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

God is Faithful. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

God is Faithful. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

Dave Riddle - 1/29/2023

Key Passage: Deuteronomy 7:9

God is faithful. Are we?

Many words to describe one truth. God is Faithful.

āman (Hebrew: אָמַן) - to go to the right hand. To build up or support someone. To poster as a parent or nurse. Figuratively to be firm or faithful. Permanent. True.

• Deuteronomy 7:9

ĕmeṯ (Hebrew: אֱמֶת) - stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness, faithful, right, sure, true.

• Psalm 91:4

• Psalm 108:4

ḥeseḏ (Hebrew: חֶסֶד) - goodness, kindness, faithfulness. Loving-kindness

• Exodus 15:13

• Psalm 108:4

• Psalm 89:1

ĕmûnâ (Hebrew: אֱמוּנָה) - firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness

pistos (Greek: πιστός) - of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties

• 1 Corinthians 1:9 - God is faithful…

• Hebrews 3:1-6

• Hebrews 10:23

• 2 Timothy 2:13

Our natural default setting is to be unfaithful

pistis (Greek: πίστις) - persuasion, credence, conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it. fidelity, faithfulness

• Galatians 5:22 - faithfulness is a product of the Holy Sprit’s work in our lives.

How have you lived?

2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought the good fight, finished the course, kept the faith.

Humble Service

House Rules - Service

Dave Riddle - 11/13/2022

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

It’s What Jesus Did

• Matthew 20:28

• Acts 10:38

• Philippians 2:7

We’re (re)created for it and called to it

• 1 Peter 2:21

• Philippians 2:3-5

• Ephesians 2:10

• Galatians 6:10

• Matthew 20:26-27

It Demonstrates Love

• Galatians 5:13-14

• Romans 12:9-10

• Romans 13:8

It Strengthens the Household

• 1 Corinthians 14:12

• Ephesians 4:11-13

• 2 Peter 1:5-8

• James 2:15-16

• 1 Peter 4:8-11

It’s Pleasing to, and Rewarded by, God

• Matthew 25:21 & 23, 34-36

Life in the Spirit

House Rules - Holy Spirit

Dave Riddle - 10/16/2022

Key Passage:  John 14:16-17

Life in the Spirit

• walking in the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit, while bearing spiritual fruit and utilizing spiritual gifts.

A Promise Fulfilled

• John 14:16-17

  • We need help!

• John 16:7

  • Jesus was leaving, but He didn’t leave us without help!

  • Helper = paraklētos - summoned, called to one's side, esp. called to one's aid. One who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate. One who pleads another's cause with one, an intercessor. In the widest sense, a helper, aider, assistant

Friendship

• Holy Spirit “…is the loving, self-communicating, out-fanning and out-pouring presence of the eternal divine life of the triune God. By the Spirit, God draws near to the creature and mediates a knowledge of divinity in a hundred thousand ways.” - Jürgen Moltmann

Conviction

• John 16:8-9

  • We are completely dependent on the Holy Spirit bearing fruit in our gospel work and in our lives.

New Life

• Acts 2:37-38

• John 3:5-6

• John 6:63a

Empowered Life

• Acts 1:8

• 2 Timothy 1:7

  • Power = dynamis (Greek: δύναμις) strength, ability of power, especially inherent power, residing in something (or someone) by virtue of its (or their) nature.

• Galatians 5:16

Changed (Fruitful) Life

• Galatians 5:22-23

• Galatians 5:25 - If we live by the spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit

  • Keep in step = stoicheo (Greek: στοιχέω) -literally, to march in military rank; to proceed in a row as the march of a soldier. Figuratively, to conform (in virtue, piety)

Gifted Life

• 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

  • We are strengthened by each other’s gifts.

• 1 Corinthians 12:12

Directed Life

• John 16:3

• 1 Corinthians 2:14

Eternal Life

• Ephesians 1:13-14

• Ephesians 4:30

United Life

• 1 Corinthians 12:13

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

What Are You Seeking?

Message begins around 31:00

What Are You Seeking?
02/20/2021 - Dave Riddle 
Key Passage: Colossians 3:1-2

Keep Seeking Christ

• Colossians 3:1

  • zēteō (ζητέω): to seek by thinking, meditating, or reasoning. As a Hebraism: to worship God.

• Colossians 3:2

  • Stay focused, set your attention.

Don’t Seek After The Things of Earth

• Colossians 3:2

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

• What has your truest, deepest, most foundational affection?

• Philippians 3:17-19

  • Enemies of the cross focus on earthly things.

• Matthew 16 - Peter rebukes Jesus.

  • 16:23 “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns, but man’s.”

Pick up your cross and follow Jesus

• Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.

• Galatians 5:24 - Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh.

• Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live but Christ lives in me.

  • Bonhoeffer- “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die”

Jesus flips the tables of our lives

• Matthew 21, John 2, Mark 11, Luke 19

  • Symbolic of what he does in our lives.

