Tag: Sermon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:14 — 12.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Intimacy & Agony
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Mark 14:12-42
Duration: 24:14
Size: 11.9 MB

Jesus: The Ultimate Action Hero
Intimacy & Agony
Mark 14:12-42

But before He goes to the cross, Jesus wants one last time with his men–to comfort them and warn them of betrayal both within their group and within themselves.

Jesus knew there was a price on His head and was very careful to arrange just when and where He would be arrested.

Mark is laser-focused on Jesus’ mission and so concentrates on the fact that Jesus identifies his betrayer.

I’m sure the real meaning was lost on the disciples but Jesus will shortly shed His blood to establish a new covenant between God and man–an everlasting covenant.

He may have felt like a failure but he still belonged to Jesus. And you know, even when we fail the Lord (and we will) He will never fail us!

Going to the cross was no small thing, even for the Messiah. He would be cut off from the Father for the first and only time.

No, look at what we see here: Jesus didn’t want to go to the cross “if it were possible” to redeem humanity any other way

But many times, the best way is not the easiest way and God’s way can mean we get hurt in the process.

Know that betrayals and troubles will come but that with God all things are possible. Sometimes, though, the only way out is going through the trial, not around it.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:51 — 9.7MB)

Sermon Audio: Ultimate Worship Ultimate Betrayal
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Mark 13:24-14:11
Duration: 19:51
Size: 9.68 MB

Jesus: The Ultimate Action Hero
Ultimate Worship Ultimate Betrayal
Mark 13:24-14:11

Like in a theater, the house lights dim so the lights can come up on the stage. So too–both at the beginning and end of our account today, we see the lights dim in order to let the enemy have full sway, until the spotlight shines on the Savior–as the suffering Savior, then as the coming King.

He left in clouds and in clouds He will return–but not humbly riding into Jerusalem on a donkey but “in power and glory.”

No matter what happens around you, the words of Jesus will NEVER pass away–words like “I will never leave you nor forsake you” or that nothing can separate you from His love.

The main point here is that Jesus has given us a job to do, and that is to have an active relationship with Him, being transformed into His image by the Holy Spirit and to be a witness to His love and power.

At this point the religious leaders have resigned themselves to arresting Jesus, but they knew they were no match for Him in public and feared the crowds and a potential Roman response to a riot.

Mark puts it here, out of chronological order, to emphasize what Jesus is about to do.

From the ultimate act of worship to the ultimate act of betrayal.

It’s worth thinking about where we are on that scale–from freely giving it all to holding on so tight that we are willing even to leave Jesus behind.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:06 — 10.1MB)

Sermon Audio: Looking To The End Times
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Mark 13:1-23
Duration: 20:06
Size: 10.0 MB

Jesus: The Ultimate Action Hero
Looking To The End Times
Mark 13:1-23

Here in Mark 13, Jesus lets them know what to expect before the military aspect of the Messiah comes about–and that for them, it isn’t about focusing on fighting or ruling but on being ready, being patient, sharing something He called “good news”, and that the intervening time would not be easy.

Jesus isn’t impressed by man’s structures, whether a magnificent temple or an impressive religious system.

So too, there are large spaces of time in between the events Jesus predicts.

Jesus’ words here tell them that disasters and major bad things will continue to happen but it doesn’t mean the end has come.

Don’t focus on signs the world is ending; instead focus on your job to share the gospel.

The disciples needed these words because the very things Jesus said here happened to them after His departure.

Though searching for signs takes us off task sometimes, there is a very specific sign that Jesus wants His people living in the Great Tribulation, to watch for.

In those last times people will want so badly for the Messiah to return that they might be deceived into thinking anyone who proclaims Jesus has returned is the One.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()

Sermon Audio: Radical Trust
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Mark 12:38-44
Duration: 17:20
Size: 8.18 MB

Jesus: The Ultimate Action Hero
Radical Trust
Mark 12:38-44

Today we get to see the contrast between the men in charge of this current kingdom, and who will be a part of the new King’s kingdom.

We need to be careful about parading our spirituality and position in Christ around so that people are impressed with us.

They feel they are worthy of so much, but Jesus now shows by contrast what is really worth something in His kingdom.

On the surface, of course, Jesus is saying that the size of the gift is irrelevant–what matters is the spirit in which it is given.

At some point, all of us have to be willing to cash in all of what brings us worth in this age and give our souls, and our destiny to a King in a new age.

