Our Unchanging Identity

Unchanging Identity
Dave Riddle 8/29/2021

Key passage: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Hard truths of the Bible

• There are lots of things that make us say “I wish I didn’t know that… I wish that wasn’t in there”

  • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

    • “You are not your own”

      • The world doesn’t revolve around me.

I’m now a steward

• 1 Peter 4:10

  • Steward: a person who manages another’s property or finances; one who administers anything as the agent of another.

  • We manage our lives, not in our own interest, but in the interest of the Father

I’m now a child

• 1 John 3:1

  • See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are!

I’m now a follower

• “Follow me”

  • Follow = akoloutheō - to be in the same way with. To be in the same road. To follow one who proceeds.

I’m now a disciple 

• Disciple = mathetes (Greek: μαθητής) - pupil/learner/student - a disciple. In the New Testament, a disciple is one who not only learns, but accepts and adverse to the instruction given to them, making it their personal everyday way of living .

  • Not just learning knowledge, but allowing that knowledge to change the way we live.

  • Matthew 16:24 - if anyone wants to come with me, he must deny himself and take up his cross.

I’m now a slave

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

  • We are slaves to our sin

    • Romans 6:15

  • Romans 6:18

    • Set free from sin!

    • Now slaves to righteousness!

Why Family on Mission?

Why Family on Mission?

6/13/21 - Dave Riddle 

Key passages: 1 Timothy 3:15, Matthew 28:18-20

We use the word family because it’s biblical.

Family = oikos (Greek: οἶκος) - an inhabited house, a physical dwelling place. Also, the inhabitants of a house, all the persons forming one family - a household. 

• 1 Timothy 3:15 - we are the household of God.

• The church is called “brother and sisters” over 20 times in the book of Acts alone!

What is our mission?

• Matthew 28:18-20 - The great commission. Go make disciples…

• Disciple = mathetes (Greek: μαθητής) - pupil/learner/student - a disciple. In the New Testament, a disciple is one who not only learns, but accepts and adverse to the instruction given to them, making it their personal everyday way of living .

• Teaching them = didaskō (Greek: διδάσκω) - teaching with the purpose of transformation.

• Acts 1:8

• “The church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that [everything else is] simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose.” CS Lewis

• Luke 6:40

Helping People Follow Jesus Together

1. UP

   • Living in right relationship with the Father.

     • Jesus prioritized his relationship with his Father.

2. IN

   • Living in right relationship with our church family.

     • You can’t walk in obedience with the will of God if you aren’t walking in right relationship with your brothers and sisters.

3. OUT

   • Living on mission to reach the world.

     • We are ambassadors, as if God was making his appeal through us!

God’s Household

A Family on Mission - God’s Household

Dave Riddle - 06/09/19

Key Passages: 1 Timothy 3:15, Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 6:40

Our mission: Helping People Follow Jesus Together!

• A family on mission!

1 Timothy 3:15 - ... I have written so that you will know how people ought to act in God’s household, which is the church of the living God,  the pillar and foundation of the truth.

• Household = oikos (Greek: οἶκος) - an inhabited house, a physical dwelling place. Also, the inhabitants of a house, all the persons forming one family - a household. 

  • In the New Testament: the family of God: Where God has made his home. Us!

Matthew 28:18-20 - Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  19 Go, therefore, and make disciples  of  all nations,  baptizing  them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,  I am with you always,  to the end of the age.” 

• Disciples = mathēteuō (Greek: μαθητεύω) -  to be a disciple of another, or to make someone a disciple. 

• mathetes (Greek: μαθητής) - pupil/leaner/student - a disciple. In the New Testament, a disciple is one who not only learns, but accepts and adverse to the instruction given to them, making it their personal everyday way of living .

Luke 6:40 - A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

• we are called to become like Jesus and help others become like Him too!

Three-Dimensional Discipleship 

1. Up (Father)

   • Reconnect with our Father God through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. 

2. In (Family)

   • We are connected. We can’t do this apart from our brothers and sisters. United in Christ. 

3. Out (World)

   • Salt and light, ambassadors and witnesses to the world! We exist to reach out into the world to see them become like Jesus too!