storm and be right in the center of God’s will.

Without difficulties, without trials, without stresses and even failures, we would never grow to be what the Lord wants us to become.

When We Are In A Storm We May Think That God Doesn’t Care.

When we are in the midst of a crisis of one form or another and it seems that Jesus doesn’t care, He just does not seem to be interested or concerned with what we are going through.

When We Are In A Storm We May React In Fear Rather Than Faith.

In reality their problem was not the storm around them but the unbelief within them.

When We Are In A Storm We Need To Remember To Cry Out To The Father.

I am so glad I serve the God of the Universe who not only created everything that is, is not limited as to He can act by His own creation.

When In A Storm Faith Will Keep You From Being Afraid.

Jesus cares, not only cares, but acts and saves.

We Disappoint The Lord When We Give In To Fear.

Although their fear was natural, they had no excuse for their lack of faith.

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2015-01-04: Advent 2014 – Star Of Wonder

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:25 — 13.5MB)

Sermon Audio: Star Of Wonder
Speaker: Pastor Frank Clore
Scripture Text:: John 1:1-5
Duration: 29:25
Size: 13.4 MB

Advent 2014 – Star Of Wonder
John 1:1-5

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:1-5

In this passage, John makes reference to the word, light, and darkness.

He reminds us how timeless Jesus is, how divine Jesus is, how overwhelming Jesus is.

Jeremiah’s Prophecy: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” – Jeremiah 31:5

“In the beginning was the Word…” – John 1:1

“In the beginning God…” – Genesis 1:1

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” – I Corinthians 15:22

We experience death through the first Adam. But we receive life through the second Adam, Jesus Christ.

In Bethlehem, Jesus came in the form of a human for a new beginning.

Genesis describes God’s first creation. John describes the new creation.

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” – Colossians 1:15-16

To the Greek, the Logos is what lies behind the universe and maintains its order … to the Jew creation took place through God speaking …

Logos – the Word tells us: Jesus is God; Jesus is Creator; Jesus has always been around.

Jesus is life – Jesus brings Eternal Life.

Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10

Jesus is the only option to know God!

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2014-12-28: Advent 2014 – O Holy Night

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:06 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: O Holy Night
Speaker: Pastor Frank Clore
Scripture Text:: Micah 5:2
Duration: 18:06
Size: 8.29 MB

Advent 2014 – O Holy Night
Micah 5:2

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient.” Micah 5:2

Christmas is an ideal opportunity to rekindle the hope that all humankind can experience the transformation of God.

What some deemed sacrilegious God used to glorify Himself and His Son.

God is not intimidated by the unclean.

“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Acts 10:15

This is the Christmas Season! We are all talking about the incarnation when we talk about Christmas.

Christmas is a perfect opportunity for God to show us how He loves to transform the ordinary into the sacred.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

God loves to take the common and use it for His glory.

What is is not what something may become.

As believers, we must never put a period on the end of a sentence. We must put a comma and let God finish.

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2014-12-21: Advent 2014 – Joy To The World

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:31 — 8.5MB)

Sermon Audio: Joy To The World
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 2:8-11, Psalm 98
Duration: 26:31
Size: 12.1 MB

Advent 2014 – Joy To The World
Luke 2:8-11, Psalm 98

If there is a single word that describes what Christmas is all about, it’s the little word joy.

Where does Christmas joy come from?

I. The Prophecy of His Coming Micah 5:2
Seven hundred years earlier the Lord had spoken through the prophet Micah and declared that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

The theologians knew the truth but wouldn’t act on it; the shepherds knew very little but what they knew, they believed and immediately acted upon.

II. The Reality of His Coming
The first is that there were no miracles associated with the physical birth of Jesus Christ.

Second, it’s important to remind ourselves that the phrase “this day” means that it really happened.

Everything about the story is true, including the central truth that there really was a baby born in Bethlehem who really was the Son of God.

III. The Result of His Coming

That’s why Christ came—to be a Savior for everyone who will turn to him.

