We His People - We Believe

We His People - We Believe

Dave Riddle - 9/3/2023

Key Passage: John 3:14-16

You may have heard “Hope is not a strategy”

• There is some truth to that popular saying.

• But hope IS an essential part of our faith.

• 1 Corinthians 13:13

• Hebrews 11:1-3

• Romans 15:13

We Believe

• We are people of faith.

• John 3:14-16

• Ephesians 2:8-9

• Saved by faith though grace.

• Romans 5:1-2

• Faith and hope

We often struggle to live by faith

• So often, we walk by what we see, know, and feel, rather than walking by faith.

• Galatians 2:20

• 2 Corinthians 5:7

• walk = peripateo (Greek: περιπατέω) literally: to tread all around, walk at large. Figuratively: to live, to make one’s way, to regulate one’s life, to conduct oneself

• Are you living in a manner consistent with your confident belief in God’s promises?

• 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

• We do not focus on what is seen!

On what our whom do you set your eyes?

• What/who are you chasing?

• Are we people who live by faith?

• Romans 8:24-25

The Canaanite Woman’s Faith 

• Matthew 15:21-28

• Great faith is powerful

The Disciples failure to heal

• Matthew 17:14-21

• Little faith is powerful

The Fiery Furnace

• Daniel 3

• We have faith even if God doesn’t answer our prayers.

• We have faith even in death.

Do you believe?

• John 11:25-26

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…

Come & See All That God Is Doing

Come & See All That God Is Doing

Nate Gangwer - 1/22/2023

Key Passage:  Psalm 66

Psalm 66:5 (HCSB): Come and see the wonders of God;  His acts for humanity are awe-inspiring. 

Restoration

• Wrong view: cherubs and harps

• Correct view: Restoration

• Revelation 21 - a new heaven and earth

• A picture of physical restoration

• Revelation 7:9 - people of every nation and tongue, worshipping God.

• a beautiful picture of unity and diversity.

• “When life is hard, put heaven on the other side of the scale”

Redemption

• Access

• “Redemption is not just a ticket into Heaven”

• Not just mercy, but grace.

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 - new creations!

• Adoption

• We are called sons and daughters

• There’s a big difference between being invited over for dinner and being part of the family

• Romans 8 - We can call God “Abba” Father

• We are co-heirs with Christ

Reconciliation

• Why should we care about the poor?

• Guilt? The overwhelming testimony of scripture?

• Because of what Jesus has done for us and because of the way God sees us.

• If we can understand how God cares for us we can care for others.

• Join the family business!

• 2 Corinthians 5 - God is reconciling the world to Himself. We have the ministry of reconciliation.

• Matthew 6: May God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven

• shalowm (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם) - a very broad term that means health, security, tranquility, good condition, success, comfort, and more. 

• it has layers of meaning related to peace.

• Not just peace but full reconciliation

• “The voice and the power of the gospel is reconciliation”

• working by our own power = walking around with a candle

• Living in God’s power = allowing God to blow out the candles Ava turn on the lights.

Come and see all that God is doing!

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

The Impact of Hope

The Impact of Hope

12/5/2021 - Dave Riddle 

Psalm 42:11 - why are you overcome with despair? Hope in God!

• We are the people of Hope.

  • Surrounded by despair, but not living in despair.

How is it that we can be legitimately hopeful?

God is.

• He exists

• Jeremiah 10

  • The worthlessness of idols compared to a true God. (10:10)

    • Jeremiah 10:16

God is here.

• Matthew 1:23 - God is with us.

• Hebrews 1:3a - Jesus is God in the flesh

  • Philippians 2:5-7

God is love.

• 1 John 4:8-9 - God is love.

• John 3:16-17 - How much God loves us.

• Titus 3:4-7 - what it means for us.

God is Salvation.

• Roman 8:38-39 - there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.

• Hebrews 1:3 - God the Savior

God is King.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - don’t live as those who have no hope

  • Ephesians 2:12 - We were… without Christ, without God, without hope. No longer!

• 1 Timothy 6:13-15 - Celebrating his first coming while awaiting his second coming!

  • God will make all things new!

• Hebrews 10:23 - hold tightly, without wavering, to the hope we affirm…

How can we embrace hope today?

Receive this truth in faith

• 1 Peter 5:7

Reflect on how God is providing hope in your life

• Psalm 9:1

Encourage another Jesus-follower you’ve seen exhibiting hope.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Share hope with someone in your missional context.

