Well, good morning everyone, nice to see you.
Just one other small announcement.
Church Directory and Prayer Diary.
So, there's a copy for each family there on the table as you came in.
It'll just help you know who's around, who's about.
And you can use it as a prayer guide to be praying for one another.
So, that's available this morning as well.
We're looking in Colossians.
So, if you'd like to turn in your Bibles to Colossians.
I haven't got a page number.
If somebody can help me out, if they're using a red-covered Bible.
1182.
There we go.
We're going to start at the end of chapter 1, verse 28.
So, let's hear God's word together.
Colossians 1, starting at verse 28.
He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
To this end, I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea,
and for all who have not met me personally.
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love,
so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding,
in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
I tell you this, so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
For though I am absent from you in body,
I am present with you in spirit,
and delight to see how disciplined you are,
and how firm your faith in Christ is.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,
continue to live your lives in him,
rooted and built up in him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught,
and overflowing with thankfulness.
Well, keep your Bibles open.
We're going to pray,
and then look at God's word together.
So let's pray.
Father, thank you for your truth,
for your wisdom,
and for your knowledge that we have just read.
And we ask for your Holy Spirit's power
to help us to be wise in applying your word
and understanding your word.
That it would penetrate deep in our life
so that it would change us
and mould us
and shape us into the people
you have called us
and created us to be.
So do your work in us today,
we pray,
for our good
and your glory.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, what's your purpose?
What's your aim
and your goal in life?
What gets you up in the morning
and drives you through the day?
What are you hoping to achieve?
Or what are you hoping to become?
Maybe your purpose is simply
just to have a happy life.
Maybe your desire is to get married someday.
Maybe your aim is to be successful
and financially stable.
Or maybe your goal in life
is just to be a good person,
a good friend,
a good parent.
What are you seeking to achieve or become?
Well, in our reading,
we discovered that the Apostle Paul,
who's writing to a church in Colossae,
tells us what his purpose in life is.
It comes in the end of verse 28.
He says that we,
speaking of him and his fellow workers,
that we may present everyone
fully mature in Christ.
That's his aim.
That's his goal.
That's his purpose.
To present everyone
fully mature in Christ.
It's a wonderful picture.
He's looking forward to the end of time
when we will all stand before God.
And his aim is to present to God
the church in Colossae
as Christ-like.
His purpose is to present them to God
as ready and acceptable to God.
It's a bit like a bride on her wedding day.
Not that I know from experience,
but for those brides who do get married,
they spend their day getting their hair done,
hours upon hours.
Then the nails get done.
Then it's the makeup
and then it's the dress fitting
and it takes such an age.
Why?
Because they're getting themselves
presentable,
to be acceptable,
to be made beautiful.
Well, that's Paul's purpose here.
He wants to present the church,
the people of God,
as beautiful,
acceptable,
that they would be Christ-like
before God.
That's my aim, he says.
That's my goal,
to present you
mature in Christ.
Now let's go back to the question
we asked ourselves at the beginning.
What's our goal
and our aim and purpose
in life?
It's quite a challenge,
isn't it?
I don't think.
Maybe you did.
I certainly didn't wake up
this morning,
even having prepared
all this,
thinking,
I must become mature
in Christ.
I had a lot of other things
in my mind.
So,
let's think about
what it is
to be mature
in Christ together.
It's a great goal
and it's a great purpose.
But maybe you're thinking,
look,
there's no way
I could ever
become mature
in Christ.
There's not a chance
that I could be made
acceptable before God.
I mean,
if you could see my life,
it's a mess.
It's one failure
after another.
Maybe it's possible
for some people,
but it's certainly
not for me.
Well,
look carefully
at what it says
in verse 28.
What did he say?
To present who?
everyone
mature in Christ.
Everyone means
anyone
can be made
presentable.
It doesn't matter
who you are
or what you've done
or where you come from.
you can become
mature in Christ.
And let's be clear,
it's also guaranteed.
The purpose,
again,
verse 28,
is to present
everyone
fully
mature
in Christ.
A bit behind
the slides there.
