Greater than the Angels

Jesus is Greater than the Angels

Dave Riddle - 10/22/2023

Key Passage: Hebrews 1:4-14

Seven affirmations of Jesus’ superiority over the angels

- Hebrews 1:4

Jesus is the son of God

- Hebrews 1:5

- Psalm 2:7

- 2 Samuel 7:14

Jesus is worshipped

- Hebrews 1:6

- Deuteronomy 32:43

- Colossians 1:5

- Revelation 7:11

Jesus is served

- Hebrews 1:7

- Psalm 104:4

- Matthew 4:11

Jesus is King

- Hebrews 1:7

- Luke 22:43

- Revelation 17:14a

- Psalm 89:27

Jesus is Creator

- Hebrews 1:10-11

- Colossians 1:16

Jesus is eternal

- Hebrews 1:11-12

- John 1

Jesus is elevated to the right hand of God

- Hebrews 1:13

- 1 Peter 3:21-22

- Colossians 3:1

Growing Up - Spiritual Maturity

Growing Up - Spiritual Maturity

Paul Trulock - 7/2/2023

Key Passage: 1 Peter 3:8-12

We have the knowledge of the Bible

We have the power of the Spirit

We lack willpower

Growing old is a natural process, but growing up doesn’t come easily.

Unity

• 1 Peter 3:8 - likeminded

• Unity, not unanimity.

• We don’t have to agree on everything, but we should be united despite our disagreements.

• Devoted to the person of Jesus not devoted to programs, causes, or politics.

Sympathetic

• 1 Peter 3:8 

• Romans 12:15-16

• Rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn.

• Only possible in and through unity.

• Does your concern for others outweigh your concern for yourself?

Brotherly Love

• 1 Peter 3:8

• philadelphos: Loving brother or sister. In a broader sense, loving one like a brother

Compassionate

• 1 Peter 3:8

• splagchnizomai (Greek: σπλαγχνίζομαι) - to be moved as to one's bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity).

• Deep compassion and tenderheartedness towards others.

Humble

• 1 Peter 3:8

• Meekness not weakness

• “We never mature when we narrow the use of our efforts, talents, and means to our own advantage.”

Forgiveness

• 1 Peter 3:9

• Not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult.

• Bless those who curse you.

• 1 Peter 2:20-21

• Called to a life of non-retaliation.

Control the Tongue

• 1 Peter 3:10

• Do you want to love life and see good days? Control your tongue.

Purity and Peace

• 1 Peter 3:11-12

All of this is only possible through diligence, discipline, and community. 

What’s the point of Baptism?

What’s the point of Baptism?

Dave Riddle - 5/21/2023

Key Passage: Romans 6:3-11

John the Baptister 

• Jewish ritual purification based on laws from Leviticus.

• John took it a step further. He required people to repent. Turn from sin. Turn towards God.

Jesus makes a local phenomenon a global one

• Matthew 28:19

• An imperative to make, baptize, and teach disciples.

Why Immersion?

• The grammar says so

• baptizo (Greek: βαπτίζω) - to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of sunken vessels); to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe.

• Clarity from a recipe for Pickles

• It’s consistent with what we see in the New Testament.

Baptism is…

An Identifier

• It is open identification with Jesus and his death

• Romans 6:3

Impactful

• A picture of the impact of Jesus’ transformative work in our loves.

• Romans 6:6-8

Sufficient

• Baptism displays the sufficiency of Jesus’ Sacrifice

• Romans 6:9-10

• 1 Peter 3:18

A Reminder

• It reminds each believer of the call to follow Jesus.

• Romans 6:11

• Galatians 2:20

Joyful Generosity

House Rules - Joyful Generosity 

Dave Riddle - 11/20/2022

Key Passage: Mark 12:41-44

Joyful Generosity 

Recognizing that all we have is a gift from God and learning to share what we have.

God Gave

• God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son. John 3:16

  • Jesus is the embodiment of generosity.

Generous: A readiness to give more of something that what is expected 

Jesus Gave Willingly

• John 10:18

Jesus Gave Joyfully

• Hebrews 12:2

Jesus Gave Purposefully

• 1 Peter 3:18

Jesus Gave Sacrificially

• Philippians 2:6-8

Our Generosity Should Be a Reflection of God

• John 13:34

Generosity is An Attack On a Would-Be “King”

• Matthew 6:24

  • Money = mamōnas (μαμωνᾶς) - Mammon - everything we pursue in life. Riches, treasures, dreams, feelings, idols. Everything that isn’t God.

  • Consumerism vs Generosity

Five Resources to be Generous With 

• Physical Capital

• Intellectual Capital

• Relational Capital

• Spiritual Capital

• Financial Capital

An Example of Generosity 

• 2 Corinthians 8:1-9

• 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

What’s Your Next Step?

