What is Church?

What is Church?

Dave Riddle - 6/09/2024

Key Passages: Acts 2:42-44, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

“There is no relationship with God apart from His family”

Consumerism is about:

- satisfaction

- Entitlement

- More for me

- Obsession

- Devouring

- We think WE are doing the devouring, but instead IT devours us.

Community is about:

- being on mission

- Responsibility

- Serving others

- Freedom

- Creating

Partnership

- God desires for you to be an active partner, not a passive observer.

- 2 Corinthians 8:23

- Philippians 1:4-5

- Hebrews 10:33

- Philemon 17

- Acts 2:42-44

- koinos: “All things in common” = common; shared by all our several

- koinonos: associate, comrade, companion, sharer, partner

- koinonia: fellowship, association, joint participation, communion, community, the state one has in something, partnership

The mindset of partnership

- 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

- melos: being a living part of an interconnected body/dynamic body.

- Romans 12 & 1 Corinthians 12

- a partner is someone who is engaged with the organization’s mission

What is our focus?

- Privilege or responsibility?

- Get or give?

- Passive or active involvement?

How?

- Philippians 2:3-5

- Love, unity, humility, a common mission…

- A family on mission

Why Family on Mission?

Why Family on Mission?

6/13/21 - Dave Riddle 

Key passages: 1 Timothy 3:15, Matthew 28:18-20

We use the word family because it’s biblical.

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

• 1 Timothy 3:15 - we are the household of God.

• The church is called “brother and sisters” over 20 times in the book of Acts alone!

What is our mission?

• Matthew 28:18-20 - The great commission. Go make disciples…

• 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 .

• Teaching them = didaskō (Greek: διδάσκω) - teaching with the purpose of transformation.

• Acts 1:8

• “The church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that [everything else is] simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose.” CS Lewis

• Luke 6:40

Helping People Follow Jesus Together

1. UP

   • Living in right relationship with the Father.

     • Jesus prioritized his relationship with his Father.

2. IN

   • Living in right relationship with our church family.

     • You can’t walk in obedience with the will of God if you aren’t walking in right relationship with your brothers and sisters.

3. OUT

   • Living on mission to reach the world.

     • We are ambassadors, as if God was making his appeal through us!

Why Partner?

Why Child Dedication?
5/16/21

Why is the local church important? How has consumerism changed the way we look at our relationship with the local church? What does it mean to “partner” with a church? What’s the difference between membership and partnership? Pastor Dave discusses all of these questions and more.

We also welcomed 14 new Partners into our church body this Sunday at the end of the message.

Called to Give Thanks

Called to Give Thanks

Dave Riddle - 11/24/19

Key Passage: Psalm 100:4 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (ESV)

Called to Give Thanks For:

• His Love

• His Provision

• His Gift of Jesus

• His Creation

• His Word

• His Family

• His Presence

Being Thankful When Life Gets Messy, Rough, and Ugly:

1. Refine your focus

2. Enlarge your perspective

3. Direct your thoughts

4. Pour out your heart

5. Remember His faithfulness

Authenticity Pt. 2

Vitals - Authenticity Part 2
Dave Riddle - 08/11/19
Key Passage: Romans 12:9

Key Aspects of a “Being Real” Culture

• Honesty

• Simplicity

• Clarity

• Sincerity

• Humility

• God’s Grace & Power

Four Areas to Consider

1. Identity

2. Emotional Health

3. Spiritual Failure

4. Convictions

Authenticity Pt. 1

Vitals - Authenticity Part 1
Dave Riddle - 08/04/19
Key Passage: 1 John 1:5-10. 2:1-2

Key Aspects of a “Being Real” Culture

• Honesty

• Simplicity

• Clarity

• Sincerity

• Humility

• God’s Grace & Power

Bona Fide Believers

• We know who we are

• We know what we’ve done

• We know the necessity of confession

• We know Jesus

  • Advocate

  • Holy

  • Answer