Be Undivided

Message starts around the 30:00 mark

Be Undivided
01/09/2021 - Dave Riddle 
Key Verse: John 17:11

Our Current Reality

• The last few years have been hard.

• Evangelicalism is fracturing.

  • “Not merely dividing but becoming increasingly incomprehensible to each other.”

• Relational dissonance.

• Galatians 5:15 - But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

• The statistics are discouraging.

• The Reality: we all sinners

Our Calling

• The Calling: Unity

  • John 17:11 - …that they may be one.

    • This should be our starting point.

    • Not unanimity, not uniformity, maybe not even union… but absolutely Unity!

The Model

• John 17:11 - …as we are one (Jesus & the Father).

  • Not my will, but the will of the Father. Not my words, but the words of the Father.

    • As humans this level of unity is only possible through the power of the Spirit.

Our Response

• Repent and believe

• Communion: look up, look back, look forward, look around.

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

• Do I have the humility to align myself with God?

The Impact of Peace

The Impact of Peace

12/26/2021 - Dave Riddle 

Jesus is…

Isaiah 9:6 - Prince of Peace

• Peace = shalowm (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם) - a very broad term that means health, security, tranquility, good condition, success, comfort, and more.

  • it has layers of meaning related to peace.

  • Widely used in the Hebrew Bible, shalowm clearly depicts a satisfied condition, an unconcerned state of peacefulness.

Luke 2:13 – 14 - Peace on Earth

• Peace = eirēnē (Greek: εἰρήνη) - a state of tranquility, harmony, and safety. In a Christian context: the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation.

(Re)Connection

• Peace with God Himself

  • Romans 5:1

Confidence

• John 16:33

  • Peaceful confidence provides escape from anger, worry…

Rest

• Matthew 11:28

  • Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest….

A Gift

• John 14:27

  • Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you…

    • Something only Jesus can give.

    • An invitation, a gift.

• Philippians 4:7

  • A peace He gives to us, not something we develop

  • A peace that is so great we can’t understand it!

A Spiritual Orientation

• Galatians 5:22 - fruit of the Spirit.

  • You are peaceful now live in peace.

    • A reality and a challenge

A Calling

• Colossians 3:15

  • Let peace of Christ rule in your heart.

• Romans 12:16

  • As much as it depends on you…

• Hebrews 12:14

  • Strive for peace with everyone.

Surrender your will to the will of the Father

Pray and ask for the peace of Christ to rule our hearts

A Struggle

• Matthew 10:34

  • Jesus becomes the dividing line

  • There is no peace without him.

Blessing

• Matthew 5:9

  • Blessed are the peacemakers.

Reflect, Encourage, Share Peace

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

A Spirit of Freedom

A Spirit of Freedom

7/4/2021 - Paul Trulock

Key passages: Numbers 13-14, Galatians 5

“Freedom is release from illegitimate bondage so you can live out what God called you to be.”

• Freed “from” something

  • From Egypt

• Freed “to” something

  • To the Promised Land

    • But first, the wilderness.

      • Similarly, in order for us to be delivered from sin to the promises we have in Jesus, we go through the wilderness.

Numbers 13:1

• 13:1 - the land I am giving you…

Numbers 27-31

• 13:30 - Caleb doesn’t have any additional information, but he trusts in God.

• Numbers 13:31 - if it can be explained by man’s own effort, where sites Good get the glory?

What does your inner circle look like?

• Do you have a faithful community surrounding you?

  • Numbers 13:30

  • Numbers 14:24

• Do you surround yourself with people who focus on circumstances and their own ability?

  • Numbers 13:31-33

  • They would rather go back to the brutality that they knew rather than face the unknown with God.

  • Numbers 14:11

How do we thrive in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in?

• Galatians 5:22-26

  • Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

  • “May your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven”

    • It’s not just about going to Heaven, it’s about bringing Heaven to earth!

  • We don’t need more God, God needs more of us.

Peace - God in Our Midst

Peace - God in Our Midst
12/27/20 - Dave Riddle
Key Passage: Isaiah 9:6

Prince of Peace

• Shalom: a very broad term that means health, security, tranquility, good condition, success, comfort and more. An unconcerned state of peacefulness.

  • Matthew 10:34-39 - do not suppose that I have come to bring peace...

    • Jesus is our number one priority, and that will lead to division.

• eirene: a national state of tranquility, harmony, and safety. In a Christian context: the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation

Confidence

• John 16:33 - you are going to have suffering, but you can have confidence because Jesus has conquered the world!

Rest

• Matthew 11:29 - Take up my yoke and you will find rest.

(Re)Connection

• Romans 5:1 - since we have been justified we have peace with God through Jesus.

Invitation (A Gift)

• John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.

• Philippians 4:7 - peace that surpasses all understanding.

Challenge (A Calling)

• Colossians 3:15 - let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, as members of one body you were called to peace.

• Romans 12:18 - as much as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

• Hebrews 12:14 - pursue peace with everyone.

Orientation (A Fruit) 

• Galatians 5:22-23 - peace is a fruit of the Spirit, not something we can create or attain on our own.

Peace be with you!

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.