The Circle of Life

Colossians 1:3-8

What is God doing in your life? We need to share the mercies of the Lord with one another. Paul starts this letter in praise and thanksgiving for what God is doing. The surface level may look like trouble and adversity, but at the core, we can notice that God is at work. For instance, God is blessing us with a beautiful new kitchen, dining room and sun room – upgrades that our home has needed for years. This blessing is coming to us through months of heating water in the bedroom, storing groceries in the garage, and cooking on a camp stove. The truth of the matter is not the adversity, but rather, how God is blessing in the middle of everything. With this message, we are going to start in the middle of the passage. 

The Gospel is the Word of Truth (v5b-6a).

Remember that Paul wrote this letter to the Colossians because he heard that the new church full of new Christians was encountering aggressive false teaching. The new Christians were being bombarded with all manner of religious ideas and they needed this encouragement to stay with the truth of the gospel.

The message they had received from Epaphras was the message that Paul taught while in Ephesus, which is what Jude referred to as “the faith once delivered to the saints.” It comes to us in 2025 as the Bible. The Bible is the revelation of God giving witness to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Illustration: Fake Plasma T.V.’s are really oven doors with a remote

Here is a story from KUSA Channel 9 News Web Team in Colorado from 2006: Some people in South Bend, Indiana thought they were getting a good deal on plasma televisions. Instead, when they got home and opened up the box they found an oven door. It turns out a recent rash of oven door thefts in South Bend was laying the groundwork for the scheme. The fake TVs were packaged so professionally, the victims had no idea they had made a bad purchase until they got them home. The doors, posing as TVs, even came with remote controls and power cords. “If you’re going to buy something from someone, make sure you open it up first, especially if you’re not buying it from the store.” says Leann Day, who bought one of the oven doors. Police have arrested one man in the scam. They haven’t said whether they expect the operation to pop up in other states.

The Gospel produces hope.

The entire story of the Bible points to the existence of heaven where life continues beyond this time and space. Remember that in the Bible, “hope” is not wishful thinking. “Hope” is the guaranteed reward for God’s people. That is why it tells us that the “hope” is reserved for us. It is a prize that has been claimed but not yet picked up. If you are a Christian, you have a spot in heaven with your name on it waiting for you.

Illustration: Loss of Hope

In his book Man’s Search for Meaning, psychiatrist Victor Frankl observed that “the loss of hope and courage can have a deadly effect on man.” As a result of his own experiences in a Nazi concentration camp, Frankl contended that when a person no longer possesses a reason for living … no future to look forward to, he shrivels up and dies. “Any attempt to restore a man’s inner strength in camp,” he wrote, “had first to succeed in showing him some future goal.” (“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Victor Frankl, quoted in Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, ed. Michael Green, [Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1989], p. 194.)

So it is with life. Life is a concentration camp, in the sense that none of us gets out alive. Yet, we can all have something to look forward to. We do not have to shrivel up and die.

The Gospel bears fruit and grows (v6b).

Jesus told several parables about the way the Gospel grows. It is like seeds that are planted in a garden. On good soil, it flourishes. Our challenge is to be receptive to the Word as it is planted. It is like a small seed that grows and becomes a large tree. When the Gospel is planted into a fertile and receptive heart, it will grow. It will take over area after area of your heart until it crowds out all the ugliness and worldliness and you are more and more like Jesus.

Has the Gospel taken root in your heart like this? Are you bearing the fruit of righteousness?

The hope of heaven leads to faith (v4-5a).

This is backward thinking compared to the way most people view faith. The culture considers faith be what causes religious devotion. They view faith as the starting point and the hope of heaven as its end. The Muslim looks to Paradise because of his faith. The Buddhist and Hindu look to a better life next time and eventually Nirvana because of his faith. The culture says that you can choose a faith and that will guide your hope. They have no option but to emphasize faith because the only hope they have is a false hope. There is no truth behind their faith.

For the Christian, it works the other way. It is because of the truth of our future in heaven that we can have faith. We know that the truth isn’t true just because I believe it. I believe it because it is true, not the other way around. I don’t say that the Bible is true because I believe it; I believe it because it is true. BTW, no council decided that the Bible is true, or that the particular books of the Bible are the ones that belong there. People did not determine that the Bible is the Word of God. The community of God’s people merely recognized that the Bible is the Word of God. 

Look again at the end of v6. When the truth came, the Christians in Colossae recognized the truth and received God’s grace. 

Also notice that faith must be placed in Jesus Christ. The promise of heaven only exists for those who make Jesus Christ the object of their faith.

Have you made Jesus Christ the object of your faith? Are you trying to achieve any spiritual goal without utter dependence upon Jesus?

The hope of heaven leads to love (v4-5a).

When you know that ultimately you will live in heaven with Jesus forever, that changes the way you look at other people. You will be able to have love for all the saints. That means that you will be able to love every Christian you ever meet. You’d better love them because they are going to be your next-door neighbors for a long time!

Someone told you about Jesus (v7).

The Gospel not only grows, it also goes. Paul didn’t evangelize the town of Colossae. Epaphras got saved while in Ephesus and took the Gospel back home to Colossae. When the Gospel takes root in your life, it will be going to others through you.

Are you telling others about Jesus? Has the Gospel borne enough fruit in your life that you can share it with other people?

The praise and thanksgiving increase (v8,3).

The report of this church got back to Paul and he responded with praise and thanksgiving. We have now come full circle: Paul told Epaphras 🡪 Epaphras told people in Colossae 🡪 the people’s new life is told to Epaphras 🡪 Epaphras tells Paul. 