To present
everyone
fully
mature in Christ.
on the last
day
as you stand
before God,
you will be
not
partly
acceptable,
not
halfway there,
but that you
would be
completely
presentable.
You see,
messy people
like us
can be
made
fully
mature
in Christ.
We can be
made
beautiful
and
acceptable
before God.
So how do we
become mature
in Christ?
Well,
three things we're
going to look at
that are going to
show us
how people
like us
can become
mature
before God.
three things.
We believe
the message
of Christ,
we share
the treasures
in Christ,
and we
continue the
walk
with Christ.
So first,
to be made
mature,
we believe
the message
of Christ.
Let's read
all of verse
28.
He is the one
we proclaim
admonishing
and teaching
everyone
with all wisdom
so that we
may present
everyone
fully mature
in Christ.
You see,
to become
mature,
we believe
the message.
That's what it
says at the
beginning of
verse 28.
He,
that is,
Christ,
is the one
we proclaim.
It's not that
Paul has some
special power
to magically
make everybody
mature,
as if he
stands over
people and
raises his
hands and
goes,
you are
mature in
Christ,
and zap,
just like that
it happens.
No,
he simply
proclaims the
message of
Christ.
Do you
remember what
the message of
Christ is?
Have a look
back at
chapter 1,
verse 21.
Verse 21,
he says,
once you
were alienated,
alienated,
that is,
you were
separated from
God and
were enemies
in your
minds because
of your
evil behaviour,
but now,
so God
has done
something,
he has
reconciled
you,
he's brought
you back
into relationship
with God
by Christ's
physical body
through death
to present
you wholly
in his
sight,
without
blemish,
and free
from accusation.
Can you
see what's
going on
there?
On the
cross as
Jesus died,
an exchange
takes place.
Christ takes
all our
unholiness,
all our
sinful,
blemished
lives,
and in
its place
he gives
us his
purity,
so that
Christ
can present
us to
God,
how?
Look at
the end
of verse
22,
as holy
in his
sight,
without
blemish,
and free
from
accusation.
You see,
to be
mature in
Christ
is a
status.
It's
something
God
declares
us to
be as
we trust
in Christ.
It's not
something we
earn or
deserve,
it's
something that
God gives
to you,
it's
something we
receive by
faith.
You are
made
mature in
Christ,
you are
made
acceptable,
you are
made
beautiful,
because God
takes the
beauty and
the purity
of Christ
and gives
it to
you.
Now,
that's not
how any
of us
think,
is it?
Our
default
position
is always
to think,
I must
do
something.
Tell me
what it
is that
I have
to do
to make
myself
acceptable
and
beautiful
before
God.
Now,
we've
got to
change
that
kind
of
thinking.
So,
he says,
verse 28,
he says,
we proclaim
Christ
admonishing
and teaching
everyone.
You see,
we always
fall into
this trap
of thinking
that we
have to
do
something,
that if
I put
in the
right kind
of effort,
I will
be
presentable.
No,
we need
to be
admonished
about that.
That means
we need
to be
corrected
about that
wrong
kind of
belief.
We need
to be
taught
with what's
right,
with the
message of
Christ.
So,
imagine
after our
time here
together,
we're back
there having
our tea
and coffee
and someone
comes and
you go to
someone and
you ask
them,
how are
you doing
today?
And they
answer,
I feel
terrible.
My life
is such
a mess.
I fail
so often.
I let
myself
down,
I let
others
down,
I let
God
down.
What are
you going
to say
to them?
Well,
we need
to admonish
one another.
We need
to correct
what we
think we
must do
and instruct
each other
in what
God has
done.
in
Christ
we have
been
reconciled.
We are
now,
if we
are trusting
Christ,
holy in
his sight,
without
blemish,
free from
accusation.
God
makes us
presentable.
He makes
you
beautiful.
God
makes you
acceptable
before him.
now,
all of
this
teaching
requires
great
wisdom,
doesn't
it?
Because
that's
what he
says.
Follow
with me
again,
verse 28.
He's
the one
we
proclaim,
admonishing
and teaching
everyone
with all
wisdom.
