We His People - We Become

We His People - We Become

Dave Riddle - 9/17/2023

Key Passage: Philippians 2:5

Spiritual Formation/Development

- “The process of being formed in the image of Christ…” – M Robert Mulholland Jr. - Invitation to a Journey

- Luke 6:40

- We should be becoming more like Jesus.

- Matthew 28:19-20

- We should be forming others to be more like Jesus.

- Teaching for transformation, not just information.

Imitators of Christ

- John 14:15 - If you love me, keep my commands.

- 1 John 2:4-6

- …walk just as Jesus walked.

- 1 Peter 2:21

- Ephesians 5:1-2 - be imitators of God

- 1 Corinthians 11:1 - imitate me as I imitate Christ

- Galatians 2:20a

- …I no longer live but Christ lives in me.

Belonging and Becoming are intrinsically tied together

- We are meant to walk and grow together.

How do we do this?

Philippians 1:6

- God is at work in you!

- Surrender, listen to the Holy Sprit

- Walk with brothers and sisters in Christ

Hebrews 12:1-3

- Jesus starts and finishes the work

- Our job? Throw off all the weight that entangles us.

2 Corinthians 3:18

- be transformed

Galatians 5 - Fruit of the Spirit

- are you filled with these things?

- Are you growing in them?

“The process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others” – M Robert Mulholland Jr. - Invitation to a Journey

If we aren’t becoming more like Jesus, what’s the point?

- “the church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that… [it’s] simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose.”

- CS Lewis

What is Servant Leadership?

What is Servant Leadership?

Dave Riddle - 6/18/2023

Key Passage: Philippians 2:4-8

How do we lead/love

• Ephesians 5:23 

• Emulate our Heavenly Father.

• Ephesians 6:4

• Instruct and raise children in the ways of the Lord

• Ephesians 5:25

• Love like Jesus, self-sacrificially 

Servant Leadership

• Philippians 2:5-7

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

Do you wish to be great, or do you wish to be a servant?

• Matthew 20:20-28

• John 13:4-7

Adopt the attitude of Jesus

• Philippians 2:5 

What does the heart of a servant look like?

Selfless

• Philippians 2:4 - look not to your own interest.

Eager

• 1 Peter 5:2 - not out of compulsion, but freely… eagerly

Responsive

• Matthew 9:36 - seeing the crowds, he felt compassion…

Vibrant

• Ephesians 6:7 - work with enthusiasm

• Colossians 3:23

Everyday for Everyone

• Galatians 6:10 - as often as you have the chance… do good to everyone.

Making the Most of the Time We’re Given

Making the Most of the Time We’re Given

Dave Riddle - 1/15/2023

Key Passage:  Ephesians 5:15-17

Look (Ephesians 5:15)

• Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk.

• Literally “look carefully”

• blepo (Greek: βλέπω) literally: to see. Metaphorically: to see with the mind’s eye. To turn the thoughts or direct the mind to a thing; to look at; to weigh carefully; to examine, consider and/or contemplate.

• How you walk = peripateo (Greek: περιπατέω) literally: to tread all around, walk at large. Figuratively: to live, to make one’s way, to regulate one’s life, to conduct oneself

• How? (v. 15)

• Not as unwise people but as wise

• sophos (Greek: σοφῷ) - Wise. To have skill or expertise. To best form plans and use the best means for their actual execution. 

• Proverbs 1:1-7

• If we don’t pay careful attention to the way we live our lives, then we are living as fools!

Seize (Ephesians 5:16)

• chronos vs kairos

• Greek: καιρός: No direct English equivalent 

• The right time

• The critical time

• The opportune moment

• Implies, not the convenience of the season, but the necessity of the time at hand.

• “Kairos is when eternity steps into time”

• To make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good.

Know (Ephesians 5:17) 

• So don’t be foolish, but understand.

• syniemi: to put together (mentally) to comprehend, to set or join together in the mind. To understand and act piously. Having the knowledge of those thing which pertain to salvation.

• How do we know the will of God? 

• Romans 12:2 

• Francis Chan: “What is God’s well for my life for the next five minutes?”

• Jim Elliot: “Wherever you are, be all there; live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”

• MLK Jr. “It does not matter how long you live, but how well you do it.“ & “We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always right to do right”

Romans - Government Matters

Romans - Government Matters

Dave Riddle - 1/05/20

Key Passage: Romans 13:1-7

The Authority of the State

• Romans 13:1 - let everyone submit

• “Submit” - hypotassō (Greek: ὑποτάσσω) to place; arrange under; to post under; to subject; to be obedient, to carry a burden

  • Luke 2:51 - Jesus submitted to his parents’ authority.

  • Ephesians 5:21 - submit yourself to one another

  • John 19:11 - you would have no authority over me if it had not been given to you from above.

The Function of the State

• Romans 13:3-4

  • We know that this isn’t always true.

  • Paul is expressing the ideal.

    • 1. The state should exist to restrict and punish evil.

    • 2. The state should promote and reward goodness

  • Is wrong to speak out against authority? No!

    • We have a right and a responsibility to do so when the state isn’t living up to these ideals.

Our Relationship with the State

• Romans 13:5

  • Therefore, you must submit.

    • What about when the will of the state is at direct odds with the will of God?

    • Acts 5:27-29

      • We must obey God rather than men.

  • Romans 12:18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone

• Romans 13:6-7

  • what do we owe?

    • Tangible - tolls and taxes

    • Intangible - respect and honor

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

Marriage & Family Pt. 1

Vitals - Marriage & Family Part 1
Dave Riddle - 07/21/19
Key Passage: Ephesians 5:25-33