Illustration: ELM Pregnancy Center, Tailand

IMB missionaries Andrew and Beth Hipps prayed for years to establish a crisis pregnancy center in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Unsure where to start, they began building a network of believers and healthcare professionals eager to support those facing unexpected pregnancies. Eventually, Beth helped found the ELM Pregnancy Center, which now has seven care teams across Thailand.

These teams guide pregnant women and teens through their options, offering support at every stage of pregnancy and for up to two years after childbirth. Made up entirely of believers, the teams also look for opportunities to share their faith and the gospel. “We want to equip and empower women to choose life,” Beth explained.

God has provided everything needed for the center, from graphic designers for the logo to doctors and even a physical space. Beth finds joy in seeing God transform lives—not only of women with unplanned pregnancies, but also of those who answer His call.

Conclusion

Back to South Bend – The news channel 16 WNDU is passing along a warning from the Better Business Bureau against scammers. They are warning consumers to be careful when you are buying a Labubu. More than 70 people have reported purchasing counterfeit Labubus, according to the BBB’s “scam tracker.” In some cases, people who thought they were buying a Labubu got a fake one, or nothing at all. The BBB advises consumers to shop with reputable retailers and to be leery about deals that seem too good to be true. 

Here is a deal that is absolutely good, and absolutely true, and the price is absolutely free. Jesus paid for all of your sins and offers you a life of faith, love, and hope.

Blessings to Pray For Daily

Colossians 1:9-11a

Paul only knew this church by reputation but he continued to pray for them. He knew the issues they faced as they started a new life in Christ and built a new church family. He knew that they needed what every Christian always needs.  The things that he prayed for them are things every Christian always needs. Every Christian needs to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will on a daily basis (C.I.T.).

One claim of the false teachers was that they had some special revelation of “higher knowledge.” They were somehow privileged to know some insider information that put them in an elite class. There are teachers today that try to put themselves in an elite class of Christianity. The truth is that there is no higher category of Christianity. 

Paul didn’t use the simple word for “knowledge” as he described the knowledge of God’s will. He said that the knowledge of God’s will is “super-knowledge” (επιγνοσις). Whenever we pray, we should ask that God’s will be done (remember the Model Prayer). If we pray to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, we are praying to know the best thing there is to know.

Knowing God’s will gives us all wisdom.

Wisdom is under attack in our day. The internet has given everyone instant access to all sorts of data. Some of it is factual; some is errant. Google will search out almost any information you desire. The current craze is toward AI, which is just a more elaborate retrieval system. But, the internet only knows what someone told it, which is heavy on information but light on wisdom.

Illustration: smart phones are not “wise phones.”

Illustration: Information is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, not a vegetable. Wisdom is knowing not to put a tomato into a fruit salad. 

One of the oldest books on the planet is the book of Job, which reminds us that wisdom is not to be found in the world but only in the Lord.

Knowing God’s will gives us spiritual understanding.

Information can also masquerade as understanding. Understanding is far deeper than information. There are many things in life for which we have information but lack understanding. My smart phone is one. I may understand a bit about how to use it, but I certainly could not build another one.

When you have spiritual understanding, you will know what the real problem is when there is a complaint. The real problem is spiritual and the complainer needs to refresh their walk with Jesus.

Knowing God’s will gives us a perspective beyond ourselves. 

In other words, knowing God’s will is more that knowing God’s will for your life. His will goes beyond His will for you.

The Bible gives us here seven results of knowing God’s will:

1.  You will walk worthy of the Lord. The Christian life is a “walk.” It begins with a once-for-all transaction where you become a child of God and it continues daily as you get closer and closer to Jesus. When you know God’s will, every step will bring you closer to Jesus.

2.  You will please Him in all respects. Think about your entire life. Would you say that God is pleased with some parts of it? What about most of it? Would you be able to say that God is pleased with all of it? If you are honest with yourself, you will admit that you have work to do here. The more you know God’s will, the more you will be able to please Him.

3.  You will bear fruit in every good work. Would the people you know be surprised to find out that you are a Christian? If Christianity became illegal and you were arrested, would there be enough evidence to convict you? When you are filled with the knowledge of God’s will, your life will bear the fruit of the Spirit and your walk with the Lord will show up everywhere.

4.  You will increase in the knowledge of God. When you become a Christian, you begin to know God. But that is only the introduction. There is a lifetime of getting to know God better ahead. When you are filled with the knowledge of God’s will, you will not be content with your level of the knowledge of God that you currently have. You will always desire to know God more.

5.  You will be strengthened by God’s power. No matter how strong you are and how much will-power you possess, it is not enough. You are not strong enough to live the Christian life on your own. I have some great news for you – you don’t have to! When you are filled with the knowledge of God’s will, you have access to the inexhaustible power source of God’s strength.

6.  You will develop patience. Patience involves circumstances. The word literally means to “remain under.” You will be able to survive and thrive no matter what comes your way.

7.  You will develop long-suffering. Long-suffering (sometimes translated “endurance”) involves people. Face it – some people get on your nerves. We call these ERG people. That stands for Extra Grace Required. How do you handle ERG people? Pray for them! When you are filled with the knowledge of God’s will, you will be able to abide these people with the endurance of Jesus. When they are filled with the knowledge of God’s will, they will become more Christ-like and get all the grace they need.

Conclusion

This prayer is never-ceasing. Look over this list and write down a few that you need to pray for every day this week. Also write down a few names of people that you need to pray this prayer for this week.

Every Christian needs to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will on a daily basis.

If you are not a Christian, then that is God’s will for you right now! Have you told Jesus that you would like Him to be Lord of your life?

