Colossians 1:12-14
Colossians 1:12-14 - "...giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
***A relationship with Christ is all we need for victorious living
***The gospel of Jesus Christ - the intersection of time and eternity where you find yourself in the presence of the resurrected Christ
***Salvation is the beginning of a new life
***Paul gives three reasons to be thankful
**The Father has qualified them to share in His inheritance
**The Father has delivered them from the power of darkness
**The Father has carried them into the kingdom of His son
***Wherever there is sin, there is the dominion of darkness
Matthew 6:21 -"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"
***Your redemption ws paid for by Jesus a long time ago, but it is appropriated by you today
***We are powerless over sin until we give our life completely to Christ
***By God's mercy, He provides redemption through Jesus' blood
***Christians are not better than non-Christians. They have recognized their need and turned to God for help
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Growing in Christ
Colossians 1:9-12
Colossians 1:9-12 - "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."
***God's word is the plumb line for truth
***Salvation is the beginning of a new life in Christ
***A healthy Christian is one who is growing in Christ
***Are you progressing toward God?
***Paul prays for four things:
**That they would be filled with the knowledge of God
**That they may be fruitful
**That they may be strengthened (knowledge alone does not enable obedience)
**That they may be thankful
***A sign of spiritual maturity is if a person is functioning within the family of God
***You can't live your life in isolation from the family of God and grow into all that God calls you to be
***Take the test of maturity - Look at how your life in Christ has connected you to the body of Christ
***Paul's prayer is answered in Christ. He is our knowledge, our fruit, our strength (Phil 4:13 - "I can do everything through him who gives me strength"), and our gratitude (Phil 4:19 - "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus")
***Faith is not something to think about and discuss. It is something to be lived.
***Are you growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ? Have you set your heart to know Him?
Colossians 1:9-12 - "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."
***God's word is the plumb line for truth
***Salvation is the beginning of a new life in Christ
***A healthy Christian is one who is growing in Christ
***Are you progressing toward God?
***Paul prays for four things:
**That they would be filled with the knowledge of God
**That they may be fruitful
**That they may be strengthened (knowledge alone does not enable obedience)
**That they may be thankful
***A sign of spiritual maturity is if a person is functioning within the family of God
***You can't live your life in isolation from the family of God and grow into all that God calls you to be
***Take the test of maturity - Look at how your life in Christ has connected you to the body of Christ
***Paul's prayer is answered in Christ. He is our knowledge, our fruit, our strength (Phil 4:13 - "I can do everything through him who gives me strength"), and our gratitude (Phil 4:19 - "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus")
***Faith is not something to think about and discuss. It is something to be lived.
***Are you growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ? Have you set your heart to know Him?
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Colossians 1:3-8
Colossians 1:3-8 -"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8and who also told us of your love in the Spirit."
***Paul does not thank the Colossians for their faith. He thanks God for their faith.
***The gospel of Jesus Christ is the source of everything good in your life.
***The gospel of Jesus Christ is the event of salvation that comes alive in each person who hears and receives it.
1 Corinthians 1:17-18 - "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
1 Corinthians 2:2-5 -"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
***When you are confronted with the gospel, you are face to face with Jesus Christ.
***The gospel is carried to the world in the body of Christ: the Church.
***All that you need for godliness is found in the gospel of Christ. The only thing missing is our willingness to respond.
***What have you done with the gospel?
Colossians 1:3-8 -"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8and who also told us of your love in the Spirit."
***Paul does not thank the Colossians for their faith. He thanks God for their faith.
***The gospel of Jesus Christ is the source of everything good in your life.
***The gospel of Jesus Christ is the event of salvation that comes alive in each person who hears and receives it.
1 Corinthians 1:17-18 - "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
1 Corinthians 2:2-5 -"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
***When you are confronted with the gospel, you are face to face with Jesus Christ.
***The gospel is carried to the world in the body of Christ: the Church.
***All that you need for godliness is found in the gospel of Christ. The only thing missing is our willingness to respond.
***What have you done with the gospel?
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Faith in Christ
Colossians 1:1-8
Colossians 1:1-8 -"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
Thanksgiving and Prayer: We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8and who also told us of your love in the Spirit."
About Colossse:
Colasse was a prosperous city in the fertile Lycos Valley
Laodicea became the center of trade and commerce
Hieropolis became the center of great pleasure
***Christians have been given everything needed for a victorious life in Christ
***America is being threatened by the lure of materialism, temptation of worldly pleasure, influence of foreign religions, and false teachers who do not know Christ.
***Don't be deceived. Life is found in Christ.
Colossians 1:4 -"...4because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints"
***Is there evidence of that fruit in your life?
***In a world that is complex and confusing, is your faith in Jesus Christ clearly visible? Your faith will be they key to abundant life
***God gives to us in the same measure that we are ready to receive by faith
***Your life is a reflection of your faith in Jesus Christ. Where is your faith placed?
Matthew 13:58 - "And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith."
***Are you known for your faith in Jesus Christ?
***Victory in life is available to all in Christ
***When Christ enters your life, everything changes - for you are now 'in Christ'!
Colossians 1:1-8 -"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
Thanksgiving and Prayer: We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8and who also told us of your love in the Spirit."
About Colossse:
Colasse was a prosperous city in the fertile Lycos Valley
Laodicea became the center of trade and commerce
Hieropolis became the center of great pleasure
***Christians have been given everything needed for a victorious life in Christ
***America is being threatened by the lure of materialism, temptation of worldly pleasure, influence of foreign religions, and false teachers who do not know Christ.
***Don't be deceived. Life is found in Christ.
Colossians 1:4 -"...4because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints"
***Is there evidence of that fruit in your life?
***In a world that is complex and confusing, is your faith in Jesus Christ clearly visible? Your faith will be they key to abundant life
***God gives to us in the same measure that we are ready to receive by faith
***Your life is a reflection of your faith in Jesus Christ. Where is your faith placed?
Matthew 13:58 - "And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith."
***Are you known for your faith in Jesus Christ?
***Victory in life is available to all in Christ
***When Christ enters your life, everything changes - for you are now 'in Christ'!
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