Testify

Testify

The Gospel of John - Part 7 • 10/11/20

Key passage: John 3:31-36

Martyria: a witness

Martyreo: to testify

Identity

• John 3:31 - the one who comes from above (who comes from God).

• John 6:35 - I am the bread of life

• John 6:38 - I have come down from Heaven, not to do my will, but the will of the one who sent me.

• John 8:42 - I came from God, and I am here.

• Bold claims that challenged his Jewish audience,

Credibility

• John 3:32 - He testified to what he has seen and heard, and yet no one accepts his testimony.

• John 8:38 - ...what I have seen in the presence of the Father.

Trustworthy

• John 3:33 - God is true.

• John 1:17 - truth is realized in Jesus.

• John 14:6 - the way, the truth, the life.

• John 1:14 - full of grace and truth.

• lambano: to take to ones self to make ones own. To lay hold of something. To admit; to receive what is offered.

• sphragizo: to set a seal upon something; to mark it with a seal.

  • By accepting the testimony of Jesus, you affirm that God is true (John 3:33)

Empowered

• John 3:34-35 - the Father has given all things into the Son’s hands.

Life and Death

• John 3:36 - the one who believes in the Son has eternal life... the one who rejects the Son will not see life...

• Wrath of God: this is the only time John uses this word.

  • In reference to not accepting Jesus’ testimony.

• Two choices: believe or reject

  • pistueo: to think to be true. To be persuaded of; to place confidence in. To have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing). To believe.

  • apeitheo: to not allow one’s self to be persuaded. To refuse or withhold belief. To disbelieve.

• Do you walk a little bit in both world’s sometimes?

Wrapping Up Romans

Wrapping Up Romans

10/04/2020 - Dave Riddle

Key Passage: Romans 16:25-27

Now to him... be the glory forever! Amen.

• Romans 16:25, 27

• Glory = doxa (δόξα)
  

 Him who is able to strengthen you...

• Romans 16:25

• dynamos (δύναμαι)= able. to be able, have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom

• stērizō (στηρίζω) = strengthen. To set fast. To turn resolutely in a certain direction. 
  

Good News

• Romans 16:25

• euangelion (εὐαγγέλιον) = a good message. Good news!
  

Divine Revelation 

• Romans 16:25-26

• A secret or mystery revealed. Something that had been kept hidden.

• Ours eyes have been opened to the truth of Jesus.
  

Divine Mandate

• Romans 16:26

• epitagē (ἐπιταγὴν) - an injunction , decree, command or mandate. By implication, authoritativeness.
  

...to the only wise God

• Romans 16:27

• We have no shortage of access to facts and opinions.

  • God is the only one who is wise.

• sophos (σοφῷ) - Wise. To have skill or expertise. To best form plans and use the best means for their actual execution. 
  

How do we walk more deeply in this truth?

• Understand his word better

• Live empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit.

• Walk together in community and unity. 

Jesus Vs. John

Jesus Vs. John

The Gospel of John - Part 6 - 9/20/20

Key passage: John 3:22-30

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)

Jesus Clears the Temple

Key Passage: John 2:13-25

Water to Wine

Water to Wine

The Gospel of John - Part 4 - 8/30/20

Key Passage: John 2:1-12

It’s a party!

• John 2:2

• 7 days of festivities!

• The highlight of their life

We’ve got a problem.

• John 2:3

• They ran out of wine

  • A huge embarrassment 

I know a guy.

• John 2:5

  • “Do whatever He tells you...”

The first of seven signs 

• John 2:11

• sēmeion (σημεῖον) - an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally:—miracle, sign, token, wonder.

• phaneroō (φανερόω) - to make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown.

  • A sign for his followers to reveal his true identity.

How is Jesus inviting you to take a deeper step of faith?

The First Five Disciples

The First Five Disciples

The Gospel of John - Part 3

8/23/20

Key passage: John 1:35-51

What are you looking for?

• John 1:38
  

Come and see

• John 1:39
  

You will be called Peter

• John 1:42
  

Follow me!

• John 1:43

• Follow = akoloutheō 
  

How do you know me?

• John 1:48
  

The Role of “Others”

• Who are the “others” in your life who pointed you to Christ?

  • Who was your John, Andrew, or Phillip?

• Who are you pointing to Jesus?
  

Customized Connection

• He connected with each disciple in an individualized way.

• He wants to connect with you in an individualized way too!
  

Balance of invitation and challenge 

• Come and see - invitation

• Follow me - challenge 

• You will be called “rock” - challenge
  

The Necessity and Power of Revelation

• John knew Jesus was the messiah through the revelation of the Holy Spirit

• Likewise for Andrew, Phillip, and Peter 

John The Baptist

John the Baptist

The Gospel of John - Part 2

8/16/20

Who are you? John 1:19

• I’m not the Messiah - v. 20

• I’m not Elijah - v. 21

• I’m not “the Prophet” - v. 21

• I am a voice crying out in the wilderness “make straight the way of the Lord” v. 23

Where are you from?

• God sent me

  • John’s miraculous birth

  • Luke 1:5-25

What are you here to do?

• I came as a witness to testify about the light. 

  • John 1:7

Why are you doing this?

• The Messiah is coming!

  • John 1:26-27

• The Messiah is Jesus!

  • John 1:29-31

How do you know that?

• The Holy Spirit‘s incredible sign. 

