Watts in the Word
306 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingJoin me, Chris Watts, as we dig into the most amazing book ever written, and discover what it means for you and me!
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Episodes
The Promise of Eternal Life
May 13, 2024 14:27 - 33 MBWe conclude our study of the promises of God by considering what might be the most-repeated promise of the New Testament: the promise of eternal life. Why is this promises repeated so often, and why is it so important? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the promises of God. This sermon was preached at the … Continue reading The Promise of Eternal Life
The Promise of Return
May 06, 2024 14:47 - 36.6 MBThe promise of Jesus’s return was literally the first thing God told humanity after Jesus ascended. Why is this promise so important, and what makes it so hard to keep this promise in mind? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the promises of God. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on … Continue reading The Promise of Return
Deeper into Pain
May 06, 2024 14:44 - 38.4 MBWe have probably all heard the expression “no pain, no gain.” This is not just a term for athletes and weightlifters, but simply expresses an important concept for Spiritual growth. What kind of pain is necessary for Christian growth, and what does that mean for how we think about the suffering of life? Click Here … Continue reading Deeper into Pain
Deeper Honesty
April 29, 2024 14:24 - 37 MBConfession is a vital part of Christian growth, but it can be easy to emphasize confession to God at the expense of the importance of confessing to other Christians. How can we grow in the discipline of confession, and what does it do for us? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on Christian growth. This sermon was … Continue reading Deeper Honesty
Deeper into Justification
April 22, 2024 14:04 - 35 MBJustification is one of those big religious-sounding words that we don’t use very often outside of a church setting, but it is one of the most vital components of Christian growth. What does it mean to be justified, and how does it contribute to our continual growing? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on Christian growth. This sermon … Continue reading Deeper into Justification
The Promise of Rest
April 15, 2024 15:13 - 35.5 MBRest is a prominent theme throughout the Bible, from the seventh day of creation to some of Jesus final promises in Revelation. Why is rest so important, and what does God’s promise of it entail? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the promises of God. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on … Continue reading The Promise of Rest
Deeper Love
April 15, 2024 15:00 - 37.5 MBGod’s love for us never changes; it fundamentally cannot change, because God’s love is so baked into who He is as a Being. Our appreciation of and experience of God’s love is the only thing that can change as we grow as Christians. How can we move deeper into the love of God? Click Here to Listen. … Continue reading Deeper Love
The Promise of Comfort
April 08, 2024 14:31 - 32.1 MBWe all need comfort at times. One of the most basic promises of God, found in some of the most famous passages in the Bible, is to comfort us. How does He promise to do so, and what should that look like in our lives? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the promises of God. … Continue reading The Promise of Comfort
Deeper Unity
April 08, 2024 14:24 - 30 MBWhen did you become united with Christ? Unity, as a subject of Christian growth, exemplifies the idea that growth is about become more of what we already are in Christ. How can we deepen our unity with him? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on Christian growth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on April 7, … Continue reading Deeper Unity
The Providence of the Resurrection
April 01, 2024 15:37 - 28.8 MBThe resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in history; what makes it so important? What does the resurrection provide for the world and the Christian? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the resurrection. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on March 31, 2024.)
What is a Deacon?
March 25, 2024 15:28 - 34 MBWhat is a “deacon” in the church? To answer this, we survey the use of the word throughout the New Testament, and consider a few examples of early church life. Click Here to Listen. (Preparing for the church appointing new deacons. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on March 24, 2024.)
The Promise of Answers
March 18, 2024 14:16 - 32 MBAlmost everyone has felt the urge to question God at some point: why did this bad thing happen, why is that horrible person doing well, why can’t I do this thing? What kind of answers does God promise us? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the promises of God. This sermon was preached at the … Continue reading The Promise of Answers
Deeper into Despair
March 18, 2024 14:11 - 34.2 MBIt might seem odd to talk about despair and grief in a study of Christian growth, but growth requires a catalyst, a motivator. For the Christian, when we lose or ignore the despair caused by our sin, we lose one of the engines of growth. Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on Christian growth. This sermon … Continue reading Deeper into Despair
The Promise of Wisdom
March 11, 2024 15:38 - 33.8 MBGod’s promise of wisdom is perhaps the simplest, most explicitly stated promise in the New Testament. What does this promise entail, and how can we take hold of it? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the promises of God. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on March 10, 2024.)