You
see,
understanding
and believing
the message
is not
something we
can do
ourselves.
we can't
generate the
power and
say,
yes,
I
understand,
yes,
I
believe.
We need
God's
wisdom,
not our
own,
but his.
And where
does that
wisdom come
from?
Well,
go back
to chapter
1,
verse 9.
The
middle of
verse 9.
He says,
we continually
ask God
to fill
you with
the knowledge
of his
will through
all the
wisdom
and
understanding
that the
Spirit
gives.
You see,
it's the
Holy Spirit
who gives
us wisdom,
who gives
us understanding
about the
message of
Christ.
So we
need to be
asking for
the Spirit's
help to
believe and
apply the
message of
Christ to
our life.
I can't
make anybody
believe,
I can't
make myself
believe,
but the
Spirit at
work in
me helps
me and
enables me
to believe
and to
trust.
That's why
we started
our time
this morning.
Do you
remember the
first thing
Ralph did
was pray
and ask
for God's
help.
As we
began our
study in
Colossians,
we stopped
and we
prayed for
the Holy
Spirit to
help us.
We need
his work
in our
life to
give us
wisdom and
understanding.
healing.
That's how
we together
become mature.
It's not
something we
achieve on
our own,
it's something
that God
does in
us by
his Holy
Spirit.
So first,
how do we
become mature?
We believe
the message
of Christ.
second then,
how do we
become mature?
We share
the treasures
in Christ.
Let's jump
down to
chapter 2
verse 2.
He says,
my goal,
my aim,
my purpose
is that
they may
be
encouraged
in heart
and united
in love
so that
they may
have the
full riches
of complete
understanding
in order
that they
may know
the mystery
of God
namely
Christ
in whom
are hidden
all the
treasures
of wisdom
and knowledge.
Now that's
a really long
complicated
sentence,
isn't it?
It's far
too long.
Well,
for me
anyway.
What's
it saying
to us?
Well,
the big
idea of
these few
verses is
that we
become mature
as we
share the
treasures
that are
found in
Christ.
So let's
kind of
break that
down and
look at
each point
together.
First,
we learn
together.
Let's read
verse 2
again.
My goal
is that
they,
the church,
may be
encouraged
and united
in love.
He wants
the church
to be
together,
encouraging
and united.
Why?
so that
they may
have the
full riches
of complete
understanding.
You see,
the aim
here is
still the
same.
Let's
not lose
the focus.
The aim
is still
that we
would become
fully mature
in Christ.
However,
that's not
something we
do in
isolation.
We learn
together.
It's our
togetherness,
as we are
united together
as God's
people,
that gives
us the
full riches
of complete
understanding.
So you've
probably
experienced
this,
that when
you learn
something,
and you
do it on
your own,
well,
you learn
a little
bit,
don't you?
You learn
something.
But it's
so much
richer and
better when
we are
learning
together.
We gain
so much
more.
You see,
when God
saved us,
he saved
us into
a family,
into his
church.
He gave
to us
brothers and
sisters,
just like
we're gathered
here today.
Because
maturity in
Christ is
not just
an individual
pursuit for
one person
saying,
oh,
that's what
I'm going
to do.
No,
it's a
community
project.
This is
God's
purpose for
us all
together.
And we're
responsible for
one another.
As we
gather here
today,
one of the
reasons why
we're coming
together is
to say,
you know
what,
you're to
become
mature in
Christ,
you're to
become
mature in
Christ,
I'm to
become
mature in
Christ,
and we
can't do
it on
our own.
We need
the support
and the
help of
each other.
So what
do we
learn as
we gather
together?
Well,
we learn
together,
look at the
end of
verse 2,
in order
that we
may know
the mystery
of God,
namely
Christ.
We
gather
together,
we learn
together,
so that
together we
can know
about Christ.
You see,
Christ is
not just
any other
person.
He is
unique.
He's
God.
You see
what it
says there
in verse 2?
That we
would know
the mystery
of God,
namely
Christ.
We
can't
know
about
God
unless
God
reveals
himself
to us.
You
wouldn't
know
anything
about
me
if
you
never
met
me.
