Peace, Hope, and the Resurrection

The Resurrection 

The Gospel of John - Part 27 • 4/04/21

Key passage: John 20

The Importance of the Resurrection 

• 1 Corinthians 15:14, 17

  • If Christ wasn’t raised then our faith is useless, futile!

Peace

• John 20:19

  • eirene: a state of tranquility, harmony, and safety. In a Christian context: the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation.

• John 14:27

  • Peace I give to you... don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

• John 16:33

  • I have told you these thing so you may have peace in Me. In this world you will have trouble...

Hope

• Hope and hopelessness are powerful things.

  • John 16:33 - you will have trouble, but take hope!

• 1 Corinthians 15:19

  • If our hope is only for this life, we are to be pitied more than anyone in the world.

    • If my hope dies with me, what a pitiable person I am.

• 1 Corinthians 15:20

  • But Christ has INDEED been raised from the dead.

• 1 Peter 1:3-4

  • A living hope!

  • An inheritance!

• Hebrews 10:23

  • Hold onto the confession of our hope without wavering.

Have we allowed these truths to fully reside in our hearts?

• even though our world is full of trouble, even though things often feel hopeless...

• God wants you to trust in Him completely today.

Good Friday Service 2021

Jesus, Judas, and Peter

Jesus, Judas, and Peter
The Gospel of John - Part 26 • 3/28/21
Key passage: John 13:18-38

He Knows

• John 13:18

  • He wasn’t fooled or surprised by Judas’ plot or Peter’s inconsistency

• John 13:19-21

  • He Knows what is going to happen and who is going to betray Him.

He Feels

• John 13:21

  • “He was troubled in His spirit”

    • Not the first time: John 11 at the death of Lazarus. Also, John 12:27.

He Observes

• He observes the group dynamic of His followers.

  • John whispers to Jesus and Jesus’ reply seems to be to John alone.

    • John 13:26

He Facilitates

• John 13:27

  • Judas, it’s time. Do it now.

He Fulfills

• John 13:31-33

  • “Glorified” in the past tense.

  • He Knows what is going to happen and He is sure that His mission will be completed.

He Challenges

• John 13:34-35

  • Love one another just as I have loved you. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples.

He Confronts

• John 13:36-38

  • Will you lay down your life for me?

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

Responding to Jesus

Responding to Jesus - The Gospel of John - Part 24 • 3/07/21

Key passage: John 7:40-52

Responses from the 1st Interaction

• Division: John 7:43

• Attraction: John 7:41

• Misunderstanding: John 7:42

• Misinformation: John 7:42

• Rage: John 7:44

Responses from the 2nd Interaction

• Servants: Impressed John 7:46

• Pharisees: Dismissive John 7:47

• Pharisees: Proud/Pretentious John 7:48

• Pharisees: Judgmental John 7:49

Responses from the 3rd Interaction

• Nicodemus: Receptive John 7:51

• Nicodemus: Responsible John 7:51

• Pharisees: Prejudiced John 7:52

• Pharisees: Badly Mistaken John 7:52

• Pharisees: Spiritually Blind

Thirsty? Come and drink!

Thirsty? Come and drink!

The Gospel of John - Part 23 • 2/28/21

Key passage: John 7:37-39

Leviticus 23:33-36, 39-44 - the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles. AKA the Festival of Shelters

Timing

• John 7:37 - on the last and most important day of the festival...

  • Which day? 7 or 8?

    • Deuteronomy 16:15

    • Leviticus 23:36

Revelation

• John 7:37 - He revealed Himself.

  • krazō: to croak (as a raven) or scream. To cry out in a loud voice (shriek or exclaim).

    • Usually used in the NT to precede a very important statement.

Invitation

• John 7:37 - “If anyone is thirsty, come to me and drink.”

Impact

• John 7:38 - The one who believes (drinks) will flow with living water!

Clarification

• John 7:39 - The Spirit is the source of this living water in the lives of believers.

