Sermon Recap 1-27-13

Morning: The sermon, "Wrestling with Weakness," focused on Colossians 4:12-13. Through the life of Epaphras, Paul reminds us to be weak enough to pray hard. Those who realize the their weakness then to have a fuller prayer lives. His work is characterized as continual, dedicated, and personal. He prayed that people would experience a full faith. And Paul said he worked hard at it.

Evening: Movie Night.

Sermon Recap 1-20-13

Morning: The sermon, "Every Life Matters," focused on Colossians 4:7-18. In this passage, Paul reminds us through his farewell that every life matters. As Paul says good-bye to the church in Colosse, he introduced them to some of his friends. They were friends who had encouraged him and who made a difference.

Evening: The lesson, "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made," focused on Psalm 139:13-16.

Sermon Recap 1-13-13

Morning: The sermon, "Gospel Shaped Relationships," focused on Colossians 3:18-4:1. In this passage, Paul reminds us that the gospel should shape all of our relationships.  The temptation some face in relationships is to please the other person within that relationship. Other want to please themselves in relationship. In all of our relationships, we need to remember that we should live to please the Lord. Here is how the gospel should shape our relationships:

1. Wives should submit to their husbands. Paul's command suggests humility and equality. The husband is not to subject his wife, she is to come under his leadership. The wives submission acknowledges the created order. It also fits the larger model. Jesus, the Son is equal to the Father, but submits to him. The Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son, but submits to them. Believers are to submit to their leaders and each other. Paul also notes that this submission is not blind obedience. Wives are only to submit as fitting to the the Lord. In other words, they don't have to violate their consciences when husband led them astray.

2. The husband is to love his wife and not be harsh. He is to give himself to the nurture and care of his spouse. His needs are to give way to hers. He is to guide with gentleness and care.

3. Children are to obey their parents. Rebellion toward parents is rebellion towards God. Children honor God when they obey their parents.

4. Parents shouldn't embitter their children. There are numerous things one could do to embitter their child: unrealistic expectations, too much praise, not enough praise, violence, verbal abuse, etc.

5. Employees need to work hard. We don't have an exact correlations to slavery today. However, an rough analogy can be drawn between slave/employee and master/employer. The employee is to work with sincerity. They should work at the same level of excellence whether or not their boss is present. The should work with passion. As they work with all their might, they reflect the glory of God and make that glory known to those around them. They must also work in faith knowing that their work will receive a reward greater than a paycheck.

6. The employer is also reminded to do right by his workers. God shows no favoritism. He expects workers to work, and their employers to provide for them fairly.

Apart from the gospel, these types of relationships are not possible. It is only by the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit that we are able to live out these God-given roles.

Evening: We reviewed our church covenant tonight.

Sunday Recap 1-6-13

Morning: The sermon, "New Year, Same Focus," examined Colossians 4:2-6. In this passage, Paul urges us to make the most of every opportunity. We do that in two ways.

1. We devote ourselves to prayer. We do this by staying alert. We must be alert to the weaknesses of our flesh, the pull of the world, the schemes of the devil, and the coming of our Lord. We are kept from getting weary by the continual reminder that we are to be ready when Jesus returns.

We must also stay grateful. The core of our prayer life should by gratitude. God is great and infinitely worthy of worship, praise, and thanksgiving.

We must also pray for those in the service of the Lord. We should ask God to give them opportunity to share his message, to share it faithfully, and to share it with clarity.

2. We must watch how we live.  Paul urges us to live wisely. Our actions must match what we proclaim.

We must make our conversations full of grace. Part of this is taking time to listen.  And we should also season our speech with salt. There should be a winsomeness to our sharing.

As we work in the new year, we must remember to keep our focus the same: Jesus Christ and his glory.

Evening: Business Meeting

Sunday Recap

Morning: The sermon, "Transforming Attitudes," focused on Colossians 3:15-17. In this passage, Paul explains how we can achieve the holy life: we have to change our attitudes. But how? Paul explains that peace of Christ must rule in our hearts, the word of Christ must dwell richly within us, and we must do everything to the glory of Christ. Two thoughts are woven through all of these commandments: unity and gratitude.

1. Let the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts. We are to be controlled by Christ's peace. Jesus describes his peace in John 14:27. Commentator, William Hendriksen said, "It is the conviction that the sins of the past have been forgiven, that the present is being overruled for good, and that the future cannot bring about separation between Christ and his own."

2. Let the Word of Christ dwelling in you richly. The Word should have a living presence within your life.

a. As you teach and admonish with all wisdom

b. As you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your heart.

3. Let whatever you do be done in the name of the Lord. To do something in Jesus' name means we are doing in a way that keeps with his character. 

Evening: Community Wide Thanksgiving Service

Sermon Recap 11-11-12

Morning: The sermon, "A Guide to Holy Living," focused on Colossians 3:1-14. If Satan cannot get you to believe a big lie, he'll hit you with a more subtle one. If he can't get you to believe that Jesus' death didn't purchase your forgiveness, he'll tell you that it has no real purpose in the here and now. And it might be tempting to read Paul's words in that way. But Paul isn't encouraging us to daydream about better days, he's explaining the hows and whys of the Christian life.

