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

Calling All Calvary - Put On Your Work Clothes

Calling All Calvary - Put On Your Work Clothes
7/9/2023 - Dave Riddle
Key Passage: John 13:15

Growing Up - Spiritual Maturity

Growing Up - Spiritual Maturity

Paul Trulock - 7/2/2023

Key Passage: 1 Peter 3:8-12

We have the knowledge of the Bible

We have the power of the Spirit

We lack willpower

Growing old is a natural process, but growing up doesn’t come easily.

Unity

• 1 Peter 3:8 - likeminded

• Unity, not unanimity.

• We don’t have to agree on everything, but we should be united despite our disagreements.

• Devoted to the person of Jesus not devoted to programs, causes, or politics.

Sympathetic

• 1 Peter 3:8 

• Romans 12:15-16

• Rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn.

• Only possible in and through unity.

• Does your concern for others outweigh your concern for yourself?

Brotherly Love

• 1 Peter 3:8

• philadelphos: Loving brother or sister. In a broader sense, loving one like a brother

Compassionate

• 1 Peter 3:8

• splagchnizomai (Greek: σπλαγχνίζομαι) - to be moved as to one's bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity).

• Deep compassion and tenderheartedness towards others.

Humble

• 1 Peter 3:8

• Meekness not weakness

• “We never mature when we narrow the use of our efforts, talents, and means to our own advantage.”

Forgiveness

• 1 Peter 3:9

• Not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult.

• Bless those who curse you.

• 1 Peter 2:20-21

• Called to a life of non-retaliation.

Control the Tongue

• 1 Peter 3:10

• Do you want to love life and see good days? Control your tongue.

Purity and Peace

• 1 Peter 3:11-12

All of this is only possible through diligence, discipline, and community. 

Unity

Sunday, June 25
Paul Trulock Speaking on Unity

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.

Is Your Faith Worthless?

Is Your Faith Worthless?

Dave Riddle - 6/11/2023

Key Passage: James 1:26-27

If anyone considers themselves religious…

• James 1:26

• Religious = thrēskos: fearing or worshipping God; ceremonious in the worship of God

…their religion is worthless

• James 1:26

• Worthless, profitless, empty, devoid of value 

• Same word as 1 Corinthians 15:14

• If there is no resurrection your faith is “worthless”

…If you don’t keep a tight reign on your tongue…

• James 1:26

• We all hold tightly to the resurrection, but how seriously do we take the way we speak?

Pure and undefiled religion…

• James 1:27

• Pure = katharos: clean (literally and figuratively). Free from anything that soils or corrupts.

• Undefiled = amiantos: not defiled. Incorruptible.

Our faith is directly tied to our concern for others

• James 1:27

• Pure and undefiled religion means having concern for vulnerable people.

• Orphans and widows in distress.

• Doing this requires an investment of time, energy, resources.

• See also: James 2:15-17, James 2:26, 1 John 3:17-18

Our Allegiance and Devotion

• James 1:27

• Keep yourself unstained from the world.

• Romans 12:2 - don’t be conformed… be transformed…

What is the product of your heart?

• Luke 6:45

• What we say and do overflows from our heart.

Your words, actions, and heart are the true indicators of your faith.

• Repent. Don’t rationalize.

What is God's Will For My Life?

Message Begins at 37:00

What is God’s Will for my life

Jordan Baker - 6/4/2023

Key Passage: Matthew 22:36-40

Remain in God’s Presence and Follow His Leading

• Exodus 13:17 - Pillars of cloud and fire

• Numbers 9:15-17, 22-23 - They camped at the Lord’s command and they set out at the Lord’s command

• God’s people don’t have to worry about when and where to move if we are firmly planted in his presence.

• “where is the shade?”

What does this actually look like in our lives?

• Matthew 28:18-20

• Make Disciples

• A Disciple is one who:

• Loves Jesus

• Follows Jesus

• Is Being Changed By Jesus

• Is On Mission With Jesus

• Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.

