The Kingdom Seeks Peace

The Kingdom Seeks Peace

9/22/24 - Dave Riddle

The Kingdom has come near!

- Matthew 4:17

Seek first the Kingdom of God

- Matthew 6:33

- Seek His righteousness

- Righteousness and The Kingdom are don’t connected.

- Matthew 5:10

Peace

- Luke 2:14

- Proclaiming God’s coming Kingdom with a message of peace.

- We are now at peace with God!

- Romans 5:1

- That peace comes through Christ alone.

- We now posses the peace of God

- Philippians 4:6-7

- What kind of peace?

- eirene: a national state of tranquility, harmony, and safety. In a Christian context: the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Jesus, and so fearing nothing from God and content with his/her earthly lot of whatsoever sort that is.

- A fruit that we bear

- Galatians 5:22-23

How are you pursuing peace?

- Make every effort…

- Ephesians 4:3

- Strive for peace with everyone

- Hebrews 12:14

- Notice the connection between making peace and personal holiness.

Blessed are the peacemakers

- Matthew 5:9

- A pacifier

Live at Peace

- 2 Corinthians 13:11

- Live in peace and the God of peace will be with you

- Romans 12:16-18

- If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Peace: a verb, noun, and adjective

Did Jesus say he did not come to bring peace?

- Mathew 10:34

- There are times when relationships are broken because of the difficult truth of the gospel, but they shouldn’t be broken because of YOU or ME.

- As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Seek God’s Kingdom of righteousness and peace.

- Romans 14:17, 19

- Make every effort

- Show Intentionality

- Be Purposeful in your efforts

Dress Yourself in Righteousness

Dress Yourself in Righteousness

9/15/24 - Dave Riddle

The Breastplate of Righteousness

- Not self-righteousness…

- “What not to wear”

- Ephesians 6:10 - The Righteousness of God

- …But God given (imputed) righteousness provided to us through Jesus.

- Ephesians 6:14

- 2 Corinthians 5:21

- Romans 4:6, 11, 22-25

- Philippians 3:8-9

- Personal righteousness

- Dress for success

- Hebrews 10:14

- Romans 6:1-2

- Romans 6:12-13

- Take off the old and put on the new

- Ephesians 4:24

- We have been made righteous by the work of Jesus, now we are called to live righteously.

How?

- Intentionality

- Accountability

Seeking God's Kingdom

Chef's Special: Phil Woodman

Comfort Vs Obedience

Phil Woodman - 9/1/2024

Key Passages: Genesis 12:1-5, Ruth 1:11-18

God called Abram to go…

- Genesis 12:1

So Abram went…

- Genesis 12:5

Ruth had a chance to stay and be comfortable…

- Ruth 1:11

But Ruth went…

- Ruth 1:16-17

What if we hold onto what’s easier and convenient?

- Do we prefer comfort over obedience?

- What is God calling you to surrender?

Chef Special: Jordan Baker

As much as it depends on you live at peace with everyone.

Chef's Special: Paul Trulock

Chef's Special: Connor Riley

Chef's Special: Micah Williams

Wrapping Up Hebrews: Jesus is Greater

Follow Christ in Community

Follow Christ in Community

Paul Trulock - 7/7/2024

Key Passages: Hebrews 13:7-9, 17, 24

Remember your past leaders

- Hebrews 13:7

- Remember those who led you in the past. Those who pointed you to Christ.

- Continue to learn from what they taught you

- Imitate their faith

- We gain perspective by looking back.

Be steadfast in following Christ

- There is only one who can lead us perfectly.

- Hebrews 13:8

- We have a propensity to either be overly enamored or overly critical of our leaders.

- All human leaders are imperfect… but not Christ

- Joshua 1:7-8

- Hebrews 13:9

- Don’t be distracted by the next new shiny thing.

Submit to your present leaders

- Hebrews 13:17

- Not blindly following

- Our leaders will be held accountable

How?

- Hebrews 13:24

- Be committed to a local church

- In community

- Serving

- 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

- Be at peace among yourselves and with your leaders.

