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

Created For Community

House Rules - Community

Paul Trulock - 11/06/2022

Key Passage: Mark 2:1-12

They chose to be friends

• This wasn’t a simple job

  • Mark 2:3-4

Jesus saw their faith…

• Jesus saw the faith of selfless friends.

  • Mark 2:5

“Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

• Who is this guy? Mark 2:6-7

• …Which is easier? Mark 2:9-10

The impact of true community

• The paralyzed man was healed

  • Mark 2:12

• All were astounded and gave glory to God.

  • Mark 2:12

We are…

• Created for Community

• Redeemed for Community

• Transformed in Community

Prioritize Community

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 is Communion?

Message begins around 30:00

What is Communion?

Dave Riddle • 07/27/2022

Key Passage: 1 Corinthians 11:24-28

Communion: A Jesus-ordained ceremony 

• Baptism is the other “ordinance” that we regularly practice

• Matthew 26:26-28

An Act of Commemoration 

• Remember

  • 1 Corinthians 11:24

    • Remember who Jesus is, and what he has done for us.

  • Exodus 12:2-3, 6-7, 12-14

    • A permanent statute

    • A lasting ordinance

    • Jesus fulfilled the old Passover and, in a sense, instituted a new Passover.

A Gospel Proclamation 

• Proclaim

  • 1 Corinthians 11:26

    • Communion preaches the Gospel.

An Opportunity for Contemplation 

• 1 Corinthians 11:28

  • dokimazō - to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not). To recognise as genuine after examination.

• Galatians 2:20

• Romans 6:11

A Way to Celebrate Unity

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

• 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

  • One body (the Church)

  • One loaf of bread (Christ)

• John 17:9-11

A Cause for Hopeful Anticipation

• 1 Corinthians 11:26

  • “…until He comes”

• Matthew 26:29

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?

Lean In

Lean In

Dave Riddle - 7/19/20

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

Living in koinōnia = Love 

An Order or Command to Love Others

• Mark 12:31 - love others as much as you love yourself.

• John 13:34 - love others the way Jesus loves us.

• 1 John 3:23 - love others as He commanded us.

Response 

• 1 John 4:11, 19 - our love is a response to the love Jesus has shown to us.

Integral

• Necessary for yielding completeness

• 1 John 4:12 - our faith becomes more complete as we walk in love.

Maturity and Progression

• 1 Peter 1:22-23

  • A sincere love. Not merely pretending to love others.

  • Earnestly, fervently, constantly loving one another.

• 1 Corinthians 13 - love is foundational. Without it, our actions are meaningless.

Confirmation

• John 13:35 - This is how all people will know that we are truly followers of Christ.

Intimacy 

• A relationship that goes deeper than “we go to the same church”.

• Requires vulnerability.

  • Might require taking some risks.

Investment

• Helping people follow Jesus together.

Connected and Contributing to One Another

• Not living in an individual reality, but a “One Another” reality.

  • Love one another

  • Live in harmony with one another

  • Forgive one another 

  • Honor one another

  • ...And many many more 

    • Over 100 occurrences in scripture.

    • Only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit

How is God calling you to take the next step towards koinōnia?

• 1 Peter 1:22-23

The Lord’s Table

The Lord’s Table

Dave Riddle - 11/24/19

Key Passage: 1 Corinthians 11:23-30

Directive

• 1 Corinthians 11:23 - received from God, passed on to us

Reminder

• 1 Corinthians 11:24 - do this in remembrance of me

Covenant

• 1 Corinthians 11:25 - the new covenant in my blood

Declaration & Anticipation 

• 1 Corinthians 11:26 - proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Unity

• 1 Corinthians 11:27

• koinōnia (Greek: κοινωνία) - fellowship, association or communion with something. A community. The share with which one has in anything - joint participation.

Caution

• 1 Corinthians 11:27 - whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup in an unworthy manner...

Self-Analysis

• 1 Corinthians 11:28 - let a person examine himself

A Loving Koinōnia

Romans 12 - A Loving Koinōnia
Dave Riddle - 10/6/19

Key Passage: Romans 12:9-16

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

Sincerity

• Romans 12:9

  • Let love be without hypocrisy

  • anypokritos (Greek: ἀνυπόκριτος) - originally used to refer to actors or one playing a part: unfeigned, undisguised, sincere.

Spiritual Sensitivity 

• Romans 12:9

  • Detest evil

  • Cling to what is good

Affection

• Romans 12:10

  • Love one another deeply.

  • Be devoted to one another

  • As brothers and sisters

Esteem

• Romans 12:10

  • Outdo one another in showing honor.

  • Honor one another above yourselves.

Passion

• Romans 12:11

  • Don’t be lazy, don’t lack zeal.

  • Be fervent - zeō (Greek: ζέω) - to be hot (boil, of liquids; or glow, of solids), i.e. (figuratively) be fervid (earnest):—be fervent.

Resolute

• Romans 12:12

  • The picture of someone who is determined.

  • Hopefulness rather than hopelessness

Big Hearts

• Romans 12:13

  • Share with the saints in their needs

  • Emotionally, spiritually, and practically!

Open Arms

• Romans 12:13

  • Pursue hospitality

  • philoxenia (Greek: φιλοξενία) - love to strangers, hospitality

  • Not just waiting but actively looking for opportunities to show hospitality to strangers.

Unnatural and Unexpected 

• Romans 12:14

  • Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse

Empathy

• Romans 12:15

  • Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

  • Not just sympathetic but empathic.

One Accord

• Romans 12:16

  • Live in harmony with one another.

  • Of one mind.

Down to Earth

• Romans 12:16

  • Associate with the humble.

Which one or two of these areas is the Holy Spirit highlighting in your own life?

Intro to Koinonia

Romans 12 - Intro to Koinōnia
Dave Riddle - 09/22/19

Key Passage: Romans 12:3-8

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

Humble, wise self-assessment

• Romans 12:3

• we need to have an accurate assessment of ourselves.

  • See ourselves as God sees us.

A single body; many pieces and roles

• Romans 12:4

• Unity! One body.

Diversity! Many roles.

Deeply connected

• Romans 12:5

• Individually members of one another.
  

Gifted

• Romans 12:6

  • Different than talent

  • Gifts of the spirit

• Speaking gifts

  • didaskō - teaching for transformation.

• Service gifts
  

Grace and Faith are indispensable 

• Romans 12:3