Denying Jesus

Denying Jesus

Dave Riddle - 3/12/2023

Key Passage: John 18:15-27

Peter

• Peter, much like us, had many triumphs and many failures.

• John 13:37-38 - Peter’s denial foretold.

• Matthew 26:31 and on - Peter says “It will never happen!”

The Other Disciple

• Most likely John 

• Known to be a follower of Jesus

• John 18:17

Peter’s First Denial

• John 18:17

• “I am not!”

Annas

• John 18:19

• Annas was the high priest before he was deposed by Rome

• His sons and son-in-law went on to serve as high priest.

• Annas was the real power behind all of them

• This symbolic high priest interrogates our true high priest, Jesus.

Peter Denies Jesus Twice More

• John 18:25-27

• Confronted by several people, one who obviously knows him as the man who attacked his relative.

What does Peter do?

• he tries to go back to fishing (his old life)

• John 21

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

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

Become Your Own Best Friend

Become Your Own Best Friend

Anxiety and Depression• 3/14/21 • John Opalewski

Key passage: Matthew 22:36-39

1 in 4 adults 18-24 contemplated suicide during the pandemic.

• A 300% increase

28% of Americans are suffering from symptoms of depression during the pandemic.

Followers of Jesus aren’t immune.

Our capacity to love others is directly related to the degree we love ourselves.

• Matthew 22:36-39

How do we love ourselves without becoming self-centered narcissists?

Healthy self-talk

• Be kind with the words you say about yourself.

• If we talked to our friends the same way we talk to ourselves, we would quickly wind up with a long list of enemies.

Self-care vs Self-centeredness 

• Acts 20:28 - attend to the flock AND yourselves.

• Philippians 2:4 - not just yourself, not just others. both/and

Embrace God’s opinion of you

• Psalm 139:1-3 - God knows everything about you.

• Psalm 139:13-14 - you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

• Psalm 139:17-18 - his thoughts and cares for you are vast and uncountable.

• You are worth loving without strings attached. You are worthy of His thoughts.

Get in touch with your soul

• Proverbs 19:8 - he who gets wisdom loves his own soul.

60 million people in the United States suffer from depression

• 350 million worldwide (pre-Covid)

Why does depression happen to someone who loves the Lord?

Event- driven

• loss of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job

Incremental

• Small things that compound and build up

Doesn’t respond to strong-will

• You can’t work your way out of it by sheer force of will.

A black hole of sadness

• Matthew 26:38

Hits when least expected

• It can happen even when life is going great.

• It can happen even when we are close to the Lord.

It can happen to anyone, even people who love God.

• King David, Jeremiah, and Elijah...

Our capacity to love others is directly related to the degree we love ourselves.

3 Choices

• Tell your anger where to go.

• Protect yourself from abuse.

• Refuel emotionally. Fill your emotional tank.

I’m not struggling with this

• Be thankful!

• take care of yourself

• It is easier to prevent depression and anxiety than it is to cure it.

I am struggling

• Know that it’s not a life sentence.

• Call your doctor

• Find a competent counselor/therapist