We Are That Household

We Are That Household

Dave Riddle - 11/19/2023

Key Passage: Hebrews 3:1-6

We are Partners in a Heavenly calling

- Hebrews 3:1

Consider Jesus

- Hebrews 3:1

The Sent One & High Priest

- Hebrews 3:1 - “The apostle”

- John 3:17

- Hebrews 2:17

- Moses sometimes acted as a priest but never a High Priest

The Household of God

- Hebrews 3:2

- Numbers 12

- oikos (Greek: οἶκος) - an inhabited house, a physical dwelling place. Also, the inhabitants of a house, all the persons forming one family - a household.

- Hebrews 3:3-4 - If everything is built by God and Jesus is the builder, then Jesus is God.

- We don’t marvel at the house itself. We marvel at the builder

- Hebrews 3:5-6

- Moses was a servant in God’s household

- Jesus is the faithful son over God’s household

- We are that household

- Philippians 2:15

- Titus 1:7

- 1 Tim 3:15

- 1 Peter 4:17

- 1 John 3:1

We His People - We Belong

We His People - We Belong

Dave Riddle - 9/10/2023

Key Passage: 1 Peter 2:9

We Belong to God

- 1 Peter 2:9

- Deuteronomy 7:6b - Notice the similarities.

- Genesis 17:7 - God kept His promise to Abram.

- John 1:12-13 - Children of God

- 1 John 3:1

- Revelation 21:3 - We Belong to God Forever

We Belong to Each Other

- Romans 12:5 - members of one body

- Philippians 2:3-4 - look to the interests of others.

Brothers & Sisters in Christ

- Are you just attending church, or are you walking in community?

Is Your Faith Worthless?

Is Your Faith Worthless?

Dave Riddle - 6/11/2023

Key Passage: James 1:26-27

If anyone considers themselves religious…

• James 1:26

• Religious = thrēskos: fearing or worshipping God; ceremonious in the worship of God

…their religion is worthless

• James 1:26

• Worthless, profitless, empty, devoid of value 

• Same word as 1 Corinthians 15:14

• If there is no resurrection your faith is “worthless”

…If you don’t keep a tight reign on your tongue…

• James 1:26

• We all hold tightly to the resurrection, but how seriously do we take the way we speak?

Pure and undefiled religion…

• James 1:27

• Pure = katharos: clean (literally and figuratively). Free from anything that soils or corrupts.

• Undefiled = amiantos: not defiled. Incorruptible.

Our faith is directly tied to our concern for others

• James 1:27

• Pure and undefiled religion means having concern for vulnerable people.

• Orphans and widows in distress.

• Doing this requires an investment of time, energy, resources.

• See also: James 2:15-17, James 2:26, 1 John 3:17-18

Our Allegiance and Devotion

• James 1:27

• Keep yourself unstained from the world.

• Romans 12:2 - don’t be conformed… be transformed…

What is the product of your heart?

• Luke 6:45

• What we say and do overflows from our heart.

Your words, actions, and heart are the true indicators of your faith.

• Repent. Don’t rationalize.

Wholehearted Worship

House Rules - Worship

Dave Riddle - 10/30/2022

Key Passage: Psalm 95

Wholehearted Worship

• …developing lips, hearts, and lives that acknowledge and celebrate the glory and goodness of God

• Worship = proskyneo (Greek: προσκυνέω) - to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence

• latreia (Greek: λατρεία): to serve in a sacrificial manner. Used in reference to religious practices and rituals. Divine priestly service.

• leitourgeo (Greek: λειτουργία): to do public service, (by analogy) to preform religious or charitable functions. Worship, obey, minister.

Singular

• Psalm 95:1 - Shout joyfully to the Lord the rock of our salvation

• Psalm 63:1a - You are my God I worship you

  • 1st Commandment

Personal

• Psalm 63:1-2 - You are MY God.

Collective

• Psalm 95:1, 6 - “Come let us…”

Truth 

• Psalm 95:3-5 - We sing truth.

• Our worship is a response to the truth of who God is and the truth of the transformation He is working in our lives.

Joyful Celebration

• Psalm 95:1-2 - Shout joyfully to the Lord. Shout triumphantly…

• rānan (Hebrew: רָנַן): to cry out, shout for joy

• rûaʿ (Hebrew: רוּעַ): to shout, cry out, give a blast

  • Joshua 6:20 (Jericho)

  • 1 Samuel 4:5 (shouts that shake the ground)

Intimacy

• Psalm 95:6

• 1 John 3:1

• Psalm 63:3-5

Obedience

• Psalm 95:7b-9

• Roman 12:1 - present your bodies as a living sacrifice

United So The World Will Know Jesus

Message starts around the 30:00 mark

United So The World Will Know Jesus

01/30/2021 - Dave Riddle 

Key Passage: John 17:21 - 23

Mission:  That The World May Know

• John 17:21 - 22

• Our works are NOT the gospel, but they can hinder or facilitate the gospel.

