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Watts in the Word

308 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1 rating

Join me, Chris Watts, as we dig into the most amazing book ever written, and discover what it means for you and me!

Christianity Religion & Spirituality rational christianity bible religion faith
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Episodes

Numbering Woes

February 06, 2023 16:12 - 45.5 MB

David’s census is one of the most theologically complicated stories in his life. What is going on in this story, and why should it matter to us? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of David. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on February 5, 2023.)

Found Family

February 06, 2023 15:53 - 33.3 MB

Jesus’s warnings about family love can be both shocking and frightening. Why does Jesus expect such absolute loyalty, and what does he offer in return? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on church membership. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on February 5, 2023.)

The Importance of Good Works

January 30, 2023 14:54 - 32.7 MB

There’s no doubt that God expects His children to do good, but how should the structure of the church contribute to or influence the good that we do? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on church membership. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January 29, 2023.)

The Need for Accountability

January 23, 2023 15:31 - 34.3 MB

“Church membership” as a concept requires consideration of two ideas: the commands in scripture for church conduct, practice, and relationship, and the practical demands of meeting those commands. The principle of “accountability” lies at an intersection of these two ideas. Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on church membership. This sermon was preached at the Dewey … Continue reading The Need for Accountability

The Saga of Absalom, Part 3

January 16, 2023 15:14 - 44.9 MB

Absalom’s saga concludes not with joy, but with sorrow. How did it get to this point, and how does David respond? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of David. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January 15, 2023.)

The Local Church

January 16, 2023 15:04 - 28 MB

As we consider “church membership” we must more specifically define what “church” means? What is a church? What is the church? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on what it means to be a church member. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January 15, 2023.)

What Does it Mean to be a Church Member?

January 09, 2023 15:30 - 29.5 MB

The word “membership” might carry some negative connotations for you as it relates to the modern American church. What does it mean to be a “church member” and why does it matter? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on church membership. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January 8, 2023.)

The Saga of Absalom, Part 2

January 02, 2023 15:58 - 34.1 MB

The middle act of Absalom’s story leaves the reader full of questions. What kind of peacetime king was David? How did he miss his son’s intentions? And, most of all, why did God allow this all to play out as it did? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of David. This sermon was … Continue reading The Saga of Absalom, Part 2

A New Church for a New Year

January 02, 2023 15:28 - 27.5 MB

The New Testament writers emphasize the importance of being “new” and “renewed” quite a bit. At the turn of the new year, what kinds of Spiritual renewal should we be thinking about? Click Here to Listen. (This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January 1, 2023.)

Words of Life: HOPE

December 26, 2022 16:13 - 29.2 MB

We end our journey through important words of the Bible with Hope. What is the Christian hope, and what makes it so important? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on last things. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December 18, 2022.)

Words for Today’s World

December 12, 2022 15:15 - 33.5 MB

If a letter of the New Testament were written today, what would it say? How would it address the problems of today’s world? Click Here to Listen. (This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December 11, 2022.)

Words of Life: RESURRECTION

December 12, 2022 15:11 - 27.9 MB

The concept of “resurrection” is the basic, essential concept of Christianity, and thus permeates a lot different doctrines and teachings. How can we share in Christ’s resurrection? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on last things. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December 11, 2022.)

Words of Life: HELL

December 05, 2022 16:13 - 27.2 MB

Is hell a literal, real place? What is it, exactly? And will God really consign the lost to such a torment? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on last things. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December 4, 2022.)

Words of Life: HEAVEN

November 28, 2022 16:22 - 29.2 MB

What exactly is heaven? What will it be like? How is it described? How does God promise to make all this worth it? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on last things. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on November 27, 2022.)

Words of Life: THANKSGIVING

November 21, 2022 15:54 - 36.6 MB

Thanksgiving is a good holiday, but ultimately fails to capture the essence of thanksgiving in the Bible. Why is it so important to be thankful, and how should we express that gratitude? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on important words in the Bible. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on November … Continue reading Words of Life: THANKSGIVING

The Saga of Absalom, Part 1

November 14, 2022 16:01 - 43.6 MB

The latter part of David’s life is marred by familial conflict, civil war, and national disaster, all kicked off by the way he dealt with two of his sons, Amnon and Absalom. What can we learn from this saga? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on David. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of … Continue reading The Saga of Absalom, Part 1

Words of Life: JUDGMENT

November 14, 2022 15:48 - 30.4 MB

“Judgment” can be a touchy subject. Why is it so important in Christianity, and what does it actually mean? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on last things. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on November 13, 2022.)

