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

Draw Near. Hold On. Consider Others.

Draw Near. Hold On. Consider Others.

Dave Riddle - 4/28/2024

Key Passages: Hebrews 10:19-25

Let us draw near…

- Hebrews 10:22

- With clean consciences and bodies

- Made right with God

- Displaying the righteousness of Christ.

- 2 Corinthians 5:17

- The inward change produces outward changes.

- You are righteous, now be righteous

- You are holy, now be holy

- Why? So that we can serve the living God

- Hebrews 9:13-14

- See also: Hebrews 4:13

Let us hold on…

- Hebrews 10:23

- Hold on to the confession of our faith.

- Hold fast

- Hebrews 4:14

- Without wavering (10:23)

- Not leaning.

- Unmoved.

- Why do we hold on? It’s the only thing that gives us hope.

Let us be consider one another…

- Hebrews 10:24

- Here it shifts from something we do for ourselves to something we do for others.

- Philippians 2:3-4

- Why? In order to provoke love and good works in each other.

- paroxysmos: to incite

- Essentially “incite a riot of love and good works”

What are we doing when we gather together?

- Hebrews 10:25

- Coming alongside one another

- Encouraging one another

- Laughing, crying, praying, sharing together

We Are That Household

We Are That Household

Dave Riddle - 11/19/2023

Key Passage: Hebrews 3:1-6

We are Partners in a Heavenly calling

- Hebrews 3:1

Consider Jesus

- Hebrews 3:1

The Sent One & High Priest

- Hebrews 3:1 - “The apostle”

- John 3:17

- Hebrews 2:17

- Moses sometimes acted as a priest but never a High Priest

The Household of God

- Hebrews 3:2

- Numbers 12

- oikos (Greek: οἶκος) - an inhabited house, a physical dwelling place. Also, the inhabitants of a house, all the persons forming one family - a household.

- Hebrews 3:3-4 - If everything is built by God and Jesus is the builder, then Jesus is God.

- We don’t marvel at the house itself. We marvel at the builder

- Hebrews 3:5-6

- Moses was a servant in God’s household

- Jesus is the faithful son over God’s household

- We are that household

- Philippians 2:15

- Titus 1:7

- 1 Tim 3:15

- 1 Peter 4:17

- 1 John 3:1

Jesus is Greater

Jesus is Greater

Dave Riddle - 10/22/2023

Key Passage: Hebrews 1:1-3

In the Last Days

- Hebrews 1:2

- Words pointing to the Messiah

Spoken to us through His Son.

- Hebrews 1:2

- He speaks the same message as the prophets.

- Repent!

Heir of all things

- Hebrews 1:2b

- Psalm 89:27

- Romans 11:36

God created the universe through him

- Hebrews 1:2c

- Colossians 1:16

- Everything that has ever existed!

The Radiance of God’s Glory

- Hebrews 1:3

- 2 Corinthians 4:6

An exact expression of God

- Hebrews 1:3

- Colossians 1:19

- Jesus is the fullness of God

All things are sustained by His word

- Hebrews 1:3

- Colossians 1:17

Jesus is both priest and sacrifice

- Hebrews 1:3

- He made purification for sins. How? By his blood.

- Philippians 2:8-9a

Jesus sits at the right hand of the Majesty on High

- Hebrews 1:3

- Mark 16:19

Exaltation

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

We His People - We Belong

We His People - We Belong

Dave Riddle - 9/10/2023

Key Passage: 1 Peter 2:9

We Belong to God

- 1 Peter 2:9

- Deuteronomy 7:6b - Notice the similarities.

- Genesis 17:7 - God kept His promise to Abram.

- John 1:12-13 - Children of God

- 1 John 3:1

- Revelation 21:3 - We Belong to God Forever

We Belong to Each Other

- Romans 12:5 - members of one body

- Philippians 2:3-4 - look to the interests of others.

Brothers & Sisters in Christ

- Are you just attending church, or are you walking in community?

The Hated Six - God Hates Our Pride

The Hated Six - God Hates Our Pride

Paul Trulock - 7/30/2023

Key Passage: Proverbs 6:16-19

Haughty Eyes

• Haughty, prideful, arrogant.

• To have too high a view of yourself and too low a view of others. 

• Eyes

• The eyes convey what is in our hearts.

No exceptions

• God hates our pride.

Why does God hate pride?

Our pride promotes selfishness

• “The world wants proof that Christians are better than other people. The proof is that Christ can change selfish people into models of love and self-sacrifice.”

• Philippians 2:3

• 1 Corinthians 10:24

• James 3:16

Our pride causes us to stop listening 

• Isaiah 28:33

• John 8:47

• Luke 11:28

Our pride steals God’s glory

• Daniel 4:30

• John 15:5

• Isaiah 42:8

How do we overcome our pride?