What does all this have to do with me today?

• That same invitation is offered to you today.

• That same living water is available to you today.

The Messiah

The Messiah

The Gospel of John - Part 22 • 2/21/21

Key passage: John 7:25-36

parrēsia: speaking boldly, openly, and freely. Unfiltered.

• Compare 7:26 back to Jesus’ brothers in 7:3

His Identity

• John 7:26b-27

  • Can it be true that he is the Messiah?

  • “It can’t be! Nobody will know where the Messiah comes from”

• John 7:28 - “Jesus cried out”

  • krazō: to croak (as a raven) or scream. To cry out in a loud voice.

His Dispatcher

• You don’t know God! I know God, because I was sent by him!

  • John 7:28 - “sent”

    • pempō: dispatched or sent on an errand.

  • John 7:30 - they didn’t like that at all! So they tried to seize him.

His Mission

• John 7:30 - why were they unable to seize him? Because his time had not yet come.

His Credentials 

• John 7:31 - many from the crowd believed.

  • “Jesus has done so many signs. He must be the Messiah, right?”

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

His Destination

• John 7:33 - I’m only here for a short time (a quick errand - “pempō” see above)

  • I’m going back to the one who sent me.

• John 7:34 - “You will look for Me, but you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.”

• John 7:35 - He’s not going to the Greeks is He?

  • He didn’t, but ironically his followers would!

They Were Amazed

The Were Amazed

The Gospel of John - Part 21 • 2/14/21

Key passage: John 7:14-24

John 7:14 - Jesus went to the temple and began to teach.

• “teach” = didaskō: teaching for transformation.

Mind-Blowing

• John 7:15 - the people were amazed.

  • “How does he know the Hebrew Bible so well without being trained?”

The Sent One

• John 7:16 - My teaching isn’t mine, but is from the One who sent me.

• John 7:17

  • Jesus’ teaching traces back to God.

Humble, True, and Perfect

• John 7:18 - Sent by God. There is no unrighteousness in him.

  • “Sent” = pempō: dispatched or sent on an errand.

  • “Unrighteousness” = adikia: a deed violating law and justice

Fearless Challenger

• John 7:19 - none of you keeps the law

  • This would have been a shocking statement for people who were obsessed with keeping the law.

    • John 7:20

Miracle-Worker

• John 7:21 - I did one work and you were all amazed.

  • “Amazed” Same word from John 7:15

He came to Fulfill the Law

• John 7:22 - some things override the sabbath.

  • They didn’t understand the purpose of the sabbath

  • Sabbath was created for humanity, humanity wasn’t created to observe the sabbath.

His Mission = Our Mission

His Mission = Our Mission

The Gospel of John - Part 20 • 2/7/21

Key passage: John 7:1-13

Family

• John 7:3-5 - Jesus’ brothers: if you are who you say you are, why don’t you go to the party and do some miracles for everyone to see.

Divine Timing

• John 7:6 - My time has not yet arrived, but your time is always at hand.

  • chronos vs kairos

    • kairos (greek: καιρός) No direct English equivalent

      • The right time

      • The critical time

      • The opportune moment

    • Implies, not the convenience of the season, but the necessity of the time at hand.

    • “Kairos is when eternity steps into time”

• John 7:7-8

  • Go to the festival! It’s time for you to go, but I’m working with a different agenda/priority/kairos

  • The world hates Jesus because of who he says he is, and what he says he is there to do.

  • plēroō (Greek: πληρόω) - to make full, fill up. literally, to cram (a net), level up (a hole or hollow).

Power Brokers 

• John 7:9-11

  • They want to eliminate Jesus.

  • They fundamentally misunderstand who Jesus is.

The Ordinary People

• John 7:12

  • there was lots of murmuring about Jesus among the crowds.

  • “Murmuring” gongysmos (Greek: γογγυσμὸς) - grumbling, muttering, whispered debates.