Blessings You Cannot Lose

Colossians 1:11b-14

As Paul continues his opening prayer for the Colossians, he thanks God for what the young Christians have that will never be taken from them. As they were starting their walk with the Lord and learning how to stay with the truth of the gospel, they were learning how Christianity is unique. They had begun a relationship with the one true God and they would never need to get dissuaded by any others. When you become a Christian, you can give thanks for blessings that you cannot lose (C.I.T.).

You can have a share in the inheritance (v12).

The instant you become a Christian, you are guaranteed a portion of the inheritance. This is because you are adopted into the family of God. If an earthly family brings in more children by adoption, the total inheritance is divided by a greater number of people, therefore everyone receives less. However, with God, this is not an issue. No one receives any less because God’s resources are immeasurable.

Illustration: Dividing Infinity

The luxury car division of Nissan call their cars Infinity. Spoiler Alert: they are not really infinite. You can tell because you can see both ends! But just imagine that there was a parking lot that went on forever in each direction and it was full of Infinity cars – an infinite number of cars. Also imagine that every fourth car was red and all the rest were black. If you took away all the red cars, you would still have the same number of cars – infinity!

Your inheritance as a Christian is infinite, and if ten more people become children of God, you will still have an infinite inheritance.

You can have deliverance (v13).

For your entire life before Christ, you have been a slave. You may not have realized it, but you were a puppet, a slave of sin. The Bible says here that you were a captive in the domain of darkness.

The false teachers in Colossae were claiming that they had access to a special illumination. Paul answered this claim showing that outside of Christ, all they had was darkness. Siddhartha may have claimed to be the Buddah, the “Enlightened One,” but he, too, was a resident of the domain of darkness. Their leader is Satan, who may seem like an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), but that is just a costume. He is a power in this world’s darkness (Eph. 6:12).

Jesus has mounted a rescue mission and has sallied forth behind enemy lines to grab you and relocate you into a new kingdom, the Kingdom of Jesus. The Kingdom of God is known here as the Kingdom of the Son He Loves. The enemy cannot retaliate, either. The Kingdom of God is impregnable. 

You can have redemption.

This is a non-refundable transaction. Jesus has purchased your freedom from slavery with His own blood. This is one reason why you can never lose your salvation – it isn’t yours! Your salvation belongs to Jesus because He paid for it!

You can have forgiveness.

This is the blessing that everyone needs. Every other religion in the world handles sin and transgressions in one of three ways:

1) You have to “make it up” to the god with some sort of offering.

2) You simply ignore them and pretend they have gone away.

3) You hope that you can balance them out by good deeds.

Instead, God cannot be bought with a bribe. Nor will He simply erase them and arbitrarily as that would be unjust. Also, there is no way to overcome even one sin because each one is too grievous. The only way to remove sin is to let the blood of Christ cover the price. Justice is served and true forgiveness is available.

If mankind’s greatest need was economic, God would have sent an economist. If mankind’s greatest need was financial, He would have sent a banker. If mankind’s greatest need was education, He would have sent one who was only a teacher. If mankind’s greatest need was political, He would have sent a politician. Instead, knowing that mankind’s greatest need is spiritual, He sent a Savior.

Jesus is the Creator

Colossians 1:15-17

Introduction

Paul wrote to the Colossians because he heard that they were dealing with some false teachers. Later, he will get into some specifics but he starts off with the main issue – the nature of Jesus Christ. All cults fail to acknowledge Jesus in His rightful position. Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of everything in the universe and deserves to be worshipped as Lord.

He is the image of the invisible God (v15a).

The Greek word for “image” used here is εικον, which means the “exact representation.” It is the way we use the word “icon” for the little pictures on a computer screen. You can start your menu and scroll through your programs and select which software you want to use, or you can click on the icon picture. Both will get you to the same place using your software. God the Father is invisible. Jesus is God the Son and He has been seen. Jesus is 100% God.

He is the first-born of Creation (v15b).

Don’t be confused by the term “first-born.” This does not mean that Jesus was the first One in all creation to ever be born. This is not a statement of time. This is a statement of rank, of position. Jesus Himself is not part of creation. The proper force of this grammar (genitive of subordination) comes through with the translation “First-born over creation” (NIV, NLT, CSB, NET).

Although the birthright passed to the oldest son in the family, all the episodes in the Bible show times when the priority passed to another son. This includes David, the eighth son of Jesse who is called the first-born in Psalm 89:27. In the New Testament, Jesus is called “first-born” five times (Col. 1:15,18; Rom. 8:29; Heb. 1:6; Rev 1:5).

Additionally, there are five times when Jesus is called “only-begotten” (John 1:14,18; 3:16; I John 4:9; all written by the Apostle John). That doesn’t mean that Jesus was ever “born” in the sense that He “came into being.” The better way to translate that is to say “unique,” or “One and only.” We know that Jesus has always existed, that He had no point of origin (Micah 5:2).

Jesus created everything (v16).

Here is where the false teachers depart. They will contend that Jesus was the first One that was created and then He created everything else. The Bible doesn’t say that Jesus created everything “else,” but that He created everything. In order to be the Creator, Jesus cannot be part of Creation.

Illustration: The Genie

There is a sense in which you can say that the Genie made the movie Aladdin. The Genie was witty and charming and without doubt is an audience favorite. Still, the Genie is a character in the movie and cannot be responsible for creating the movie. The creator of the movie has to be someone outside of the movie. In the same way, Robin Williams, with all his wit and charm was outside the Genie. Jesus existed outside the universe, created the universe, then stepped into the universe.