Two questions to ask yourself:
Who validates me?
Who is my ultimate Lord?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()

Sermon Audio: Who is God and How Can I Get To Know Him?
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Mark 12:18-35
Duration: 20:01
Size: 10.1 MB

Jesus: The Ultimate Action Hero
Who is God and How Can I Get To Know Him?
Mark 12:18-35

The Sadducees were enemies with the Pharisees and we see several places in the New Testament where people like Peter and Paul were able to leverage their theological differences to their advantage.

It seems that perhaps this argument was a stock one the Sadducees had used to great affect against the Pharisees in debates.

What created the problem for them and why they came to the wrong conclusion was that they placed their own values on top of the Scriptures instead of letting the Scriptures dictate their values.

The Sadducees didn’t see resurrection in the books of Moses so Jesus takes them to the only Scriptures they recognized and showed them that God is the God of men long dead–from an earthly perspective.

In Exodus 20, the Ten Commandments are broken up into two groups: one group involves staying faithful in our relationship to God, the other involves staying faithful in our relationships with others.

We can give all of the right answers but still not have a relationship with Jesus.

Every other theological debate is irrelevant before coming to terms with that question–is Jesus the Messiah?

In a way you could sum up verses 18 through 37 by saying that we greatly misunderstand who God is because we have overlaid our frame of reference over God.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()

Sermon Audio: Ganging Up On Jesus
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Mark 11:25-12:17
Duration: 19:17
Size: 9.33 MB

Jesus: The Ultimate Action Hero
Ganging Up On Jesus
Mark 11:25-12:17

The only reason we can ask God for anything isn’t based on our merit but on His mercy and forgiveness.

This begins an extended section where Jesus confronts those directly who hold power in Israel.

They had asked Jesus for His credentials, so He asks them what they felt about John the Baptist’s credentials, hinting that both He and John got their authority from the same place.

Israel was supposed to show the world what a relationship with Yahweh was like, bring in the Scriptures, and provide a line for the Messiah.

Here Jesus clarifies that it was not Israel as a whole that was at fault, but the religious leaders.

What matters is if they believe He is who He says He is and trust Him.

He challenges them to give God the fidelity and faith and obedience that are indeed valuable in God’s kingdom.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()

Sermon Audio: Trotting In To Save The Day
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Mark 11:1-24
Duration: 24:24
Size: 12.5 MB

Jesus: The Ultimate Action Hero
Trotting In To Save The Day
Mark 11:1-24

This date is one of the most important in human history and following a vital prophetic clock, was the one and only day that the Jewish Messiah could be proclaimed.

What we are about to see is actually a carefully scripted event laid out in Biblical prophecy, starting with a colt.

For Jesus to ride was significant and the people recognized that He was fulfilling that prophecy in Zechariah 9, so they waved tree branches and leafy branches from the field and some placed them in front of Jesus like in 2 Kings.

Jesus came to do battle, of course, but it was actually against the Jewish religious system which had become so polluted that it actually kept people from understanding God’s Messiah.

In Jesus day the court of the Gentiles had become filled with people selling sacrifices and changing money into Temple shekels.

They couldn’t do anything at that time, though, because He was still popular with the people.

There appears to be a universal application as well that in service to Jesus we have unlimited power if we ask for it.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:43 — 11.4MB)

Sermon Audio: And Jesus Stood Still
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Mark 10:46-52
Duration: 22:43
Size: 11.4 MB

Jesus: The Ultimate Action Hero
And Jesus Stood Still
Mark 10:46-52

They are scary people, because they are toothless and dirty and they have not bathed or changed clothes in months; but, they seem harmless because they are severely withdrawn.

A similar thing happened a couple of thousand years ago outside Jericho.

He begs because he is poor and his poverty is due to his blindness; therefore, there is no sin in his begging.

The people saw someone going to be their king. Bartimaeus found the Savior for Whom he had been looking.

And Jesus stood still. He did not simply pause. He did not slow down and glance at the beggar. Jesus stopped, Jesus stood still.

There are two miracles in this story. First, a blind beggar has his sight restored. But its the second miracle I would like to leave you with today.

Yet among all the personal anxiety and commotion of the crowd, He heard a single voice cry out. And He stood still.

For Jesus to pass by one soul would be to contradict His entire mission.

Jesus stood still.