Upside Down Greatness

Message starts around the 29-minute mark

Upside Down Greatness

02/27/2021 - Dave Riddle 

Key Passage: Matthew 18:1

Who is the greatest?

• Matthew 18:1

Jesus turns the tables

• strephō: to twist, turn around, reverse (literally or figuratively). To change one’s mind.

  • Matthew 18:3

Childlike trust, reliance, and dependence 

• Matthew 18:2-3

Humility

• Matthew 18:4

• Humble = tapeinoō: literally to depress, figuratively, to humiliate (in condition or heart). Abase, bring low, humble oneself.

  • The opposite of pride

• Romans 12:3

  • If humility isn’t there then most likely obedience and service aren’t there either.

• Matthew 23:11-12

  • ...All who exalt themselves will be humbled…

  • Greatness is found in servanthood

Jesus is the example

• Philippians 2:3-8

Hello My Name is... Wonderful Counselor

Hello my name is: Wonderful Counselor

Dave Riddle - 12/01/19

Key Passage: Isaiah 9:6

Counselor

• ya’ats (Hebrew: יָעַץ) - to advise, counsel, admonish, direct, resolve, decide, plan and/or purpose. To counsel together; to be advised.

  • Isaiah 9:6 - “counselor”

  • First usage: Exodus - Moses meets with his father-in-law to seek advice.

Wonderful

• pele’ (Hebrew: פֶּלֶא) - a miracle, a wonder; a wonderful thing or deed.

  • Isaiah 9:6 - “Wonderful”

  • Other than a single time in the book of Lamentations, it always appears in the context of God’s acts or words. 37 of the 84 occurrences of pele’ are found in the Psalms.

What kind of Wonderful Counselor?

Other-worldly

• John 12:49 - He came with divine wisdom from Heaven itself

• John 14:10 - He spoke with authority of God

Authoritative

• Mark 1:21-22 - He taught with an authority unlike anything the world had seen.

• Luke 4:32 - The people were amazed... slack-jawed

  • ekplēssō (Greek: ἐκπλήσσω) - to be struck with amazement, astonished, amazed

Piercing & Gentle

• Piercing

  • Matthew 16:23

  • Matthew 23:27

• Gentle

  • John 8:7-11

Inviting & Challenging

• Mark 1:17 - “come, follow me”

  • Not just a call, but a purpose.

    • “And I’ll show you how to fish for people”

• Mark 3:13-14

  • With Him, and Sent Out

Truth

• John 14:6 - “I am... the truth”

• John 1:14 - truth in the flesh

Life-giving

• John 14:6- The truth AND the life.

• John 4:4-14 - living water!

Infinite

• Luke 21:33 - His words will never pass away.

• 1 Peter 1:24-25 - the Good News remains forever.

Four Cries

He Set His Face - Four Cries

Dave Riddle - 04/14/19

Key Passage: Luke 19:28-44

Luke 9:51 - When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up, He resolutely set His face towards Jerusalem. 

• Resolute: purposefully unwavering or determined.

Jesus’ Disciples:

• “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”

  • Luke 19:38

  • Psalm 118:26

  • Luke 2:14

• We’ve been redeemed, and that is something worth celebrating!

The Pharisees:

• Teacher, rebuke your disciples!

  • Luke 19:39

  • Rebuke (Greek: epitimaō / ἐπιτιμάω) - to tax with fault: to chide, reprove, rebuke or censure severely. To admonish or charge sharply.

The Rocks

• Would cry out in praise!

  • Luke 19:40

  • “Cry out” (Greek: krazō / κράζω) - to "croak" (as a raven) or scream. To call aloud (shriek, exclaim, intreat): cry (out).

Jesus:

• Cries over Jerusalem

  • Luke 19:41

  • “He wept for it” (Greek: klaiō / κλαίω) - weeping as the sign of pain and grief

  • Matthew 23:37 - “how often I have wanted to gather your children together... but you wouldn’t let me”

  • Luke 19:44b - “you did not recognize the time when God visited you”.