So just what did Jesus create? Look at the list (v16):

1. Stuff in heaven 
2. Stuff on earth (traditional idols)
3. Stuff you can see (nature)
4. Stuff you can’t see (friendship, love)
5. Kingdoms
6. Kings
7. Authority

Everything on this list has turned into something people worship instead of God:

Stuff in heaven 🡪 sun, moon, stars, horoscopes, angels

Stuff on earth 🡪 traditional idols

Stuff you can see 🡪 nature

Stuff you can’t see 🡪 superstition, destiny, luck, fate, ideas, Wicca

Kingdoms 🡪 U.S.A.

Kings, Authority 🡪 people, leaders

Now look at the prepositions (v16):

1. Creation is by Jesus.
2. Creation is through Jesus.
3. Creation is for Jesus.

We don’t often think about that last one. Everything in the universe is for Jesus. He is the goal of creation. Everything is for Jesus. This church is for Jesus, but so is everything else. That means everything you have is for Jesus – your home, your job, your family, your strength. 

Jesus sustains everything (v17).

If it wasn’t for the continuing work of Jesus, no two molecules would ever stay connected. Sodium and Chloride would not bond to make salt. Hydrogen and Oxygen would not bond to make water. Your language would no longer communicate to anyone else. Your paycheck would no longer be currency for the grocery store. Your friends and family would no longer know or like you. Nothing would hold together.

Conclusion

It’s one thing to realize that Jesus is Lord of Creation. It is quite another to submit to Him as Lord of your life. You don’t make Him Lord, He is Lord. When you put your trust in Him, you recognize just how dependent you are on Him for everything and allow Him to assume His rightful place as Lord over your life. Would you trust Him today?

Jesus Comes First

Colossians 1:18-20

The priority of Jesus extends through the entire universe. This early Hymn to Christ praises Jesus for being the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. That priority also needs to extend to your personally. He needs to have priority with us.

Jesus is the Head of the Church (v18a).

The Bible refers to the church as the body of Christ. This image is easy for us to understand because we all have a body. Each member of the church is a part of the body and each body part has a different job. The body parts don’t choose what to be; we are what we are made to be. None of us get to be the Head. There may be multiples of body parts, but there is only one Head.

The Head gives the body life, energy, and power. All instructions come from the Head. No body can function without a Head. An organization without Jesus as Head is simply not a church.

The body does not give the Head orders. Martha tried this. When Mary was not helping in the kitchen, she went to Jesus saying, “Jesus, tell her to…”

The body can give the Head pain. As members of the body, we can hurt the Head.

Jesus is the firstborn of the dead (v18b).

Here is another use of the term “firstborn.” Again, it does not mean first in time. Jesus had raised three others (son of the widow of Nain, Jairus’ daughter, and Lazarus). There were also three people in the Old Testament raised from death (the son of the widow of Zarephath, revived by Elijah; the son of the Shunammite woman, revived by Elisha; and a dead man whose body touched Elisha’s bones after the prophet’s death).

Jesus is the most important Person raised from the dead. His resurrection is a guarantee of our own resurrection.

Jesus needs to have first place in everything (v18c).

The Bible just says “everything” and doesn’t provide us a list like it does in other places. So, let me break it down a bit. Jesus needs to have first place:

• In your heart
• In your family
• In your home
• In your relationships
• In your recreation
• In your job
• In your bank 
• In your calendar
• In your to-do list
• In your emergency contact page
• In every day

Jesus has the totality of God permanently (v19).

Here is a little dig at something the false teachers were saying. They were imagining a conglomeration of all the divine attributes they could think of. Every god they could think of had a few specialties, and therefore, a few limits. They imagined an entity that had everything and they simply called it “the fullness.” Paul told the church that “the fullness” was real and had a name – Jesus.

Furthermore, this “fullness” did not temporarily land on Jesus. It dwells in Jesus. That means it has permanent residence in Jesus.

Jesus is way we are reconciled to God (v20a).

We have already learned that Jesus is the Creator and Redeemer. Now we learn that He is the Reconciler. Jesus is the only way for a person to be right with God. 

Jesus’ death is the path to peace (v20b).

Peace has a price. Peace treaties come after a war and there is usually a winner and a loser. We were at war with God and we lost. We were lost. In this case, the bloodshed that brings peace is from the Winner. Jesus won, and His blood shed on the cross is our path to peace. This is not just a cease-fire. Jesus has purchased for us a permanent peace. Lay down your arms and live in peace!

Before and After

Colossians 1:21-23

If you are planning to lose weight, make sure that you take a “Before” picture. Put it on the refrigerator. Better yet, put it on the internet. That what you are committed.

When Emmit Smith began his NFL career, he wrote 16,726 on a card and put it on his refrigerator. At the time, it was the NFL all-time rushing record held by Walter Payton. Smith said that posting that number made his goal a commitment. Smith is now the all-time leading rusher.

When you get your before picture, get busy! Weight loss pictures are the most commonly posted before-after pictures. After that, the next-most common pictures are of automobile restorations. Some of those are amazing, but of the two, I consider the weight-loss pictures more impressive. That’s because a restored car is making something what it used to be. A significant weight-loss picture is making something that probably never was – the way that something that ought to be. 

The Bible gives us a before and after picture of a Christian. Just like the “Before” pictures, the scene is ugly. The “After” picture is not what a person used to be, like a car, it is what a person always should have been. 

Before (v21)

Three descriptions of life before Christ:

1. Alienated
2. Hostile in mind
3. Engaged in evil deeds

These three build on each other. A person who is alienated, or as we might say, “marginalized,” is going to develop resentment and eventual hostility. This is the case of the first episode of hostility in the Bible. Cain was alienated and developed hostile thinking. Thoughts eventually lead to actions and the man outside of Christ will be constantly engaged in evil deeds.