• 1,500 unique commands in the Bible.

• They all depend on…

Love God and Love Others

• Matthew 22:36-40

• Every command exists to help you love God, love others, or both.

“Throughout history, one's calling has often been narrowly defined as an occupation or a status in life… As a result, we often think: "Whatever my calling was, I think I may have missed it." Or, "I'm not trained. I'm just a regular person." Or, "I'm just working, waiting for my true calling to reveal itself." Scripture teaches, however, that every Christian is called by God at conversion. And that calling encompasses the whole of our lives. Recovering this truth revolutionizes how we understand our role--in the workplace and in the world-as men and women sent by Jesus to embody his love.” Pete Scazzero Emotionally Healthy Relationships Day by Day

Know God and Make Him Known, Together.

• Love God… Love Others - Matthew 22:36-40

• We love God by being in relationship with Him and knowing Him intimately.

• We love others by demonstrating Christlikeness to them.

• And we do these things together, because this is a calling for all believers.

Up, In, & Out

• How is your relationship with God? - this is Your UP relationship

• How is your relationship with Other believers? - Your IN relationship

• And Your OUT relationship - How are you proclaiming gospel truth, not just through your actions, but also through your words to the people in your life who don’t know Jesus?

• How will your next decision affect your ability to Love God and Love Others while walking side-by-side with Other Believers? 

What is God’s Will for my life?

• How am I loving God and loving others in this season of life?

• How am I knowing God and making Him known Together with other believers?

• How am I balancing my Up, In, and Out relationships?

All of those questions are just different ways of saying “how can I remain in God’s presence and follow his leading” in my life today.

Make Your Life Count For The Kingdom

Make your life count for the Kingdom

Paul Trulock - 5/28/2023

Key Passage: Matthew 25:14-30

What is the Kingdom like?

• Matthew 25:14-30

The Master

• God. The creator and sustainer of all things.

• Sovereign over all things.

The Servants

• You and me.

• Entrusted with responsibility

The Talents

• The responsibilities God has entrusted us with.

• Time 

• Talent/Gifting/Spiritual Gifts

• Treasures (material resources)

• Matt 25:14 - all things belong to God and have been given to us to steward.

First & Second Servants

• Matthew 25:15 - …according to their ability.

• Luke 16:10 - faithful with little…

• They took what they were given and “Immediately put it to work”

• Delayed obedience is disobedience

Third Servant

• Matthew 25:18 - He dug a hole and hid his money.

• Our lives will never count for the kingdom if we live a hidden life.

First & Second Servants Received:

• Praise

• Praise for their faithfulness, not their fruitfulness.

• The fruit is the product of the Holy Sprit.

• Our job is to be faithful. The results are up to God.

• More responsibility 

• Invitation of special fellowship

The Third Servant

• Matthew 25:25 - I was afraid

• The opposite of faith is not doubt. God can work with our doubt. The opposite of faith is fear.

• Hebrews 11:6

• He is described as: Wicked, Lazy, Worthless.

Attend your own funeral

• Galatians 2:20 - Die to self. Live by faith.

What’s the point of Baptism?

What’s the point of Baptism?

Dave Riddle - 5/21/2023

Key Passage: Romans 6:3-11

John the Baptister 

• Jewish ritual purification based on laws from Leviticus.

• John took it a step further. He required people to repent. Turn from sin. Turn towards God.

Jesus makes a local phenomenon a global one

• Matthew 28:19

• An imperative to make, baptize, and teach disciples.

Why Immersion?

• The grammar says so

• 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.

• Clarity from a recipe for Pickles

• It’s consistent with what we see in the New Testament.

Baptism is…

An Identifier

• It is open identification with Jesus and his death

• Romans 6:3

Impactful

• A picture of the impact of Jesus’ transformative work in our loves.

