Well, good evening. Let me thank you again for the invitation to come and to spend the weekend with you.
It has been a real joy and an encouragement.
And please do be assured of our prayers for yourself as a congregation.
And we cherish your prayers for our fellowship in Kilmally and Ardenamerican.
We come this evening to worship God.
And as we do, some words from the psalmist.
Give thanks to the Lord. Call upon his name.
Make known his deeds among the people. Sing to him.
Sing praises to him. Tell of all his wondrous works.
Well, we're going to sing praises to our great God and Savior in the words of the 100th Psalm,
the metrical version of the 100th Psalm, which can be found on page 362 of the Scottish Psalter.
And we'll sing verses 1 to 5 of the 100th Psalm.
O people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with birth, his grace forthel.
Come ye before him and rejoice.
Know that the Lord is called in thee.
With a kind in thee, heaven's day.
We are his folk, he doth us take.
And for his sheep, he doth us take.
O enter then his gates with grace.
Approach with joy, his courts unto.
Praise God and bless his name always.
For why the Lord our God is good.
His mercy is forever sure.
His truth that old and earthly stood.
And shall promise to each nature.
Let us now approach almighty God in prayer.
Let us pray.
Gracious God, our hearts do rejoice to approach your courts once more with joy.
To enter these gates with praise.
Lord, how we delight to sing to you.
To tell forth your praise to one another and to the wider world.
How we love to sing of your mercy and your steadfast love.
How we love to praise you that your word is truth.
How we love to reflect on your goodness to us.
That you have saved us.
That you have sustained us.
And all this through your sovereign grace.
Lord, how good it is for us to know that we are the sheep of your pasture.
We are those you feed with the milk of your word.
We are those you lead through the guidance of your Holy Spirit.
As you lead us to streams of water.
Where you restore and refresh our souls.
And how good it is to know that you are our shepherd.
As we pass through days of difficulty.
As some of us perhaps walk through that darkest valley even tonight.
To know that we need not fear any evil.
For you are with us.
Your rod and your staff they comfort us.
For you are our shepherd.
Our shepherd.
And so we come to you in faith.
In faith believing in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The good shepherd.
We look to him.
To his death and resurrection.
We look to his laying down of his life.
And his taking it up again.
In order that we might know the forgiveness of our sins.
And we might be raised to newness of life.
We thank you that he is alive forevermore.
Death has no dominion over him.
And that he cares for us day and night.
That he keeps watch over us.
Our comings.
Our goings.
That he keeps our lives.
Thank you for his tender care.
That he carries his lambs close to his chest.
That he binds up our wounds.
That he drives away the wolves.
Who would lead us away from the fold and from the father.
And so this evening as we gather in his name.
For the final time this weekend.
We ask that the love of Christ.
May be found among us.
That the peace of Christ would rule in our hearts.
As one body of his people.
That the word of Christ would dwell in us richly.
As we sing to one another.
With psalms and spiritual songs.
And that the name of Christ may be honored.
In all we say and do.
Today.
And into the week to come.
And so we thank you.
And worship you.
And pray to you now.
In his holy name.
Amen.
Well our second item of praise.
Is taken from Sing Psalms.
Page 163.
Sing Psalms.
Psalm 119.
Verse 97.
To verse 104.
Oh Lord.
How much I love your holy law.
I meditate upon it all the day.
It makes me wiser than my enemies.
For your commandments ever with me stay.
Psalm 119.
Verse 97.
Through to verse 104.
and four.
It makes me wiser than my enemies, for your commandments never let me stay.
I have more insight than my teacher job, for all new laws I've meditated each day.
I've more discerned than the elder job, because your righteous receipts are holy.
I've kept my feet from every evil path, but I may be obedient to your word,
and I have not departed from your laws.
For you yourself have taught me this, O Lord.
How pleasing to my taste are all your words, for sweet they are that had me on my tongue.
From your commands I gain enlightenment.
So I reject and teach path as strong.
Well, this evening I wanted to read together with you from Paul's letter to the Colossians,
in chapter 3, reading the first 17 verses.
Colossians chapter 3, verses 1 to 17.
If you have before your church Bible, that's on page 1185.
Let us hear together the word of God.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you,
sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
On account of these, the wrath of God is coming.
In these, you too once walked when you were living in them,
but now you must put them all away.
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices,
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free,
but Christ is all and in all.
Put all men as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Bearing with one another, and if one has a complaint against another,
forgiving each other.