Recognize our opposition 

• James 4:6 - God opposes the proud…

Repent of our pride

• 1 John 1:9 - if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us…

Rely on the Holy Spirit

• Romans 8:6-7 - …the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…

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

What is Servant Leadership?

What is Servant Leadership?

Dave Riddle - 6/18/2023

Key Passage: Philippians 2:4-8

How do we lead/love

• Ephesians 5:23 

• Emulate our Heavenly Father.

• Ephesians 6:4

• Instruct and raise children in the ways of the Lord

• Ephesians 5:25

• Love like Jesus, self-sacrificially 

Servant Leadership

• Philippians 2:5-7

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

Do you wish to be great, or do you wish to be a servant?

• Matthew 20:20-28

• John 13:4-7

Adopt the attitude of Jesus

• Philippians 2:5 

What does the heart of a servant look like?

Selfless

• Philippians 2:4 - look not to your own interest.

Eager

• 1 Peter 5:2 - not out of compulsion, but freely… eagerly

Responsive

• Matthew 9:36 - seeing the crowds, he felt compassion…

Vibrant

• Ephesians 6:7 - work with enthusiasm

• Colossians 3:23

Everyday for Everyone

• Galatians 6:10 - as often as you have the chance… do good to everyone.

Joyful Generosity

House Rules - Joyful Generosity 

Dave Riddle - 11/20/2022

Key Passage: Mark 12:41-44

Joyful Generosity 

Recognizing that all we have is a gift from God and learning to share what we have.

God Gave

• God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son. John 3:16

  • Jesus is the embodiment of generosity.

Generous: A readiness to give more of something that what is expected 

Jesus Gave Willingly

• John 10:18

Jesus Gave Joyfully

• Hebrews 12:2

Jesus Gave Purposefully

• 1 Peter 3:18

Jesus Gave Sacrificially

• Philippians 2:6-8

Our Generosity Should Be a Reflection of God

• John 13:34

Generosity is An Attack On a Would-Be “King”

• Matthew 6:24

  • Money = mamōnas (μαμωνᾶς) - Mammon - everything we pursue in life. Riches, treasures, dreams, feelings, idols. Everything that isn’t God.

  • Consumerism vs Generosity

Five Resources to be Generous With 

• Physical Capital

• Intellectual Capital

• Relational Capital

• Spiritual Capital

• Financial Capital

An Example of Generosity 

• 2 Corinthians 8:1-9

• 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

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

Passionate Prayer

House Rules - Prayer

Dave Riddle - 10/23/2022

Key Passage: Ephesians 3:14-21

Passionate Prayer

• growing in our desire and commitment to seek God (individually and with others) and yield to His will for our lives.

Key Concept: Surrender!

• Prayer is acknowledging that we don’t have complete control

Posture of Humility

• Ephesians 3:14

• Philippians 2:10

• Pray = proseuchomai (Greek: προσεύχομαι) to pray to God, supplicate, worship.

• Worship = proskyneo (Greek: προσκυνέω) - to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence

Phenomenal God

• Ephesians 3:14b-16a

• Ephesians 3:20

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

Passionate Request

• Ephesians 3:16

  • Praying for spiritual maturity

• Ephesians 3:17

  • Praying for a strong foundation

• Ephesians 3:18-19

  • Comprehend, know, filled with the fulness of God

    • Know = ginōskō: to know in a deeply experiential way.

Point of it All

• Ephesians 3:21

Why Did Jesus Leave?

Why Did Jesus Leave?

07/03/2021 - Paul Trulock 

Key Passage: Acts 1:6-11

Jesus has dominion over everything 

• Acts 2:34-35

  • A footstool, a doormat, walked all over…

• Philippians 2:9-11

  • Every knee

The Real Thing - Our King and High Priest

• Hebrews 7:20-25

  • You have a high priest sitting at the right hand of the father who intercedes for you.

• Hebrews 7:26-27

  • Isaiah 53 - the messiah was innocent

  • Daniel - He will die a violent death

  • David - He will not see corruption

  • Romans 8:1 - There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ

• Hebrews 7:28-8:2

  • The work is finished!

  • The work is perfected

  • Matthew 27 - God tore the veil to signify that WE can now enter into the presence of God.

What does it mean for us today?

• Hebrews 10:19-25

  1. Let us draw near to God

     • V. 22 With a sincere heart and full assurance of faith.

  2. Hold fast to our Hope

     • V. 23 hold onto hope without wavering

     • Our hope is based upon a sure foundation.

