WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:04.799 where we're dedicated to encouraging, 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.839 equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:10.000 Located in Ontario, Oregon, 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.720 Pastor Patrick Daley preaches 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:13.800 insightful sermons from the Word of God, 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:16.760 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:19.679 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:22.960 All right. Well, good morning, everyone. 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:27.800 Let's go ahead and head back to our seats at this time. 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:33.600 Today, we are beginning our new sermon series 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.240 in the book of Colossians. 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:40.719 The title of our sermon series is Christ, 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:42.000 Our All in All. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:46.719 What you're seeing here is the name of the message for today, 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:48.200 Christ above all. 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:52.400 It's going to be an introduction over Colossians. 00:00:52.400 --> 00:00:56.200 All of you should have a sheet of paper which has 00:00:56.200 --> 00:00:59.840 the breakdown, the overview of Colossians. 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:03.040 So what we're doing today is a reading service. 00:01:03.040 --> 00:01:07.359 It's good for us to read scripture when we have 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:10.079 the opportunity to do so. Amen? 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:11.799 It's great to read scripture. 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:15.400 Since Colossians is a shorter book of the Bible, 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:18.960 we can all read it together as the body of Christ, 00:01:18.960 --> 00:01:21.560 as the local church, as the congregation. 00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:25.879 What you're going to see is the breakdown of who's going to read what. 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:29.560 So we're going to, we have our readers here today who are going to help. 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:34.280 And it's just going to be a really good time together to read scripture 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:37.959 and also have the overview of the book of Colossians. 00:01:37.959 --> 00:01:42.519 And before we start though, let's ask God to be with us 00:01:42.519 --> 00:01:47.560 as we read scripture together and as we go over the overview. 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:51.000 Will you pray with me? Let's pray together. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:53.759 And Father, we ask that you are with us this morning 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:56.640 as we read your word together. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:03.000 We ask that the word of Christ may dwell richly within us. 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:07.600 We ask that lives are transformed and we have a better understanding 00:02:07.600 --> 00:02:12.319 of who you are and your Son, Jesus the Christ. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:17.000 We ask that lives are transformed, that minds are changed 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:23.040 and that hearts turn to you, that they are softened to live and to love like you. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:24.879 May we believe in you. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:29.680 May we build on that foundation and be moved to live out this faith. 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:33.439 It is in Jesus' name that we say, and we all say together, amen. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:37.919 Amen. So at this time I'd like to go ahead and invite Mark and Becky 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:40.719 and feel free to follow along. 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:44.239 Let's go ahead and get started. 00:02:44.239 --> 00:02:46.239 This is on. 00:02:46.239 --> 00:02:49.359 So Patrick had a live conference in this congregation today 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:55.680 and we have to save this whole book so Ryan's don't screw it up. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:59.440 This is Colossians Christ, our all in all. 00:02:59.440 --> 00:03:03.920 Chapter one, the joy and blessing of salvation. 00:03:03.920 --> 00:03:07.440 We have one, one through twelve. 00:03:07.440 --> 00:03:09.280 Thanksgiving and prayer. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:15.440 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God and Timothy, our brother. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:20.159 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossians. 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:22.560 Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:26.960 We always thank God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when we pray for him. 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:31.919 You, since we heard of your faith in the Christ Jesus and the love that you have 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:36.800 for all the saints because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:41.199 Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:44.800 which has come to you as indeed in the whole world and is bearing fruit 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:46.800 and increasing. 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:51.040 And it also does among you since the day you heard it and understood the grace 00:03:51.040 --> 00:03:53.040 of God and truth. 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:58.640 Just as you learned it from the psalmist, our beloved fellow servant, 00:03:58.640 --> 00:04:02.240 he is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:05.760 and has made known to us your love in the spirit. 00:04:05.760 --> 00:04:10.240 And so from the day we heard we have not ceased to pray for you 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:15.040 asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom 00:04:15.040 --> 00:04:19.519 and understanding so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:23.519 fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work, 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:26.160 and increasing in the knowledge of God. 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:31.040 Being strengthened and with all power according to his glorious might 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:34.000 for all endurance and patience with joy. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:39.040 Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:41.040 of the saints in light. 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:45.040 And I guess we need to gift ourselves a chance to get, okay? 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:50.240 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:54.400 and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved sons. 00:04:54.400 --> 00:04:58.720 In whom the out-reception, the forgiveness of sins, 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:04.400 he is the image of the invisible God, the first form of all creation, 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:09.679 for by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, 00:05:09.679 --> 00:05:16.479 visible and invisible, whether the thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, 00:05:16.479 --> 00:05:20.639 all things were created through him and for him. 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:26.159 And he is before all things and in him all things hold together. 00:05:26.159 --> 00:05:29.279 And he is the head of the body, the church. