Tag: Val Watkins

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:19 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: A Three Fold Warning!
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 21:5-38
Duration: 22:19
Size: 10.2 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
A Three Fold Warning
Luke 21:5-38

They admired the temple for is architectural grandeur, and its expensive decorations.

In the midst of all these tumultuous end times events Jesus specifically warns the believer about three very real dangers.

First he warns, DON’T BE DECEIVED

Dispute: The first thing that Satan did in tempting Eve was to dispute the Word of God.

Deny: The next thing Satan does is contradict the word of God.

Displace: God’s Word. May I suggest to you that Satan telling Eve that because she will be as God is she can decide for herself what is good and what is evil.

Secondly he warns, DO NOT BE AFRAID.

It is a mistake to take these separate happenings as infallible indications that the end of the age is immediately in sight.

People need not be caught unprepared. God warns and provides an escape to those who will heed the rumblings.

Rather than being blown away by persecution (whether it is religious, secular or domestic) we are to persevere, to endure, to stand firm.

Third, He warns, DO NOT BE DISTRACTED

His message is that people across the world in that day were caught up in doing the ordinary things.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:32 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: The End Of Times? Fear? Hopefulness!
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 21:5-19
Duration: 19:32
Size: 8.94 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The End Of Times? Fear? Hopefulness!
Luke 21:5-19

Listen, the world is falling apart, and the church can’t do a thing about it.

Fear about the end of time, or gladness that we who believe will be with Christ at the end of time.

The world may be falling apart around you, but having faith in Jesus will save you.

As we live out our days and await eternity – whenever It may come – why not spend every day trying to experience in some way the joy of living, no matter how many days we may have to live?

A pickle jar was and is a symbol of hope in their world.

Where is your pickle jar?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:44 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Beware Of The Scribes
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 20:45-21:4
Duration: 18:44
Size: 8.58 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Beware Of The Scribes
Luke 20:45-21:4

Then Jesus contrasted the actions of the scribes with those of a poor widow.

Any sin separates us from God and so in that sense all sin is the same.

I. Avoid Condemnation from Jesus

A. Jesus’ Criticisms

Although Jesus’ warning was in relation to the scribes, it seems that it was directed to all in any position of religious leadership.

1. Pride

Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and yet he temporarily set aside the glory of heaven in order to come to earth to serve sinful persons like us.

2. Greed

Jesus literally owned only the clothes on his back and was teaching his disciples to be content with what they had.

3. Hypocrisy

However, praying so that others may see us or hear what we say is hypocrisy.

B. Jesus’ Judgment

The only way to escape condemnation is to repent of our sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, for there is “now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”.

II. Seek Commendation from Jesus

A. Jesus’ Observations

So, Jesus was near the Trumpets when he saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.

B. Jesus’ Comments

First, when it comes to giving, the spirit in which I give determines its value.

Second, the value of my giving is determined by the sacrifice which it involves.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:44 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Whose Son Is The Christ?
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 20:41-44
Duration: 20:44
Size: 9.49 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Whose Son Is The Christ?
Luke 20:41-44

Wright goes on to say that some people struggle with the nature of Jesus’ identity.

The problem for the people in Jesus’ day is that the kind of Christ that they were expecting was very different than the one God sent.

I. Jesus Is David’s Son, Therefore Affirming His Human Nature

In Jesus’ day the people all agreed that the Christ would be a descendant of King David. So that is where Jesus started.

Meticulous records were kept in the temple, and no one accused Jesus of not being a physical descendant of King David.

II. Jesus Is David’s Lord, Therefore Affirming His Divine Nature

Psalm 110 is a messianic psalm – a psalm that makes explicit prophecies about the coming of the Christ.

Most English translations print this Lord with a capital letter to show that it refers to God himself.

Psalm 110 then is a dialogue between the LORD God (Jehovah) and the Lord Christ.

Yet, here is King David giving honor to the Christ, acknowledging the superiority of his descendant.

Jesus wanted to help his listeners understand that his resurrection from the dead would be crucial to understanding his identity, particularly his divine nature.

So, Jesus is David’s son, therefore affirming his human nature. And Jesus is also David’s Lord, therefore affirming his divine nature.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:04 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 20:27-40
Duration: 23:04
Size: 10.5 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
Luke 20:27-40

As God revealed truth to his people, they came to understand that there is indeed life after death.

However, not all people in Jesus’ day believed in life after death.

I. The Approach of the Sadducees

Since they rejected any existence after this life, the Sadducees focused all their efforts and attention on the affairs of this present life.

