Tag: Luke-The Investigative Gospel

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Sermon Audio: Three Big Temptations In Life
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 4:1-13
Duration: 22:26
Size: 10.2 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Three Big Temptations In Life
Luke 4:1-13

The Devil can’t make us do anything. He may be clever, but he’s not all powerful.

1. He lays out the bait.
2. Then comes the appeal.
3. The struggle begins.
4. The temptation ends with the response.

This morning we are going to see Jesus meet and master temptation.

We are the most susceptible to temptation when we are alone.

1. The Temptation To Do It Yourself

The devil is well aware that God exists and I don’t think that he expends a great deal of effort trying to dissuade us from a belief in God.

The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier.

We regularly are tempted to go outside the confines of God’s will to satisfy our personal needs or desires.

2. The Temptation To Take The Easy Way

The devil was offering Jesus a kingdom without the cross.

Our world teaches us to avoid pain, to take the easy way, the path of least resistance.

3. The Temptation To Not Believe It Until You See It

This would be the equivalent of saying to God – “I won’t believe in you until I see you show it to me by my terms.”

The one thing common to all three temptations is that they attempted to distract Jesus from his mission or destroy his relationship with His heavenly Father.

Verse 13 reveals that the Devil will always be lurking in the shadows, watching, waiting for the next vulnerable moment.

When you are weak – expect a major assault.
When you resist – be ready for a different approach.
When he leaves – count on another attack.

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Sermon Audio: You’ve Got What It Takes
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 3:21-38
Duration: 21:51
Size: 10.0 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
You’ve Got What It Takes
Luke 3:21-38

In the text we’re reading today we find part of the greatest epic ever told, and here Luke reveals to us the emergence of the hero.

You strip the Old Testament down and it becomes the story of God preparing the way for the hero to emerge.

Today God is writing the epic of your life. I don’t care whether you prefer westerns, romances or sci-fi, the story is the same.

Know why you’re here

He had come to earth for one purpose, and that was to glorify the Father.

You have absolutely got to know that you are here for one reason and only one reason: to bring glory to the Father!

Burn the bridges

The only way to follow Christ is to abandon yourself to Him. Abandon everything to Him.

Step into the river

Put a torch to the bridges you’ve been keeping erected in your life just in case things don’t work out, and step down into the river where a glorious and exciting future awaits you.

You’re going to experience…

…The fellowship of the Son.
When you abandon everything to walk with God; simply to be with Him, you’re going to be following in the very footsteps of Christ.

…The presence of the Holy Spirit.
When you abandon everything to God, the Holy Spirit is going to be in your corner.

…The affirmation of the father.
God the Father expressed in just a few simple words His love and affirmation for the Son.

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Sermon Audio: It’s Time To Turn
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 3:1-20
Duration: 21:08
Size: 9.67 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
It’s Time To Turn
Luke 3:1-20

Luke wanted his friend Theophilus, for whom this gospel account is written to; remember how spiritually dark the world scene was before the appearance of John the Baptist.

1. THE TRUTH MAY NOT BE EASY TO HEAR (Luke 3:3-6)

He confronted the nation as the first authentic prophet in over 400 years: as God’s messenger, with God’s message and declaring God’s judgment.

John’s baptism followed each person’s repentance and was a sign of it.

2. THE TRUTH DEMANDS CHANGE (Luke 3:7-14)

The problem with repentance is that is very difficult for anyone to tell if someone is truly repentant.

He pointed out to them that true repentance means to rethink one’s lifestyle and goals and to carry out the results.

Repentance was a way of life not just a one-time event.

3. THE TRUTH IS THE SAME FOR EVERYONE (Luke 3:19-20)

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Sermon Audio: Forget Waldo, Where’s Jesus?
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 2:39-52
Duration: 18:10
Size: 8.31 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Forget Waldo, Where’s Jesus?
Luke 2:39-52

Do you every find yourself calling out those same words: Where’s Jesus?

Can you imagine the fear that must have been on Mary and Joseph heart?

We often feel as if we have misplaced Jesus because we have allowed other things to distract us.

1. What are some of the things that we allow to distract us? __________________

Are we looking for Jesus in the wrong places? It’s not about numbers, or size, or us. It’s all about Jesus.

What was Jesus saying? If you are looking for me all you have to do is look where God is already working and join him.

2. Where’s Jesus? __________________

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:26 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: The Waiting Game
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 2:20-38
Duration: 23:26
Size: 10.7 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Waiting Game
Luke 2:20-38

There are three ceremonies that are condensed into just a few verses.