Deeper in Jesus
March 11, 2024 15:30 - 31.3 MBChristian growth never happens independently from Christ. Why is that, and what attributes, qualities, and works of Jesus directly and indirectly contribute to our growth? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on Christian growth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on March 10, 2024. The outline for this series was adapted from the book … Continue reading Deeper in Jesus
The Promise of His Presence
March 04, 2024 15:28 - 34.8 MBThe promise of God’s presence, like many of God’s promises, is a vow to return us to some perfect or beautiful state that we lost or broke. How does God’s presence manifest throughout the Bible, and what does He promise to the modern Christian? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the promises of God. This … Continue reading The Promise of His Presence
Deeper: A Study of Christian Growth
March 04, 2024 15:22 - 27.4 MBHow do Christians grow? It is a question that can elicit despair, confusion, arrogance, or cynicism, depending on how we think our spiritual walk is progressing (or not progressing). Why is growth so important, and how should we even define growth? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on growth. This sermon was preached at the Dewey … Continue reading Deeper: A Study of Christian Growth
The Promise of Peace
February 19, 2024 16:31 - 35 MBMany of the promises of God can been seen as promises to return or restore creation to what God originally intended to be. How does this concept inform our understanding of God’s promise of peace, and how should we expect that promise to be fulfilled in our lives? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the … Continue reading The Promise of Peace
Encountering Jesus on the Road
February 19, 2024 16:20 - 33 MBJesus makes a few appearances in the Bible after the ascension at the beginning of Acts. The first of these is on the road to Damascus. What can we learn from this encounter with Jesus? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ … Continue reading Encountering Jesus on the Road
The Promise of the Spirit
February 12, 2024 20:14 - 35.2 MBOne of the primary manifestations of God’s promise of grace is the promise of Holy Spirit. As we trace this promise through the Bible, we will see just how foundational the promise of the Spirit is. Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the promises of God. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of … Continue reading The Promise of the Spirit
Encountering Jesus After Death
February 12, 2024 20:06 - 28.2 MBThe gospels do not spend a lot of ink covering the time between Jesus’s resurrection and ascension, which makes their choice of stories in that timeframe especially interesting. What can we learn from this selection of encounters with the disciples? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at … Continue reading Encountering Jesus After Death
The Promise of Grace
February 05, 2024 15:58 - 38.8 MBIt is not an understatement to say that the entire Bible narrative tells the story of God making and fulfilling the promise of grace. Why is this promise so important, and what does it mean for us? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the promises of God. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church … Continue reading The Promise of Grace
Encountering Jesus on the Cross
February 05, 2024 15:54 - 35 MBIn a series on “encountering Jesus,” no encounter is so important as the cross, where Jesus is laid bare and his deepest values and priorities are exposed. What do we see in this tragic encounter? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ … Continue reading Encountering Jesus on the Cross
Encountering Jesus in the Garden, Part 2
January 29, 2024 15:49 - 36 MBJesus’s confrontation with Judas in the garden has some of the most variation between gospel accounts of any story in his life. Nonetheless, there is a common theme underwriting each story. What should we learn from this momentous betrayal? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the … Continue reading Encountering Jesus in the Garden, Part 2
The Promise of Justice
January 22, 2024 16:15 - 32.4 MBIn some ways, all of the promises of God rest on the promise of justice. What does it mean that God is just, and why does it matter so much in considering all the promises of God? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the promises of God. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church … Continue reading The Promise of Justice
