Fear Not!

Fear Not!

Dave Riddle - 12/3/2023

Key Passage: Genesis 15:1

The Origin of Unhealthy Fear

- Genesis 3:10

- Sin > Shame > Fear > Hiding

Healthy Fear

- Icy roads, dangerous situations, etc

- Reverential awe for God

- Proverbs 9:10

- When this healthy fear is missing the result is not good.

- Romans 3:10-18

- Psalm 36:1

- Matthew 10:28

- Hebrews 10:31

Fear Not / Do Not Be Afraid

- First instance of this common phrase

- Genesis 15

- “I am your shield”

- Your protection. Your security

- God doesn’t want to leave us in a place of fear, shame, sin, and hiding.

- He wants to have a relationship of hope, joy, peace, and love with us.

- James 2:21-23

- Abraham: friend of God

- John 3:16-17

God’s Love Conquers Fear

- 1 John 4:10

- He loved us first. Not because we loved Him.

- 1 John 4:18

- There is no fear in love

- Perfect love drives out fear

- 2 Timothy 1:7

- God did not give us a spirit of fearfulness

- Revelation 2:10

- The last instance of “fear not”

- From Genesis to Revelation

There is nothing that can separate you from the love of God.

Calling All Calvary - The Universal Calling

Calling All Calvary - The Universal Calling

Dave Riddle - 7/16/2023

Key Passage: 1 Corinthians 12

We are the body of Christ

Spiritual Body

Unity (one) + Diversity (many)

• 1 Corinthians 12:27

• We are more than the sum of our parts.

• Multiplication not addition

You are one

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

We are many

1 Corinthians 12:19-20

Functionality

Romans 12:4-8

• One body… but we don’t all have the same function

• We have been given different gifts

• When we don’t live into those gifts we compromise the functionality of the body

Interconnectedness

1 Corinthians 12:15-16

• We are connected and interlocked together.

• We need each other.

• We need community.

Interdependence 

1 Corinthians 12:17-18, 21

• We need each other and we need our differences.

Constructed by God

1 Corinthians 12:24-25

• God has out the body together

• …so that there would be no division in the body

United In Love

1 Corinthians 12:31

• And l I will show you an even better way

• LOVE • 1 Corinthians 13

• Romans 12:9-10

• When one suffers, we all suffer. When one is honored, we all rejoice • 1 Corinthians 12:26

• Philippians 2:4

• James 2:15-16

• John 13:35

Is Your Faith Worthless?

Is Your Faith Worthless?

Dave Riddle - 6/11/2023

Key Passage: James 1:26-27

If anyone considers themselves religious…

• James 1:26

• Religious = thrēskos: fearing or worshipping God; ceremonious in the worship of God

…their religion is worthless

• James 1:26

• Worthless, profitless, empty, devoid of value 

• Same word as 1 Corinthians 15:14

• If there is no resurrection your faith is “worthless”

…If you don’t keep a tight reign on your tongue…

• James 1:26

• We all hold tightly to the resurrection, but how seriously do we take the way we speak?

Pure and undefiled religion…

• James 1:27

• Pure = katharos: clean (literally and figuratively). Free from anything that soils or corrupts.

• Undefiled = amiantos: not defiled. Incorruptible.

Our faith is directly tied to our concern for others

• James 1:27

• Pure and undefiled religion means having concern for vulnerable people.

• Orphans and widows in distress.

• Doing this requires an investment of time, energy, resources.

• See also: James 2:15-17, James 2:26, 1 John 3:17-18

Our Allegiance and Devotion

• James 1:27

• Keep yourself unstained from the world.

• Romans 12:2 - don’t be conformed… be transformed…

What is the product of your heart?

• Luke 6:45

• What we say and do overflows from our heart.

Your words, actions, and heart are the true indicators of your faith.

• Repent. Don’t rationalize.

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

What Does Jesus Command?

What Does Jesus Command?

Dave Riddle • 05/15/2022

Key Passage: John 15:12-17

John 15:12 (CSB): This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.

• Love = agapaō - agape, immeasurable and unconditional love.

John 15:13 (CSB): No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.

• He calls us friends when, in reality, we were His enemies.

  • Romans 5:8

John 15:14 (CSB): You are my friends if you do what I command you.

• Abraham: James 2:23

• Us! John 15:15 - no longer blindly obedient servants, but friends.

John 15:16 (CSB): You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. 

• Referring back to John 15:1-8

• He chose us!

“These things” I command you, that you love one another. John 15:17

• Possibly: All of His commands boil down to “love one another”.

• Or: the result of all of His commands is that we will love one another.

John 15:17 (CSB): “This is what I command you: Love one another.”

• Not optional.

  • Command, enjoin, an imperative

  • entolē = an order, command, charge, precept, injunction

Everything we do should be deepening our love for one another.