• Romans 6:6-8

Sufficient

• Baptism displays the sufficiency of Jesus’ Sacrifice

• Romans 6:9-10

• 1 Peter 3:18

A Reminder

• It reminds each believer of the call to follow Jesus.

• Romans 6:11

• Galatians 2:20

Spiritual Parents • Mother’s Day

Spiritual Parents • Mother’s Day 

Dave Riddle - 5/14/2023

Key Passage: 1 Corinthians 4:14-21

10,000 Guardians

• 1 Corinthians 4:15

• paidagogos: literally, a child-leader. A guardian and guide for children

Not many fathers

• 1 Corinthians 4:15

• gennao: literally to procreate. Used of women who gave birth or men who fathered.

I became your father through the gospel.

• 1 Corinthians 4:15

Truth

• 1 Corinthians 4:14

• Commuted to the truth out of genuine concern.

• “Not to shame you but to warn you”

Love

• 1 Corinthians 4:14

• Matthew 3:17

• agapetos: “dearly beloved”

A Living Example

• 1 Corinthians 4:16

• “Imitate me”

• 1 Corinthians 11:1

A Collaborator

• 1 Corinthians 4:17

• 2 Timothy 2:2

• This is a group effort; a team sport 

Gutsy 

• 1 Corinthians 4:18-21

• it takes courage!

• “If you’ve never been hated by your children, you haven’t been a parent” - Bette Davis

• “If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk… but by all means keep moving” - MLK Jr. 

Do You Love Me?

Do you love me?

Dave Riddle - 5/7/2023

Key Passage: John 21:15-23

Do you love me?

• John 21:15-17

• “You know I love you!”

• Three questions, matching Peter’s three denials.

Peter was grieved

• John 21:17

• Mark 10:22

• Matthew 17:22-23

Different kinds of love

• Jesus’ 1st and second questions: love=agapaō: divine, unconditional, perfect love

• Peter’s Response and Jesus’ 3rd Question: love=phileō: brotherly love.

• Possibly Jesus lowering the base for Peter?

• Possibly Peter using a more warm and tender version of the word?

• Possibly they author is trying to help us understand the full breadth of love?

Do you love me more than these?

• Possibly, do you love me more than you love these other disciples?

• Possibly, do you love me more than these other disciples love me?

• Possibly, do you love me more than you love fishing?

• Possibly, a combination of all of these.

You know all things.

• John 21:17

Feed my sheep (lambs)

• John 21:15-17

• Responsibility for the shepherding of the flock.

• Feed (provide) shepherd (oversee/supervise).

Do you love me?

Take care of my flock.

Keep On Following Me

• John 21:19

• What about him?

• John 21:21-22

• Don’t worry about him. Follow me!

Before the Throne of God

Before the Throne of God

Ryan & Bethany Reedy - 4/30/2023

Key Passage: Isaiah 6

Method • Questions

What Stood Out To You from Isaiah 6?

• The overlap between the heavenly and earthly realms

• Isaiah’s response to a holy God.

What Questions do you have? 

Who is King Uzziah?

• Uzziah was a pretty good King, but the people of his time were not! 

• 2 Chronicles 27

Who/What are the Seraphim?

• Isaiah 6:2

• The burning ones

• Numbers 21

• venomous snakes

• Ezekiel 10, Revelation 4

• Other passages that depict similarly strange heavenly creatures 

Shaking and Smoke?

• Isaiah 6:4

• The building shakes but doesn’t break at the voices of these beings

• Both of these things point to God’s glory.

What do we learn about God from this story?

What did Isaiah experience?

• He saw

• A high and lofty throne

• His robe filled the temple

• He heard

• Holy Holy Holy

• Supremely and completely

• He felt 

• The shaking

• He smelled

• The smoke

A Special Name of God

• Yahweh Sabaoth

• Lord of Hosts

• Lord Almighty

• Lord of Heaven’s Armies

• Also seen in Psalm 46

• This name reminds us of God’s protection. He’s there when we call out in times of need.