  • John 1:32-34

The Gospel of John: Logos

Help for Hard Times

Help for Hard Times

These are Hard Times

• 2 Timothy 3:1

The Power of Example 

• 2 Timothy 3:10-11

  • Parakoloutheo: to follow after, to follow one as to always be at their side. To always be present. To faithfully follow a standard or rule. To conform to one’s self.

• 2 Timothy 3:13

  • Don’t follow evil people

• 2 Timothy 3:15

  • Follow good examples

The Priority of Scripture

• It originates from God, Himself.

  • 2 Timothy 3:16

    • Theopneustos: breathed out by God or simply, “God breathed”

• It shows us the way of salvation

  • 2 Timothy 3:15

• All scripture is profitable

  • 2 Timothy 3:16

    • ōphelimos: helpful and useful

    • For teaching, reproof, correction, training in righteousness.

Readies us for Service 

• 2 Timothy 3:17

  • Adequate and complete

The Probability of Trouble is High

• We need to be rooted in God’s word.

Look Up

Look Up

This is a season of reset

Helping people follow Jesus together

• Help people become like Jesus 

  • Luke 6:40

• Walking as He walked

  • 1 John 2:6

Our Up Relationship is Prime

• Mark 12:30

Worship 

• Romans 12:1

• The heart of worship is loving God with our entire being.

• Latreia (Greek: λατρεία) - worship or service. To kiss (in the same way a dog licks its master). To revere, to adore.

• John 4:24 - worship

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

• Revelation 19:4

Our Worship is a Response 

• 1 John 4:19 - we love because he first loved us.

Our Worship Must be Real

• Mark 7:6 - Honoring God with our hearts, not just our lips. 

• 1 Samuel 15:22 - obedience not sacrifice

You are Loved 

• 1 John 3:1 - You are His child!

The Life You Live

• John 14:15 - love results in obedience

• 1 John 5:3a - keep His commands

• Acts 13:22 - a person aligned with God’s heart.

Lean In

Lean In

Dave Riddle - 7/19/20

koinōnia (Greek: κοινωνία) - fellowship, association, community, intimacy, joint participation (the share which one has in anything), communion. 

Living in koinōnia = Love 

An Order or Command to Love Others

• Mark 12:31 - love others as much as you love yourself.

• John 13:34 - love others the way Jesus loves us.

• 1 John 3:23 - love others as He commanded us.

Response 

• 1 John 4:11, 19 - our love is a response to the love Jesus has shown to us.

Integral

• Necessary for yielding completeness

• 1 John 4:12 - our faith becomes more complete as we walk in love.

Maturity and Progression

• 1 Peter 1:22-23

  • A sincere love. Not merely pretending to love others.

  • Earnestly, fervently, constantly loving one another.

• 1 Corinthians 13 - love is foundational. Without it, our actions are meaningless.

Confirmation

• John 13:35 - This is how all people will know that we are truly followers of Christ.

Intimacy 

• A relationship that goes deeper than “we go to the same church”.

• Requires vulnerability.

  • Might require taking some risks.

Investment

• Helping people follow Jesus together.

Connected and Contributing to One Another

• Not living in an individual reality, but a “One Another” reality.

  • Love one another

  • Live in harmony with one another

  • Forgive one another 

  • Honor one another

  • ...And many many more 

    • Over 100 occurrences in scripture.

    • Only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit

How is God calling you to take the next step towards koinōnia?

• 1 Peter 1:22-23

Witnesses & Ambassadors

Freedom Vs. Slavery

Look Up. Lean In. Live Out. Let Go

Father's Day 2020

Outdoor Worship June 14

This service is split up into multiple segments of teaching, worship, and prayer.

Racism and Our Response

Racism
• 2 Chronicles 20:12

Racism exists.

Racism is wrong.
• Genesis 1:27

Repent.
• 1 John 1:9

Listen.
• James 1:19
• Proverbs 1:5

Pursue.
• Galatians 3:28
• Ephesians 2:14-15

Embrace.
• 1 Corinthians 13:7-8a Strategize.
•1 Chronicles 12:32
• Amos 5:24

“In the midst of blatant injustices inflicted on the Negro, I have watched white churches stand on the sideline and merely mouth pious irrelevancies and sanctimonious trivialities.”
~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Memorials

Memorials

“Therefore these stones will always be  a memorial for the Israelites.” Joshua 4:7 CSB

zakar: to pierce, to impress (on the memory), to remember or be remembered, to recollect, to commemorate.

zikrown: a memorial, reminder or remembrance. It is an object reminder or token act by which something is brought to mind. 

Why do we need them?

• We’re prone to forget

  • Deuteronomy 4:9

  • Deuteronomy 6:12

  • Joshua 4:6-7

  • Judges 2:10

What are their features?

• They’re a Statement

  • Joshua 4:24

• They’re Enduring

  • Joshua 4:7

• They’re Distinctive

  • Joshua 4:8

Communion as a memorial

A Useful Struggle

Power Within
- 2 Corinthians 4:16
- We are not ekkakeō (ἐκκακέω)
to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted
- 2 Corinthians 4:7-9
- Galatians 2:20
- Lamentations 3:19-24

Useful Struggle
- 2 Corinthians 4:17
- “incomparable” - hyperbolē (ὑπερβάλλω)
metaphorically, superiority, excellence, preeminence
- James 4:14b
- 2 Corinthians 12:10

Different Point of View
- 2 Corinthians 4:18