• 1 Peter 3:15

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

Nicodemus - Four Object Lessons

Nicodemus - Four Object Lessons

The Gospel of John - Part 5 - 9/13/20

Key passage: John 3:1-21

Nicodemus - John 3:1-2

• A Pharisee (3:1)

  • Very strict adherence, in all possible ways, to the rules.

• A “ruler of the Jews” (3:1)

  • Well educated

  • Wealthy aristocrat

• He came to Jesus at night (3:2)

  • He, most likely, wanted to be discrete.

• “These signs must be from God” (3:2)

Four Object Lessons

Birth - John 3:3-7

• “Unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

  • How can this be?

• Jesus was using imagery that Nicodemus should have understood as a Pharisee.

• “Born of the water”

  • Could be a reference to baptism or simply a reference to natural birth.

Wind - John 3:8-10

• John 3:8 (HCSB): The wind  blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

  • Ezekiel 36:26-27

  • There is some mystery when it comes to this transformation.

• “How can these things be?”

  • John is using Nicodemus’s density as an ironic foil for Jesus’ wisdom.

  • John 3:10 (HCSB): Are you a teacher  of Israel and don’t know these things?”

Snake - John 3:14-18

• Just as Moses lifted up the snake... the Son of Man must be lifted up.

  • Numbers 21:4-8

  • In the same way that the Israelites suffered from snake venom, we all suffer from the venom of sin in our lives.

  • In the same way that the snake was lifted up to save the Israelites, Jesus was lifted up on a cross to save all who look to Him.

    • John 3:16-18

    • Romans 8:1 - there is now, therefore, no condemnation for those in Jesus Christ.

Light vs Darkness - John 3:19-21

• The light came into the world, but the people loved darkness. (3:19)

• Everyone who does evil hates the light. (3:20)

• Those who live by truth come to the light (3:21)

Hello My Name is... Mighty God

Hello my name is: Mighty God

Dave Riddle - 12/08/19

Key Passage: Isaiah 9:6

‘el (Hebrew: אֵל) - god or god-like one; mighty one. Mighty men: men of rank: heroes. Strength, power. God (the one true God)

gibbowr (Hebrew: גִּבּוֹר) - strong, mighty or powerful. A strong, brave and mighty person. By implication a warrior and champion.

• Joshua 1:14, 6:2, 8:3

• 1 Samuel 17:51; 2 Samuel 23

• Psalm 24:8

He is divine

• Hebrews 1:3 - the exact expression of His nature

• John 1:14 -The Word became flesh... the one and only Son from the Father

• John 10:30 - I and the Father are One

• Matthew 1:23 - God with us

He was promised

• Genesis 3:15 - He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

He was wounded

• Isaiah 53:4-5 - Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds.

  • Pierced, crushed, punished, and wounded for us.

He is Triumphant

• Jesus is the victorious one!

• Hebrews 2:14-15

  • By his death he destroyed death... and freed those held in slavery by the fear of death.

Romans 8:31-35

• if God is for us, who can be against us?

• Who can separate us from the love of Christ?

Generosity Pt. 1

Vitals - Generosity Part 1
Dave Riddle - 08/11/19
Key Passage: Romans 8:32

Definition: Showing a readiness to give more of something than is strictly necessary or expected.

Scripture: At the core, it’s all about God

Jesus: Perfect example of generosity

• He gave willingly

  • John 10:18

• He gave joyfully

  • John 15:13

• He gave purposefully

  • 1 Peter 3:18

• He gave sacrificially

  • Ephesians 5:25

  • Philippians 2:5-8

Up (Our Father)

A Family on Mission - Up (Our Father)

Dave Riddle - 06/16/19

Key Passage: Acts 13:22

The most important thing

• Mark 12:28-30

Captured by the concept of worship

• Romans 12:1

A rhythmic response to God’s self-revelation

• 1 John 4:19 - “we love because He first loved us...”

A matter of our hearts

• Mark 7:6

—-—-—-

David

• 1 Samuel 16:7

  • “...the Lord looks at the heart”

• Acts 12:22

  • “...a man after my own heart”

  • We are called to align our hearts with God’s heart.

Allow God to be first

• Philippians 3:7-14

• Make God the object and pursuit of your life.

Rely on God’s power

• 1 Samuel 17

• Romans 8:11 - the same power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in you!

Rest in His authority

Live in full transparency

• Psalm 139 - you have searched me and know me.

Two Outcomes

1. We are loved

   • The creator of the universe loves you!

   • 1 John 3:1 - his love is so great that we are called His children!

2. Called to live in obedience!

   • John 14:15 - if we love God we will desire to keep His commands.