As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
And above all these, put on love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you,
richly teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do,
in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
And we do give thanks to God the Father for his word to us.
We'll sing once more now.
This time from Sing Psalms, page 17.
We'll sing Psalm 16,
beginning at verse 7,
and singing through to the end of the psalm.
Page 17,
Psalm 16,
I'll praise the Lord my God,
whose counsel guides my choice,
and even in the night my heart
recalls instruction's voice.
I'll praise the Lord my God,
whose counsel guides my choice,
and even in the night my heart,
recalls instruction's voice.
Before me constantly,
I said,
The Lord,
the Lord,
because he is at my right hand,
I'll not be overgrown.
Therefore,
my heart is clout,
My tongue with joy will sing,
My body to rest secure,
In hope unwevering,
For you will not allow,
My soul in death to stay,
What will you leave,
Your holy one,
To see the tombs decay,
You have made known to me,
The path of life divine,
This shall I know,
At your right hand,
Joy from your face will shine.
Well, please do keep your Bible open there to Colossians chapter 3,
as we think together about our new life in Christ.
I'm not much of a football fan,
But I know that with the summer season comes the transfer market,
As players are sold often at great expense from one club to another.
A transferred player comes under new management.
They put on a new group,
They find themselves with new teammates,
Part of a new community.
And in a sense, that's a bit like the Christian life.
When we come to know the Lord,
We come under new management.
We have a new identity.
We belong to a new community.
It is a picture of the Christian life.
It is a picture of the difference Christ makes.
This morning we thought about the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We came to the very heart of the gospel,
The matters the Apostle Paul described as of first importance.
The Psalms, the prophecies of the Old Testament,
Looked forward to the events that were fulfilled at Calvary's cross.
And at the empty tomb.
And the death and resurrection of our Lord are at the foundation of the Christian life,
But also the basis of our Christian experience.
And in Colossians chapter 2 from verse 20 into the chapter we read, chapter 3,
We see that when we trust the Lord Jesus Christ,
We die to the old ways.
We are raised to newness of life.
We are transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of Christ.
And more than that, we are transformed.
We are renewed after the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And that was the experience of the young church in Colossae.
It's a very interesting history of that church.
It's in Asia Minor, what we would now know as Turkey.
And it's not a church the Apostle Paul ever visited.
It seems that when he was preaching around Asia Minor,
He met this fellow Epaphras, who was from Colossae.
Epaphras encountered Paul's ministry.
He encounters Paul's message.
He encountered Paul's Messiah.
And he became a believer.
And Epaphras was excited about his new faith.
And when he went home, he told everyone,
He wanted to share with everyone what had happened to him.
And so we imagine he might have rounded up his friends and his family,
His school classmates, his work colleagues.
Maybe he prepared a buffet.
And then he shared with them his testimony and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And it seems that a church was born, a small, fledgling church that met in the home of this man Philemon.
But the gospel bore fruit.
As Paul reminds us in chapter 1, it's bearing fruit all around the world.
And he prayed that it would continue to bear fruit in their lives.
The fruit of faith and of love and of hope.
So though he hadn't met them, he had heard of them.
And so Paul, who himself was in prison at this time, writes to them.
To tell them of his joy.
And to encourage them in their faith.
And the purpose of the letter seems to be to encourage them to continue in Christ,
in whom all the fullness of deity dwells.
There was circulating at that time false teaching.
Teaching based upon human tradition.
Human teaching.
A teaching that seemed to encourage either legalism on one hand or mysticism on the other.
And Paul writes to this young church to remind them to remain faithful to Christ.
Not to become distracted by the latest fad and novelty circulating.
He reminds them not to be enslaved to human teachings.
Because a divine work has taken place in their lives.
They have died with Christ.
And they have been raised with Christ.
You see, the Christian faith is not a matter of turning over a new leaf.
It is beginning a new life.
They were raised to newness of life.
They died to the old ways of life.
And so he reminds them to continue in Christ.
To keep looking to the glorious inheritance which is theirs in him.
One with himself, I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by his blood.
My life is safe with Christ on high.
With Christ, my Savior and my God.
They were residents in Colossae.
Maybe they'd grown up there.
Maybe they'd built homes there.
But ultimately they were citizens of heaven.
They had houses.
But their true home was with Christ above.
And so having been raised to newness of life,
they are to die to the old way of life.
What a former generation of Christians called mortification.
Putting to death the old ways in which they once walked.
If you're a rugby fan, maybe you sing Flower of Scotland at Scotland Games.
And it has that line,
Those days are past now.