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:32.799 He is the beginning, the first form from the dead, 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:37.520 and that of everything he might be preeminent. 00:05:37.520 --> 00:05:39.520 We have one. 00:05:39.520 --> 00:05:43.759 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:48.160 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:53.680 whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cause, 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:59.759 and you who are so alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:04.399 He is now reconciled in his eyelid flesh by his death 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:10.240 in order to present you holy and blameless and above her approach before him. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:15.039 If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, 00:06:15.039 --> 00:06:18.560 not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:37.759 which is in the form of all creation and in which I, Paul, became a minister. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:42.240 24 through 25, joy and suffering. 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:46.879 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake and in my flesh 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:53.040 I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:58.879 that is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:05.360 from God that was given to me for you to make the word of God fully known. 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:11.920 The mystery hit for ages and generations, but now reveal to his saints. 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:17.600 To them, God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:24.879 are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:31.280 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom 00:07:31.280 --> 00:07:36.319 that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:52.480 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:59.600 Chapter 2, the warning of false teachers, Colossians 2, 1 through 23. 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:02.639 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:07.759 and for those at Leo d'Essia and for all who have not seen me face to face, 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:11.919 but their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love to reach all the 00:08:11.919 --> 00:08:15.439 riches of full assurance of understanding and the 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:21.039 knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom we are all 00:08:21.039 --> 00:08:25.120 hidden, all treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:29.519 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:33.199 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, 00:08:33.199 --> 00:08:37.679 rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:41.279 Therefore, as you receive Christ, Jesus the Lord 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:45.840 so walketh in him, rooted and built up in him, established in the faith, 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:50.799 just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:55.120 Verse 8, see to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy 00:08:55.120 --> 00:09:00.000 and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:05.200 spirits of the world and not according to Christ. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:11.600 For in him the whole fullness of D&E 12's bodily, 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:16.320 and you have been filled in him who is the head of all rule and authority. 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:19.919 In him also you were circumcised with the circumcision made 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:23.360 without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:28.000 by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:31.919 in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:35.279 of God, who raised him from the dead. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:40.720 And you who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:44.399 God made alive together with him, having forgiven 00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:48.639 us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:54.799 death that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:59.199 naming it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities 00:09:59.199 --> 00:10:06.000 and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:10.080 And as the congregation chapter 2, 16 through 23, 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:16.799 the false teachings, therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:23.759 of food and drink, or with regard to a festival, or a new moon, or a Sabbath. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:29.919 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:36.000 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:42.240 going on in detail about visions puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:47.600 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:52.159 lived together through its joints and ligaments, grows with the growth that 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:56.320 is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental 00:10:56.320 --> 00:11:00.879 spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:07.279 do you submit to regulations? Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch, 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:13.679 referring to things that all perish as they are used according to human precepts and teachings. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:20.240 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:24.000 and severity to the body, but they are of no value 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:28.720 in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:38.879 Chapter 3, The Guidance for the Christian Life. 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:43.519 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:47.600 where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:54.320 Set your minds on things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:59.680 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is 00:11:59.680 --> 00:12:04.560 your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 00:12:04.560 --> 00:12:08.480 Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you, 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:15.040 sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, and covenantedness, which is 00:12:15.040 --> 00:12:19.920 idolatry. On account of these, the wrath of God is 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:25.039 coming. In these you too once walked when you were living in them, 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:29.360 but now you must put them all away, anger, wrath, 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:33.839 malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 00:12:33.839 --> 00:12:38.240 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:42.719 practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed 00:12:42.719 --> 00:12:46.399 in knowledge after the image of its creator. 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:51.519 Here there is no Greek or Jew circumcised or uncircumcised, 00:12:51.519 --> 00:13:00.559 barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but Christ is all and in all. 00:13:02.959 --> 00:13:07.679 Colossians 3, 12 through 17, put on the new life. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:11.279 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:15.759 compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:19.679 bearing with one another, and if one has the complaint against another, 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:22.879 forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:27.439 so you also must forgive. And above all these, put on love, 00:13:27.439 --> 00:13:30.799 which binds everything together in perfect harmony, 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:35.200 and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:39.600 in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ well and 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:44.159 originally, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:49.839 singing palms and hands and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 00:13:49.839 --> 00:13:55.679 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:59.439 giving thanks to God the Father through him. 00:13:59.439 --> 00:14:04.959 And congregation reads, Colossians 3, 18, 00:14:04.959 --> 00:14:11.120 through 4, 1, the Christian home. Wives, submit to your husbands, and his 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:15.360 sitting to the Lord. Husbands, love their wives, and do not 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:20.080 be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:24.960 for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:29.679 lest they become discouraged. Mentors, treat your bound services 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:35.440 justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in Heaven. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:41.280 Chapter 4, Guidance and Greetings. Prayer and non-believers. 00:14:41.280 --> 00:14:45.600 Condrigation, continue, sit fast and bear, 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:49.840 find watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:55.120 pray also for us that God may open to us the door for the word, 00:14:55.120 --> 00:15:00.320 to declare the ministry of Christ on account of which I am imprisoned, 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:06.160 that I may make clear with which is how I ought to speak, walk in wisdom, 00:15:06.160 --> 00:15:10.320 toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:14.400 Let your speech always be gracious, season the salt, 00:15:14.400 --> 00:15:19.680 that the new law have law to answer each person. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:30.879 Colossians 4 verses 8 through 18, conclusion. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:34.399 Titicus will tell you about my activities. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:38.239 He is a beloved brother and faithful minister 00:15:38.239 --> 00:15:44.240 and servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:49.519 that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts, 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:56.960 and with him, Onosemus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:01.039 They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:06.960 Aristicus, my fellow prisoner, greets you and mark the cousin of Barnabas, 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:10.639 concerning whom you have received instructions. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:17.199 If he comes to you, welcome him. And Jesus, who is called Justice. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:23.120 These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the Kingdom of God, 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:28.240 and they have been a comfort to me. Epiphras, who is one of you, 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:33.600 a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his 00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:40.560 prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:44.000 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you, 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:50.879 and for those in Laodicea and Hyarpose. Luke, the beloved physician, greets you, 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:55.919 as does Demas. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, 00:16:55.919 --> 00:17:00.960 and to Nimphah, and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:06.240 among you, have it also read to the church of the Laodiceans, 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:10.880 and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:14.960 And say to Archipelago, see that you fulfilled the ministry that you have 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:19.760 received in the Lord. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own 00:17:19.760 --> 00:17:25.040 hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. 00:17:25.040 --> 00:17:34.960 This is the Word of God, the Word of Life. We all say together, amen. 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:39.520 And my friends, we have just completed the reading of the entire book 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:46.240 of Colossians. Let's give God the glory with a round of applause. 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:51.200 You know, it is great that we, as the church, we can take the opportunity 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:55.200 to read Scripture when we can. Obviously, if we were to read 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:59.680 Isaiah or Jeremiah, we'd be here for a while, but when we have that opportunity 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:03.440 to read Scripture together, we should be encouraged to do so. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:07.519 And so what a wonderful time we've had together. Let's pray together before we 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:13.119 go into today's message. And Father, we thank you for giving us the 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:18.799 chance to read from your Word. Be with us as we go through an overview 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:22.960 of the book of Colossians. Stir in our hearts and help us to see the 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:30.079 truth that is found in this book in your Word, and motivate us to act upon 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:34.319 these biblical truths. It is in Jesus' name that we pray and we all say 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:39.039 together, amen. You know, Colossians is a book of the 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:43.759 Bible, right? It is a part of the 66 books of the Bible that we are 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:47.919 blessed by God to have. We know that Scripture mentions 00:18:47.919 --> 00:18:53.279 that all of Scripture is divinely inspired, and it should be rightly 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:59.039 divided. According to 2nd Timothy, chapter 3, verse 16, it says that 00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:04.799 all Scripture is breathed out by God, and it is profitable for teaching, for 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:08.319 reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:14.559 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. And when 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:18.720 it comes to God's Word, there should be reading of the Word. 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:21.920 There should be preaching and teaching of God's Word. 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:26.079 From the basic things such as, what does it mean to believe in the Lord? To the 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:30.559 deeper things of God. We are called to learn and to grow and to become 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:36.559 mature believers, so that we can apply the lessons from the Bible to our very 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:40.480 lives. That is so important. That is so critical. 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:43.759 This not only helps us to come to know the Lord, 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:48.480 but it helps us to grow in Him. Because here's the thing, 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:52.079 God will work in and through your life 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:56.480 when you read His Word, when you live out His Word, and most importantly, 00:19:56.480 --> 00:20:01.919 when you believe in Him, when you place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. 