  • Our unity accelerates the impact of the gospel.

  • Our disunity is a hindrance to the gospel.

    • It tarnishes God’s reputation.

Message: The love of God

• A message that needs to be spoken.

• A message that manifests in our relationships with one another.

  • John 17:23

  • John 3:17

  • Where have you been sent? What is your context?

  • John 13:34-35 - love one another… by this all people will know you are my disciples.

    • 1 John 3:11 - We MUST love each other.

The Impact of Joy

The Impact of Joy

12/19/2021 - Dave Riddle 

Luke 2:10 - Good news of great joy! 

Joy is Not the Same Thing as Personal Happiness

• Happiness is circumstantial

  • Joy is different

• 1 Peter 1:8 - …inexpressible and glorious joy

  • “Joy unspeakable and full of glory“

  • Joy = chara (χαρά) a calm delight

• Pipe dream or attainable reality?

Joy is Commanded

• Philippians 4:4 - Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again rejoice.

  • An imperative.

Joy Requires Intentionality & Commitment

• Colossians 3:2 - set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.

  • Set your mind = phroneō (φρονέω) To direct one's mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for

Joy Can Become Our Orientation

• Galatians 5:22 - The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy…

How Do We “Set Our Minds…”?

Remember How Loved You Are

• The love we experience on Earth pales in comparison to the love the Heavenly Father has for us.

Remember Who(se) You Are

• 1 John 3:1, 1 Peter 2:9-10 - This is our identity! This is who we are!

Remember What You Have

• 1 Peter 1:3-7 - …an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading…

John 15:11 -  “I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”

• Complete, full, overflowing = plēroō (πληρόω) - to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim

Church is Who We Are

Church is Who We Are

Sunday, September 19, 2021
Dave Riddle

Unchanging Love

Unchanging Love

Dave Riddle 9/05/2021

Key passage: 1 Corinthians 13

The Highest Way of All - Love

• 1 Corinthians. 12:31 - Love!

… is Lonnnnnnnng-tempered 

• Patient - 1 Corinthians 12:4

…is Kind

• 1 Corinthians 12:4

• 1 John 3

…Does Not Boil Over with Jealousy 

• 1 Corinthians 12:4

…is not Boastful

• 1 Corinthians 12:4

• This word is only used one time

…is not self-inflated

• psysioo- literally, to inflate, blow up, to cause to swell up.

• 1 Corinthians 12:4

…is not crude or inappropriate 

• 1 Corinthians 12:5

• Lacking in care for others around them

…isn’t self-centered

• 1 Corinthians 12:5

• “Cure selfishness and you have just replanted the Garden of Eden” - RCH Lenski

…Isn’t moved to anger

• 1 Corinthians 12:5

• Of our interactions are defined by rage, we aren’t living in love.

  • Irascible - not just angry but anger that leads to wrong action.

…doesn’t keep score

• loguzomai- to take inventory, an ancient bookkeeping term that means to calculate or reckon. To make it keep a permanent record.

• 1 Corinthians 12:5

…Responds Correctly to  Truth and Iniquity

• 1 Corinthians 12:6

• Love doesn’t find joy in unrighteousness or the failures of others.

…Persists

• 1 Corinthians 7-8a

• “Bears all things” - covers, supports, protects.

Our Unchanging Identity

Unchanging Identity
Dave Riddle 8/29/2021

Key passage: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Hard truths of the Bible

• There are lots of things that make us say “I wish I didn’t know that… I wish that wasn’t in there”

  • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

    • “You are not your own”

      • The world doesn’t revolve around me.

I’m now a steward

• 1 Peter 4:10

  • Steward: a person who manages another’s property or finances; one who administers anything as the agent of another.

  • We manage our lives, not in our own interest, but in the interest of the Father

I’m now a child

• 1 John 3:1

  • See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are!

I’m now a follower

• “Follow me”

  • Follow = akoloutheō - to be in the same way with. To be in the same road. To follow one who proceeds.

I’m now a disciple 

• Disciple = mathetes (Greek: μαθητής) - pupil/learner/student - a disciple. In the New Testament, a disciple is one who not only learns, but accepts and adverse to the instruction given to them, making it their personal everyday way of living .

  • Not just learning knowledge, but allowing that knowledge to change the way we live.

  • Matthew 16:24 - if anyone wants to come with me, he must deny himself and take up his cross.

I’m now a slave

• doulos (Greek: δοῦλος): a slave, bondman, man of servile condition

  • We are slaves to our sin

    • Romans 6:15

  • Romans 6:18

    • Set free from sin!

    • Now slaves to righteousness!

