Tag: Acts: Life In The Spirit

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Sermon Audio: The Making of a Disciple
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 14:19-28
Duration: 22:12
Size: 10.1 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
The Making of a Disciple
Acts 14:19-28

God uses transformed people to transform people. Restated, it takes a disciple to make a disciple.

I. The Price of Making Disciples (Acts 14:19)
Jesus said to count the cost before committing to follow Him.

II. The Priority of Making Disciples (Acts 14:20-21b)
A true disciple of Jesus will keep following Him and doing what He has commanded until it there is no breath left to do it with.

III. The Pattern for Making Disciples (Acts 14:21c-23)
“The local church is the hope of the world.”
It is through the local church that disciples are made.

The pattern for disciple-making will include strengthening others, and encouraging them to remain true to their faith in Jesus.

IV. The Pause in Making Disciples (Acts 14:24-28)
If we fail to recognize the value of pausing and resting from our labors, it will begin to take a toll on our physical and mental health.

Some of the church fathers write that the Christian day for worship became Sunday in honor of day that the Lord rose from the grave.

God wants us to become disciples who love and obey Jesus, and then make disciples who love and obey Jesus.

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Sermon Audio: Overcoming Barriers to the Good News
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 14:1-18
Duration: 23:20
Size: 10.6 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Overcoming Barriers to the Good News
Acts 14:1-18

The Mother’s Day videos shared in today’s worship service live stream are at the end of this post.

With God’s help, we can learn to naturally and effectively share His love with others.

I. The Power of the Spoken Word (Acts 14:1-3)
When we share the words containing the good news about Jesus, we must be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

We can let people know that God loves them and wants to help them by the power of the spoken word and through a lifestyle of living out that word.

II. The Power of Presence (Acts 14:2-3a)
Never underestimate the power of presence.
Just being there for somebody often does more for them than all the words you can say.

Be such a friend that even if they never seem to take a step toward God, you will still be their friend!

III. The Power of Miracles (Acts 14:3-10)
However, I believe that He wants to do even more miracles while we are sharing the good news about Jesus.

IV. The Power of Humility (Acts 14:11-18)
Pride is a dangerous thing, and it has resulted in the fall of many great men.
We just need to be humble and obedient, just doing what He has asked us to do.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:09 — 12.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Ministry That Makes a Difference
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 13:42-52
Duration: 26:09
Size: 11.9 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Ministry That Makes a Difference
Acts 13:42-52

God wants your life to make a lasting difference in the people around you.

I. Life-Changing Ministry Leaves the Door Open (Acts 13:42)
If we try to force someone to receive God’s love and forgiveness, we are probably closing the door on future opportunities to share the love of Jesus with them.

1) Pray for them.
2) Build a genuine friendship.
3) Let it happen naturally.
4) Always be sensitive.

II. Life-Changing Ministry Strengthens Others (Acts 13:43)
Discipleship. It involves teaching them how to stay connected to God.

Let’s make it part of our lifestyle to strengthen and encourage others to grow in their faith.

III. Life-Changing Ministry Can Impact an Entire Community (Acts 13:44)
Are we using our gifts to make a difference in our church and community?

IV. Life-Changing Ministry Boldly Faces its Opposition (Acts 13:45-46,50-51)
We just need to know what God has called us to do and then ask Him to empower us to do it effectively.

V. Life-Changing Ministry Flows from the Mission of God (Acts 13:47-49)
God’s mission is designed to reach all around this earth and cover it with His love and forgiveness.

VI. Life-Changing Ministry Produces Joy and Spirit-filled Believers (Acts 13:52)
The Bible tells us that joy is some of the evidence that the Holy Spirit is leading our lives.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit results in greater power, boldness, and a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to us and through us.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:28 — 9.8MB)

Sermon Audio: God’s Extraordinary Promise
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 13:13-41
Duration: 21:28
Size: 9.83 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
God’s Extraordinary Promise
Acts 13:13-41

Let’s look at several clues that will deepen our understanding of God’s greatest promise.