And in the past they must remain.
Well, for the believer, those words could be written under the old life.
These things are in the past.
And in the past they must remain.
Because we've been raised to newness of life.
And so in our reading this morning in verses 5,
this evening in fact 5 to 11,
Paul reminds them to put out the old.
In verse 12 to 17, to bring in the new.
Putting out the old.
Putting to death.
Putting away.
And then putting on the new in Christ.
The story is told of a couple of young ladies who would attend parties.
Wild parties.
And they became to faith.
And they got an invitation one day through the post saying,
Come to this party.
It's going to be great.
And they wrote back and said,
We cannot attend because we are dead.
They had died to the old way of life.
Those days are past now.
And in the past they must remain.
And Paul underlines this break with the past in three ways.
Verse 5, he says, put to death.
Verse 8, he says, put away.
Verse 9, he says, put off.
He is emphasizing the decisive break with the past.
When someone comes to a living faith in the living Lord Jesus.
And the Colossians used to live.
They used to walk in the ways of the ancient world.
Verse 7, he says, in these you used to walk when you were living in them.
Ways that were not pleasing to God.
And Paul has this rather unhappy list between verse 5 and between verse 9 and verse 5.
In which he really describes the pattern of life in the ancient world.
It reads rather like the works of the flesh.
He describes elsewhere in Galatians 5.
And he describes how the people of his day.
And how the people of Colossae used to walk.
How they used to talk.
He describes their conduct.
Their conversation.
He describes how they used their body and their tongue.
And he says their lives were characterized by a lack of self-control.
And by loose speech.
Verse 5, immorality.
Impurity.
Passion.
Evil desire.
Covetousness.
And idolatry.
This was normal in the ancient world.
This was acceptable.
This is what everybody was doing.
And though it was acceptable to the wider society.
It wasn't acceptable to God.
Verse 6, on account of these.
The wrath of God is coming.
People abusing their own bodies.
People using and abusing one another for entertainment and exploitation.
And he says, you as Christians, you've got to put that to death.
You've got to close the door.
You've got to draw a line under it.
And you've got to honor God with your body.
Because you are now part of Christ's body.
And so honor him with your body.
So he warns them about a lack of self-control.
And then he warns them against loose speech.
Verse 8.
Put these away.
Anger.
Wrath.
Malice.
Slander.
And obscene talk from your mouth.
I wonder if that list describes the atmosphere in anybody's home.
Or anybody's workplace.
Or anybody's school playground.
He warns them against anger.
Outbursts of anger.
Shouting matches.
Slagging matches.
He warns them against malice.
Gossip.
Slander.
Talking about people behind their back.
Tearing them down.
Instead of building them up.
Sarcasm.
Or as one person I met called it.
Scarcasm.
Bullying.
Cyberbullying.
Cynical.
Critical.
Language.
And he warns them against obscene talk from their mouths.
Blasphemy.
Casual.
Innuendo.
Finally verse 9.
Against lying.
Deception.
Even the little white lie.
And the Apostle Paul says that when we come to Christ.
He is Lord over not just our bodies.
But over our mouths.
Not just our conduct has to change.
But our conversation as well.
When I was growing up in the 80s.
There was a comedy duo called Cannon and Ball.
I'm sure some of you remember them.
And they used to do stand-up comedy.
They used to present at TV shows.
And they enjoyed all the trappings of celebrity life.
But it came at a cost.
And they experienced some difficulties.
And in the midst of these difficulties.
One of them became a Christian.
There was an evangelist who used to visit theatres.
And he shared the gospel with one of them.
And he shared the gospel with his comedy partner.
And they both came to faith.
And they quite literally cleaned up the act.
They weren't on television so much.
Their careers didn't reach the same highs.
But they continued to perform.
And they said we don't do that anymore.
We don't do blue language.
Unless our show is family friendly.
We don't do it.
Because the Lord had cleaned up their act.
He had cleaned out their mouths.
And they put away the old conversation.
The old speech.
The old self.
Proverbs has much to say.
About speech.
It's New Testament counterpart.
The letter of James.
Has much to teach us.
About the tongue.
It's power for good.
And it's power for evil.
It's capacity to bless.
And it's potential to curse.
And it says no man can tame the tongue.
But there is one.
And the God man.
The Lord Jesus Christ.
Can tame our tongues.
And put a new song into our mouths.
So we are to put to death.
Put away.
Put off the old ways.
And the reason is.
Verse 10 and verse 11.
Because we have a new identity in Christ.