What’s The Takeaway For Us?

• In the same way that Jesus’ brothers, the power brokers, and the public misunderstood Jesus, people misunderstand our decision to follow Him.

  • if you live the way Jesus calls you to live there are going to be people who respond to you in the same way these people responded to Jesus.

Four Responses to a Hard Truth

Four Responses to a Hard Truth

The Gospel of John - Part 19 • 1/31/21

Key passage: John 6:60-71

Disdain

• This teaching is hard to accept.

  • John 6:60

  • The hardness was in their hearts.

• John 6:61 - Jesus, knowing that his disciples were grumbling asked them, “does this offend you?”.

  • skandalizō (Greek) - to trigger the trap. To cause someone to stumble or trip.

    • They felt trapped by this teaching.

Desertion

• John 6:66 - From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him.

• John 6:67: So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”

Devotion

• John 6:68 ...Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.

• John 6:69: We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

  • ginōskō (Greek): to know experiential, in contrast to oida, which means to know intuitively or perceive.

Treachery

• John 6:70: Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.”

  • The most negative thing said about Judas in the four gospels.

What is your response?

What Do You Worship?

What Do You Worship?

The Gospel of John - Part 18 • 1/24/21

Key passage: John 6:41-59

Reaction - Contempt

• John 6:41

  • they started grumbling...

    • A cal back to Exodus 16:2

  • gongyzo: to mummer, mutter, or grumble. Discontented complaining.

A Case of Mistaken Identity

• John 6:42

  • isn’t this just the son of Mary and Joseph?

A Dynamic and Divine Duo

• John 6:43-46

  • Sent by the Father. God in the flesh.

  • “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the father”

Jesus Doubles Down

• John 6:46-51

  • I am the bread of life.

  • Your ancestors ate the manna and died. I am the new and better version. Anyone who eats this bread will not die.

Reaction - Confusion

• John 6:52

  • Wait, what did he just say?

  • machomai: to quarrel, wrangle, dispute or fight. A war of words.

Jesus Triples Down

• John 6:53

  • Instead of backpedaling in the face of their confusion and anger he walks up to the line and crosses it.

• John 6:54-58

  • Eat flesh/drink blood- this would have been outrageously scandalous for pious Jews to even consider.

“Everybody worships. The choice we get is what to worship...” - David Foster Wallace

Bread of Life Q&A

Bread of Life Q&A

The Gospel of John - Part 17 • 1/17/21

Key passage: John 6:22-59

Challenge (Motive)

• John 6:26

  • The crowd was looking for free food and political deliverance.

Challenge (Focus)

• John 6:27

  • Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life...

Question 1

• John 6:28

  • What can we do?

Answer 1

• John 6:29

  • Believe in the one God has sent.

Question 2

• John 6:30-31

  • What sign are you going to do so we can know you’re the one?

    • Ironically they were there because the signs they had already seen!

Answer 2

• John 6:32-33

  • 1st of all, it was God, not Moses who gave you the bread.

  • 2nd, I don’t bring normal bread, but the “bread of life”

We’ll have some of that!

• John 6:34

  • Sounds good to us!

Answer 3

• John 6:35-40

  • I am...

  • Bread of Life

    • bread that gives life

    • bread that is alive

The Bread of Life

• From the Father

  • John 6:35

• The Will of the Father

  • John 6:38-39

• Life Impact - now and forever

  • John 6:40

• Missed by many

  • John 6:32

Walking on The Water

Walking on The Water

The Gospel of John - Part 16 • 1/10/21

Key passage: John 6:15-21

Priority 

• Jesus made prayer and solitude a priority.

  • John 6:15, Luke 5:16

Turmoil

• A wild storm

  • Matthew 14:24, Mark 6:48, John 6:18

Fear

• ...he was coming near the boat and they were afraid.

  • John 6:19

• “It’s a ghost!”

  • Matthew 14:26

Voice

• I am. Don’t be afraid.