Consistent with their denial of any future life, the Sadducees lived life as if there were no tomorrow.

II. The Absurdity of the Resurrection

The Sadducees began their question by introducing levirate marriage.

III. The Answer of Jesus

Jesus’ answer contains several truths about the resurrection that I would like to go through this morning.

First, there is no marriage in the resurrection.

Second, there is no death in the resurrection.

Third, we will be like angels in the resurrection.

Fourth, the resurrection was taught by Moses in the Pentateuch.

Jesus powerfully used Moses to teach the Sadducees that there is indeed a resurrection.

IV. The Astonishment of the Crowd

In our Scripture today Jesus is of course addressing the issue of being resurrected to everlasting life.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:45 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Paying Taxes to Caesar
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 20:19-26
Duration: 22:45
Size: 10.4 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Paying Taxes to Caesar
Luke 20:19-26

My point is simply to say that it is difficult to understand the relationship between politics and religion.

I. The Setting

No country rabbi from the backwoods of Galilee was going to upset their good life.

At this point Jesus was still extremely popular with the people, and so if anything were to happen to Jesus the people would rise up against their own leaders.

II. The Question

Anyway, the spies were flattering Jesus because they wanted to set him up for their trap.

They decided that the question the spies should pose to Jesus should be answered only in one of two ways – just like the one Jesus gave to them!

If Jesus told people to go ahead and pay the tax, many Jews would consider him a traitor to the cause of his people.

A man who told people not to pay their taxes would be swiftly arrested and severely punished.

III. The Answer

Instead of giving a yes/no answer, Jesus really gave the spies two answers.

And Jesus says it is not only lawful, it is in fact obligatory, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s”.

We must resist the authority of the government when asked to violate a command of God.

The coin belonged to Caesar because it bore his image, and we are God’s because we bear his image!

IV. The Reaction

One cannot match wits with Jesus and come out on top!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:27 — 11.2MB)

Sermon Audio: The Authority of Jesus Challenged
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 20:1-18
Duration: 24:27
Size: 11.1 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
Luke 20:1-18

As Jesus’ ministry and mission was coming to its climactic end in Jerusalem, the religious rulers did not believe that Jesus was sent by God.

I. The Ensnaring Question of the Rulers

Jesus’ authority did not rest on other human teachers; his authority came directly from God himself.

II. The Counter Question of Jesus

This was so clever! Jesus wanted them to affirm to the people what they thought about John the Baptist.

III. The Dishonest Answer of the Rulers

So, now, in the midst of the crowds in the temple, it would be foolish to say that John’s authority was self-derived.

IV. The Concluding Response of Jesus

V. The Pointed Parable of Jesus

Jesus used an image in this parable, usually called “The Parable of the Wicked Tenants“, that was readily understood by everyone.

Every part of the parable symbolized something or someone. Therefore, the man = God, the Father; the vineyard = Israel; the tenants = Israel’s leaders; the servants = the prophets; and, finally, the son = Jesus.

A. The Work Agreement Between the Man and the Tenants

Jesus’ point is that God established Israel as his vineyard. The tenants he put in charge of the vineyard were the religious rulers.

B. The Wickedness of the Tenants

Jesus’ point was that Israel’s leaders had become successful from the fruit of the vineyard, and they wanted to keep the bounty for themselves.

Jesus’ point in the parable is that the leaders would go as far as murder in order to maintain their position, status, and authority.

C. The Wrath of the Man

They could not fathom that God would destroy them.

D. The Warning to All

Jesus was saying that he is the cornerstone. And Israel was rejecting him.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:13 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 19:45-48
Duration: 28:13
Size: 12.9 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Luke 19:45-48

We live in a day in which there is massive confusion about how to worship God.

Well, Jesus raised a voice against the distortion of worship he found at the temple in Jerusalem.

I. Jesus Was Zealous for the Pure Worship of God

Therefore, his ministry always focused on the kingdom of God and true worship of him.

What was happening in the Court of the Gentiles made Jesus righteously angry.

The worshipful atmosphere that was appropriate for the temple, the symbol of God’s presence, was missing.

It is apparent that God’s people are guilty of all manner of sin, yet they believe that they are exempt from divine judgment because of the presence of God’s temple in their midst.

Jesus is zealous for the pure worship of God, and he pronounces God’s judgment on false worship.

II. Jesus Was Passionate about the Clear Teaching of God’s Word

He wanted people to know how to come into a right relationship with God, which was through faith in him and repentance of sin.

Do we think that God will accept us and our worship simply because we go through the act of worship?