This is the heart of Christmas. God loved us enough to send his only begotten Son.

IV. The Purpose of His Coming
Pause for a moment and consider who was speaking and who was being addressed.

Our Lord came for the forgotten people of the earth and most of the time they are the ones who receive him with the greatest joy.

He Came For You
You can never be saved until you say, “Christ came for me. He died for me. He rose from the dead for me.”

Joy the world, the Lord is come.

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2014-12-07: Advent 2014 – O Come All Ye Faithful

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:20 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: O Come All Ye Faithful
Speaker: Pastor John Pettigrew
Duration: 18:20
Size: 8.39 MB

Advent 2014 – O Come All Ye Faithful

  1. Jesus called the weary and burdened. Matthew 11:28
  2. Jesus also called the sinners. Matthew 9:12-13
    God wants us to know that we can become a new person. II Corinthians 5:17
  3. Jesus helps us to become more faithful. Romans 10:17, Isaiah 43:2-3
  4. Jesus helps us to become more joyful. Galatians 5:22
    Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on Jesus.
  5. Jesus helps us to become more triumphant. Luke 2:10-11
    But what we fail to realize is that the living God is the greatest one we could ever have watching our back. Isaiah 9:6-7
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2014-11-30: Advent 2014 – The Reason for the Season

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:54 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: The Reason for the Season
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Isaiah 7:14, Luke 5:32
Duration: 18:54
Size: 8.65 MB

Advent 2014 – The Reason for the Season
Isaiah 7:14, Luke 5:32

We decide every Christmas Season what The Reason for the Season means for us.

1. Jesus Is The Reason for the Season

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Luke 5:32 (NIV) I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

2. You Are The Reason for the Season!

John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

3. The Reason for the Season!

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

He is the Reason for the Season so I could be The Reason for the Season!

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2014-11-23: How Can We Thank God Enough?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:04 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: How Can We Thank God Enough?
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Thessalonians 3:9-13
Duration: 20:04
Size: 9.18 MB

How Can We Thank God Enough?
I Thessalonians 3:9-13

Thanksgiving is a funny sort of holiday; somehow relaxing and tiring at the same time.

When we really pause to think about all that God has done for us, how can we thank God enough?

Thanksgiving is about more than family gatherings and cranberry sauce; it’s about recognizing and proclaiming what our Savior has done for us!

A great part of thanking God enough is sharing the Good News of God’s grace and love with all the people around us.

God has been so good to us, and God loves us so much, and if we really want to thank God, we just can’t keep the wonderful news inside us!

How can we thank God enough?

  • We thank God by living as God would have us to live.
  • We thank God by serving others in the name of Christ.
  • We thank God by sharing the message of God’s great love.
  • We thank God by preparing our hearts and seeking to draw nearer to God.
  • We thank God by anticipating with great joy that day when we will celebrate “Emmanuel, God with Us.”

What are you thankful for?

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2014-11-16: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – Are You Related To Jesus?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:41 — 9.9MB)

Sermon Audio: Are You Related To Jesus?
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 8:19-21
Duration: 21:41
Size: 9.92 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Are You Related To Jesus?
Luke 8:19-21

In order to understand these three verses you have to take them in light of the entire chapter of Luke 8.

If you put Luke and Mark’s accounts together you don’t see a contradiction simply their twist on the account: Hearing God’s word and putting it into practice is God’s will!

Being baptized or being related to a leader in a church is all good but if we are not hearing God’s word and putting it into practice we are simply standing outside to see Jesus.

God did not leave us in the dark about how to come to him. It”s found in the Bible.

We can read, “Love your neighbor as yourself” and if we continue to hold a grudge with someone, the word has not gotten a hold of us.

I realize that for some of you, reading the Bible is new. You might be intimidated; you don’t know where to start.

Is there a…

Sin to confess
Promise to claim
Attitude to change
Command to obey
Example to follow
Prayer to pray
Error to avoid
Truth to believe
Something to thank God for?