1. The reality of our union with Christ should be the focal point of our lives. The fact that we are in Christ should shape our affections, thoughts, and hopes (or ambitions, visions, and motivations).

2. Since we are in Christ, we need to put our sin nature to death. Paul clarifies his expectations by listing examples and the reasons why we have to get rid of them. We need to rid ourselves of our sin nature: 

because it is idolatry

because it brings God's wrath

because we aren't that person anymore

because we have already put off the "old self"

because we have put on the "new self"

                                                                                       

3. Since we are in Christ, we should reflect his character. Here Paul offers a list of traits and actions that should be evident in the Christian's life.  We need to show forth Christ's character.  Bear with others and forgive as we have been forgiven. We also need to put on love.

Evening: Play practice.

Sunday Recap 11-4-12

Morning: The sermon, "No Compromise," focused on Colossians 2:16-23. Here Paul further exposes the errors that are being pressed on to the people in Colosse. Paul urges the church to submit to Christ, and not the world. To this end, he gives them stern warnings:

1. Don't let people judge your freedom in Christ. God has given each person a conscience. That conscience can be refined or dulled. In Christ, we are to live out of a biblically informed conscience. We shouldn't let people judge us on what we eat or drink or our religious celebrations. These things were shadows; Christ is the reality. As long as what we are doing doesn't violate the commands of God, we have freedom in Christ.

2. Don't let anyone disqualify you from the prize. The false teachers promoted a false spirituality.

 They were overly pleased with themselves, but didn't want others to think so. They called for a spirituality based on visions and idle notions. Spirituality divorced from Christ is lifeless: it possesses no life and produces no life.

3. Don't submit to the world's rules. In Christ, the believer has died to the world and its authority.

The world's rules don't prevent sinful behavior, but provoke it. Instead, we are to pursue Christ. 

Evening: Business meeting

Sunday Recap 10-21-12

Morning: The message, "A Servant of the Gospel," focused on Col. 1:24-2:5. In this passage, Paul explains that a servant of the gospel labors to bring people to maturity in Christ. The Colossian Christians were facing a struggle. False teachers had infiltrated their church in the absence of their leader Epaphras. Paul was writing to them to keep them on course, but he needed to remind them of his role and authority. He goes on the explain what a true servant of the gospel looks like. A servant of the gospel:

1. Joyfully endures hardship for the church's sake. Paul isn't saying Jesus death wasn't enough, but that God has appointed us to suffer. We need to accept it and rejoice in the potential good that can come from it.

2. Is commissioned by God to present the word in its fullness. It means to clearly present  the message of Christ.

3. Proclaims Christ with admonition and teaching. What was his purpose?

a. To present them perfect in Christ

b. to encourage them in heart

c. to see them united in love

d. that they may know Christ in the fullness of understanding

e. to keep them from being deceived

f. so that they may continue on with order and faithfulness.

What do we do?

1. We ask if we have ever responded to the gospel.

2. We honor servants of the gospel.

3. We apply their teaching to our lives.

Evening: Movie Night

Sunday Recap 10-7-12

Morning:  The sermon, "A Prayer for Fruitful Christianity," focused on Colossians 1:1-14. In this passage, Paul reminds us to ask God to increase the "fruit" in our lives. Paul is writing this letter to a church he didn't start. Although they didn't know him personally, he wanted them to know he was praying for them. Their leader, Epaphras, was likely one of Paul's converts in Asia Minor and went on to found the church. Now, Epaphras was in prison with Paul, and sharing his concern for the church. Epaphras has planted good seed and was seeing fruit come forth, but weeds were beginning to grow. Paul shows us how to pray for fruitful Christianity.

1. Thank God for the fruit you see. Every good gift comes down from the Father in heaven, so every expression of gratitude must be aimed upward to the Father. Paul points to 4 "fruits" in the life of this church. Paul expresses thanks for their faith in God, their love for all the saints, their hope in the gospel,and for the fact that the gospel is spreading and growing among them.

2. Pray that God would increase the fruit. Paul expresses the substance of his prayers: that God would fill the believers with knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. He goes on to express his reason: we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way. What does that look like: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, and being strengthened with all power according to God's glorious might.

Paul wanted them to be strengthened so that they could have great endurance which is the ability to bear up under hardship, patience which is self-restraint under trying circumstances, and joyful gratitude to the Father.

They should have gratitude to the Father because he qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light, he rescued tem form the dominion of darkness, and he brought them into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

What do we do?

Examine your fruit--Are you a believer in Christ? Do you have faith in God through Jesus Christ? Do you have love for all the saints? Is the Gospel your hope?

If you answer no to those questions: Ask the Father to qualify you to share in Christ, ask him to rescue you from the dominion of darkness, ask him to grant you redemption and forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord.

If you answer yes to the above questions: Ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Pray this for each other.

Evening: Business Meeting