And we belong to a new community.
Community in Christ.
Negatively we put off.
Put away the old ways.
But positively.
We put on.
The new self.
Verse 10.
And in his letter.
Paul has introduced us.
To a range of theological concepts.
He's taught us.
That we have redemption in Christ.
We have literally been bought back.
From slavery to sin.
He has bought us back.
Not with silver and gold.
But with his own blood.
We have redemption.
And we have reconciliation.
To God as our father.
Once each of us was alienated.
Hostile in mind.
Doing evil deeds.
Peace.
But now.
Chapter 1 verse 22.
He has reconciled us.
In his body.
Making peace.
In order that we might be holy.
And blameless before him.
And in these.
Verses here.
He introduces us.
To the idea of renewal.
Of regeneration.
That the Lord is inwardly.
Transforming us.
Day by day.
By his spirit.
More and more.
Into the likeness of Christ.
One hymn writer says.
In these words.
Lord change.
To flesh.
My stony heart.
The veil of sin.
Again remove.
Apply your blood.
Renew.
Convert.
And melt it.
By your dying love.
This heart.
By love.
Subdue.
And by your spirit.
Make it new.
C.S. Lewis.
Said that when.
The Lord.
Moves into.
Our hearts.
He doesn't just make.
A few repairs.
He undertakes.
A major renovation.
Of our lives.
Sometimes.
Uncomfortable.
But ultimately.
That we might be renewed.
In knowledge.
After the image.
Of our creator.
So we have a new identity.
And we belong.
To a new community.
Verse 11.
One in which there is neither.
Greek nor Jew.
Circumcised.
Uncircumcised.
Barbarian.
Slivian.
Scythian.
Slave.
Or free.
The Christian church.
Is the most.
Diverse.
Body.
Institution.
On the face.
Of the planet.
And in the first century.
It was characterized.
By that same diversity.
There were Jewish.
Believers.
There were.
Greek.
Believers.
The sophisticated.
Cultured.
Greek.
Would be found.
Sitting in the pew.
Next to the tough.
Barbarian.
Or the Scythian.
The slaves.
Would find themselves.
On an equal footing.
With their masters.
All divisions.
Of race.
And class.
And freedom.
Were done away with.
Or ought to have been done away with.
Because all.
Were in Christ.
And Christ is all.
And in.
All.
Whole.
And so they belonged.
To a new.
Community.
And the characteristic.
Of that community.
Verse 12.
Was to be.
Holiness.
Drawing on language.
From the Old Testament.
Paul tells us.
That they together.
Were God's chosen ones.
Holy.
And.
Beloved.
So they had to put to death.
The old ways.
For their individual good.
And for the good.
Of the Christian community.
In which they had been called.
If they were to continue living.
And speaking.
And behaving.
As they formerly had.
It would be harmful.
To the community.
It would probably blow.
The little church apart.
And so Paul says.
Put all these things away.
You've got a new identity.
In Christ.
God is at work in you.
And you are one of his people.
In his community.
It's a lovely picture.
Isn't it?
Of the before and after.
Of the Christian life.
How they used to walk.
How they now.
Lived.
It looks very similar.
To.
The description.
Of the works of the flesh.
In Galatians chapter 5.
Just as the following verses.
Remind us of the fruit.
Of the spirit.
But Paul says.
Put to death.
Put away.
Put off.
These old paths.
Because you have a new identity.
And you belong to a new community.
In Christ.
But what is to be the characteristic?
What are to be the characteristics.
Of that new community?
And in verse 12.
He gives us this list.
This list of spiritual.
Adjectives.
Of spiritual fruit.
And interestingly.
As he addresses the people.
He does so in plural verbs.
So he's writing.
Not only to us as individuals.
In the individual qualities.
Of our lives.
But he's writing to what a congregational life.
Should look like.
What should be the characteristics.
Of a congregation.
Of his people.
And we notice how often.
That phrase.
One another.
Is repeated.
We are to bear with one another.
We are to forgive one another.
We are to teach and admonish one another.
And so in using that language.
And employing these plurals.
The apostle Paul is assuming.
That as Christians.
We will belong.
To a believing community.
That we will gather together.
And meet together.
For encouragement.
That our lives will overlap.
Not only on a Sunday service.
Or perhaps a midweek meeting.
But at other points during the week.
When we enjoy friendship.
And fellowship in his name.
That we are to relate to one another.
As members of a community.
A multicultural.
A multi-generational society.
And he says the qualities of that community.
Which is being renewed.