00:20:01.919 --> 00:20:06.720 And I pray that God works in and through every single one of you here today, 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:10.799 and those of us who are watching online, I pray that God will work 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:16.319 in and through your life as well. I pray that God will have an inner 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:20.159 transformation of the mind and of the heart, just like it says in Romans 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:24.640 chapter 12 verse 2. Do not be conformed to this world, 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:29.680 but be what? Be transformed by the renewal of your mind. 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:34.000 That by testing you may discern what is the will of God, 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:40.720 what is good and acceptable and perfect. You see, our foundation is in Jesus 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:44.000 Christ. Let us be like the wise man who built his 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:48.320 house on the sand. No, the stone, the rock, right? 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:54.559 For Jesus is the rock of our salvation. We build our lives on him. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:59.359 Christ is the rock. And it is through continued growth that we build our home, 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:03.279 so to speak, right? We build our home on the foundation in Christ. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:07.599 In Ephesians chapter 4 verse 21 through 24, it says, 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:14.879 the truth is in Buddha. The truth is in man. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:19.120 No, it says the truth is in Jesus. To put off your old self, 00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:24.000 which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:27.440 desires and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds. 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:32.960 And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God and in true 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:37.840 righteousness and holiness. Colossians is a book of the Bible 00:21:37.840 --> 00:21:43.600 that not only points to Christ, but is a book that is about Christ. 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:46.799 It is known as the Christological Book of the Bible. 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:51.279 And there exists such depths in Scripture, knowing about the attributes and the 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:54.879 qualities and the significance of Jesus Christ. 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:57.519 And this leads us to the question that we'll put on this 00:21:57.519 --> 00:22:02.000 on the slide here. What was Paul's reason for writing this letter 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:07.519 to the Colossians? The apostle Paul responds to the false teachings 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:11.359 by speaking on the truth about Jesus Christ. 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:16.399 That is the theme of this book. That is the title of our sermon series, 00:22:16.399 --> 00:22:22.399 Christ Who Is Our All In All. That is the purpose of this letter. 00:22:22.399 --> 00:22:27.199 It is Paul that is saying that Christ is all that we need, amen? 00:22:27.199 --> 00:22:31.199 Jesus Christ is all that we need. And you've probably heard, 00:22:31.199 --> 00:22:34.399 some of you have seen that T-shirt or you've maybe heard the saying, 00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:39.439 that it's Jesus plus nothing. It's all about having faith in Jesus Christ by 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:43.840 placing your faith and trust in Him. And there is truth in that. 00:22:43.840 --> 00:22:48.160 Jesus Christ is all that we need. And that gets me excited about going over 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:52.640 this book of Colossians with you. It is the foundation of our faith that 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:56.400 you believe in the Lord. You will be saved, amen? 00:22:56.400 --> 00:23:01.039 There is nothing more that you need to do. It's not about how many prayers you 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:04.080 pray or in what direction you pray the prayer. 00:23:04.080 --> 00:23:09.039 It's all about having faith. It's all about believing in the Lord. 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:14.000 There is not this ongoing basis or this continuations of things that you need to 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:16.480 do. It's not like how it works in the world. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:21.839 If I want to do a good job at my job, I need to follow the checklist, right? 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:25.200 Otherwise you're out of there. Same thing with school. There's a checklist of 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:27.440 things you have to do. You've got to turn in this assignment. 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:30.879 You've got to take the quiz. You've got to do well on the exam. 00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:33.680 Otherwise, you're not going to do well in that class. 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:37.440 But that's not how it works in regards to the salvation that comes 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:44.480 through Christ. In other words, Paul is focusing on what Jesus Christ has done 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:50.960 instead of what we need to do. We do not need that continued checklist. Again, 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:57.680 we are saved by faith in him so that we can do good in the name of Christ. 00:23:57.680 --> 00:24:01.360 Jesus Christ is all that we need and Colossians 00:24:01.360 --> 00:24:05.039 not only is about how Jesus Christ is all that we need, 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:09.119 but it is also about how he is in all things. 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:12.399 And in the coming weeks, we will go deeper into looking over 00:24:12.399 --> 00:24:16.319 these verses. We'll be doing a verse by verse exploration 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:20.159 of God's word. What does it mean? And in your notes here, 00:24:20.159 --> 00:24:25.039 you will see that there is an outline, a basic overview that is found 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:30.000 in the book. Just as I mentioned before, it is important 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:34.079 that we as the church are familiarized with the book that we're going to read, 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:37.759 right? That's why we take this opportunity to read scripture. 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:41.759 It's also important to rightly divide the word so that 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:46.159 we as the church, we can have an understanding of what in the world Paul 00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:51.199 is saying here. So Paul writes to Colossae about how 00:24:51.199 --> 00:24:56.559 Jesus rules over all creation and is the head of the church. 00:24:56.559 --> 00:25:00.799 This goes to show the preeminence of Christ, meaning that Christ 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:06.159 is first in all. And this goes even beyond. Do you guys remember some of you 00:25:06.159 --> 00:25:09.759 were here when we did that sermon series as Christ, 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:12.720 the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sustainer? 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:17.759 Well, it goes beyond that. Those are just a few verses that are found in Colossians. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:23.359 But there's so much more to that. Paul writes to the church at Colossae that 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:27.680 they need to focus on Christ and not on the things 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:32.240 of this world. This is not just an encouragement for the church back then. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:37.920 It is an encouragement for the church today that we are to focus on Jesus Christ. 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:43.039 That is so important. How easy is it, especially for us with this 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:47.600 technology that we have, right? And all of the this constant scrolling through 00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:51.519 social media, through Facebook and TikTok and Instagram and your 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:54.240 YouTube feed. You're just bombarded with all of this 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:57.839 news and this media and this content. It's overwhelming. 00:25:57.839 --> 00:26:01.759 But what really matters is focusing on Christ. 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:06.799 Not about the continual scroll. It's about focusing your mind on Christ. 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:11.039 It can be easy for us to lose our focus and to deviate on something else, isn't 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:15.039 it? Sometimes we lose track. And I pray that this 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:19.120 will never be the case for us. Or if you are focusing on something 00:26:19.120 --> 00:26:23.440 other than Christ, you will focus on Jesus. 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:29.039 May we never lose our focus on Him. And just as we face changes in culture, 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:32.720 we face changes in technology, we face changes in 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:36.240 politics. Changes in the way that people live 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:40.240 their lives, right? There were changes that were happening 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:44.880 in the church at Colossae. Not all changes that happen in 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:49.680 in culture are good, amen. Right? Not all changes are. There's some great things 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:52.960 that some technological advances that have happened. There's some 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:57.680 great things that have come out. But there's also some not so good things 00:26:57.680 --> 00:27:03.519 that have come out, right? So Paul is writing to this church 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:08.240 warning about false teachings that were infiltrating, that were happening in 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:12.640 the early church. Some of these things were being taught in the church that 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:15.600 were just against the teachings of Christ, 00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:19.600 against early Christianity. Some of these teachings were about 00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:23.439 food and festivals, angel worship, and the extreme 00:27:23.439 --> 00:27:28.079 treatment of the body. That's some extreme things going on. 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:31.359 And of course we will expand further on what these things look like, 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:35.119 but we should know that we stay true to God's word. 00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:39.279 It's not about angel worship. It's not about how extreme you can, 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:43.759 the extreme discipline you can put in your body or on your body or whatever. 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:49.439 It's focused on Christ. We should stay true to God's word and we look at how 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:52.960 Paul responds to the infiltration of these teachings 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:57.360 that are happening in the early church. This should be something that we pray 00:27:57.360 --> 00:28:00.400 for. We should pray for the protection of 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:03.920 our church. We should pray for the protection of our 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:07.920 churches. That truth is spoken here in this church 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:12.320 and that the grace of God will overflow into this city to other people 00:28:12.320 --> 00:28:16.160 that they too may believe in the Lord, that they too will be saved, and that they 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:21.120 will see the clarity that comes from Christ, the consistency that comes from 00:28:21.120 --> 00:28:26.160 Christ, the simplicity that comes from Christ, the renewal, the restoration, the 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:29.040 transformation that comes from Christ. I'm telling you, 00:28:29.040 --> 00:28:33.200 following the ways of this world, do you really see those things happen? 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:37.360 I can tell you that by having faith in Christ, my life has changed 00:28:37.360 --> 00:28:42.080 drastically and I know for you and for many of us who have believed in the Lord. 00:28:42.080 --> 00:28:46.000 Are you the same person that you once were when you first believe in the Lord? 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:51.119 Or has God worked in your life? Have you followed in the footsteps of Christ? 00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:56.880 God will transform your life and we need to pray again for protection, 00:28:56.880 --> 00:29:01.440 that there won't be any false theology or any sort of thing that infiltrates the 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:07.440 church. It needs to be our prayer. Colossians is not, 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:11.359 it's not all about the bad that's happening in that church. 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:15.279 In fact, there's some early verses in the chapter, in chapter one that mentioned 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:18.799 the good that was going on in the church. Do you realize what Paul was 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:24.319 commending the church at Colossae for? It begins, right, Paul was giving thanks and 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:29.039 later he later he goes on about the false teachings, but he talks about how 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:34.399 Colossae was a church that was faithful to God and exhibited love to fellow 00:29:34.399 --> 00:29:39.039 believers. I pray that our church is known for that 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:42.799 to the point where the apostle Paul, if he were still alive, were to write a 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:46.559 letter saying, I commend you for your faithfulness to the Lord 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:50.399 and the love that you have for others. Amen? 00:29:50.399 --> 00:29:57.599 Let's be known for that. He thanks God and he goes on and talking about the 00:29:57.599 --> 00:30:03.039 false teachings and the false teachers. To help respond to these false 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:07.359 teachings, Paul gives guidance in how to live as a 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:10.319 Christian. When we believe in the Lord, we are a 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:14.159 new creation, right? We begin on a journey, a life in 00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:18.799 Christ and the apostle Paul is giving this guidance here, right? 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:25.039 It's to focus on the things of God and to recognize that you are a new creation. 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:30.480 If you're having a new life, you should go to the old way of doing things. 