Joy - God in Our Midst

Joy - God in Our Midst
12/20/20 - Dave Riddle
Key Passage: Luke 2:10

Joy is Not the Same as Happiness

• Happiness and unhappiness are circumstantial.

• Joy is a deep-rooted state of ongoing delight inspired by God himself.

  • 1 Peter 1:8

Joy is Commanded

• An imperative, an exultation, a command.

  • Philippians 4:4

  • We always have a reason to have joy, even when we’re unhappy or disillusioned.

Joy Takes Some Commitment

• Colossians 3:2

  • Is your primary focus on the here and now, or on things above?

Joy Can Become An Orientation

• Galatians 5:22

  • Joy manifests as we walk in the Spirit.

Living Joyfully

• Remember how you’re loved

  • God loves you with an everlasting love!

• Remember who you are and whose you are.

  • 1 John 3:1

  • Remember your identity. Nothing can change your identity in Christ

  • 1 Peter 2:9-10

• Remember what you have

  • 1 Peter 1:3-6

    • New birth ( you are a new creation)

    • Living hope

    • An Inheritance

John 15:11 - I have told you this so that my joy may be in you.

The joy of the Lord is our strength.

Look Up

Look Up

This is a season of reset

Helping people follow Jesus together

• Help people become like Jesus 

  • Luke 6:40

• Walking as He walked

  • 1 John 2:6

Our Up Relationship is Prime

• Mark 12:30

Worship 

• Romans 12:1

• The heart of worship is loving God with our entire being.

• Latreia (Greek: λατρεία) - worship or service. To kiss (in the same way a dog licks its master). To revere, to adore.

• John 4:24 - worship

  • Proskyneo (Greek: προσκυνέω) - to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence

• Revelation 19:4

Our Worship is a Response 

• 1 John 4:19 - we love because he first loved us.

Our Worship Must be Real

• Mark 7:6 - Honoring God with our hearts, not just our lips. 

• 1 Samuel 15:22 - obedience not sacrifice

You are Loved 

• 1 John 3:1 - You are His child!

The Life You Live

• John 14:15 - love results in obedience

• 1 John 5:3a - keep His commands

• Acts 13:22 - a person aligned with God’s heart.

Lean In

Lean In

Dave Riddle - 7/19/20

koinōnia (Greek: κοινωνία) - fellowship, association, community, intimacy, joint participation (the share which one has in anything), communion. 

Living in koinōnia = Love 

An Order or Command to Love Others

• Mark 12:31 - love others as much as you love yourself.

• John 13:34 - love others the way Jesus loves us.

• 1 John 3:23 - love others as He commanded us.

Response 

• 1 John 4:11, 19 - our love is a response to the love Jesus has shown to us.

Integral

• Necessary for yielding completeness

• 1 John 4:12 - our faith becomes more complete as we walk in love.

Maturity and Progression

• 1 Peter 1:22-23

  • A sincere love. Not merely pretending to love others.

  • Earnestly, fervently, constantly loving one another.

• 1 Corinthians 13 - love is foundational. Without it, our actions are meaningless.

Confirmation

• John 13:35 - This is how all people will know that we are truly followers of Christ.

Intimacy 

• A relationship that goes deeper than “we go to the same church”.

• Requires vulnerability.

  • Might require taking some risks.

Investment

• Helping people follow Jesus together.

Connected and Contributing to One Another

• Not living in an individual reality, but a “One Another” reality.

  • Love one another

  • Live in harmony with one another

  • Forgive one another 

  • Honor one another

  • ...And many many more 

    • Over 100 occurrences in scripture.

    • Only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit

How is God calling you to take the next step towards koinōnia?

• 1 Peter 1:22-23

Up (Our Father)

A Family on Mission - Up (Our Father)

Dave Riddle - 06/16/19

Key Passage: Acts 13:22

The most important thing

• Mark 12:28-30

Captured by the concept of worship

• Romans 12:1

A rhythmic response to God’s self-revelation

• 1 John 4:19 - “we love because He first loved us...”

A matter of our hearts

• Mark 7:6

—-—-—-

David

• 1 Samuel 16:7

  • “...the Lord looks at the heart”

• Acts 12:22

  • “...a man after my own heart”

  • We are called to align our hearts with God’s heart.

Allow God to be first

• Philippians 3:7-14

• Make God the object and pursuit of your life.

Rely on God’s power

• 1 Samuel 17

• Romans 8:11 - the same power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in you!

Rest in His authority

Live in full transparency

• Psalm 139 - you have searched me and know me.

Two Outcomes

1. We are loved

   • The creator of the universe loves you!

   • 1 John 3:1 - his love is so great that we are called His children!

2. Called to live in obedience!

   • John 14:15 - if we love God we will desire to keep His commands.