After (v22)

After a person comes to Christ, they are reconciled through the physical death of Jesus. The actual death of Jesus is the only way anyone can be reconciled to God. Because a sin was committed, a payment must be made. The only acceptable payment is a death. Jesus’ death is so valuable that there is room to cover all sins. 

Why? Jesus wants to present you (v22):

1. Holy
2. Blameless, Faultless
3. Beyond reproach, Blameless

None of these terms mean that you are going to be perfect. None of us will be perfect this side of heaven. But we can be holy, that is, set apart. We can be blameless because Jesus has taken the blame and paid for our crime. We can be beyond reproach. Satan can no longer bring a charge against us when the highest court has declared us “not guilty.”

What’s the catch? (v23)

Having a firm commitment to Jesus is vital. You must remain, continue in the faith.

Stated positively – established and steadfast

Around two centuries ago Edward Mote wrote this great hymn:

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

This tells us the steadfastness of Christ. We know that Jesus is the Solid Rock. The question is whether or not you are building a solid foundation on it. 

Stated negatively – not moved away from the hope that you have heard, which is the gospel

The conditional “if” does not indicate that your salvation is somehow in jeopardy. It is a test of your commitment. Do you really have a solid commitment to Jesus?

Illustration: Three in the Furnace

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were threatened with being thrown into the furnace when they defied Nebuchadnezzar. Their commitment was firm. They would not bow to the idol because they knew that God could protect them. “But
even if He doesn’t,” they still would not bow. 

Conclusion

One more point about your before and after pictures – make sure they are in the right order. The “After” picture should be better! Make sure you can tell them apart! Your life in Christ should make such a radical difference in your life that your “After” picture doesn’t even look like the same person – because it isn’t!

Redeemed, How I Love To Proclaim It

Colossians 1:24-29

From his imprisonment in Rome, Paul told the Colossians that as Christians, they will experience suffering, but they will still be able to rejoice. They joy will be because they are entrusted with a ministry.

Rejoice in your suffering (v24).

In the New Testament, the word that gets the most emphasis is put first in the sentence. The first word here is “now.” When Paul wrote this, he was not picturing some imaginary suffering. This was not a contingency plan in case suffering ever happened. He was currently suffering as he wrote this from prison.

Fill in what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions (v24).

There is nothing lacking in the work of Christ. He did His job perfectly.

Jesus’ suffering had atoning value. Our suffering does not. 

Jesus’ suffering completely paid for our redemption. When we suffer, we are not helping Jesus to pay for our salvation. What comes to us is not part of the suffering of Christ; it is not even the same word. What comes to us is affliction.

Illustration: The Weatherman

A man asked the local news’ weatherman if he knew the weather for the week. 

The weatherman reasoned, “Yes, sure do.” 

“What about two weeks?” the man continued.

“Certainly,” responded the weatherman.

“Do you know the weather for the entire month?” the man asked again.

“Yes, the whole month,” the weatherman replied.

“You surely don’t know the weather for the next year, do you?” the man asked.

“Yes, the rest of this year, and the next!” the weatherman asserted.

“Well, why don’t you tell us?” the man persisted.

The weatherman replied, “Two years is a long time to be out of a job!”

Illustration: The college student calls home. The parents ask right away, “How much money do you need?” They know that the student will call when he needs money.  In the same way, we call on God when we need something.

C.S. Lewis said that pain is God’s megaphone to get our attention.

Jesus bore all the sin of the world. He took all the sin, but not all the suffering. He left some suffering on the table for us.

Minister with the skill God gave you (v25).

Reveal the mystery – Christ in you, the hope of glory! (v25-27).

Here is another place where Paul picked up the language of the false teachers and turns it around. The word “mystery” was a common religious word. There were several religions that were grouped together and called the “Mystery Religions.” Paul tells us that the real mystery of the ages is God’s revelation of Jesus.

The template for ministry:

How do we minister? Proclaiming, warning, teaching.

To whom do we minister? Everyone.

Why do we minister? So everyone will be mature in Christ.

One method – speaking

One audience – every person

One goal – maturity

Church Work

Colossians 2:1-5

The church can be hard work (v1).

The reason to work for the church is to encourage other people’s hearts (v2).

The reason to work for the church is to knit the church together.

1) We are knit together in love.

2) We are knit together in truth, the riches of full assurance of understanding.

3) We are knit together in the knowledge of God’s mystery – Jesus

BTW, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden away in Jesus (v3).

False teaching will divide the church (v4).

Persuasive arguments are not convincing proof.

Notice that truth unites, falsehood divides.

Church work is for everyone (v5).

Two military terms describe how every Christian should work:

1) Good order – structure, discipline

2) Firmness of faith – like the strength of a battle line

To maintain fitness, every Christian should work on the spiritual disciplines – Bible intake, prayer, worship, etc.

Bill Flavell posted this list in an article on Atheist Alliance International.