Well,
God
has done
that.
He's
revealed
himself
to us
through
Christ.
Look
back at
chapter 1
verse 19.
It says,
God was
pleased
to have
all his
fullness
dwell
in Christ.
All of
God
is in
the person
of Christ.
That's how
unique he
is.
So,
as we're
learning
together,
we're
learning
about
the person
of Christ
who is
God.
He's not
just any
religious
kind of
person.
He is
the one
that we
need to
learn about
and know
about because
there's
nobody
greater
than
God.
In
fact,
Christ
is our
treasure.
Look at
verse 3.
in
Christ
are hidden
all the
treasures
of wisdom
and knowledge.
So,
as we
gather
together,
we're
learning
together
about
Christ
because
in
Christ
are
all the
treasures
of wisdom
and knowledge.
So,
as we
come together,
it's like
a treasure
hunt.
Do you
remember the
movie
The
Goonies
back in
the 80s?
Great movie.
You should
watch it.
A bunch
of kids
discover a
map in
the attic.
Do you
remember the
story?
Their houses
are going to
be taken
away and
they need
money to
make sure
they can
keep them.
And one
of the
kids
finds this
map.
It belongs
to an
old pirate
of a few
hundred years
ago called
One-Eyed
Willie.
And
crucially,
the map
shows where
the pirate
ship is
hidden.
It's called
the Inferno.
And legend
has it that
on board
this ship
is gold.
And so
these kids
take this
map and
the adventure
begins and
they go in
search of
the treasure.
And then
the moment
comes when
they discover
the ship.
And it's
laden down
with gold
and precious
jewels.
Well,
as we
gather
together,
as we
open up
our
Bibles
together,
it's like
we're going
on a
treasure
hunt.
Verse 3,
in Christ
are hidden
all the
treasures
of wisdom
and knowledge.
Christ
is the
treasure.
He's the
one who
gives us
wisdom
and knowledge
about how
to live
our life
before
him.
In other
words,
everything we
need to
become mature
in Christ
is found
in Christ.
Of course,
there will be
lots of other
voices,
lots of other
so-called
wisdom and
knowledge will
say to you,
no, no,
no,
you can do
it yourself.
You don't
need Christ.
You can go
it alone.
verse 4,
I tell you
this so
that no
one may
deceive you
by fine
sounding
arguments.
Other people
will say,
you've got
the wisdom
within
yourself.
You've got
the knowledge
within
yourself.
But don't
be deceived
by fine
sounding
arguments.
The
treasure,
the wisdom
and knowledge
that we
need to
live life
God's
way is
found in
him.
Now,
when we've
got this
treasure,
we're to
share the
treasure with
one another,
aren't we?
That's the
whole point
of those
few verses.
Isn't that
what Paul
did back
in verse
28?
He had
the treasure
and he
says,
I proclaim
Christ to
you,
admonishing
and teaching
everyone with
all wisdom.
He shared
the treasure.
And that's
exactly what
we're to
do.
Just have
a flick
over the
page to
chapter 3
verse 16.
It's
almost
identical
to what
Paul said
in chapter
1 verse
28.
Do you
see what
it says?
Verse 16,
chapter 3
verse 16,
let the
message of
Christ
dwell
among you
richly
as you
teach and
admonish
one another
with all
wisdom.
In other
words,
it's telling
us,
share the
treasures
of Christ,
the message
of Christ,
the word
of Christ.
Teach
and admonish
one another,
share with
each other
the wisdom
that Christ
gives,
so that
together
we can live
the life
God calls
us to.
You have
it.
The treasures
are here
in God's
word.
It's like
a treasure
hunt.
So many
jewels,
so many
precious
stones,
so much
to share.
That's how
we become
mature in
Christ.
We learn
together
and pass
God's
truth to
one another.
So second,
share the
treasures
in Christ.
And third,
continue the
walk with
Christ.
Continue the
walk with
Christ.
Go back
to chapter
2,
verse 6.
So then,
just as
you received
Christ Jesus
as Lord,
continue to
live your
lives in
him.
Christ.
You see,
we become
mature in
Christ as
we walk
with Christ.