After the image of its creator.
Are to reflect.
At the attributes of God.
In some way.
Holy.
Beloved.
Compassionate.
Kind.
Humble.
Meek.
Patient.
The word love.
Is very central here.
They are beloved.
They are supremely to put on love.
But they are to reflect.
God's kindness.
They are to reflect.
The compassion of Christ.
Who we read in the Gospels.
Had compassion.
When he met people.
In need.
They are to reflect.
The humility.
Of Christ.
Humbling himself.
To the point of death.
They are to reflect.
The meekness.
Of Christ.
They are to reflect.
The patience of Christ.
Was he not so very patient.
With his disciples.
As they failed.
To understand.
All that he had been.
Teaching.
To them.
So they are being.
Renewed.
After the image.
Of their creator.
And as the spirit of God.
Is at work in their heart.
They are to.
Be renewed.
After his likeness.
To demonstrate.
These seem qualities.
These seem.
Attributes.
That he.
Has demonstrated.
To them.
What.
Is a Christian church.
To look like.
And what are to be.
The characteristics.
Of a fellowship.
And I want to suggest.
Just briefly.
Four things.
Which our attention.
Is drawn to.
In these verses.
Verse 12 to 14.
The love of Christ.
Verse 15.
The peace of Christ.
Verse 16.
The word of Christ.
And then verse 17.
The name.
Of Christ.
Paul has already.
Commended this church.
Chapter 1.
For their love.
And their faith.
And their hope.
And he here.
Reminds them.
That they are beloved.
Of God.
And as such.
They are to.
Love.
One.
Another.
Chosen.
Holy.
Dearly.
Loved.
They are to remember.
His gracious.
And loving initiative.
In the gospel.
In sending Christ.
Into the world.
For he.
So.
Loved the world.
He gave his only son.
That whosoever believes.
Should not perish.
But have.
Eternal life.
So they are to love.
One another.
In showing compassion.
And kindness.
In being meek.
In exercising.
Patience.
With one another.
One.
One poet.
Puts it like this.
Oh may that mind.
Be formed in us.
Which in your life.
We see.
May we be humble.
Lowly.
Meek.
From pride.
And envy.
Free.
We may.
May we.
To others.
Stoop.
And learn.
To imitate your love.
So shall we bear.
Your image here.
And share.
A throne.
Above.
Love.
To remember.
God's love.
There to resemble.
His son.
In showing that love.
To one another.
And there to.
Recall.
How the Lord.
Treated them.
When they.
Perhaps.
Have differences.
Among themselves.
There's overlap here.
With our study.
Just the other evening.
Last night.
As we thought about the.
Unmerciful.
Servant.
One who is forgiven much.
And yet.
Who.
Failed.
To forgive others.
As he had been forgiven.
And Paul says.
If you have a complaint.
Against one another.
Forgive one another.
Why?
As the Lord.
Has forgiven you.
So you also.
Must.
Forgive.
As we prayed this morning.
Forgive us.
Our debts.
As we forgive.
Our debtors.
So supremely.
We are to resemble Christ.
As we are renewed.
In his image.
In showing love.
To one another.
And especially.
When in the context.
Of a.
Multi-generational community.
There might be misunderstanding.
And we are then.
To forgive one another.
To bear with one another.
In love.
Above all these.
He says.
All these spiritual fruit.
Put on.
Love.
The greatest.
Of these.
Is love.
Which binds everything together.
In perfect.
Harmony.
I don't read many of these.
Royal magazines.
But.
It's always interesting.
Whenever there's a royal function.
How the newspapers.
And magazines.
Always like to.
To point out the wardrobe.
You know.
Princess so and so.
Was wearing a hat.
By this designer.
And.
And a jacket.
By.
By this fashion house.
Interested.
In what they put on.
When they go to school.
When they open.
Some civic building.
What do we put on.
What do people see.
As we make our way to school.
As we.
Start at the workplace.
At 8 a.m.
Tomorrow.
As we go on holiday.
Do we put on love.
The love of Christ.
Is to be.
The defining characteristic.
Of the Christian community.
But then he says.
Verse 15.
The peace of Christ.
Is to rule.
In our hearts.
We long for peace.
In our world.
Belovedly.
To have a ceasefire.
In Ukraine.
Or Sudan.
Or Yemen.
Belovedly.
For the conflict.
In Manipur.
North East India.
To come to an end.
We long for peace.
In our lives.
And in our hearts.
That we might say.
Oh.
Peace like a river.
Attendeth our way.