I. God’s Promise Is Seen in Israel’s History (Acts 13:17-25)
All of God’s activity as seen here was aimed at bringing the Messiah to Israel and the world, just as He had promised.
Genesis 3:15
Genesis 26:4
Deuteronomy 18:15
Acts 3:24-26

II. God’s Promise Is for All Who Believe (Acts 13:26)
Paul was able to stand up in this Jewish synagogue, surrounded by Jews and devout Gentiles, and say that the message of God’s promise had been sent to them.

III. God’s Promise Is Often Overlooked (Acts 13:27-29)
People often see only what they are looking for. Those in Israel who were looking for the promised Messiah found Him when they found Jesus.

IV. God’s Promise Is Meant to Be Shared (Acts 13:30-32a)
Paul mentions that those who followed Jesus during His earthly ministry saw Him after His resurrection and became His witnesses to the Jewish people.
Acts 1:3:
I Corinthians 15:4-8

V. God’s Promise Is Fulfilled in the Person of Jesus (Acts 13:32b-39)
It’s all about Jesus! Paul shows these Jews and God-fearing Gentiles that Jesus fulfills the criteria for being the Messiah.

VI. God’s Promise Is Unbelievable to Those Who Reject Him (Acts 13:40-41)
God chose to send His Son Jesus to take our place, so we would not have to face eternal separation from Him in everlasting torment.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:54 — 10.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Power to Work and to Win
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 13:1-12
Duration: 21:54
Size: 10.0 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Power to Work and to Win
Acts 13:1-12

God wants to fill us with His Spirit so we can reach lost people and win spiritual battles.

I. God Has an Intentional Plan to Reach Unreached People (Acts 13:1-6a)
Part of God’s intentional plan to reach unreached people is to communicate His intentions to us.

God calls each of us to a specific work, and it is good for us to recognize the validity and worth of each one’s calling.

So, whether we are senders or sent ones, or both, God wants us in the game!

II. God Has Enemies Who Will Oppose His People (Acts 13:6b-8)
Make no mistake about it–If you are trying to reach people with the good news about Jesus, you will face opposition!

III. God Gives Us the Power and Boldness We Need to Win (Acts 13:9-12)
It was a Holy Spirit-inspired boldness that would not tolerate the lies and deception of the devil.

God wants you to have the power and boldness you need in order to win spiritual battles.

He also wants to empower you to win people to Him who have not yet been reached with the good news about Jesus.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:36 — 11.3MB)

Sermon Audio: A Tale of Two Lives
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 12:18-25
Duration: 24:35
Size: 11.5 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
A Tale of Two Lives
Acts 12:18-25

In fact, the house of Herod would make shows like Desperate Housewives or the worst Soap Operas look pretty tame. There was incest, betrayal, adultery, and many other gross sins.

I’d like to borrow two opposing thoughts from Psalm 1 that will provide a framework for discussing our scripture. Psalm 1:6 says, For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

I. The Lord Watches Over the Path of the Righteous
The physical welfare of the righteous is linked to the purposes of God.

If you struggle with this whole idea of how to reconcile suffering, sickness, and death with God’s care for us, it helps to remember that He alone is sovereign and knows what He is doing.

II. The Path of the Wicked Leads to Destruction
Josephus, a Jewish historiographer, writes about this same event, giving us a few more details than Luke does.

Now, here was Agrippa willing to commit the same kind of sin that Great Grandpa had fought so hard against.

I don’t know what you are going through today, but I am hoping and praying that you will come to a place where you can turn your life completely over to God, and start doing things His way.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:45 — 16.3MB)

Sermon Audio: Prison Break
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 12:1-17
Duration: 23:44
Size: 16.3 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Prison Break
Acts 12:1-17

We might feel like we are locked in our problems and life situations.

The Lord rescues and delivers those who put their trust in Him. How is such a prison break possible in our lives?

I. Bound by Two Chains
No doubt those were two physical chains used to restrain Peter from escape, but let’s look at two things that the chains could represent.

They wanted him to be bound up, not only in physical chains, but in emotional chains of hatred and despair.

