Your Prayer Has Been Heard
We had audio issues for the first portion of this service. The audio came back in right near the beginning of the message. We have trimmed off most of the affected portion.
Your Prayer Has Been Heard
Dave Riddle - 12/10/2023
Key Passage: Luke 1:5-17
Zechariah and Elizabeth
- Luke 1:5-7
- Their faith was great, but there is a disconnect between the way they lived and the life they were experiencing.
A Great Honor Turns to Great Fear
- Luke 1:8-12
- Do not be afraid
- Do not be troubled
- Do not be seized or gripped by fear
Don’t Be Afraid. Your Prayer Has Been Heard
- Luke 1:13
- God has heard your prayer
I’m going to need a sign
- Luke 1:18
- How do I know this is true?
- Despite this amazing visit from an angel, and despite his knowledge as a priest, Zechariah had a hard time trusting without reservation.
- Luke 1:20
- Zechariah gets his sign.
God’s Message Is Always Good News
- Luke 1:19
John The Baptizer
- Matthew 3:1-6
Joseph - Time to Get Uncomfortable
Time to Get Uncomfortable - Joseph
Dave Riddle - 12/18/2022
Key Passage: Matthew 1:18-25
Joseph was a Righteous Man
dikaios (Greek: δίκαιοςa) pertaining to being in accordance with what God requires—‘righteous, just.’
Joseph Didn’t Want to Disgrace Mary
deigmatisai (Greek: δειγματίζω) to cause someone to suffer public disgrace or shame—‘to disgrace in public, to put to shame.’
Joseph’s Angelic Encounter
Matthew 1:20-21
Joseph’s Response
Matthew 1:24-25
He chose to believe
He chose to obey
Repentance
Believe and Obey
He turned from the direction he wanted to go and went God’s way instead.
Yielding your will to God’s will.
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
Hello My Name is... Prince of Peace
Hello my name is: Prince of Peace
Dave Riddle - 12/22/19
Key Passage: Isaiah 9:6
sar (Hebrew: שַׂר) - a captain, master, chief, ruler, commander, leader, or prince. A person of nobility or rank.
used over 380x in the Hebrew Bible, to refer to various types of government or religious officials, rulers of cities, etc.
see also: czar, tsar, caesar
Not just a prince over us, but a prince with us.
shalowm (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם) - a very broad term that means health, security, tranquility, good condition, success, comfort, and more.
it has layers of meaning related to peace.
Widely used in the Hebrew Bible, shalowm clearly depicts a satisfied condition, an unconcerned state of peacefulness.
Peace Brings Confidence
John 16:33
You will have suffering in this world, but be courageous because Jesus has conquered the world!
Peace Brings Rest
Matthew 11:29
...you will find rest for your souls.
Peace Brings Reconciliation
Romans 5:1
Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God.
Peace is a Gift
John 14:27 (HCSB): Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.
Unending
Complete
Above & Beyond
Philippians 4:7 - (ICB) And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.
Colossians 3:15
Is He the master of your heart?
Is He your sar of shalowm?
Hello My Name is... Mighty God
Hello my name is: Mighty God
Dave Riddle - 12/08/19
Key Passage: Isaiah 9:6
‘el (Hebrew: אֵל) - god or god-like one; mighty one. Mighty men: men of rank: heroes. Strength, power. God (the one true God)
gibbowr (Hebrew: גִּבּוֹר) - strong, mighty or powerful. A strong, brave and mighty person. By implication a warrior and champion.
Joshua 1:14, 6:2, 8:3
1 Samuel 17:51; 2 Samuel 23
Psalm 24:8
He is divine
Hebrews 1:3 - the exact expression of His nature
John 1:14 -The Word became flesh... the one and only Son from the Father
John 10:30 - I and the Father are One
Matthew 1:23 - God with us
He was promised
Genesis 3:15 - He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
He was wounded
Isaiah 53:4-5 - Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds.
Pierced, crushed, punished, and wounded for us.
He is Triumphant
Jesus is the victorious one!
Hebrews 2:14-15
By his death he destroyed death... and freed those held in slavery by the fear of death.
Romans 8:31-35
if God is for us, who can be against us?
Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
Women's Christmas Gathering
Our guest speaker, Melissa Blazo, shares her story and the ways that God has been leading and walking with her in the midst of a difficult season.
Hello My Name is... Wonderful Counselor
Hello my name is: Wonderful Counselor
Dave Riddle - 12/01/19
Key Passage: Isaiah 9:6
Counselor
ya’ats (Hebrew: יָעַץ) - to advise, counsel, admonish, direct, resolve, decide, plan and/or purpose. To counsel together; to be advised.
Isaiah 9:6 - “counselor”
First usage: Exodus - Moses meets with his father-in-law to seek advice.
Wonderful
pele’ (Hebrew: פֶּלֶא) - a miracle, a wonder; a wonderful thing or deed.
Isaiah 9:6 - “Wonderful”
Other than a single time in the book of Lamentations, it always appears in the context of God’s acts or words. 37 of the 84 occurrences of pele’ are found in the Psalms.
What kind of Wonderful Counselor?
Other-worldly
John 12:49 - He came with divine wisdom from Heaven itself
John 14:10 - He spoke with authority of God
Authoritative
Mark 1:21-22 - He taught with an authority unlike anything the world had seen.
Luke 4:32 - The people were amazed... slack-jawed
ekplēssō (Greek: ἐκπλήσσω) - to be struck with amazement, astonished, amazed
Piercing & Gentle
Piercing
Matthew 16:23
Matthew 23:27
Gentle
John 8:7-11
Inviting & Challenging
Mark 1:17 - “come, follow me”
Not just a call, but a purpose.
“And I’ll show you how to fish for people”
Mark 3:13-14
With Him, and Sent Out
Truth
John 14:6 - “I am... the truth”
John 1:14 - truth in the flesh
Life-giving
John 14:6- The truth AND the life.
John 4:4-14 - living water!
Infinite
Luke 21:33 - His words will never pass away.
1 Peter 1:24-25 - the Good News remains forever.