We long to know more.
Of the peace of Christ.
Which surpasses.
All understanding.
And guards.
Our hearts and minds.
And all these things.
Are promised.
But the peace here.
I think.
Is peace.
Between the members.
Of a Christian community.
In our lives.
Corporately.
Paul has already said.
If you just look back.
A page.
Chapter 1.
Verse 20.
That Christ came to make peace.
Between man.
And God.
By the blood of his cross.
That he.
Is the great.
Peace maker.
He comes to preach peace.
To those far off.
And those who are near.
And he calls us.
To be peacemakers.
But he calls us also.
To be peace keepers.
Those who keep.
The peace.
The peace of Christ.
Is to rule in your hearts.
The word.
Literally.
Means something like.
A judge.
An umpire.
A referee.
The peace of Christ.
Is to have the final say.
When we're thinking.
How we might respond.
To somebody.
Or some situation.
The peace of Christ.
Is to be the umpire.
That determines.
How we respond.
The theologian.
John Woodhouse.
Says.
This peace.
Is now to rule.
In the company of believers.
It is to hold sway.
To call the tune among us.
This peace.
Is to determine.
Our relationships.
With one.
Another.
Honor.
So if we are.
Criticized.
The peace of Christ.
Is to be the umpire.
As to how we respond.
Somebody says something.
Unkind.
Perhaps.
Untrue.
The peace of Christ.
Determines.
How we react to that.
If you're a young adult.
And you.
You don't want to come to church.
And there's a fight.
Every Sunday morning.
The peace of Christ.
Is to determine.
How you may honor.
Your parents.
If we're nurturing.
Bitterness.
And unforgiveness.
In our hearts.
The peace of Christ.
Tells us to go.
And make peace.
With those who have wronged us.
Let the peace of Christ.
He says.
Rule.
In your hearts.
And be thankful.
That theme of thankfulness.
Runs all the way through.
The next section.
Verse 15.
We'll think about the word of Christ.
And we're to sing with thankfulness.
As we have done tonight.
And then 17.
We're to think about the name of Christ.
And giving thanks in all things.
We are to cultivate an attitude.
Of gratitude.
And Paul's life.
Was characterized by thanksgiving.
He was in prison.
As he wrote.
Not a comfortable prison.
With a television.
Three hot meals brought to him every day.
But he thanked God.
As he opens the letter.
Because of what the Lord has done.
In Colossae.
And despite his discomfort.
He had found contentment.
And he showed gratitude.
And so he moves on from the peace of Christ.
Verse 15.
16 rather.
To the word of Christ.
That is to dwell in us richly.
The Colossae.
The Colossians had heard.
What is described in chapter 1 verse 5.
As the word of truth.
The word of the gospel.
The word of Christ.
Paul's ministry.
The word of Christ.
Paul's ministry.
Was a ministry of the word.
Verse 20.
He proclaimed Christ.
He preached the word of Christ.
And he wants that word of Christ.
To dwell in them richly.
The things they read.
The things they listen to.
The things they speak about.
The things they sing about.
The word of Christ.
And we are in a supremely privileged position here.
In the West.
Something like 95% of all Christian resources.
Are in the English language.
We have a super abundance.
Of Bibles.
To read.
Of Christian books.
To enjoy.
Of sermons.
And talks.
And seminars.
To listen to.
Of music.
To play.
In our cars.
Or as we jog.
Along the street.
The word of Christ.
Dwelling in us richly.
And Paul says.
Very interestingly.
That it's to dwell in us.
As we teach.
And admonish.
One another.
In all wisdom.
Singing psalms.
And hymns.
And spiritual songs.
Paul's ministry.
If you look back.
To chapter 128.
Was of teaching.
Everyone.
In all wisdom.
But he says.
Every believer.
Has some responsibility.
To do the same.
Maybe not.
As he did.
Open air preaching.
Maybe not.
As he did.
Preaching in churches.
Writing letters.
But instead.
In singing.
And when we gather.
As a company.
Of the Lord's people.
Three things.
Are happening.
We're exalting.
The Lord.
We're lifting up.
The Lord's name.
And giving him the glory.
We're evangelizing.
The world.
As the word is preached.
And the word is sung.
And we're seeking.
To edify.
One another.
As we sing.
The words of scripture.
Teaching.
And reminding.
One another.
Of the mighty works of God.
Singing.
To one another.
Applying.
These truths.
Into our own.
Life.
Circumstances.
And so.
As we gather.
We're not.
Like passengers.
