The Excuses We Make

The Excuses We Make

Paul Trulock - 12/29/19
Key Passage: Exodus 3-4

The simple call

  • Exodus 3:7-10 - I have a plan, and you have a role to play.

    • God sees what’s happening.

    • God is sending you.

I’m not qualified!

  • Exodus 3:11 - “who am I...?”

  • What is God asking you to do?

I don’t have all the answers

  • Exodus 3:13 - what if they ask me...?

  • You don’t have to have all the answers.

    • It’s ok to say “I don’t know”

    • Exodus 3:14 - you don’t have to have all the answers, just point them to God.

I might look foolish!

  • Exodus 4:1

    • 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

    • God can use us despite our weakness and lack.

    • It’s not about the man, but the message

  • Exodus 4:2-7

I’m not good with words!

  • Exodus 4:10 - I’m slow and hesitant in speech.

  • Exodus 4:11 - Our strength is not in ourselves but in God

Can you pick someone else?

  • Exodus 4:13 - please send someone else 

  • Exodus 4:14-16 - He didn’t need Aaron, all he needed was God, but God provided a support system anyway.

Embarrassed to share God’s call with others

  • Exodus 4:18 - he comes up with an excuse for why he needed to go to Egypt.

We need community and we need encouragement, and we need to be willing to be those things for others!

Hello My Name is... Prince of Peace

Hello my name is: Prince of Peace

Dave Riddle - 12/22/19

Key Passage: Isaiah 9:6

sar (Hebrew: שַׂר) - a captain, master, chief, ruler, commander, leader, or prince. A person of nobility or rank. 

  • used over 380x in the Hebrew Bible, to refer to various types of government or religious officials, rulers of cities, etc.

    • see also: czar, tsar, caesar

  • Not just a prince over us, but a prince with us.

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.

  • Widely used in the Hebrew Bible, shalowm clearly depicts a satisfied condition, an unconcerned state of peacefulness. 

Peace Brings Confidence

  • John 16:33

    • You will have suffering in this world, but be courageous because Jesus has conquered the world!

Peace Brings Rest

  • Matthew 11:29

    • ...you will find rest for your souls.

Peace Brings Reconciliation

  • Romans 5:1

    • Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God.

Peace is a Gift

  • John 14:27 (HCSB): Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.

    • Unending

    • Complete

    • Above & Beyond

      • Philippians 4:7 - (ICB) And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.

Colossians 3:15

  • Is He the master of your heart?

  • Is He your sar of shalowm?

Hello my name is: Eternal Father

Hello My Name is: Eternal Father

Phil Woodman - 12/15/19

Key Passage: Isaiah 9:6

The role of a good, loving father:

As a father, Jesus Disciples

  • Deuteronomy 6:4-7

    • Teach your children diligently 

  • Proverbs 22:6 - train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

  • He showed them how to:

    • Spend time with God

    • Serve and love people

As a father, Jesus Disciplines 

  • Mark 9:33-35 - who is the greatest?

  • Mark 10:13-15 - let the children come!

  • Mark 8:33 - get behind me Satan!

As a father, Jesus Empowers

  • Luke 9:1-6 - sending the 12

    • He Listens

      • Luke 9:10 - they reported to Jesus all they had done.

    • He Celebrates Victories

      • Luke 10:17-18 - the 72 returned with joy...

    • He Comforts

      • Matthew 17:21

      • Matthew 14:22-33

As a father, Jesus Forgives

  • Luke 15:11-32 - The Prodigal Son

    • V. 20 - “His father saw him and was filled with compassion...”

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?

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.


Called to Give Thanks

Called to Give Thanks

Dave Riddle - 11/24/19


Key Passage: Psalm 100:4 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (ESV)

Called to Give Thanks For:

  • His Love

  • His Provision

  • His Gift of Jesus

  • His Creation

  • His Word

  • His Family

  • His Presence


Being Thankful When Life Gets Messy, Rough, and Ugly:

  1. Refine your focus

  2. Enlarge your perspective

  3. Direct your thoughts

  4. Pour out your heart

  5. Remember His faithfulness

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




Sent in His Name

Sent in His Name

Dave Riddle - 11/10/19

Key Passage: John 3:14-17

God is both Sent and Sender

  • John 17:18 - “As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world”

Jesus Followers are “Sent Ones”

  • Matthew 4:19 - follow me and I will make you fish for people.