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:34.399 If you have a new life in Christ, you should be focusing on the new 00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:38.960 life in Christ. Something to keep in mind. It is, 00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:43.440 again, it is in believing in the Lord that you're saved, you're born again. 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:47.519 Follow in the footsteps of Christ. Be moved to grow, 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:54.319 to become a mature believer and to do good in Christ's name. 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:59.360 Upon this new birth, there's encouragement for baptism, 00:30:59.360 --> 00:31:03.759 living a life of sanctification, continued growth and again, 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:10.079 maturity. Paul gives this guidance to the church to reject the old life and to 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:15.440 focus on the things that are higher, to focus on this new life in Christ. 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:20.240 And Paul, he breaks down what such a transformation looks like, such as 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:24.640 kindness, compassionate hearts, patience, 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:28.000 forgiving one another. How many of you have prayed that God will give you 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:32.480 patience, but then you want God to hurry up, right? 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:36.240 How many of you pray for kindness and yet you just seem to be getting so 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:40.079 angry, right? But God is going to work in you and that's what it looks like, the 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:43.680 manifestation of Christ dwelling within you, right? That 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:48.319 transformation, forgiving one another and letting the 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:52.000 word of Christ dwell within you. That is such 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:56.480 powerful language. Do you take the word of God to heart? I sure hope that you do. 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:59.680 Take it to heart because out of the word comes this 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:04.320 manifestation in how you live your life. Paul goes further into the guidance for 00:32:04.320 --> 00:32:07.680 the Christian household, instructions for husbands and 00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:12.960 wives and other roles in the home. That's so important, especially in today's 00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:16.799 culture, where there seems to be this redefinition. 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:19.519 I don't want to go too much further into it, but I know a lot of you know what 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:22.640 I'm talking about. So there's guidance for the Christian 00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:26.799 household and towards the final chapter of the letter, Paul writes about 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:31.119 reaching out to outsiders, reaching out to those who do not know the Lord to 00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:36.399 non-believers, making the best use of your time and being able to respond to 00:32:36.399 --> 00:32:40.159 others. What do you do when someone who doesn't 00:32:40.159 --> 00:32:44.879 believe in the Lord comes to you? How do you speak to them? 00:32:44.879 --> 00:32:50.159 How do you act? Do you walk away? I don't want to deal with this person. 00:32:50.159 --> 00:32:54.240 Or do you speak to them? Do you tell them about that faith when the 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:58.079 opportunity presents itself? That's something that Paul 00:32:58.079 --> 00:33:02.480 addresses, making the best use of your time. 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:05.519 And towards the conclusion of the letter, we see that Paul 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:09.599 is mentioning many of the saints. And you know the one that really sticks out to 00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:13.359 me for those of you who were going through Philemon 00:33:13.359 --> 00:33:17.839 was Onosemus is in there. Right? For many of you that remember Philemon, 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:22.240 right? We did a series where we learned about Paul is appealing to Philemon 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:27.200 to take Onosemus back as a brother in Christ. Well there he is in Colossians. 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:30.000 So there's a connection in there and I love when you see 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:33.200 certain people that are in multiple books, right? 00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:37.120 Even if they're maybe a minor character, they're still important in the eyes of 00:33:37.120 --> 00:33:40.240 God and God wanted that person to be in Scripture. 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:45.519 So it is important. And it's so cool seeing that and it's just, again, it's 00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:48.720 amazing when you see people across other books. 00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:55.279 And with all of this in mind, we need to think of this question then. Okay. 00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:59.120 All right, Pastor, this sounds all good but how can we 00:33:59.120 --> 00:34:03.680 apply Colossians to our lives and to the church today? 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:08.320 You know, it's a good question. We come to know 00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:13.679 who Jesus Christ is in his word. This helps us to change our minds, right? When 00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:16.880 we think of repentance, change our minds about who 00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:23.599 Christ is so that we believe in him. And this book is about Christ, right? 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:27.760 It's not just again, it's not just pointing to Christ. It is about Christ. 00:34:27.760 --> 00:34:31.920 And it should help you to know more about who Jesus Christ is, 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:39.039 knowing so that you believe but also growing more in the faith. 00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:42.480 It is in believing in the Lord that we are saved. We are saved by grace through 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:45.440 faith. We go from this old life to the new life. 00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:50.000 And we are called not to be stagnant in our faith, right? 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:54.559 If someone just gave you a $10,000 check to pay off your car, are you just 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:58.159 going to sit there and be like, I'm not going to tell anyone about this. I'm just 00:34:58.159 --> 00:35:03.360 going to deposit it and pay off my car. Some of us do. Some of us may think that 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:07.679 way and you ought to be ashamed if you are. But really, if someone were to pay off 00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:11.920 a large debt, a large sum of money, you'd want to share that with others. 00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:16.480 And so in scripture, we find so often that we are to live out our faith in 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:21.440 action, right? We keep learning, we keep growing, we keep maturing. And because of 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:26.400 this, we are called to go out into the community, to serve in the church, to 00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:30.480 bring people to the faith, share in your testimony, share in the word of God with 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:35.280 others, and be out, be the light of Christ when you deal with others. 