1. There is clear evidence that prayer does not work despite the Bible promising prayers will be answered.
2. There is clear evidence that humans invent gods. Humans have invented so many gods that the default assumption should be that a god is a supernatural entity invented by humans. Christianity would need solid evidence that the Jewish god is an exception to this rule but there is no such evidence.
3. There is clear evidence that religions and gods are propagated through culture by infecting children, and no evidence that they are propagated by gods.
4. There is clear evidence that Christianity has evolved as human understanding of the world has changed whilst a real, God-given religion, should never need to change.
5. There is clear evidence that humans on this planet have unequal access to Christianity so, if Christianity were true, billions would be condemned to hell for no fault of their own. This contradicts the Christian notion that God is omnibenevolent.
6. There is clear evidence that the Bible, supposedly inspired by God, is liberally sprinkled with the type of errors we would expect from its Iron Age authors but would not expect from the creator of the universe.
7. Christian theology is incoherent to the point of absurdity. God killing his son so he can forgive our future sin is like me breaking my son’s legs so I can forgive my neighbor in case she ever parks her car on my drive. It is quite ridiculous.
8. There is clear evidence that the arguments presented for the existence of the Jewish God are logically flawed—all of them have been shown to be unreliable. If this were not the case, all honest and intelligent people would accept that God exists, just as all honest and intelligent people accept that black holes exist.

Disciple Life

Colossians 2:6-7

Discipleship begins after conversion:

Step 1 = Receive Christ as Savior AND Lord

Step 2 = Learn to order your life to look like Jesus

I God has given us a command (commands are not optional; they are directives from the King!

Continue to live in Him (CSB)

So walk in Him (ESV)

II How are we to do this?  We have four patterns to follow (all participles depending from the imperative):

1. Be rooted in Him.

2. Be built up in Him.

3. Be established in the faith.

Notice that faith has the article.  It is THE faith, the proper teaching of Christ.

Notice that the faith is delivered as you were taught.

4. Overflow with gratitude.

III “Walking” is all the time.  Some translations even say “live.”

The Greek word for “walk” is a compound word saying, literally, “foot around.”

The Shema (Deut 6) was for all day long, 24/7, we don’t close!

Illustration:

• When the bell rings 🡪 math is over (yay!)
• When the bell rings 🡪 reading is over (yay!)
• When the bell rings 🡪 lunch is over (boo!)
• But – The bell never rings on discipleship.

New Year, New Me

Colossians 3:5-11

I know three families that are starting this year mourning a loss. 

In a spiritual sense, we are told to have a funeral for the things that belong to the earthly nature (v5).

There are five listed sins of the worldly nature:

1) fornication, sexual immorality

2) uncleanness, impurity

3) passion, lust (used 3x’s in the N.T. always associated with evil

4) evil lusts, evil desires

5) covetousness, greed (which actually is idolatry)

Put the old nature to death – and don’t keep it on life support!

The sins listed in this order move from the specific and outward to the general and inward. This is the direction that sin works on us. God, however, changes us from the inside out.

Putting the old nature to death flows naturally from readjusting you thinking to God’s. It is the flip side of setting your mind on things above (from v2).

Sin is never skin-deep.

Illustration: Abraham’s camp

Genesis 12:8 tells us that when Abraham arrived in Canaan, he camped between Ai (“house of ruin”) and Bethel (“house of God”). Every day and with every step, he either moved toward God or ruin.

All sin will incur God’s wrath (v6). The present-tense verb shows us that wrath happens immediately, not “wait ‘till your father gets home.”

Before Christ, this was your way of life (v7). Sin is “business as usual” for those who are disobedient, ungodly, and regenerate.

Illustration: This is the time of year to take that “Before” picture!

Illustration: Yesterday there was a line at least 50 cars long to get into the city dump. There is a lot of trash to take out at this time of year. There is a lot of clothes to donate at this time of year.

God lists 5 more things to take off like clothing (v8):

1) anger

2) wrath

3) malice 

4) slander

5) obscenity

These are the most common, the heavy hitters. These five cover a lot of ground and mostly deal with our speech.

Illustration: What do the letters R,S,T, L, N, and E have in common?

1) They are worth 1 point in Scrabble, and

2) They are the most common letters, and are “given” in the final round on “Wheel of Fortune.”

Do not lie because (v9-10):

1) you have already put off the old and put on the new

2) you are constantly being renewed to look like Christ

Earthly distinctions are moot – Jesus is everything! (v11).

The Christian’s New Clothes

Colossians 3:12-14

Christians are (v12):

Elect

Holy

Beloved

The New Garments to Put On (v12-13):

affection of compassion

kindness

humility

gentleness

long-suffering (sometimes translated “patience”)

enduring one another

forgiving each other

when someone has a complaint

just as the Lord forgave you

The Necessary Accessory (v14)

love above all

Love is the necessary accessory that completes the outfit

Illustration: The Adele Selfu story

The Tragedy
During the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Adele and her husband, a Seventh-day Adventist pastor, were hiding in a church in Rwamagana. 

• Loss: Adele lost her husband and multiple children during the killing.
• Injuries: She was severely attacked with machetes, receiving blows to her head, face, and arm.
• Survival: Left for dead, she lay in a hospital for four days without medical care before being found alive. She spent three months in recovery. 

Forgiveness and Transformation
After recovering, Adele decided not to harbor bitterness and instead chose to minister to the prisoners who had participated in the killings. 

• The Killer: She identified a young man, often referred to as Luis, who had killed her husband and children.
• Reconciliation: While visiting prisons, she brought food and clothing to the murderers. Luis, overwhelmed by her kindness, asked for her forgiveness.
• Adoption: Adele publicly forgave Luis, saying, “In the name of Jesus, I will forgive you”. Upon his release from prison, because his own family had been killed and he had nowhere to go, Adele adopted him as her son. 

The Christian’s Composure

Developing Consistent Gratitude

Colossians 3:15-17

I Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts (v15).

This word means “rule as an umpire.” In a sporting contest the umpire has the final word. Many sports have begun to incorporate information from the instant replay cameras. However, they only provide one extra source of input. The final authority remains with the umpire.