Encountering Jesus in the Garden, Part 1
January 22, 2024 16:05 - 34.2 MBIn the garden we see Jesus at his most vulnerable and human. Why was he so troubled, what did he do about it, and what should we learn from this deeply emotional story? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January … Continue reading Encountering Jesus in the Garden, Part 1
Encountering Jesus With Dirty Feet
January 15, 2024 15:40 - 31.2 MBJesus’s act of washing the disciples feet is a powerful example of service and love. What should we learn from this encounter with Jesus, and how should we put it into practice? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January 14, … Continue reading Encountering Jesus With Dirty Feet
The Promises of God
January 08, 2024 16:10 - 30.8 MBWe begin a series on the promises of God by considering some top-level ideas. Why should we study God’s promises? What are some potential pitfalls and common misunderstandings about God’s promises? And, ultimately, what should we gain from such a study? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the the promises of God. This sermon was … Continue reading The Promises of God
Encountering Jesus with Zacchaeus
January 08, 2024 15:56 - 30.9 MBThe story of Zacchaeus is one of the more instantly recognizable stories in the Gospels. Why is that? What should we learn from Zacchaeus and Jesus in this story, and what about all the other people in the crowd? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the … Continue reading Encountering Jesus with Zacchaeus
Encountering Jesus With Wealth
January 02, 2024 16:09 - 37.3 MBJesus’s encounter with a rich young ruler can seem quite harsh, depending on the perspective of the reader. But the encounter should force the reader to reconsider their perspective: who exactly is Jesus talking about, and how does his teaching apply to each of us? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of Jesus. … Continue reading Encountering Jesus With Wealth
Encountering Jesus with a Dead Man
December 26, 2023 21:17 - 32.3 MBThe story of Jesus and Lazarus famously contains the shortest verse in the Bible: Jesus wept. What do we learn about Jesus’s priorities, heart, and desires in this story, and what should we do about it? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of … Continue reading Encountering Jesus with a Dead Man
The Importance of Remembering
December 18, 2023 19:22 - 41.8 MBThe final two chapters of Esther (though one of them is very short) illuminate the entire purpose of the whole book: to tell the story of and establish the celebration of a holiday to be remembered throughout the generations. Why was this so important, and what should we learn from it? (Click Here to Listen.) … Continue reading The Importance of Remembering
Encountering Jesus with a Blind Man
December 18, 2023 19:07 - 34 MBMany of the stories of Jesus in the gospels teach us just as much by the people responding to (and either rejecting or accepting) Jesus. Why did the healing of the blind man elicit such strong reactions, and what should we learn from them? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of Jesus. This … Continue reading Encountering Jesus with a Blind Man
The Final Showdown
December 11, 2023 18:03 - 42.2 MBAfter several delays, Esther finally confronts Haman on the night of her second feast. What contributes to the final showdown, how does it all play out, and what should we learn from this dramatic evening? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Esther. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December 10, … Continue reading The Final Showdown
Encountering Jesus with a Demon
December 11, 2023 17:53 - 31 MBJesus encountered many demons during his ministry, but what is often more interesting in these encounters is the people: how they react, what they say, and how Jesus responds to them. What can we learn from our encounter with Jesus and a demon in Mark 9? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of Jesus. This … Continue reading Encountering Jesus with a Demon
Pride Goeth Before a Fall
December 04, 2023 16:25 - 38.3 MBAs we build toward the crescendo in Esther, the narrative pauses to zoom in on Haman’s pride, obsession, and bitterness. What can we learn from Haman’s inevitable downfall? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on Esther. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December 3, 2023.)
