Tag: Acts: Life In The Spirit

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:41 — 16.3MB)

Sermon Audio: Four Great Goals For Christian Growth
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 18:22-28
Duration: 23:41
Size: 16.2 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Four Great Goals For Christian Growth
Acts 18:22-28

“Even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.”

1. The first goal is be available.
Apollos had a lot going for him. He was a great speaker. He was an expert in the Old Testament. He was very committed and courageous. But apparently, he wasn’t saved.

In spite of all of his gifts and knowledge, Apollos hadn’t heard the Gospel, so he needed the most important help of all.

In fact, that’s one of God’s great goals for our lives, because He wants to do amazing things in us and through us.

2. So be available. — And be teachable.
God wants us to be teachable. We can never get to the point where we know everything. We never know so much that we can’t learn more.

But thankfully, Apollos had an open heart. He was teachable, and we need to be teachable too.

3. Be teachable. — And be dependable.
We expect loyalty and reliability from things and other people. Isn’t it reasonable then that God just might expect the same from us?

4. So be dependable. — And be flammable.
We need to see people the way Jesus sees them, and feel what He feels about them.

Only God knows how many more souls have been saved because that daddy’s heart was on fire. And we need the same kind of burning in our hearts.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:05 — 14.5MB)

Sermon Audio: Promoting The Purposes of God
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 18:12-21
Duration: 21:05
Size: 14.4 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Promoting The Purposes of God
Acts 18:12-21

As individual believers who belong to God’s family, we must make God’s will the most important pursuit of our lives.

I. God’s Purposes Are Sometimes Furthered by Unlikely People (Acts 18:12-17)
Gallio was one of those people–not in the sense of being a follower of Christ, but in the sense of being used by God to protect Paul from harm.

Bottom line: God kept Paul safe for the time and furthered His own purposes through unlikely people like Gallio and a mob of Greek thugs.

II. God’s Purposes Are Advanced through Personal Commitment (Acts 18:18)
If we choose to make a vow to God to express our thankfulness, that is great–as long as we are prepared to fulfill what we promise.

You are the one who will choose what kind of commitment you need to make to get closer to God and allow Him to work through your life.

III. God’s Purposes Give Direction to True Christ-Followers (Acts 18:19-21)
Following God’s will is the one thing that will keep you on the right track.

Are God’s purposes being fulfilled in your life? Evangelism… Discipleship… Fellowship… Worship… Ministry…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:37 — 16.9MB)

Sermon Audio: Together We Win
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 18:1-11
Duration: 24:37
Size: 16.9 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Together We Win
Acts 18:1-11

If we will follow Christ together, we can win in the life struggles we face.

I. Being Together Helps Us Conquer Loneliness (Acts 18:1-2)
We are not alone, so it is imperative that we don’t live like we are! I need you! You need me. We all need each other.

II. Working Together Helps Bring Provision (Acts 18:3)
So, work is a good thing. It allows us to take responsibility for our own provision and can provide us opportunity to get to know others we are working with.

III. Ministering Together Helps Us Exceed Our Limitations (Acts 18:4-8)
We all have some form of ministry that complements the overall effort of God’s kingdom to reach people in need.

We have mental barriers that keep us from accomplishing all we are capable of with God’s help.

IV. Trusting Together Helps Us Overcome Our Fears (Acts 18:9-11)
The greatest weapon we have against fear is the knowledge that God is with us!

So, God is with us, and His people are all around us. We do not have to live in fear, but we can boldly share the good news about Jesus with others!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:45 — 15.6MB)

Sermon Audio: The Up Close God
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 17:16-34
Duration: 22:45
Size: 15.6 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
The Up Close God
Acts 17:16-34

The up-close God wants you to get close to Him if you are willing.

I. Getting Close to God Requires More than Religion (Acts 17:22-23a)
A person might be very religious, but never really come close to God.

II. Getting Close to God Requires Believing the Truth about Him (Acts 17:23b-31)
1. He Created Everything (Acts 17:24a)
2. He is totally Self-Sufficient (Acts 17:24b-25a)
3. He gives life, breath, and everything else to mankind (Acts 17:25b)
4. He is a divine strategist (Acts 17:26-27a)
5. He is not far from any of us (Acts 17:27b-28)
6. He is much more than man’s grandest idea of Him (Acts 17:29)
7. He has overlooked past ignorance, but now requires repentance (Acts 17:30)
8. He will judge the world one day by the Man He raised from the dead (Acts 17:31)

III. Getting Close to God Is What He Wants from Us (Acts 17:26-29)
He has made Himself accessible to us. He does want us to seek Him and search for Him, but He wants us to find Him; He is not far from each of us!

IV. Getting Close to God Begins with Repentance (Acts 17:30-34)
Repentance is absolutely necessary, if you want to get close to God.

What will your story be?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:02 — 15.8MB)

Sermon Audio: The Joy of the Harvest
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 17:1-15
Duration: 23:02
Size: 15.8 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
The Joy of the Harvest
Acts 17:1-15

If we ever want to see the harvest, we must faithfully plant the seeds and tend the garden!

I. If We Keep Sharing Our Faith, We Will See Results (Acts 17:1-4)
As we share our faith with others, and plant good seeds of truth in their lives, we need to hang in there and keep watering and nurturing and investing in them until we see the joy of the harvest!

We show our love for God by doing what He asked His followers to do–that is, tell others about Jesus, and the forgiveness and peace they can find in Him.

II. If We Keep Sharing Our Faith, We Will Face Resistance (Acts 17:5-9)
I’ve known people who did not want anything to do with Jesus or church because they thought it meant giving up some of the things they like.