When Sin Compounds (Lessons from David)

November 07, 2022 15:51 - 45.2 MB

In the story of David and Bathsheba we see a classic example of how one temptation leading to one sin can lead to a series of bad and worse choices and sins. How do we break the cycle? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on David. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ … Continue reading When Sin Compounds (Lessons from David)

Words of Life: PEACE

November 07, 2022 15:43 - 28 MB

Everyone wants peace. What kind of peace does God promise through Jesus, and how can we discover it for ourselves? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on Christian Character. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on November 6, 2022.)

Words of Life: FORGIVENESS

October 31, 2022 14:14 - 36.9 MB

Forgiveness is one of the most difficult Bible subjects. What does it mean to truly forgive, why is it so hard to do, and why is it so important? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on important words concerning Christian character. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on October 30, 2022.)

Words of Life: HUMILITY

October 24, 2022 17:22 - 31.4 MB

What is humility, and what sorts of attitudes feel like humility, but aren’t? How should humility be expressed in our lives? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on Christian character. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on October 23, 2022.)

Grace Exemplified (Lessons from David)

October 17, 2022 14:12 - 33.3 MB

The story of David and Saul’s remaining heir serves as a striking example of grace, both in the character of the giver and the nature of the recipient of grace. What does this story teach us about grace in our own lives? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on David. This sermon was preached at the … Continue reading Grace Exemplified (Lessons from David)

Words of Life: MERCY

October 17, 2022 14:04 - 32.6 MB

What is mercy? Where does it come from, and how can we develop a sense of mercy in our lives? Most importantly, how can we practically be merciful? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on words concerning Christian character. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on October 16, 2022.)

Presumption and Promise

October 10, 2022 14:12 - 39.9 MB

What does it mean to presume against God’s will, and what are the consequences for doing so? How did this manifest in the life of newly-crowned David? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of David. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on October 9, 2022.)

Words of Life: SELF-CONTROL

October 10, 2022 14:08 - 33.4 MB

What is self-control? What does having self-control look like in the life of the Christian, and how can we learn to be controlled? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on important Christian characteristics. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on October 9, 2022.)

The Seeds of Failure

October 03, 2022 14:53 - 32.3 MB

David had a lot of successes as God’s anointed, but a lot of failures, too. As we transition from David the warrior to David the king, we begin to see the seeds of his eventual failings… Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on David. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on October … Continue reading The Seeds of Failure

Words of Life: DOUBT

October 03, 2022 14:50 - 34.4 MB

What is doubt? What causes us to doubt, and what struggles does doubt introduce to our lives? Most importantly, how can we overcome doubt? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on common struggles. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on October 2, 2022.)

Words of Life: GRIEF

September 19, 2022 15:56 - 32.5 MB

While we know that it’s not wrong to grieve, it is still a struggle that can take us away from God. How do we overcome this part of human suffering? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on struggles. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on September 18, 2022.)

Mourning the Enemy

September 12, 2022 14:07 - 34.4 MB

Saul chased David all over Israel, eventually causing him to flee the country. Even so, David mourned his death. Why did David mourn the death of his enemy, and what should we learn from David? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of David. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ … Continue reading Mourning the Enemy

Words of Life: SHAME

September 12, 2022 13:57 - 29.8 MB

What is shame? What makes it different from guilt? Does it have any value, and if so, how can we use it to our advantage? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on common struggles. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on September 11, 2022.)

David, Depressed

September 12, 2022 13:45 - 36 MB

David experienced a lot of depression in his life. What happened when he allowed it to overcome his faith? What happens to us when we allow our despair to take over? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of David. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on September 4, 2022.)

Words of Life: SUFFERING

September 05, 2022 14:39 - 30.7 MB

Suffering is such a generic, ubiquitous part of the human experience. What leads to suffering in our lives, and how does God expect us to respond? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on struggles. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on September 4, 2022.)

