Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Psalm 51

A Journey of Confession and Repentance
Planning and Packing
Psalm 51

Lent is a deliberate, specific time of readying ourselves to remember and celebrate both the death of Christ, and more importantly the resurrection of Christ.

We have to begin at a different starting point–that God’s hatred of sin is a direct manifestation of His love for us.

So, then, how do we deal with this problem of sin in our lives. We know; it is through confession and repentance.

And scratching the surface of confession and ignoring repentance almost completely is a dangerous way to live as a child of God.

I’m not going to dive right in to the Psalm today, I do want to lay the foundation for next week by introducing the background.

As we study the Psalm, and allow it to lead us to the cross and empty tomb, my goal and my prayer is that it would take us deep below the surface.

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Galatians 6:11-18

Galatians
Freedom’s Cross
Galatians 6:11-18

We can be free from worrying about what others think.

So, when Christians began to proclaim that Christ had to die on a cross for our sins, many people were offended.

They were trying to avoid persecution, but that put them in bondage to the need to impress.

We may not yet be killed for following Christ, but we are ridiculed sometimes, and we are at times considered “narrow minded bigots” by some.

They themselves don’t keep the law, but they want you to keep it just so they can boast.

The cross sets us free! It sets us free from self (Galatians 2:20). It sets us free from the flesh (Galatians 5:24). And it sets us free from the world (Galatians 6:14).

So, boast about what God is doing inside you, not about what you are doing on the outside.

If you want true peace and freedom, stop boasting about yourself and your own achievements, and start boasting about the cross.

But only as we boast about the cross, do we find real peace and mercy in our lives.

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Galatians 6:1-10

Galatians
Freedom’s Harvest
Galatians 6:1-10

How does my spirituality affect what I do with my money?

We share because we want to out of love.

Those who are free give as much as they can, and they do it gratefully.

As believers in Christ, we are free to spend our money any way we want.

If I invest time and money in things of the Holy Spirit, I will grow spiritually.

Continue to invest your time and money in spiritual things, and you will eventually see lasting, spiritual results.

Good things happen to those who persevere, so don’t quit. Don’t be discouraged by set-backs and failures.

As free people in Christ, let’s share and reap and share some more, so that the Kingdom of God can be expanded in this place and around the world.