It is probable that the first sign of the identity of this child that was given to Simeon was when he was told that his name was Jesus.

The only things we are told are the things that matter most to God – things which pertain to his character and his relationship with God.

Four characteristics of the individuals of this story.

1. He came to the right place to find Jesus.

Simeon’s devotion to the Temple is a reminder to the Christian of the importance of faithfulness to the Church.

2. He personally received Christ.

This man, who knew that God held him in the palm of His hand, now holds God in his arms!

3. He experienced true peace with God.

Salvation is not just something Jesus did it is also who He was.

From the beginning all the way to the end of his life Jesus continued to spark wonder and amazement in the hearts of people.

Christ divides people into two camps, those who are his followers and his servants and those who reject Him.

4. They both lived expectantly.

Simeon had been divinely guided to the Temple; Anna was always there.

Application

1. Both Simeon and Anna lived with expectancy.

2. It is only by receiving Christ personally that you can have the peace to die.

3. It is our unchanging task to tell everyone we can about the redeemer.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:59 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Night Shift Shepherds
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 2:8-20
Duration: 21:59
Size: 10.0 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Night Shift Shepherd
Luke 2:8-20

Who do you identify with in the Christmas story?

Let us examine shepherds and perhaps we can discover the qualities that God saw.

First of all, they were religious outcasts.

Not only that, but shepherds were borderline social outcasts.

It gave them a lot of contact with sheep, but very little exposure to people.

Maybe He chose the shepherds because God compares His relationship with us as that of a shepherd with His sheep.

They remind us of our faithful God. And we also need to be faithful – to God and to those God has entrusted to our care.

If any of that description strikes a chord with you, then I have good news. Great news. The best news possible. God loves you. Just like He loved those shepherds.

They simply obeyed and went.

They shared the good news with others.

After they made known abroad the good news, then they worshipped.

We can learn a lot from a simple Night Shift Shepherd.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:08 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Pausing in Adoration
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 2:1-7
Duration: 25:08
Size: 11.5 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Pausing in Adoration
Luke 2:1-7

Adoration is defined as a feeling of profound love and admiration.

The shepherds came in excitement.

The wise men came with obedience.

Mary and Joseph came in prayer.

How amazing is it that God wants to be with us.

God is big, He moves in the big things. There is nothing in your life that is too big for Him to handle.

But God is also in the small things.

If you’re waiting for God to speak in your life, here is a good place to start, read your Bible.

The Gospel message is so simple, God loves you, He died to pay the price for all of your sins, and mine, and if you will just ask Him to forgive you and be a part of your life He will.

Here is what is amazing the God who marked off the oceans, the God who measured the Heavens, wants to know you and me.

Not as some being way up in the sky, but as the God who came down to be with you.

We come to God in different ways. The how is not important but the action is.

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Sermon Audio: The Blessedness of God
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 1:67-80
Duration: 20:21
Size: 9.31 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Blessedness of God
Luke 1:67-80

God is worthy of our praise.

Because He visited us.

Philippians 2:7-8

The incarnation of Jesus Christ is an event that ought to solicit great praise from the hearts of men and women who love the Lord.

Because He redeemed us.

Galatians 3:13
Job 19:25

We spend our lives in pursuit of every lover that comes along, but in His infinite love God purchased us for Himself.

Because He raised up a Horn of Salvation for us.

There was no part of purchasing our salvation that was beyond His ability to bring to pass.

Because He keeps His promises.

God has been faithful in the past; He is faithful today and I know He’ll still be faithful tomorrow!

Part of the way we praise Him is through holy, righteous, courageous and lifelong service to Him.

We have the privilege of preaching and proclaiming the gospel of Christ so people might be prepared for His second coming.

You want people to listen to what you have to say? Then treat them with grace and mercy.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:32 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: His Name Is John
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 1:57-66
Duration: 21:32
Size: 9.86 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
His Name Is John
Luke 1:57-66

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:22 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: When God Turns Your Life Upside Down
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 1:46-56
Duration: 21:22
Size: 9.78 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
When God Turns Your Life Upside Down
Luke 1:46-56

God picks people, regular, ordinary people like you and me, and he asks us to do great things.

What God did to Mary is similar to what God sometimes does to us.

First of all, that Mary responds to God with humble faith.

Mary responded to all of this not just with humble faith, but also with humble obedience.

And finally as she thought about this, Mary also responded with joy.

Instead of condemning you for your sins, God sends his Son, who takes your sins away.

When God does that to you, remember that he will also give you faith, and courage, and joy, as you carry out God’s plan in your life.