Chris Watts Sermon

The Wisest Fool Who Ever Lived

Solomon presided over the absolute height of the kingdom of Israel, because God granted his request for wisdom in addition to giving him wealth and power. But Solomon’s great wisdom did not prevent him from falling into the same kinds of temptations that face every human. How did a man whose reign started off so well fall into such problems, and how does our own struggle mirror his?

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(Preaching on the history of early Israel. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on May 11, 2025.)

Chris Watts Sermon

The Kindness and Severity of God

The latter part of David’s life is marked by civil war, conflict, strife, and a lot of pain, stemming from David’s poor choices and God’s discipline. But in the midst of all his sorrow, we also see God’s grace and mercy toward David. How do the kindness and severity of God weave together at the end of David’s life, and how should we be thinking about these traits of God in our own lives?

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(Preaching through the history of early Israel. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on April 27, 2025.)

Chris Watts Sermon

A Clean Heart

2 Samuel 11-16 are the low points of David’s life: sinning with Bathsheba followed by several devastating consequences and the fallout of family discord and civil war. But out of this terrible time comes one of the most powerful Psalms. What can we learn from Psalm 51 and how can we read it prophetically as something we too can pray to God in the depths of our sin and consequence?

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(Preaching through the history of early Israel. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on April 20, 2025.)

Chris Watts Sermon

The Kingdom Covenant

2 Samuel 7 is one of the key chapters of the Bible, akin to Abraham’s call in Genesis 12 or the beginning of the gospels. The promise made to David is a recurring theme throughout the rest of the story of Israel. Why is this chapter so pivotal, and how does it connect to the rest of the Bible story?

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(Preaching through the story of early Israel. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on April 13, 2025.)

Chris Watts Sermon

A Man After God’s Own Heart

After Saul’s rebellion and rejection, God told Samuel he would choose a new king after his own heart. What did God mean by this, what made David such a person, and how can we emulate the heart of David?

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(Preaching on this history of early Israel. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on April 6, 2025.)

Chris Watts Sermon

The First King

Israel’s first king arrived at the tail end of a sequence of bad leadership in Israel. But while things started out well for Saul, they quickly devolved into similar patterns of failed rule. What can we learn from the first king’s successes and failures, and how much should we relate to his struggles?

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(Preaching through the story of early Israel. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on March 30, 2025.)

Chris Watts Sermon

Rebellion and Redemption

The period of the judges lasted for more than three centuries between Joshua’s death and the anointing of Saul as the first king. During this time, the pattern of human rebellion and God’s redemption was solidified in Israel, and stands as an example to Christians today. What can we learn about the cycle of rebellion and redemption from this period of Israel’s history?

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(Preaching through the story of early Israel. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on March 23, 2025.)

Chris Watts Sermon

Be Strong and Courageous

The story of Joshua is full of war, conflict, and strife. As Israel was about to cross the Jordan and enter the promised land, Joshua was repeatedly told to “be strong and courageous.” What reasons did God give him to be so, and how does Joshua’s need for strength and courage mirror our own?

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(Preaching through the story of early Israel. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on March 16, 2025.)

Chris Watts Charts and Graphics

Timeline of Early Israel

As we transition out of our reading of the Pentateuch and into Joshua and Judges, I thought it would be helpful to put together a timeline of early Israel, from the Exodus to the beginning of the temple construction in 1 Kings 6:1. The two verses that form the backbone of this timeline are Judges 11:26 and 1 Kings 6:1, which impose pretty hard limits on the overall dates of the judges and kings. I hope this is helpful for you!

Timeline of Early Israel Pdf Download