The Way of Love Lived Out

The Way of Love Lived Out

Dave Riddle - 6/30/2024

Key Passages: Hebrews 13:1-6

Recap: Hebrews is…

A book of Exhortation

- Let us…

A book of Anticipation

- Looking forward

A book of Exultation

- Jesus is greater

A book of Application

- Chapter 13 specifically

Let brotherly love continue

- Hebrews 13:1

- Let the love of the brothers and sisters of Christ (the Church) continue.

- We are called to live the way of love.

- Colossians 3:14 - wrap yourselves in unselfish love… the perfect love of unity.

- 1 Peter 1:22 - Love one another constantly.

- John 13 - Love one another, just as I have loved you… by this, all people will know that you are my disciples.

- Something that we can ONLY do by the power of the Spirit.

Hospitality

- Hebrews 13:2

- Starts with the family of God and extends to all people.

- Let love extend, even to those who are strangers.

- Angel = messenger.

- Possibly a spiritual being.

- Possibly someone bearing the gospel.

Show genuine concern for those who are struggling

- Hebrews 13:3

- Prisoners

- The mistreated

- Those who are suffering in the body.

- Romans 12:9-15

- We may not have the ability or words to make things better, but we CAN be present.

- What does this look like for us today?

- Certainly, it doesn’t mean we can do nothing.

- Matthew 25:34-36

Marriage is to be honored

- Hebrews 13:4

- Love your spouse

One thing we shouldn’t love

- Hebrews 13:5

- Free from the love of money

- 1 Timothy 6:10

- Luke 12:15

- Mark 10 (Rich Young Ruler)

- Be satisfied with what you have.

- Philippians 4:11-12

- Contentment

He will never leave or forsake us!

- Hebrews 13:5

- Deuteronomy 31:6

- Matthew 28:20

The Lord is our helper

- Hebrews 13:6

- Romans 8:38-39

Give up, or Endure?

Give up, or Endure?

Dave Riddle - 6/16/2024

Key Passages: Hebrews 12:1-13

Look at the winners

- Hebrews 12:1

- A great cloud of witnesses

- Those mentioned in Hebrews 11

- Examples from your own life.

Look at yourself

- What is weighing you down?

- Hebrews 12:1

- Let us lay aside every hindrance

- Not necessarily sinful or evil things.

- Possibly even things we would consider to be good things.

- And the sin that so easily ensnares us.

- What is the sin that ensnares you?

- Unbelief?

Run with endurance

- Hebrews 12:1

- Look at the winners

- Look at yourself

- Throw off whatever weighs you down

- Look at Jesus!

Look at Jesus

- Hebrews 12:2

- The finisher!

- Jesus struggled, but he finished the task.

- He had the steady determination to keep going.

- He endured the cross.

- It is finished!

- Why did he endure?

- So that you won’t grow weary and lose heart (12:3)

Remember His Love

- Hebrews 12:5-6

- Don’t lose heart

- Don’t disregard what God is doing (discipline)

- Hebrews 12:7-8

- Discipline = training/raising/instructing/correcting a child.

- Hebrews 12:9-10

- The reason we receive discipline/training is for our benefit. To share in His holiness.

- Hebrews 12:11

- So that we may produce fruit

Never give up

- Hebrews 12:12-13

- Stay strong in the Lord and resolute in your faith in Him.

What is Church?

What is Church?

Dave Riddle - 6/09/2024

Key Passages: Acts 2:42-44, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

“There is no relationship with God apart from His family”

Consumerism is about:

- satisfaction

- Entitlement

- More for me

- Obsession

- Devouring

- We think WE are doing the devouring, but instead IT devours us.

Community is about:

- being on mission

- Responsibility

- Serving others

- Freedom

- Creating

Partnership

- God desires for you to be an active partner, not a passive observer.

- 2 Corinthians 8:23

- Philippians 1:4-5

- Hebrews 10:33

- Philemon 17

- Acts 2:42-44

- koinos: “All things in common” = common; shared by all our several

- koinonos: associate, comrade, companion, sharer, partner

- koinonia: fellowship, association, joint participation, communion, community, the state one has in something, partnership

The mindset of partnership

- 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

- melos: being a living part of an interconnected body/dynamic body.