However, it is also the most inclusive of all religions, because Jesus invites everyone who is willing to come to Him and share in His life.

Opposition will come if we keep sharing our faith, but we must still share it!

III. If We Want to Keep Sharing Our Faith, We Must Remain Flexible (Acts 17:10-15)
If Paul had not been willing to be flexible, he likely would have either been killed prematurely, or would have quit the ministry.

We need to take intentional steps to talk to our neighbors, our friends, and our family about Jesus. They need to see Jesus in our lives and by the way we love people.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:15 — 18.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Sharing Heaven’s Good News
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 16:13-40
Duration: 26:15
Size: 18.0 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Sharing Heaven’s Good News
Acts 16:13-40

All who receive God’s message of forgiveness should help share it with others.

I. Sharing the Good News Results in Changed Lives (Acts 16:13-15)
However, Paul’s message gave her the rest of the story–the promised Messiah had come and provided everything that was needed for people to know God and be in good favor with Him.

I was in Christ, and Christ was in me, changing me on the inside.

II. Sharing the Good News Can Bring Trouble (Acts 16:16-24)
Well, Paul and Silas paid dearly for standing up for the gospel. They were falsely accused, severely beaten/flogged, and thrown into prison, with their feet fastened in stocks.

III. Sharing the Good News Results in Freedom (Acts 16:25-34)
Regardless of the opposition that comes when we share the good news, it is always worth it!

When we share the good news about Jesus with others, they can find the freedom that they need so much; freedom from sin, freedom from hate, freedom from addictions, freedom to be who God created them to be.

IV. Sharing the Good News Requires Personal Sacrifice (Acts 16:35-40)
The good news about Jesus requires our investment, our priority, our energy, resources, and all that we have to offer.

Jesus was willing to sacrifice His life for us so that we could know God. Paul was willing to sacrifice anything for the sake of the good news about Jesus, so that others might know God.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:20 — 16.7MB)

Sermon Audio: Marks of an Effective Christ-Follower
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 16:1-12
Duration: 24:19
Size: 16.7 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Marks of an Effective Christ-Follower
Acts 16:1-12

That is what a Christian is supposed to be, and many are. However, those who say they are but act differently are clearly not following Christ.

I. Effective Christ-Followers Keep Paying it Forward (Acts 16:1-3)
After all, the very letter they were carrying to the various churches from the elders and apostles in Jerusalem essentially said that circumcision was not necessary for Gentiles.

Effective Christ-followers keep paying it forward, investing in others, and training them to share the good news about Jesus.
Secondly…

II. Effective Christ-Followers Work as a Team (Acts 16:4-5)
As we are on this journey together, it takes more than just me to know where God is leading us.

III. Effective Christ-Followers Listen to the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6-8)
The dark night of the soul is one way God brings us into a hush, a stillness so He can do an inner work on our soul, taking us to newer and higher levels of intimacy with Him.

IV. Effective Christ-Followers Act on the Revelation They Receive (Acts 16:9-12)
God reveals His nature, His plan, and many other things to us through the Bible. God may also speak to us through impressions in our hearts or spirits.

We’ve covered a few different areas, but take just a moment of silence and ask God this one question: “Lord, what one thing do You want me to do in obedience to You?”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:35 — 14.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Handling Conflict Within God’s Family
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 15:36-41
Duration: 22:35
Size: 14.0 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Handling Conflict Within God’s Family
Acts 15:36-41

Those who follow Christ can hold strong convictions without sacrificing good relationships.

I. Christ-Followers Need to Foster an Encouraging Environment (Acts 15:36)
It may be safe to say that we should always be on one end or the other of encouragement.

II. Christ-Followers Will Sometimes Disagree Strongly (Acts 15:37-40a)
God had called Paul to be an apostle to the Gentiles, and if Mark didn’t really think Gentiles should get into God’s family without being circumcised and keeping the law of Moses, then he would cause more harm than good as they revisited the Gentiles they had led to Christ.

III. Christ-Followers Should Relate to One Another in Loving Humility (Acts 15:40)
Now, as we look at the dispute between Paul and Barnabas, it appears that neither one of them was guilty of an offense or a sin against each other, so in a sense, there was no reconciliation or forgiveness needed between them.

The important thing to remember is that even if we cannot agree with another believer, we can and must love them and be humble in our relationship with them.

IV. Christ-Followers Must Never Allow Conflict to Stop the Flow of God’s Grace (Acts 15:41)
This life will be filled with disagreements, arguments, problems, fights, embarrassment, stupidity, and other unpleasant things, but we must never let any of those negative things derail God’s plan for our lives.

Forgiveness and grace will preserve our relationships with one another–even when we disagree strongly.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:47 — 7.7MB)

Sermon Audio: The Simplicity of God’s Grace
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 15:1-21
Duration: 16:47
Size: 7.68 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
The Simplicity of God’s Grace
Acts 15:1-21

God’s amazing grace is amazingly simple.

I. God’s Grace Travels Light (Acts 15:1-2)
We cannot qualify God’s grace by saying, “It only works, if…”. The only conditions for receiving God’s grace are faith and sincerity.

II. God’s Grace Is a Cause for Celebration (Acts 15:3-4)
God’s grace is a cause for celebration, and we should never stop celebrating.

III. God’s Grace Alone Is the Basis of our Forgiveness (Acts 15:5-11)
Again, when we try to add anything to God’s grace, it dilutes it, or taints it–however you want to look at it.

IV. God’s Grace Produces Freedom, not Bondage (Acts 15:12-21)
This was the same kind of mission Jesus had sent His apostles on. They were to minister light and freedom to those who were in darkness and bondage.