On a bus.
It's not just.
A happy coincidence.
We're all in the same place.
At the same time.
But we're participants.
In a worship.
Service.
Being ministered to.
But also.
Ministering.
One to another.
As we sing.
These psalms.
And hymns.
And spiritual songs.
With thankfulness.
In our hearts.
To God.
We are participants.
And not.
Passengers.
The love of Christ.
The peace of Christ.
The word of Christ.
And finally.
The name.
Of the Lord.
Jesus Christ.
Whatever you do.
He says.
Do it all.
In the name.
Of the Lord.
Jesus Christ.
When we came over.
On the ferry.
There were some big.
HGVs.
When we travel back tomorrow.
I'm sure there will be more.
Coming back and forth.
I don't know very much.
About HGVs.
But.
I'm a little bit.
Acquainted with.
Eddie Stobart.
Of a former generation.
The founder of.
The Stobart.
Hollage Company.
Stobart was a Christian.
And his biography.
Was entitled.
Only the best will do.
Because he believed.
That whatever he was doing.
Whether at home.
Or in his business.
Or in his church.
Only the best would do.
For God.
He did.
It all.
For the name.
Of the Lord.
Jesus.
And his lordship.
Plays out.
In our home.
In our workplace.
In our place.
Of leisure.
Do we ask ourselves.
Am I doing this.
In the name.
Of the Lord.
Jesus Christ.
Am I behaving.
In a way.
That is worthy.
Of.
My calling.
Not just.
On a Sunday morning.
Or Sunday evening.
But during the working hours.
Of the working week.
Is my behavior.
In keeping with his character.
And will.
Is it adorning the gospel.
Is it enhancing.
The reputation of our Lord.
In this place.
Do we have that same attitude.
That only.
The best.
Will do.
Whatever you do.
In word or deed.
Do everything.
In the name of the Lord.
Jesus Christ.
Christ.
And that keeps us.
Doesn't it.
From.
Making.
Unwise choices.
Be hard for us.
To fiddle the tax return.
In Jesus name.
Be hard to bully.
Somebody in school.
In Jesus name.
Be hard to get drunk.
In Jesus name.
Because if we're doing.
Everything in his name.
And we're giving thanks to God.
Through that name.
Then we must be doing it.
In line with his will.
And in keeping with his character.
So Paul says.
Whatever you do.
Monday through Sunday.
Do it all.
In the name.
Of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The love of God.
The peace of God.
The word of Christ.
The name of Christ.
And we see again.
The gratitude.
That we give thanks.
To God the Father.
Through him.
Three times.
He has emphasized to them.
The need.
For gratitude.
Hendrickson.
The commentator says.
Prayer without thanksgiving.
Is like a bird without wings.
Another writer says.
The Christian is suspended.
Between blessings.
Received.
And blessings hoped for.
So they should always.
Give.
Thanks.
We can very quickly.
Begin to grumble.
And complain.
We can very quickly.
Lose our contentment.
But Paul says.
Gratitude.
Is to be.
A characteristic.
Of our Christian lives.
And our Christian life together.
One day.
As part of a medical team.
To Romania.
We visited a nursing home.
Which was.
A pleasant nursing home.
But the residents.
Shared a room.
These two ladies.
One confined to her bed.
And we went over.
And we asked her.
How she was doing.
And she raised both arms.
In the air.
And she said.
I thank the Lord.
For everything.
And I was rebuked.
This older lady.
Confined to a bed.
An invalid.
And yet.
She was giving.
Thanks.
In everything.
To God the Father.
Through Christ.
So Paul describes.
What a Christian church.
Should look like.
These three characteristics.
Love.
Peace.
Joy.
And gratitude.
How do we arrive at that?
The love of Christ.
Receiving that love.
Responding to that love.
And then sharing that love.
With one another.
The peace of Christ.
Enjoying peace with God.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ.
And then seeking to maintain.
And to keep the peace.
Which he won at great cost to himself.
The word of Christ.
Read.
Spoken.
Sung to one another.
And the name of Christ.
In which we do everything.
And in which we give thanks.
For everything.
The death and resurrection.
Of the Lord.
Is at the very heart.
Of the gospel.
And at the very heart.
Of our Christian experience.
If you are in Christ.
You have died.
To the old ways.
You have put on.
The new self.
You have a new identity.
You belong to a new community.
And so give thanks to God.
For all things.
Maybe you are here tonight.
And you are not yet.
A Christian.
Maybe you.
Like the Bereans.