- Romans 12 & 1 Corinthians 12

- a partner is someone who is engaged with the organization’s mission

What is our focus?

- Privilege or responsibility?

- Get or give?

- Passive or active involvement?

How?

- Philippians 2:3-5

- Love, unity, humility, a common mission…

- A family on mission

Not Imposters • Faith For Those Who Struggle

Jordan Baker • June 2 • Hebrews 11:32-40

Your fear, doubt, and anxiety don’t disqualify your faith

  • Hebrews 11:32

    • Gideon & Barak

  • Mark 9:24

Your mistakes and failures don’t disqualify your faith

  • Hebrews 11:32

    • Samson & Jephthah

  • 2 Corinthians 5:17

Approved by your faith

  • Hebrews 11:39-40

The Hall of Faith

Dave Riddle • May 26, 2024 • Hebrews 11:20-31

Abraham's Faith

Paul Trulock • May 19, 2024 • Hebrews 11:8-19

What is Faith?

What is Faith?

Dave Riddle - 5/12/2024

Key Passages: Hebrews 11:1-6

Faith is the reality of what is hoped for

- Hebrews 11:1

- Hypostasis: Reality, assurance, support, strong foundation

- Not a wistful longing, but an absolute certainty.

- “I hope the weather is nice this afternoon”

Faith is… the proof of what is not seen

- Hebrews 11:1

- Proof, conviction, evidence

Faith is the thing by which we are approved

- Hebrews 11:2

- Witnesses of faith

By faith we understand that God created everything

- Hebrews 11:3

- By faith we believe

Faith recognizes, worships, and obeys

- Abel

- Hebrews 11:4

- Genesis 4:4

Faith believes and draws near

- Enoch

- Hebrews 11:5-6

- Genesis 5:21-24

- Jude 14-15

We are people who are called to live by faith

- Are we people who walk by faith?

- Or are we people who walk by sight?

- Do we live by what we think is best, or do we live by what God says is best?

Walking Away

Walking Away

Dave Riddle - 5/5/2024

Key Passages: Hebrews 10:26-39

Draw Near. Hold On. Consider Others.

Draw Near. Hold On. Consider Others.

Dave Riddle - 4/28/2024

Key Passages: Hebrews 10:19-25

Let us draw near…

- Hebrews 10:22

- With clean consciences and bodies

- Made right with God

- Displaying the righteousness of Christ.

- 2 Corinthians 5:17

- The inward change produces outward changes.

- You are righteous, now be righteous

- You are holy, now be holy

- Why? So that we can serve the living God

- Hebrews 9:13-14

- See also: Hebrews 4:13

Let us hold on…

- Hebrews 10:23

- Hold on to the confession of our faith.

- Hold fast

- Hebrews 4:14

- Without wavering (10:23)

- Not leaning.

- Unmoved.

- Why do we hold on? It’s the only thing that gives us hope.

Let us be consider one another…

- Hebrews 10:24

- Here it shifts from something we do for ourselves to something we do for others.

- Philippians 2:3-4

- Why? In order to provoke love and good works in each other.

- paroxysmos: to incite

- Essentially “incite a riot of love and good works”

What are we doing when we gather together?

- Hebrews 10:25

- Coming alongside one another

- Encouraging one another

- Laughing, crying, praying, sharing together

Witnesses: Commissioned, Sent, and Empowered

Witnesses: Commissioned, Sent, and Empowered

Dave Riddle - 4/21/2024

Key Passages: Luke 24:47-48, John 20:21, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8

You will be my witnesses

- Luke 24:47-48

- To all the nations

- Acts 1:8

- To the ends of the earth

Commissioned and Sent

- John 20:21

- As the Father sent me, so I am sending you!

- Matthew 28:18-20

- Go, therefore, and make disciples

Empowered by God

- He provides us with His own power.

- Luke 24:49

- Acts 1:4-5

- John 20:22

Until He Comes Again

- 1 Thessalonians 4:16

He’s Still Here

- Matthew 28:20

- I am with you always, even til the end of the age