What do we learn about people from this story?

• Isaiah 6:5 - Isaiah’s response to seeing God is complete humility.

• He is overwhelmed and undone.

• Isaiah is completely dependent on God’s grace and mercy 

• Romans 5:6

• Isaiah doesn’t reject God, He receives God’s gift.

Isaiah’s response

• Woe is me

• Isaiah 6:5

• Here I am. Send Me

• Isaiah 6:8

What is OUR response to God’s presence and invitation in our lives?

How do the people of Isaiah’s time respond?

• Rejection (Isaiah 6:9-10)

• John 12:37-43

• Remnant (Isaiah 6:11-13)

Before the throne of God

• Revelation 7:9-10

• “Missions exist because worship doesn’t”

How do I live out what I learned?

• I have seen the King

• Here I am. Send me.

• Lord, how long will this go on?

No Turning Back - The New Normal

No Turning Back - The New Normal 

Dave Riddle - 4/23/2023

Key Passage: John 21:1-14

They go fishing and catch nothing

• John 21:1-3

• In the midst of a crazy situation the disciples look for normalcy so they go fishing… and catch nothing.

• Probably not a coincidence…

Jesus knew

• John 21:5-9

• Their struggles

• The solution

• What they needed

Not the first time

• Luke 5:1-7

• Jesus is again showing them a different way, an alternate reality to their default way of life.

• Ephesians 3:20

Breakfast with Jesus

• John 20:10-13

• They knew it was Jesus and they sat down to eat.

• Compare this to Luke 5 or Matthew 4.

• They weren’t called to be successful fishermen, they were called to be fishers of men.

The Hidden Made Visible

• John 21:14

• Jesus reveals himself to remove all doubt as his followers are about to head into the gauntlet.

• There’s no going back to our old lives!

We have been commissioned. Have we embraced it? Are we walking in it?

Sent. Commissioned. Empowered.

Sent. Commissioned. Empowered.

Dave Riddle - 4/16/2023

Key Passage: John 20:19-31

They Locked Themselves Away in Fear

• John 20:19

• John 19:38

• We gather together today, not in fear, but with joy!

Peace Be With You

• John 20:19, 21

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

• Peace: the absence of chaos.

Sent On A Mission For The King

• John 20:21 - “as the Father has sent me, I also send you.”

• Sent in the same way He was sent.

• This mission is going to come with chaos, confusion, and resistance.

• Yet, he calls us to peace.

He Breathed on Them

• John 5:22

• A preview of Acts 2

He Validates their Message

• John 5:23

• their message is His message

The Purpose of This Gospel

• John 20:30-31

• So that you may believe!

• That you may come to believe (an evangelistic purpose.)

• That you may keep on believing (an edifying purpose)

• BOTH!

Easter Sunday 2023

30:31 ✦ Jesus is arrested, tried, and sentenced to crucifixion.
36:01 ✦ Jesus is crucified and dies on the cross, fulfilling his purpose to give his life for humanity.
41:39 ✦ Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb and informs Peter and the other disciple.
47:11 ✦ Mary Magdalene, a close follower of Jesus, was the first to witness the empty tomb.
52:54 ✦ Mary Magdalene encounters the resurrected Jesus
59:13 ✦ God reveals himself to those who society excludes.
1:05:30 ✦ Mary Magdalene serves as a prototype for each one of us that God comes to us and knows us personally and invites us to receive, not condemnation, but forgiveness and salvation.
1:15:09 ✦ Celebrating the truth of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection

The Hope of Jesus

Special Guest Speaker: Doug Campbell of Hope Clinic

Why Was Jesus Crucified?

Why Was Jesus Crucified? 

Dave Riddle - 3/26/2023

Key Passage: John 19:17-27

The Place

• Golgotha (19:17)

• An intimidating location

• “If you cross us, we cross you”

The Proclamation

• “The King of The Jews” (19:19)

• Pilate was trying to be antagonistic, but he inadvertently stumbled on the truth.