    • Not, “I will make you perfect people”

  • Mark 3:13-14 - apostles (sent ones)

    • They were with him

    • They were sent out

Salt & Light

  • Matthew 5:13-16

    • Useful

    • Representatives of Christ

  • Philippians 2:15

Ambassadors

  • 2 Corinthians 5:20

  • Representing Jesus in everything we do.

  • He is making his appeal through us

Witnesses 

  • Acts 1:8

    • As witnesses, the only thing we’re called to be is truth tellers.

    • Not the judge, jury, prosecution, or defense.

    • We are witnesses that Jesus is alive and that he has changed our lives.

Disciple-Makers

  • Matthew 28:19 - therefore go and make disciples of all nations...

Content and Conduct

  • We have something to tell

    • euaggelizō (Greek: εὐαγγελίζω) - to announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel.

  • The way we live should show evidence of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.

    • The life of a Jesus follower should be aligned with the truth of God’s word.

Redeem and Restore

  • Has the Kingdom been fully realized? No. But we’re called, as members of the Kingdom, to play a role in that restoration.

    • Revelation 21:5 - “Look, I am making everything new”

What does it look like to live life as a Sent One?

  • That’s going to look different in each of our lives. One thing is certain though, for followers of Jesus, it isn’t optional.



The Words That Change Everything

The Words That Change Everything

York Moore - 11/3/19

Key Passages: Isaiah 54:10

God’s Word allows us to live into his love even when everything around is coming unglued

God Speaks Your Love Language

  • Isaiah 54:10

  • Words of affirmation

  • Physical touch

  • Receiving gifts

  • Quality time

  • Acts of service

God’s word is based on a promise of peace that can never be shaken

  • shalom (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם) - safety, wellbeing, happiness, welfare, health, prosperity, rest, and peace

  • Chacad (Hebrew: חָסַד) - understanding love, tender love, and kindness expressed through mercy and grace.

  • John 7:37-38

Our identity needs to be grounded in the reality of God’s love, rooted in his promise.

God’s Word puts the things of this world in perspective.

  • Isaiah 54:10

  • Acknowledge Jesus as Lord

    • The central focus of your life

In Christ our deep despairs disappear and our great hope is satisfied, no matter who we are or what we need

Isaiah 24:1, Isaiah 66:15-16, Isaiah 40:6-8


Next Level Love

Romans 12 - Next Level Love

Dave Riddle - 10/20/19

Key Passage: Romans 12:14, 17-21

How do we interact with hurtful and/or evil people?

The Normal, Natural Way:

  • Blast

    • Romans 12:14 - “Bless and do not curse”

  • Give it back in return

    • Romans 12:17 - do not repay anyone evil for evil

  • Take revenge

    • Romans 12:19 - never avenge yourselves

      • “Beloved” you are loved so act out of love.

  • Get crushed

    • Romans 12:21 - do not be overcome by evil.

The Abnormal, Supernatural Way:

  • Bless

    • Romans 12:14 - bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse

  • Do Good and Live Peacefully

    • Romans 12:17-18 - do what is good... live peaceably with all.

      • “...as far as it depends on you”

      • You can only control your own actions/thoughts/words

  • God Avenges; We Serve

    • Romans 12:19 - vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.

    • Romans 12:20 - if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink.

  • Victory!

    • Romans 12:21 - overcome evil with good.

      • John 16:33 - in this world you will have trouble... take heart, I have overcome the world.

1 John 4:19 - We love because He first loved us!


Tagged:

The Will of God

The Will of God

Charles Bai - 10/13/19

Key Passage: Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2

  • The will of God... is good acceptable and perfect

    • Good: Luke 18:19 - no one is good except God alone.

    • Acceptable: Matthew 3:17 - This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.

    • Perfect: Revelation 4:11 - all things created by the will of God

Matthew 6:9-13

  • When we pray we need to think about three things.

    • The name of God

      • Holy

    • The Kingdom of God

      • Will come

    • The Will of God

      • On Earth as it is in Heaven

Matthew 7:21

  • Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven.

    • So, what IS the will of God?

1 Thessalonians 4:3

  • For this is the will of God, your sanctification...

    • Sanctification

      • To be made holy

      • To be set apart

How are we sanctified?