00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:38.880 Some of us are very active in the community. Some of us have this 00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:44.320 opportunity in leadership positions or just every day interactions to be a 00:35:44.320 --> 00:35:49.920 beacon of hope for others. We are called not to be stagnant, but to be active in 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:54.640 this new life in Christ. It is embracing this new life. It is embracing the new 00:35:54.640 --> 00:35:59.440 identity. And like I said, someone gave you that $10,000 check. I'd 00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:03.360 sure hope that you would want to tell people about it. 00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:07.599 Well, salvation is not a $10,000 check. In fact, you can't put a price 00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:13.279 on salvation. Amen. You cannot put a price on salvation. 00:36:13.279 --> 00:36:16.799 What's wonderful is that salvation is a free 00:36:16.799 --> 00:36:22.639 gift. All you need to do is believe. It's one and done when Christ said, 00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:29.839 it is finished. Right? My favorite verse, John chapter 6 verse 47, 00:36:29.839 --> 00:36:33.920 when Christ says, truly I say to you, whoever believes 00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:41.519 has eternal life. So let's think about that. We are encouraged to continue 00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:46.720 to read, to study and to live out our faith. In knowing the Lord, in knowing 00:36:46.720 --> 00:36:51.599 that you're eternally secure, that should motivate you. That should move you 00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:56.400 to want to share in your faith. Let the word of Christ dwell within us just as 00:36:56.400 --> 00:37:01.119 Paul encouraged the Colossians to do. This is focusing on the things of God, 00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:05.440 not the things of this earth. Focusing on things that are higher and not on the 00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:09.599 lower things. It's just like how Christ tells us not to worry. 00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:13.759 I know when we hear about wars going on in the Middle East and there's 00:37:13.759 --> 00:37:16.960 Russia and Ukraine and all these other things that are going on, 00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:21.359 that can cause anxiety. It can cause worry. 00:37:21.359 --> 00:37:25.599 Yet Christ tells us not to worry, to focus on him, 00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:29.839 despite what's happening on. And let me tell you, there's a lot of crazy things 00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:38.640 that are going on. Absolutely. But our focus, our hope, is in Jesus Christ. 00:37:38.640 --> 00:37:42.160 Focusing on the things that are higher and not the lower things, just like in 00:37:42.160 --> 00:37:47.760 your bulletin cover. The cover on there, Colossians 3-2. 00:37:47.760 --> 00:37:53.280 Set your minds on things that are above. Focus on the things that are higher 00:37:53.280 --> 00:37:57.840 and not on the things that are lower. By continuing to know the word of God, 00:37:57.840 --> 00:38:01.840 we will be able to mature and to know, to be able to discern 00:38:01.840 --> 00:38:07.039 good from evil, right? Right from wrong and to discern truth from lies. 00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:10.960 How many of you can tell when someone is lying to you? You don't have to raise 00:38:10.960 --> 00:38:15.680 your hand, right? But certainly you have to know the person, 00:38:15.680 --> 00:38:19.360 right? And when God equips you with his word, you're able to tell, 00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:23.920 something that doesn't sound right. That's right on. That is truth. 00:38:23.920 --> 00:38:27.760 That's part of the Christian walk is to mature and be able to 00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:33.039 discern truth from lies. Through the teachings that we find in Colossians, 00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:37.519 right? We can learn about how to be better Christians, discerning good from 00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:42.880 evil. I'm reminded how Ephesians chapter 4 verses 11 through 16, 00:38:42.880 --> 00:38:48.000 it mentions how the saints are to be equipped for the work of ministry, 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:51.599 right? Building up the body of Christ so that we can be 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:55.440 babies in Christ or mature in Christ, right? 00:38:55.440 --> 00:38:59.440 We all physically grow. I mean, I know some of us look great for our age, but we 00:38:59.440 --> 00:39:03.119 all continue to grow, don't we? We all continue to grow. 00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:06.559 So why would that be any different for the things of God? 00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:12.480 Don't remain as an infant in knowing the word of God, grow and have your 00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:15.199 understanding, grow in your understanding, be 00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:20.480 mature in Christ, right? And in doing this, you won't be 00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:26.079 swayed away by false teachers or false teachings. 00:39:26.079 --> 00:39:29.760 That is why Paul is writing to Colossians in the first place, is to 00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:33.039 continue doing the good that you're doing and be mindful 00:39:33.039 --> 00:39:36.880 of the false teachings that are, that potentially could infiltrate this 00:39:36.880 --> 00:39:40.480 church. So when we teach and preach the word 00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:45.119 of God, it's to equip us so we can know good from evil. 00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:50.400 So we won't get swayed by philosophy or empty deceit as it was said. 00:39:50.400 --> 00:39:55.519 And also in Colossians, it's, there's also this 00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:58.720 idea of having better relationships with our friends and 00:39:58.720 --> 00:40:03.039 our families and with the church body. How many of us would like to have better 00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:06.480 relationships with people in our lives? I know I do. 00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:12.880 And that's part of studying Colossians. Transformation of your own life. 00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:18.000 God, let God continue to work in your life. When God asks you to do something, 00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:22.559 will you listen or will you say, I'm good? Of course you want to listen. 00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:28.719 Why I hope you do be moved to follow what God's calling for your life is. 00:40:28.719 --> 00:40:34.000 And here's the thing. When you believe in the Lord, when you're on a path of 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:37.920 growing as a Christian, people will notice that. 00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:41.440 People will say there's something different about you. 00:40:41.440 --> 00:40:45.280 You're not the same as you once were. I knew you to be this way, but yet 00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:49.280 somehow there's just something. I can't put my finger on it. 00:40:49.280 --> 00:40:53.600 There's something different about you. People will notice it. 00:40:53.600 --> 00:40:59.519 There's something that's really to that. It is through transformation from God 00:40:59.519 --> 00:41:06.640 and his word that we engage culture for Christ. And we do this by walking in the 00:41:06.640 --> 00:41:11.120 wisdom of God. The book of Colossians encourages us 00:41:11.119 --> 00:41:15.679 to speak truth to others while dealing in love. My friends, 00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:20.159 you have people that focus so much on the love aspect, but they don't focus on the 00:41:20.159 --> 00:41:23.519 truth aspect, right? Then they get pushed over a little too 00:41:23.519 --> 00:41:26.000 much, right? You have the other side that focuses on 00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:30.239 truth so much, but they don't deal in love. It's this balance that happens 00:41:30.239 --> 00:41:34.239 between truth and love, right? Grace and truth, so to speak. 