It all started with a man and a message.
- -Paul, in Ephesus and one man named Epaphras hears it.
- -Plants church in his home town, Colossae.
- -Problems in the church, in particular, False Teachers.
- -Epaphras meets back up with Paul in prison
- -Paul writes a letter to this little church
- -Could have said, “Stop it” but he didn’t.
- -Instead he addresses the problem by going beyond the problem.
Col. 1:28. “Mature in Christ.” To be a healthy & mature church, healthy & mature person, and have healthy & mature relationships.
How? Makes a really, really, really, big deal out of Jesus and what he has done and simply points us back to JESUS to find our health and maturity IN HIM, and HIM ALONE.
- The means by which he does this, via the Holy Spirit, who is writing through him, is Proclaim the truths and promises of the cross given to us by God’s GRACE, so that we may walk in God’s PEACE, to live as we ought to live.
-Indicative- truths / Imperative-Commands
Col. 2:6 – Therefore, as you received (indicative) so walk (imperative)
Grace & Peace- The truths of scripture given to us by God’s GRACE inform and motivate the commands of Scripture that lead us to God’s PEACE.
This is how we become a healthy & mature church, a healthy and mature person, and have healthy & mature relationships.
- On August 28th of last year this is what we set out to do!
- -Read Colossians all the way through.
- -From Col. 1:1- Col. 2:5 we focused on being the church we are called to be.
GRACE & PEACE to the Church
Hear, pray, praise, rinse, repeat, encourage each other to continue on!
- -Hear, Col. 1:6
- -Pray, I called a whole bunch of churches! Used vs. 9-14 as a prayer to pray for “the Church”
- -Praise, He is God. Sufficiency is in HIM!
- -Rinse, The Gospel is for Christians too!
- -Repeat
- -Encourage
GRACE & PEACE to the Church- The Apostle Paul is addressing this letter to a Church for it’s health and maturity. We will look at his encouragements for us to be a healthy and mature church.
HAVE SOMEONE PRAY for us to be a HEALTHY & MATURE CHURCH
GRACE & PEACE to You, Col. 2:6- Col. 3:17 “FAITH”
Faith-Hope, Heaven, Grace, Truth, filled with… knowledge, spiritual wisdom, understanding, fruitful, Strength, Power, Endurance, Patience, Joy, Thankfulness, Inheritance, Light, Deliverance, New Kingdom, Redemption, Foregiveness, JESUS, Peace, Reconciled, Holiness & Blamelessness, Spiritual wealth, Glory, Encouragement, Love, Assurance, Wisdom, Faith
THEREFORE 2:6
From GRACE TO PEACE
GRACE & PEACE to YOU- The Church is made of individual members who are called to health and maturity. We will look at Paul’s encouragements to the members of the church for how we can take personal responsibility for our own faith in Grace & Peace
- Therefore- Full, vs. 10
- Free X2, Who you are is FREE, be free. Live free. Let NOTHING take your freedom.
- Transcend- Stop trying to get better, instead MAKE JESUS BIGGER
- clothe- Take sin seriously, besides, those clothes don’t fit anymore
- let- Trying is allowing
- Every week asking how we can take personal responsibility for our faith.
whatever, READ VS. 17. All to the Glory of God and my joy.
Have someone pray for the individuals of our church to take personal responsibility for our faith.
- SLIDE- “Other” Issues, relationships are tough.
- Christmas- Promise / From Col. 3:18- today
- Wife, husband, parents & kids, work. 3 weeks talking about Outsiders , last week, inside the church.
Grace & Peace to Others- The Grace & Peace you have received is to live in Biblical community with other believers and live out towards those who do not believe.
- Last week I told you I wanted to establish a vision for our church. To take the the things we learned about relationships with those “outside” the church and those inside the church and draw them together. But it’s even bigger than our “relationship” issues. It’s the whole book of Colossians.
- God’s love given to us by his GRACE, through the CROSS, so that we may have PEACE, with God and with “others”.
SLIDE- ‘‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’’ John 13:34-35
PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH.
- Invite Band up, finish story of Letter being read,
- Read Col. 4:17-18. They rolled up the scroll and worshiped… Let do the same.
- BENEDICTION
- MAY GOD GRANT US GRACE & PEACE TO THE CHURCH, TO YOU, AND TO OTHERS.
Sermon Slides
