Ephesians 6

We His People - We Beseech

We His People - We Beseech

Dave Riddle - 9/24/2023

Key Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:20

Beseech: implore, beg, ask urgently and fervently. To request earnestly or anxiously.

We plead (beseech) on God’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

- 2 Corinthians 5:20

- The spotlight is on God, not us.

- …for Christ …God is …On God’s behalf… to God

- The gospel should be the only obstacle to receiving Jesus, not us.

- God could have revealed himself to the world in an infinite number of ways… he chose us as his ambassadors.

- We each have a role and a part to play.

- Ambassadors = presbeuo: to be a senior, act as a representative, to be an ambassador.

- You represent Jesus to everyone you meet.

Boldness and Urgency

- Ephesians 6:19-20

- pray that I might be bold…

- Do we have a sense of urgency in sharing the gospel?

- parakaleo: to call near. Invite, invoke, implore. To beg or beseech.

Be Reconciled to God

- Settle your debts and differences

- “Let God change you from enemies to friends” (GNT)

- Our message: live at peace with God. Come back to God.

- 2 Corinthians 5:17 - …God reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

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.

Purpose / Surrender

Message Begins around 22:30

Purpose / Surrender

Dave Riddle • 04/10/2022

Key Passage: Matthew 26:38-39

“Not my will, but yours be done”

  • Matthew 26:38-39

  • His life was all about living out the Father’s will.

  • Philippians 2:5-6

    • He didn’t use his equality with God as an excuse.

  • Philippians 2:7-8

    • Exalted in his humiliation due to his willingness to surrender to his father’s will.

What about us?

  • Ephesians 6:6

    • Completely surrendered to the will of God.

  • Hebrews 13:20-22

    • Equipped with everything good to do the will of God.

  • 1 John 2:17

    • Whoever does the will of God abides with him forever.

  • Psalm 143:19

    • “Teach me to do your will”…

    • May your Spirit lead me on level ground

Why Child Dedication?

Why Child Dedication?
Baptism Sunday 5/9/21
Key passage: Psalm 127

Child dedication is not a baptism

  • we practice believer’s baptism. (See last week)

Child dedication is not a guarantee 

  • not a guarantee of salvation

Why child dedication?

It reminds us of both the miracle and value of human life.

  • Genesis 2:7 - humanity was created by God Himself.

  • Genesis 1:26-28 - humanity was created in the image of God.

We’re recognizing and affirming that children are a gift from God

  • Psalm 127:3 - a special reward

  • Psalm 127:5 - a blessing

To acknowledge the challenge and responsibility of being a parent

  • Deuteronomy 4:9 - teach them and model for them.

  • Ephesians 6:4 - train and instruct

  • Deuteronomy 6:5 - a personal practice that you pass down.

Child dedication places children in the context of a larger family… God’s!

  • The church has a responsibility (you, all of us)

  • Philippians 2:3-4 - we are a family

  • Romans 12:10 - be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

It’s an opportunity for parents to surrender their child to God’s will and mission.

  • what is it that you want most for your daughter or son?

  • 1 Samuel 1 - Hannah and Samuel

,

The Servant

,

The Servant

Dave Riddle - 09/01/19

Key Passages: Colossians 3:22-25, Ephesians 6:5-8

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

The Command? Obey

  • hypakouō (Greek: ὑπακούω) - listen, used of one who, at a knock on the door, comes to listen for who is there (duty of a porter). To listen to a command, to obey, be obedient to, submit to.

The Way of Obedience

In All Ways

  • Colossians 3:22 - ...obey your masters in all things.

With the proper attitude

  • Ephesians 6:5 - ...obey ...with respect and fear

At All Times

  • Ephesians 6:6 - obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you.

      • Emphasized again in Colossians 3:22

With the Right Heart

  • Ephesians 6:6-7 - ...doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly.

Committed to Excellence

  • Colossians 3:23 - In all the work you are doing, work the best you can.

Having a Spiritual Focus

  • Colossians 3:24 - you are serving the Lord Christ.

Maintaining a Kingdom Perspective 

  • Colossians 3:24 - Remember that you will receive your reward from the Lord.