What’s your next step?

Phil Woodman - 9/11/22

Key Passage: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

The Shema Prayer

• Deuteronomy 6:4-9

  • Hear/Listen!

• A fresh start

Where is your focus/commitment? 

• Joshua 24:14-15

  • How will you live?

  • Who will you serve?

What’s your next step?

Bible Reading

• Romans 12:2

  • Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

• Set manageable goals

• Pick a plan and finish it

• Share it with someone

Find Connection

• Hebrews 10:24

  • We weren’t made to walk alone

• Join an ABF or Bible Study

• Find a smaller group that will encourage and challenge.

Find a Place to Serve

• 1 Peter 4:10

  • Use the gifts you’ve been given to serve others!

• Serve the church body

• Serve our community

• Discover your gift and use it

Share Your Faith

• 1 Corinthians 11:1

• 1 Peter 3:15

  • Do people know you’re a believer?

  • Share your story.

  • Ask Questions.

United in Heart & Mind

Message begins around the 24-minute mark

United in Heart & Mind
01/23/2021 - Dave Riddle 
Key Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:10-11

You are all one in Christ Jesus

• A theological scriptural fact

  • Acts 4:32

  • Galatians 3:23

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

• This is what Jesus prayed for.

Unity is our Calling

• 1 Corinthians 13:11

• Romans 12:16-18

• Romans 14:19

• Philippians 2:2

• Ephesians 4:3

• 1 Peter 3:8

• Hebrews 12:14

• 1 Corinthians 1:10

Undivided

• 1 Corinthians 1:10

  • There should be no schism, split, gap, divide…

• 1 Corinthians 1:11

  • There are quarrels among you

• 1 Corinthians 1:10 - Made complete, perfectly joined together.

Is Unity in this church possible?

• The redeemed live as one… are we?

  • Galatians 3:23

• What is God’s calling for me? Not for my brother or sister, but for me.

• Repentance seems to be rare, almost non-existent.

  • How is God calling us to respond?

  • Can we be agents of unity rather than division?

The Impact of Hope

The Impact of Hope

12/5/2021 - Dave Riddle 

Psalm 42:11 - why are you overcome with despair? Hope in God!

• We are the people of Hope.

  • Surrounded by despair, but not living in despair.

How is it that we can be legitimately hopeful?

God is.

• He exists

• Jeremiah 10

  • The worthlessness of idols compared to a true God. (10:10)

    • Jeremiah 10:16

God is here.

• Matthew 1:23 - God is with us.

• Hebrews 1:3a - Jesus is God in the flesh

  • Philippians 2:5-7

God is love.

• 1 John 4:8-9 - God is love.

• John 3:16-17 - How much God loves us.

• Titus 3:4-7 - what it means for us.

God is Salvation.

• Roman 8:38-39 - there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.

• Hebrews 1:3 - God the Savior

God is King.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - don’t live as those who have no hope

  • Ephesians 2:12 - We were… without Christ, without God, without hope. No longer!

• 1 Timothy 6:13-15 - Celebrating his first coming while awaiting his second coming!

  • God will make all things new!

• Hebrews 10:23 - hold tightly, without wavering, to the hope we affirm…

How can we embrace hope today?

Receive this truth in faith

• 1 Peter 5:7

Reflect on how God is providing hope in your life

• Psalm 9:1

Encourage another Jesus-follower you’ve seen exhibiting hope.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Share hope with someone in your missional context.

• 1 Peter 3:15

Baptism

Baptism

Dave Riddle - 09/29/19

Key Passage: Matthew 28:19

Why Immersion?

• Seems to be the regular practice of the New Testament Church.

• baptizo (Greek: βαπτίζω) - to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of sunken vessels); to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe.

  • ancient pickle recipe

Identification

• immersed into Christ

• Romans 6:3-4

Declaration

• 1 Peter 3:18

• A new identity!

  • 2 Corinthians 5:17

• Phillip and the Ethiopian

  • Acts 8:36

Reminder

• A reminder of the call to obedience

  • Romans 6:6-7

  • Galatians 2:20

• A reminder of Jesus’ great commission for us as believers.

Generosity Pt. 1

Vitals - Generosity Part 1
Dave Riddle - 08/11/19
Key Passage: Romans 8:32

Definition: Showing a readiness to give more of something than is strictly necessary or expected.

Scripture: At the core, it’s all about God

Jesus: Perfect example of generosity

• He gave willingly

  • John 10:18

• He gave joyfully

  • John 15:13

• He gave purposefully

  • 1 Peter 3:18

• He gave sacrificially

  • Ephesians 5:25

  • Philippians 2:5-8