  • John 6:20

Presence

• Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him.

  • Matthew 14:30-31

• John 6:21

Power

• He got in the boat and the wind stopped.

  • Mark 6:51

• At once, the boat was at the shore

  • John 6:21

Awe

• The disciples were utterly astounded

  • Mark 6:51

• They worshipped Jesus, saying “you are truly God’s Son”

  • Matthew 14:33

Feeding of the 5,000

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Feeding of the 5,000
The Gospel of John - Part 15 - 1/3/21
Key passage: John 6:1-15

BIG Needs; REAL Needs.

• John 6:5

  • Nearly 20,000 people, in need of a meal.

  • Jesus asks, “where could we get food to feed these people?”

    • A question to test Phillip.

Seemingly limited resources 

• John 6:7 - it would cost half a year’s wages to give all of these people a small snack!

• John 6:8-9 - Here’s a little bit of food, but it’s nothing compared to the size of the crowd.

A little is a LOT in the hands of Jesus

• John 6:11 - they had as much as they wanted, they were full, satisfied

Jesus involved his followers

• John 6:12-13 - from doubting to active participants.

Always on Mission

• John 6:15

  • the crowd wanted a miracle worker, a king, a new Moses. That wasn’t what Jesus came for. He had a different mission.

Do we put limits on our faith, church, outreach, ministry? Or do we truly believe that Jesus can do a lot with the little we’ve been given?

Peace - God in Our Midst

Peace - God in Our Midst
12/27/20 - Dave Riddle
Key Passage: Isaiah 9:6

Prince of Peace

• Shalom: a very broad term that means health, security, tranquility, good condition, success, comfort and more. An unconcerned state of peacefulness.

  • Matthew 10:34-39 - do not suppose that I have come to bring peace...

    • Jesus is our number one priority, and that will lead to division.

• eirene: a national state of tranquility, harmony, and safety. In a Christian context: the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation

Confidence

• John 16:33 - you are going to have suffering, but you can have confidence because Jesus has conquered the world!

Rest

• Matthew 11:29 - Take up my yoke and you will find rest.

(Re)Connection

• Romans 5:1 - since we have been justified we have peace with God through Jesus.

Invitation (A Gift)

• John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.

• Philippians 4:7 - peace that surpasses all understanding.

Challenge (A Calling)

• Colossians 3:15 - let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, as members of one body you were called to peace.

• Romans 12:18 - as much as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

• Hebrews 12:14 - pursue peace with everyone.

Orientation (A Fruit) 

• Galatians 5:22-23 - peace is a fruit of the Spirit, not something we can create or attain on our own.

Peace be with you!

Life - Christmas Eve 2020

Joy - God in Our Midst

Joy - God in Our Midst
12/20/20 - Dave Riddle
Key Passage: Luke 2:10

Joy is Not the Same as Happiness

• Happiness and unhappiness are circumstantial.

• Joy is a deep-rooted state of ongoing delight inspired by God himself.

  • 1 Peter 1:8

Joy is Commanded

• An imperative, an exultation, a command.

  • Philippians 4:4

  • We always have a reason to have joy, even when we’re unhappy or disillusioned.

Joy Takes Some Commitment

• Colossians 3:2

  • Is your primary focus on the here and now, or on things above?

Joy Can Become An Orientation

• Galatians 5:22

  • Joy manifests as we walk in the Spirit.

Living Joyfully

• Remember how you’re loved

  • God loves you with an everlasting love!

• Remember who you are and whose you are.

  • 1 John 3:1

  • Remember your identity. Nothing can change your identity in Christ

  • 1 Peter 2:9-10

• Remember what you have

  • 1 Peter 1:3-6

    • New birth ( you are a new creation)

    • Living hope

    • An Inheritance

John 15:11 - I have told you this so that my joy may be in you.

The joy of the Lord is our strength.

Love - God in Our Midst

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