II. Strengthened through a Praying Church
God often burdens others to pray for us, and sometimes He even uses them to help meet our need.

As we will see next, prayer not only brought comfort and freedom to Peter’s heart and mind, but it also brought about his physical freedom.

III. Rescued by a Loving God (The chains fell off!)
God wants us to be free…free from sin and bondage and free to do His will.

IV. Astonished by God’s Miraculous Deliverance
Have you ever been surprised by God? Has He ever worked so quickly and powerfully in your life that you were astounded?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:16 — 14.6MB)

Sermon Audio: An Encouraging Word
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 11:19-30
Duration: 21:16
Size: 14.6 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
An Encouraging Word
Acts 11:19-30

The thing I like most about Barnabas is that he lived up to his name: Son of Encouragement.

Every believer who is part of God’s church should be a source of encouragement to others.

I. Encouraging Words Help People Turn to Jesus (Acts 11:19-21,24)
I believe that we need to invite people into our own lives before we try to get them to invite Jesus into their lives.

II. Encouraging Words Help People Stay True to Jesus (Acts 11:22-24)
There’s no greater joy or excitement than when someone becomes a true Christian.

Your influence may be just what they need to help them stay true to the Lord.

III. Encouraging Words Help Believers Become More Like Jesus (Acts 11:25-26)
I’m sure they didn’t just talk about it, but they prayed it and lived it.

IV. Encouraging Words Often Require Loving Actions (Acts 11:27-30)
These new Christians at Antioch had been encouraged by Barnabas and Paul through discipleship and had built close relationships with one another.

If each of us, according to our ability, decide to provide help when we hear about someone in need, then our actions will speak louder than our words.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:39 — 11.6MB)

Sermon Audio: Doing Things God’s Way
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 11:1-18
Duration: 23:39
Size: 11.6 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
Doing Things God’s Way
Acts 11:1-18

Those who want God’s results in their lives, will persist in doing things His way.

How can we guard against doing things our own way or using somebody else’s way to try to get results?

I. Those Who Do Things God’s Way Can Expect Criticism
People matter to God, and when we are willing to do things God’s way to help them find the Lord, there is a very good chance we will face criticism.

II. Those Who Do Things God’s Way Must Respond
At first glance, we might think, “I shouldn’t have to explain myself when I’m only doing what God wants me to do!”

Peter made certain that God had confirmed His will, and then he humbly related it to his Jewish brothers.

Peter now knew beyond any doubt that God was doing something new, and he was able to welcome it and cooperate fully with God.

We can learn to live and move in tandem with the heart of God. We can align our actions with what God is doing.

III. Those Who Do Things God’s Way Rejoice When They See Him at Work
These Jews were so impressed by the vastness of God’s love for all of mankind (including the unclean Gentiles), that they began to influence one another to recognize God’s greatness.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:14 — 14.3MB)

Sermon Audio: You’ve Got Mail
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Acts 10:23-48
Duration: 26:14
Size: 14.3 MB

Acts: Life In The Spirit
You’ve Got Mail
Acts 10:23-48

God has specific messages for each of us, if we will just open our mail and read it each day.

Let me read some excerpts from your mail that tell us some important things God wants you to know about His Son.

I. Jesus Was Sent into Your World by God (Acts 10:36-38)
Jesus was sent into your world because God cares about you.

II. Jesus Wants to Help You (Acts 10:38)
There is a little 5-letter word called GRACE.
Grace refers to help or kindness that is given but not deserved.

III. Jesus Died to Pay the Penalty for Your Sins (Acts 10:39)
There is no other way to get to heaven or be right with God than through faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross.

IV. Jesus Rose Again to Give You Life (Acts 10:40-41)
This stuff is in your mailbox! Will you open it and read about it?

V. Jesus Will Be Your Judge (Acts 10:42)

VI. Jesus Wants to Forgive You (Acts 10:43)
If we believe in Jesus–that He really is the Judge of all people–then we will ask Him to forgive us for all the wrong things we’ve said and done.

Your mail–God’s message to you–says that Jesus was sent to your world to help you.