Encountering Jesus as a Gentile
December 04, 2023 16:09 - 32 MBJesus encounter with the Canaanite woman is one of the most unusual in the gospels. Why did Jesus treat the woman the way he did, and what should we learn from his behavior? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December … Continue reading Encountering Jesus as a Gentile
Encountering Jesus in a Storm
November 27, 2023 15:02 - 33.6 MBJesus calming the storm is probably one of the most famous Gospel stories, perfectly demonstrating Jesus’s power and intent. But it is made more powerful in Matthew’s version by the contrast with what comes before. What should we learn from this story, and the story that precedes it? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the … Continue reading Encountering Jesus in a Storm
Esther’s Gamble
November 20, 2023 15:18 - 40.9 MBThe story of Esther has three crescendos, the first of which is when Esther risks the wrath of the king. Why did Esther need to approach the king, and what in her life built up to this moment? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Esther. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ … Continue reading Esther’s Gamble
Encountering Jesus by a Pool
November 20, 2023 15:09 - 34.9 MBJesus’s miracle by the pool in John 5 brings to mind an important question: why did Jesus heal who he did, and why not everyone? What should we learn from the healings of Jesus? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on individual encounters with Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on … Continue reading Encountering Jesus by a Pool
Haman’s Gambit
November 13, 2023 15:22 - 35.9 MBThe casting of Pur before Haman in Esther chapter 3 is the even that is explicitly remembered by the Feast of Purim. What was Pur, why was it significant, and why does it matter for us? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Esther. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on November … Continue reading Haman’s Gambit
Encountering Jesus with a Paralytic
November 13, 2023 15:09 - 32.3 MBMatthew, Mark, and Luke all record the story of Jesus healing the paralytic. What does Jesus show us in this story, and what can we learn about the kind of faith Jesus is looking for? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of Jesus. You can find the blended gospel account here. This sermon … Continue reading Encountering Jesus with a Paralytic
Archetypes in Esther
November 06, 2023 15:36 - 47.5 MBThe second chapter of Esther finishes setting the stage for the story of Purim, establishing the rest of the main characters. What can we learn from the people at the forefront of this story? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Esther. You can find the timeline alluded to at the beginning here. This sermon was … Continue reading Archetypes in Esther
Encountering Jesus at a Well
November 06, 2023 15:03 - 31.6 MBWe encounter Jesus today at a very mundane place…a well. Who did Jesus meet, and what does his meeting tell us about Jesus and our connection to him? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on one-on-one encounters with Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on November 5, 2023.)
Encountering Jesus with Nicodemus
October 30, 2023 15:10 - 35.5 MBOne of the first personal encounters with Jesus was a back-alley nighttime meeting with Nicodemus, a Pharisee. What can we learn about Jesus and his expectations for his followers from this encounter? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on personal encounters with Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on October 29, … Continue reading Encountering Jesus with Nicodemus
Encountering Jesus
October 23, 2023 14:22 - 34.4 MBThis week we are starting a new series looking at the life of Jesus through the lens of personal encounters; who was Jesus? What did he care about, how did he treat people? We begin by considering the bulk of Jesus’s life, unexplored in any detail in the gospel texts: who was Jesus before his ministry? Click … Continue reading Encountering Jesus
How to Be a Terrible Leader
October 09, 2023 14:39 - 39.7 MBThe first chapter of the book of Esther isn’t really about Esther at all, but rather sets the stage for a biting satire skewering the incompetence of those in power in Persia. What can we learn from the ineptitude of Ahasuerus? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Esther. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church … Continue reading How to Be a Terrible Leader
Eternal Judgment
October 09, 2023 14:28 - 32.2 MBThe writer of Hebrews concludes the list of “elementary doctrine of Christ” with eternal judgment. What judgment is the writer referring to, and what does it mean for you and me? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the first principles of Christianity. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on October 8, 2023.)
Introduction to Esther
October 02, 2023 13:53 - 38.3 MBWe begin our study of Esther with some top-level considerations of the book: it’s place in the story of the people of God in the Old Testament, it’s historical context, and the timeless themes in the book for God’s people in any era. Click Here to Listen. (Preaching through Esther. This sermon was preached at … Continue reading Introduction to Esther
The Resurrection of the Dead
October 02, 2023 13:40 - 33.2 MBThere is no Christian doctrine more elementary, no principle more basic, than the resurrection of the dead. It is not an understatement to say that the entire faith rests on this one event, this one teaching. Why is it so foundational, and what does that mean for us? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the … Continue reading The Resurrection of the Dead