00:41:34.239 --> 00:41:37.759 There's that balance that exists when we are dealing with others. 00:41:37.760 --> 00:41:42.000 This is one of those things that we must keep in mind. We must be mindful of what 00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:45.120 we say and how we say it when we deal with other people, 00:41:45.120 --> 00:41:48.880 especially those who don't agree with us, especially those who are living their 00:41:48.880 --> 00:41:54.080 lives full of sin. Stand on truth, but deal in love. 00:41:54.080 --> 00:41:57.840 This is one of those things we must always keep in mind. Love God, 00:41:57.840 --> 00:42:01.520 love people, stand on the truth of the word of God. 00:42:01.520 --> 00:42:06.000 The balance of grace and truth. Let us be a church. 00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:10.639 Let us be an assembly, right? The people of God who balances grace and truth. 00:42:10.639 --> 00:42:14.480 Let us be faithful to God, but deal with love. 00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:20.800 And in that next slide, Christ calls us to engage the culture and the community. 00:42:20.800 --> 00:42:27.119 This is a call for us to speak truth and to serve others in the name of Christ. 00:42:27.119 --> 00:42:32.960 It is part of being an ambassador for Christ. Jesus Christ is our Savior, 00:42:32.960 --> 00:42:36.639 right? He's our Savior first and foremost, but He is also 00:42:36.639 --> 00:42:43.920 our example in serving others, right? Think about how Christ served others. 00:42:43.920 --> 00:42:47.360 What a wonderful example for us as believers. 00:42:47.360 --> 00:42:51.199 In doing this, we should stay rooted in the truth, the foundation 00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:55.920 that exists in Jesus Christ. It is in knowing the truth, 00:42:55.920 --> 00:43:02.559 knowing Jesus Christ, that we are set free by faith in Him. Free from sin, 00:43:02.559 --> 00:43:09.039 and once again, not free to sin, right? We focus and remain on Christ. 00:43:09.039 --> 00:43:15.039 This is what the apostle Paul mentions in Colossians, to remain in Christ. 00:43:15.039 --> 00:43:18.880 Let us remain focused on Christ and let the truth of Christ 00:43:18.880 --> 00:43:23.759 extend to every aspect of our lives. For those of us who are going to that, 00:43:23.759 --> 00:43:28.239 Wednesday study, right? Having God at the center, right? 00:43:28.239 --> 00:43:32.479 Having Christ at the center and it radiates to our interactions with our 00:43:32.479 --> 00:43:36.079 friends and our families, we can find that this is in Scripture. 00:43:36.079 --> 00:43:40.000 And you know one of my favorite verses in pretty much all of the Bible, 00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:43.359 well I can't say it's my favorite, it's one of my favorites though, 00:43:43.359 --> 00:43:48.399 is in Colossians 317. What does it say? Whatever you do in what? 00:43:48.399 --> 00:43:55.279 In word or deed, right? Or in action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 00:43:55.280 --> 00:44:00.400 giving thanks to God the Father through Him. It's doing everything in excellence 00:44:00.400 --> 00:44:04.880 for the glory of God. When considering taking the truth from 00:44:04.880 --> 00:44:09.280 Scripture, we integrate Christ into our lives and we 00:44:09.280 --> 00:44:13.760 balance truth and love. And what a wonderful encouragement this 00:44:13.760 --> 00:44:17.440 is for us to do everything in excellence in the name 00:44:17.440 --> 00:44:24.880 of Jesus Christ. That's why we as Christians, we believe in the Lord, 00:44:24.880 --> 00:44:29.680 we grow in the Lord and we go out and do good in the name of Christ. 00:44:29.680 --> 00:44:35.599 We give thanks to Him, we thank Him every day for this life that He gives us 00:44:35.599 --> 00:44:40.240 and we boldly go out into the world and do good. 00:44:40.240 --> 00:44:43.280 And the church at Colossae, they were doing just that. 00:44:43.280 --> 00:44:47.680 They were faithful and loving. Paul was thankful to the Colossians 00:44:47.680 --> 00:44:51.760 for their faithfulness and their love shown to others. 00:44:51.760 --> 00:44:55.840 Again, I pray that our church is known for that. 00:44:55.840 --> 00:44:59.040 This church has been known for that. Let us continue 00:44:59.040 --> 00:45:05.120 to focus on Christ and to deal, be faithful to Christ and to share in the 00:45:05.120 --> 00:45:10.000 love of Christ with believers and non-believers. Let us be known 00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:13.920 as Ontario Community Church, which means the church 00:45:13.920 --> 00:45:18.640 where the grace of God is overflowing to the community. 00:45:18.639 --> 00:45:24.000 For Jesus Christ is all that we need and He is in all things. 00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:28.079 He saves us through faith, He molds us in our walk with Him 00:45:28.079 --> 00:45:33.759 and He transforms us into mature believers. And because of this, we become 00:45:33.759 --> 00:45:38.559 more like Christ and we can make a difference in others' lives 00:45:38.559 --> 00:45:42.480 and in the community, the people that we interact with 00:45:42.480 --> 00:45:46.719 in this church and in this community. May God 00:45:46.719 --> 00:45:52.959 bless us. May God lead us and guide us as we begin. This is just the overview, 00:45:52.959 --> 00:45:57.519 my friends, as we begin our sermon series 00:45:57.519 --> 00:46:02.079 through the Book of Colossians. Let's pray together. 00:46:02.079 --> 00:46:06.319 And Lord, as we close this time of the reading and the overview of the Book of 00:46:06.319 --> 00:46:11.119 Colossians, we ask that your grace and truth will remain in us. 00:46:11.119 --> 00:46:16.559 May the word of Christ dwell within us richly and transform our lives. 00:46:16.559 --> 00:46:21.519 Teach us to seek Christ, to set our hearts on the things of you rather than 00:46:21.519 --> 00:46:25.920 the things of this world. And may we live out this radical 00:46:25.920 --> 00:46:31.199 transformation that you've begun in us. May your word continue to dwell in us 00:46:31.199 --> 00:46:35.119 richly, teaching us, admonishing us and shaping us 00:46:35.119 --> 00:46:40.079 to be more like you. And as we go in this last song, 00:46:40.079 --> 00:46:47.440 may we be reminded that Christ is all that we need and is in everything. 00:46:47.440 --> 00:46:52.159 Help us to bear with each other. Teach us to forgive one another 00:46:52.159 --> 00:46:57.119 and above all else, put on love, which brings us together. 00:46:57.119 --> 00:47:00.719 May our lives be a testimony to the grace and truth 00:47:00.719 --> 00:47:06.799 found in Jesus Christ. May we walk in this wisdom towards those in the 00:47:06.800 --> 00:47:10.240 community and those outside of this church. 00:47:10.240 --> 00:47:15.519 May we be ready to respond to culture and be ready to give a gracious answer to 00:47:15.519 --> 00:47:18.960 others. Help us to stand firm in faith and to 00:47:18.960 --> 00:47:23.680 balance love and truth. May we learn to discern the difference 00:47:23.680 --> 00:47:28.880 between right and wrong, good and evil, and truth from lies. May we be rooted in 00:47:28.880 --> 00:47:34.640 Christ. May Christ be our foundation. May you bless our sermon series. 00:47:34.639 --> 00:47:40.079 May we come to understand who you are and your word. 00:47:40.079 --> 00:47:44.879 May our sermon series. May we learn more about you, but we also ask that you 00:47:44.879 --> 00:47:50.960 transform us and that you mold us. Help us to live and love like you. 00:47:50.960 --> 00:47:55.279 For your Son Jesus Christ is all that we need. 00:47:55.279 --> 00:47:59.359 Thank you for tuning in to the Ontario Community Church Sermon Podcast. 00:47:59.359 --> 00:48:03.519 For more about our church and how you can get involved or support our mission, 00:48:03.519 --> 00:48:07.280 please visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:48:07.280 --> 00:48:35.280 May God's blessings be with you.