Some missed calls are famous, like the one where one person caught the ball and another grabbed it at the same time. The professional umpires were on strike and the replacements called it a touchdown instead of an interception. This catch is now called the “Fail Mary.” The funniest one is when the umpire made the wrong call on the coin toss. 

Jesus wants your life to be under the total umbrella of His peace. That means that whatever you are facing, whatever trial or difficulty is coming, whatever suffering or loss you are coping with, you will be directed and governed by the peace of Christ.

Think about when Jesus was asleep on the boat during a storm. The storm was so bad that the disciples who grew up fishing on that sea were scared to death. Jesus’ solution was simple. He faced the storm and commanded, “Peace, be still.”

The second command in this verse is to be thankful. Don’t get these out of order. Gratitude should flow naturally from peace. When Jesus calms your storms, it should immediately follow to be thankful.

II Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you (v16).

A. Three actions with the Word: teaching, admonishing, singing.

These are commands. If you are not a gifted teacher in a class setting, you can still teach someone about Jesus if the word is living in you. If you are not a motivational speaker, you can still show someone the right way if the word of truth is dwelling richly in you. If you don’t have the vocal chords to make a good impression to the judges on America’s Got Talent, you can still worship the Lord by singing. Don’t tell God that you don’t have a good voice – He made your voice and He wants to hear it!

B. Three expressions of worship: psalms, hymns, spiritual songs.

Psalms are the poetry and music that are in the Bible. The 150 chapters of the book of Psalms are not all of them, either. Hymns are poems meant to be sung which reflect careful crafting of theological truth and doctrine delivered in linguistic beauty. Spiritual songs are heart-felt free expressions of worship to the Lord usually geared toward praise and lament.

III Do everything in Christ’s name (v17).

This is another of the broad statements in Scripture that exists to close all possible loopholes. If you are reading Scripture looking for ways that the text does not apply to you, verses like this one nullify that possibility. Everyone is doing something all the time. As Christians, we are charged to dedicate that activity to the glory of God. 

You can easily see the application of the verse above. You can sing in the name of Jesus. You can teach in the name of Jesus. You can admonish others in the name of Jesus. You can also draw connections to v15 without difficulty by surrendering any troubling situation to Jesus’ peace for His greater glory. This verse pushes the boundaries back to “whatever you do.” That means you can pray for your family and friends in the name of Jesus. You can drive in the name of Jesus. You can go to work in the name of Jesus. You can invite someone to church in the name of Jesus. Whatever you do!

Conclusion

In a Major League Baseball game played on June 2, 2010, at Detroit’s Comerica Park, Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga nearly became the 21st pitcher in Major League Baseball history to throw a perfect game. Facing the Cleveland Indians, Galarraga retired the first 26 batters he faced. His bid for a perfect game was ruined one out short when first-base umpire Jim Joyce incorrectly ruled that Indians batter Jason Donald reached first base safely on a ground ball. Galarraga instead finished with a one-hit shutout in a 3–0 victory. He faced 28 batters and threw 88 pitches (67 strikes and 21 balls), striking out three. The game is sometimes referred to as the “28-out perfect game“,^[1] the “almost perfect game“, the “extra perfect game“, the “imperfect game“,^[2] or simply the “Galarraga game“.^[3]

Joyce was tearful and apologetic upon meeting with Galarraga after the game after realizing that he had made an incorrect call. Galarraga was forgiving and understanding of the mistake, telling reporters after the game, “Nobody’s perfect.”^[4] Many others throughout Major League Baseball subsequently voiced their support for Joyce. The sportsmanship demonstrated by Galarraga and Joyce earned them widespread praise for their handling of the incident.^[5][6]

In real life, no one is perfect. Jesus, however, is perfect. He offers us perfect peace, perfect wisdom, and perfect strength. Basically, when you give your life to Christ, you trade all your mistakes for His perfection. You trade your ugliness for His beauty. 

Colossians 3:18-4:1

There are several places in the New Testament with passages like this one. It was a common feature in many “how to” books at the time. Many secular writers put out lists of how homes and businesses should operate. The New Testament letters copied their style but the substance was very different, often opposite.

When you think about the Christian’s new clothes (v12-14), you remember that the key word is “love” (v14). Just above, you read of the Christian’s new composure (v15-17) and the key word there is “thanks” at the end of each verse. Here in the Christian code, notice that the key phrase is “in the Lord.” Paul refers to the Lord seven times in nine verses. All these relationships are ordained by God. God put them in place and God knows how they should each operate. It is not normal by the world’s point of view; it is different. That’s because God expects His people to be different.

The instructions in the Code of Colossians are given in three pairs, with the weaker party listed first.

I First Pair – wives and husbands (3:18-19)

A. Wives are to be submissive (v18).

Submission is not subservience or a mark of inferiority. It is a voluntary recognition of authority. No one can force you to submit. They may force you to yield, but only you can submit. 

The secular Roman world wrote codes like this but always told wives to “obey.” God’s people are different and God’s ways are different. 

The Greek word “submit” is literally translated “stand underneath.” The Christian wife is to stand. She has worth and honor. She is a child of God. Her position is under the leadership of her husband.

B. Husbands are to love and not be bitter (v19).

It’s my belief pride is the chief cause in the decline
In the number of husbands and wives

~ Roger Miller

Love is an action word. It is commanded of husbands. Remember that gives commands for things that don’t come naturally. Emotions are not commanded, actions and behaviors are. Love is selfless, sacrificial concern.

Bitterness leads to harsh treatment. It cannot be left to grow unchecked.