• See also Caiaphus in John 11:50

The Prophecy 

• Dividing his clothes, casting lots. (19:23-24)

• Fulfillment of Psalm 22

The Provision

• Providing for his mom (19:25-27)

• Here is your mother. Here is your son.

• Providing for the criminal on the cross (Luke 23:39-43)

• Providing salvation for us

• John 12:32 - As for Me, if I am  lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to Myself.

The Person

• No one takes my life from me, I lay it down on my own. John 10:18

• He willingly laid down his own life.

The Point

• Redemption and Adoption!

• Galatians 4:4-5

• He bears so much love for us. A love that isn’t just spoken, but is demonstrated in the most powerful way.

• Are you part of those that have been redeemed, or are you not?

• Are you a child of the King, or are you not?

Jesus Condemned to Die

Jesus Condemned to Die

Dave Riddle - 3/19/2023

Key Passage: John 18:28-19:16

Jesus Brought Before Pilate

• John 18:28-30

• Pilate asks for a specific charge and they give him a general response.

A Private Conversation

• John 18:33 - Pilate: Are you the King of the Jews?

• 18:36 - Jesus: My kingdom is not of this world.

• 18:37 - Pilate: So you are a king then?

• Jesus: I have come into the world to testify to the truth.

• Pilate: “What is truth?”

• Pilate’s Question: Dismissive? Inquiring? We don’t know.

• The answer will be seen in Jesus’ actions from this point to the end of the book.

Barabbas 

• Literally “Son of a father”

• Compared to Jesus The Son of The Father.

Jesus Flogged and Mocked

• John 19:1-3

• Not an appeal to our emotions.

• Simply a straight-forward account of what Jesus endured for the sins of humanity.

Pilate find no grounds for charging Jesus

• John 18:38, 19:4, 6

A Second Private Conversation 

• Pilate is afraid. John 19:8

• “Where are you from”

• John 19:10 - Pilate appeals to his own authority

• John 19:11 - Jesus has the ultimate authority.

• 19:12 - Pilate makes every effort to release Jesus.

We Have No King But Caesar

• John 19:15 - they were so consumed with their mission that they said something that would typically be abhorrent for them to say!

• John 19:16 - so then, because of them, Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified.

Denying Jesus

Denying Jesus

Dave Riddle - 3/12/2023

Key Passage: John 18:15-27

Peter

• Peter, much like us, had many triumphs and many failures.

• John 13:37-38 - Peter’s denial foretold.

• Matthew 26:31 and on - Peter says “It will never happen!”

The Other Disciple

• Most likely John 

• Known to be a follower of Jesus

• John 18:17

Peter’s First Denial

• John 18:17

• “I am not!”

Annas

• John 18:19

• Annas was the high priest before he was deposed by Rome

• His sons and son-in-law went on to serve as high priest.

• Annas was the real power behind all of them

• This symbolic high priest interrogates our true high priest, Jesus.

Peter Denies Jesus Twice More

• John 18:25-27

• Confronted by several people, one who obviously knows him as the man who attacked his relative.

What does Peter do?

• he tries to go back to fishing (his old life)

• John 21

Betrayal in the Garden

Betrayal in the Garden

Dave Riddle - 3/5/2023 • Key Passage: John 18:1-11

Jesus Knew What Was About To Happen

• John 18:4 - knowing everything…

• “Who are you looking for?

• John 18:5 - I am he

• “I Am”

They Fall to the Ground

• John 18:6 - at the power of Jesus’ words

• John 18:6 - I am he

• Exodus 3:14

Who is Jesus’ Friend?

• Luke 22:35

• John 18:10

• Judas is “comrade” (Matt 26:50) because he is moving Jesus towards the cross.

• Peter is rebuked because he is standing in the way of the cross

The Cup Jesus Must Drink

• John 18:11

• Jesus knows that he must be pressed out, glorified, crucified.