Are eagerly searching the scriptures.
To see if these things.
Are true.
Maybe you grew up in a Christian home.
But you have yet to make the faith your own.
Maybe at one time.
You did profess faith.
But you have.
Cooled in your affections.
Towards the things of Christ.
Like the prodigal son.
You find yourself in a far country.
Well tonight.
We can return.
We can come to him.
For the first time.
We can come back to him.
For the umpteenth time.
And we can enjoy.
That experience of his love.
We can know once more.
That peace.
And we can find salvation.
In his name.
In that name.
In which there is found.
The forgiveness of sins.
And newness.
Of life.
Well.
We'll end there.
And as we do.
Before we sing our final item.
I'm going to pray once more.
And.
We're going to remember Lizzie.
Who has a.
A medical.
Appointment tomorrow.
In Inverness.
And we're going to.
Give thanks as well.
For those who have prepared.
The food for the fellowship.
And I look forward to meeting.
With and speaking with.
Many of you.
In the hall.
After the service.
But let's just.
Close with a brief word of prayer.
Amen.
Oh Lord.
You are to me.
My cup and portion sure.
The share that is assigned to me.
You guard and keep secure.
Amen.
Heavenly Father.
We thank you for the day we have shared.
We thank you for the weekend you have granted to us.
we thank you for your loving kindness
for your steadfast love
which reaches to the heavens
and your faithfulness to the sky
and we thank you Lord
that as we go from this place
that you have reminded us once more of that love
and of your grace
the love you have for your people
the love you have for this world
you have reminded us of the work you have begun
in our lives
a work you promised to bring to completion
on the day of Christ
that we have been raised with him
that our lives are hidden with him on high
and so help us this week
to seek the things that are above
to look forward to the inheritance
that he is keeping for us
that place he is preparing for us
and to live in light of eternity
grant us grace we pray
to put off
to put away
to put to death the old ways
ways that
are not pleasing to you
to put to death the works of the flesh
the ways of this world
and instead to put on
love, meekness, patience, kindness
for our hearts to be good soil
for the word
in which it might bear fruit
help us to love you as our God
and our Father
help us to love one another
as brothers and sisters in Christ
and we pray for any
in the congregation
who are facing trials of many kinds
any who are anxious
any who are confined to their homes
any who are
travelling to hospital
and we pray very especially
for Lizzie in this regard
help us Lord
to love one another
in both word and deed
and help us Lord
to love those
in our communities
that they would look in
they would see
and hear something
quite different
that many would
have their interest piqued
many would like
the Colossian believers
hear the word of truth
and cease walking
in the old ways
and instead walk with you
and pray for your church
in this nation
we pray for your church
throughout the world
that great fruit
would be born
throughout the whole world
and that you would raise up
another generation
of evangelists
and preachers
and Sunday school leaders
and family workers
and translators
that the word of truth
may go forth
and your people
may be found
and built up
and strengthened
neighbourhoods
homes
lives
would be transformed
by the word of Christ
and the love of Christ
and we pray
that might be true
of ourselves
Lord
help us this week
whatever we do
to do so
with gratitude
in our hearts
and your praise
on our lips
that we might continue
in Christ
that we might continue
in prayer
that we might continue
walking in wisdom
and we might continue
in faith
and hope
and love
thank you for our
fellowship together
thank you for the fellowship
tonight
and we thank you
for those who in love
have prepared a meal
for us to enjoy
so strengthen and encourage
them we pray
and we give thanks
to you
in the name of Christ
Amen
well we close our time
together with
a final psalm
psalm 67
on page
301
Scottish Psalter
version of psalm 67
singing the whole psalm
all seven verses
Lord unto us be merciful
do thou us also bless
and graciously cause shine
on us the brightness
of thy face
we sing
once more
to the praise
of our glorious God
Lord unto us
be merciful
to thou us also bless
and graciously
all shine on us
the brightness
of thy face
that so
thy way
upon
the earth
through all
that may
be known
also
among
the nations
a
Tikunt
of thy
heavens
world
and people
all
O let the nations be glad
and sing for joy always.
For rightly there shall people judge
and nations rule on earth.
Let people praise it Lord let all the hope
with the earth.
Then shall the earth yield her increase.
God, her God bless us shall.
God shall us bless and all the earth
the ends shall fear him all.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you
and give you peace.
And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
the steadfast love of God our heavenly Father
and the fellowship of his Holy Spirit
be with us all now and forevermore.
Amen.
And just bear,
Amen.
Yep.
Amen.