Words of Life: WORRY

August 29, 2022 14:00 - 37.4 MB

Everybody worries. What does the Bible have to say about this common human struggle, and how to overcome it? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on common struggles. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on August 28, 2022.)

Words of Life: PROCLAIM

August 22, 2022 14:32 - 28.8 MB

Why was “proclaiming” such an important part of Jesus’s ministry, and how does that translate to our mission? What should we be proclaiming and how should we proclaim it? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on August 21, 2022.)

Words of Life: WORSHIP

August 15, 2022 14:21 - 36.4 MB

What is “worship”? What does it mean to worship, and why is it such an important concept in the church? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on August 14, 2022.)

Taking Matters into Your Own Hands

August 08, 2022 15:19 - 37.2 MB

The story of David, Nabal, and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25 is one of the best studies of conflict in the Bible. What can we learn from this story? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on David. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on August 7, 2022.)

Words of Life: DEACON

August 08, 2022 15:15 - 33.6 MB

What does the word “deacon” mean? What is a deacon? Why don’t we ever use that word outside a religious setting, and why does it matter? Click Here to Listen (Preaching on important words about the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on August 7, 2022.)

Words of Life: ELDERS

August 01, 2022 15:06 - 35.4 MB

What are the “elders” of the church? Where did this idea originate in scripture, and what is God’s intent for this part of the congregational organization? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on July 31, 2022.)

Words of Life: FELLOWSHIP

July 25, 2022 14:46 - 34.1 MB

What does it mean to “fellowship” with other Christians? What is fellowship, and why does it matter? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on July 24, 2022.)

Words of Life: CHURCH

July 18, 2022 14:55 - 33.6 MB

What does the word “church” mean? How do Jesus and his apostles use the word, and how should that inform how we think about the church today? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the church. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on July 17, 2022.)

Wilderness Wanderings, Part 1 (1 Samuel 21-24)

July 11, 2022 15:35 - 40.1 MB

What can we learn from David’s flight from Saul in the wilderness? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on David. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on July 10, 2022.)

Words of Life: CHRISTIAN

July 11, 2022 15:31 - 31.5 MB

For such a widespread modern word, the term “Christian” isn’t used very much in the New Testament. How did this word come to be, and what did it mean for the original users? (NOTE: There were some audio issues. Sorry.) Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on faith. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church … Continue reading Words of Life: CHRISTIAN

Friends and Enemies

July 04, 2022 14:37 - 35.2 MB

How did David’s relationships with Saul and his family evolve after David’s great victory over Goliath? And what can we learn from this drama? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of David. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on July 3, 2022.)

Words of Life: IMMERSION

July 04, 2022 14:33 - 31.4 MB

What is baptism? What does it mean to be baptized? And why is it such an important idea in the New Testament? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on faith. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on July 3, 2022.)

Words of Life: CONFESSION

June 28, 2022 15:00 - 33.7 MB

We are repeatedly told to “confess” by the writers of the Bible. What exactly should we confess, who should we confess to, and why does it matter? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on faith and salvation. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on June 26, 2022.)

Words of Life: FATHER

June 20, 2022 14:22 - 33.5 MB

Why is fatherhood so important? What does righteous fatherhood look like? And why does God call himself our father? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on important words in the Bible. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on June 19, 2022.)

As He Lives, We Live

June 13, 2022 14:12 - 11.6 MB

The resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in history, mirrored in our own lives. How do we emulate his resurrection, and how does Jesus’s new life impact us? Click Here to Listen. (This is an abbreviated lesson. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on June 12, 2022.)

Words of Life: REPENTANCE

June 13, 2022 14:05 - 30.8 MB

What is repentance? How can a person repent? And why does God seem to care about it so much? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on faith. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on June 12, 2022.)

David and the Dwarf

June 06, 2022 16:11 - 42.6 MB

There might not be a more well-known story in the Bible than David and Goliath. Why does this story resonate so much, and how does it matter for us? Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on the life of David. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on June 5, 2022.)

Words of Life: FAITH

June 06, 2022 15:01 - 36.5 MB

Faith is such a central part of our gospel response. What is faith, and how does it manifest in our lives? NOTE: There is a strange audio glitch in the later part of the sermon. It will go away. Sorry about that. Click Here to Listen. (Preaching on faith. This sermon was preached at the … Continue reading Words of Life: FAITH