  3. Encourage one another

     • V. 24 spur one another on towards love and good deeds

       • 1 Peter 2:9…

  4. Be in community

     • V. 25 - do not neglect meeting together

       • We can’t think ONLY of our own sanctification.

Why did Jesus leave? 

• He entered the Holy of Holies , to be crowned as king and to present Himself as our perfect High Priest

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

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

United in Heart & Mind

Message begins around the 24-minute mark

United in Heart & Mind
01/23/2021 - Dave Riddle 
Key Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:10-11

You are all one in Christ Jesus

• A theological scriptural fact

  • Acts 4:32

  • Galatians 3:23

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

• This is what Jesus prayed for.

Unity is our Calling

• 1 Corinthians 13:11

• Romans 12:16-18

• Romans 14:19

• Philippians 2:2

• Ephesians 4:3

• 1 Peter 3:8

• Hebrews 12:14

• 1 Corinthians 1:10

Undivided

• 1 Corinthians 1:10

  • There should be no schism, split, gap, divide…

• 1 Corinthians 1:11

  • There are quarrels among you

• 1 Corinthians 1:10 - Made complete, perfectly joined together.

Is Unity in this church possible?

• The redeemed live as one… are we?

  • Galatians 3:23

• What is God’s calling for me? Not for my brother or sister, but for me.

• Repentance seems to be rare, almost non-existent.

  • How is God calling us to respond?

  • Can we be agents of unity rather than division?

Why Child Dedication?

Why Child Dedication?
Baptism Sunday 5/9/21
Key passage: Psalm 127

Child dedication is not a baptism

• we practice believer’s baptism. (See last week)

Child dedication is not a guarantee 

• not a guarantee of salvation

Why child dedication?

It reminds us of both the miracle and value of human life.

• Genesis 2:7 - humanity was created by God Himself.

• Genesis 1:26-28 - humanity was created in the image of God.

We’re recognizing and affirming that children are a gift from God

• Psalm 127:3 - a special reward

• Psalm 127:5 - a blessing

To acknowledge the challenge and responsibility of being a parent

• Deuteronomy 4:9 - teach them and model for them.

• Ephesians 6:4 - train and instruct

• Deuteronomy 6:5 - a personal practice that you pass down.

Child dedication places children in the context of a larger family… God’s!

• The church has a responsibility (you, all of us)

• Philippians 2:3-4 - we are a family

• Romans 12:10 - be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

It’s an opportunity for parents to surrender their child to God’s will and mission.

• what is it that you want most for your daughter or son?

• 1 Samuel 1 - Hannah and Samuel

The Last Supper

The Last Supper
The Gospel of John - Part 25 • 3/21/21
Key passage: John 13:1-17

“He loved them to the end”

• agapaō - agape, immeasurable and unconditional love.

Jesus knew three things (John 13:3):

• The Father had given everything into his hands.

  • Jesus is always fully in control of His demise.

  • He is freely giving his life as a gift to His father and humanity to reconcile them.

• He had come from God.

  • See John 7:28. Sent = pempō: dispatched or sent on an errand.

• He was going back to God.

Jesus does something unprecedented 

• John 13:4-5

  • This would have been shocking and uncomfortable.

Sometimes we need to trust even when we don’t understand.

• John 13:7-9

  • Peter immediately proves Jesus’ point.

You should do for each other, just as I have done for you

• John 13:15 - For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you.

  • hypodeigma - an exhibit for imitation or warning. An example for imitation.

John 13:16-17

• Don’t just know the word. Don’t just see this example. Do something! Follow His example.

  • Philippians 2:1-8

This is our calling. This is fundamentally what it means to follow Jesus.

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

Hope - God in Our Midst

Hope - God In Our Midst

Christmas 2020 - 12/6/2020 - Dave Riddle

We Can Have Hope!

• Psalm 42:11 - Hope in the Lord!

• Psalm 62:5 - He is my only hope.

Why?

He is

• Jeremiah 10:10a - YHWH is the true and living God!

• Jeremiah 10:16 - Not just a passive idol, but the creator of everything!

He is here

• Matthew 1:23 - Immanuel (God with us)

• Here, and involved

  • Hebrews 1:3

  • Philippians 2:5-7

  • Colossians 1:15

  • 1 Peter 5:7

He is love

• 1 John 4:8 - God is love

• John 3:16 - God loved the world in this way...

• Titus 3:4-7 - love, grace, mercy, salvation

He is Savior

• Jesus / Yeshua / Joshua - The Lord Saves

• Romans 8:38-39 - there is nothing that can separate you from the salvation that Jesus has provided to you

• Hebrews 1:3

He is King!

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - this life is not the end!

  • 1 Timothy 6:12-15