II Second pair – children and fathers (v20-21)

A. Children are to obey (v21).

Obedience is different from submission. The younger a child is, the less they need to understand and the less say they have in the matter. The main thing they need to learn is to do what they are told. 

B. Fathers are not to exasperate the children (v22).

Men are on the list twice. This command is here because it is easy for fathers to push their kids too hard. This causes resentment and can destroy relationships. Fathers, you are not sculpting little statues of what you wish you were. You are shaping a child in the way he should go.

III Third pair – slaves and masters (3:22-4:1)

A. Slaves are to obey (v22-25).

The Bible adds regulations to slavery, but never commands slavery. Human trafficking is evil. The instructions given in the Bible planted the seeds which would eventually end slavery. Everywhere in the world that slavery has been abolished, it is due to the influence of Christians.

“Slaves” fits all of us now because everyone has a boss somewhere. If you are self-employed, you have lots of bosses.

Whatever your job is, do it with all your heart because you are really working for the Lord. Don’t work diligently only when people are watching (eye-service) or when it gets you recognition (men-pleasers).

B. Masters are to be just and fair (4:1).

Every master has a master. The ultimate master is God. Every boss and leader is accountable to God.

Conclusion

God’s ways are different. This whole system is different because of the Lord.

The Christian’s Conversation

Colossians 4:2-6

The Christian’s conversation has dual focal points – prayer and witness. Prayer is simply a conversation with God. Witness is a conversation with people which reflects Jesus. Both aspects come to us as imperatives.

I Ingredients of Effective Prayer (v2-4)

A. Persistence. We are told to persist in prayer – to devote ourselves (CSB) and continue earnestly in it (NKJV). We are to be busily engaged in prayer. 

B. Attention. Along with our devotion to prayer, we are to stay focused and alert.

C. Thanksgiving. Every prayer should be a prayer of thanksgiving.

What did Paul ask the church to pray for?

1. Opportunity. He wanted an open door for the gospel (v3).

2. Ability. He wanted to share the gospel in the most appropriate way (v4).

II Ingredients of Powerful Witness (v5-6)

A.  Walk. This is about daily living and actions (v5).

1. We should be tactful, lit. “buying back the time.”

2. We should be resourceful.

B.  Talk. This involves all personal interactions (v6).

1. We should be gracious (v6a).

2. We should be tasteful (v6b).

3. We should be tailored to the situation (v6c).

The Christian’s Companions

Colossians 4:7-18

Like many of Paul’s letters, Colossians closes with personal greetings. The two longest lists of greetings were here and Romans, two churches that he had never visited. He made an extra effort to keep Christians connected. The New Testament missionaries had teams: Paul and Barnabas; Barnabas and Mark; Paul and Silas; Priscilla and Aquilla. etc.

Churchwork is teamwork.

Tychicus (v7-8) – the letter carrier. He was a Christian from Ephesus who joined Paul’s team, and was sent to help several churches, including the church in Ephesus.

Onesimus (v9) – the slave who got saved. He ran away from his master Philemon, met Paul in Rome and got saved. Paul sent him back to Philemon in Colossae because he was useful for the church work there.

Aristarchus (v10) – fellow prisoner. He was from Thessalonica. He joined Paul’s team after first being arrested in the riot in Ephesus.

Mark (v10) – author of the gospel. Mark is Barnabas’ cousin and companion on the first missionary trip. He abandoned the team for some unknown reason, which later caused a split with Paul. They later reconciled and Mark because useful in ministry. His material for the gospel came largely from Peter.

Jesus Justus (v11) – with the four above are either Jews or of the circumcision party.

Epaphras (v12) – a minister from Colossae who founded the church at Colossae and others in the Lycus valley. He is not the same as Epaphroditus of Philippi.

Luke (v14) – missionary team member and doctor. He later did excellent research and penned Luke and Acts, possibly Hebrews.

Demas (v14) – originally a fellow-worker with Paul, but later left Paul and the ministry because he “loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10).

Nympha (v15) – hostess of a church, probably the one in Laodicea.

Archippus (v17) – needed a gentle reminder. Probably a relative of Philemon.

Why can’t I just do Christianity by myself?

When I was young, I loved watching The Lone Ranger. However, he was not really alone; he had Tonto. He was also a friend of every sheriff in every town.

God commands us to meet together for mutual encouragement (Heb. 10:24-25).

Happiness Only Real When Shared

In the book Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer tells of Chris McCandless’ quest to find happiness. Chris was certain that time alone in the Alaskan wilderness, living off the land, was his ticket to fulfillment. The book, which was made into a movie in 2007, records two years of Chris’ journey to Alaska. After arriving there and spending 100 days in solitude he read these words in Doctor Zhivago: “an unshared happiness is not happiness.” Chris wrote in the margin next to these words, “HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED.” Chris McCandless had discovered a truth about human existence: God created us for relationships.

There is a friend that is closer than a brother – Pro. 18:24

Neighbor Is a Long-Lost Brother : Family, Friendship, Neighbors

When Tommy Larkin, 30, began searching for his long-lost biological brother, he didn’t know how far he’d have to travel from his Newfoundland, Canada, home. Then the agency that arranged adoptions for both boys when they were toddlers called with the address of Larkin’s brother, Stephen Goosney, 29. Goosney’s house was right across the street. “I said … ‘I am looking at the house right now!’ ” recalls Larkin. Now the two see each other nearly every day. “We both have families,” Goosney said, “but this is as close as it gets.” Larkin’s story is larger than life—his long-lost brother was a neighbor he’d never taken time to know. While the odds of your neighbor being a biological brother are microscopic, the odds that they could be a friend are great.