  • by the Holy Spirit

    • Romans 15:16

  • Through the truth of God’s word

    • John 17:15-17

      • Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

    • Read the word of God!

Ephesians 4:24/Colossians 3:10

  • “Put on the new self/new man...”



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A Loving Koinōnia

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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?


Baptism

Baptism

Dave Riddle - 09/29/19

Key Passage: Matthew 28:19

Why Immersion?

  • Seems to be the regular practice of the New Testament Church.

  • baptizo (Greek: βαπτίζω) - to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of sunken vessels); to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe.

    • ancient pickle recipe

Identification

  • immersed into Christ

  • Romans 6:3-4

Declaration

  • 1 Peter 3:18

  • A new identity!

    • 2 Corinthians 5:17

  • Phillip and the Ethiopian

    • Acts 8:36

Reminder

  • A reminder of the call to obedience

    • Romans 6:6-7

    • Galatians 2:20

  • A reminder of Jesus’ great commission for us as believers.

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Intro to Koinonia

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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

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The Surrendered Life

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Romans 12 - The Surrendered Life
Dave Riddle - 09/15/19

Key Passage: Romans 12:1-2

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you:” - Romans 12:1 (Message)

An Impassioned Plea

  • I urge you (Romans 12:1)

    • parakaleō (Greek: παρακαλέω) - to admonish, exhort. to beg, entreat, beseech...

To whom? All the family of God.

  • Romans 12:1 - “therefore brothers and sisters...”

On what grounds? God’s mercies.

  • Mercies plural

  • Not because of anything we’ve done, but because the mercy he shows us again and again.

This call has two facets

  • A Living Sacrifice (12:1)

    • Our bodies

      • A shocking statement for Paul’s Roman audience who saw the body as a grave.

    • Our worship

      • Our body is not a tomb, but a tool to worship God in everything we do!

      • Our physical bodies become a spiritual act of worship.

  • Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (12:2)

    • Don’t just be like everyone else. (Conformity)

    • Allow yourself to be transformed.

      • Daily and continually, not a one time event.

      • metamorphoō (Greek: μεταμορφόω) - to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure.

    • The world’s standards and God’s will are so far apart that you cannot just take a little bit of each.


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The Servant

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The Servant

Dave Riddle - 09/01/19

Key Passages: Colossians 3:22-25, Ephesians 6:5-8

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

The Command? Obey

  • hypakouō (Greek: ὑπακούω) - listen, used of one who, at a knock on the door, comes to listen for who is there (duty of a porter). To listen to a command, to obey, be obedient to, submit to.

The Way of Obedience

In All Ways

  • Colossians 3:22 - ...obey your masters in all things.

With the proper attitude

  • Ephesians 6:5 - ...obey ...with respect and fear

At All Times

  • Ephesians 6:6 - obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you.

      • Emphasized again in Colossians 3:22

With the Right Heart

  • Ephesians 6:6-7 - ...doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly.

Committed to Excellence

  • Colossians 3:23 - In all the work you are doing, work the best you can.

Having a Spiritual Focus

  • Colossians 3:24 - you are serving the Lord Christ.

Maintaining a Kingdom Perspective 

  • Colossians 3:24 - Remember that you will receive your reward from the Lord.


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Generosity Pt. 2

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Vitals - Generosity Pt. 2
Dave Riddle - 08/25/19
Key Passage: Mark 12:41-44

Generous: the readiness to give more of something than is strictly necessary or expected.

Scripture: at the core it’s about God giving to us.

Embracing a lifestyle of generosity...

  • A Reflection of God

    • John 13:34 - Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

      • Jesus is the perfect picture of generosity for us to emulate.

  • A Display of Gratitude

    • Mark 12:44

      • Even though she had very little, she realized that she was blessed.

    • Hebrews 12:28

      • We’ve received a kingdom that can’t be shaken. Our response should be an outpouring of gratitude.

  • An Assertion of Trust

    • Mark 12:44

      • She gave everything and, trusted that God would provide for her.

        • Not a suggestion that we are all prescribed to do the same.

        • But a challenge for us to examine the way we give.

      • Do we give out of our surplus, or do we give sacrificially?

  • An Attack on the “King”

    • We are our own biggest enemies: our selfishness, our self-centeredness, our greed. We are the kings of our own lives.

    • Matthew 6:24 - ...you cant worship God and money both.