As you
continue to
live your
lives in
him.
Literally,
it means
continue to
walk with
him.
You started
your life
walking with
Christ,
now continue
walking with
Christ.
You believed
in the message
of Christ,
Christ.
Now continue
to believe
the message
of Christ.
You've
received the
treasures of
Christ,
now continue
in the
treasures of
Christ.
Don't move
on to
something else
or someone
else.
So what's
it going to
look like for
us together
to walk
with Christ?
Well,
three things
that we can
do together.
first,
to be
rooted in
Christ.
Let's read
verse 6
again.
So then,
just as you
received Christ,
Jesus as
Lord,
continue to
live your
lives in
him,
rooted and
built up
in him.
Well,
a tree that
sends down
its roots
deep is a
tree that's
going to
grow,
isn't it?
the deeper
the roots,
the taller
the tree.
Well,
together we
are to send
our roots
deep into
the word
of Christ.
We need
to be
intentional
about knowing
the word of
Christ.
We need
together to
search the
treasures of
Christ.
How do we
do that?
Well,
by opening
up our
Bibles and
reading it.
Asking God
to give you
understanding.
That's what
we are doing
together now.
This is why
we encourage
it on a
Wednesday to
meet together.
And if you
can't meet
Wednesday,
meet up with
somebody during
the week.
Come and
talk to me.
I'd be very
happy to meet
with you.
To read
God's word.
To go
deeper.
To get
rooted in
Christ.
So that we
become strong
and stable.
So as we
walk with
Christ,
let's
encourage one
another to
be rooted
in Christ.
A tree
without roots
is going to
die and
topple over.
So if we're
not rooted
and connected
in God's
word,
we're going
to fall over
with the first
bit of storm
or trial that
comes.
So let's
encourage each
other to be
rooted in
Christ.
second,
to be
strengthened
by Christ.
He says we
are to be
rooted and
built up in
him and
strengthened in
the faith as
you were
taught.
Sometimes when
we're talking
about faith,
it refers to
our trust in
Christ.
Other times,
the word
faith refers to
the whole
teaching of
scripture.
And I
think that's
the case
here in
verse 7,
when it
says,
strengthened in
the faith as
you were
taught.
So how
are we going
to be
strengthened?
Well, we
need to be
people who
teach the
word about
Christ to
each other.
Okay, I
might be
teaching this
morning, but
that doesn't
mean to say
we can't all
teach each
other.
We're all
to be
teachers and
encouragers
building each
other up with
God's word.
That's what we
do over tea
and coffee.
We ask each
other questions,
we find out
how we're
doing, so
that we can
strengthen each
other.
Maybe you
read something
this week in
the Bible that
was encouraging
to you.
Why can't we
share that with
somebody else and
say, you know
what, I read
this and it
really encouraged
me.
can't we
share this
treasure with
one another?
Going to
church, meeting
with each other
is like going
to the gym.
You go to the
gym to work
out to become
strong physically.
Can't you see?
No?
And we need to
be strong
spiritually as
well, don't
we?
And as we're
taught in
God's word, so
we strengthen
ourselves.
Instead of
getting knocked
off course, we
continue to walk
with Christ.
So let's
encourage one
another to be
strengthened.
And then
lastly, to be
thankful for
Christ.
Let me read
verse 6 and
7 together.
So then, just
as you
received Christ,
continue to
live your
lives in
Christ, rooted
and built
up in
Christ,
strengthened in
the faith as
you were
taught, and
overflowing with
thankfulness.
And we could
add there, for
Christ.
You see, when
you thank
someone, do you
realise what's
happening when
you thank
somebody.
You're actually
rehearsing
everything that
they have done
for you.
It's a retelling,
it's a reminder
of what they've
done.
So I had to
say thank you
to Christy,
well I have to
say thank you
to Christy
lots of times.
But on this
occasion it was
saying thank you
Christy so much
for getting the
car sorted,
for booking
the NCT,
for getting it
sorted at the
garage, for
getting the car
filled
up with
petrol.
Thank you, I'm
so thankful.
But you see, in
the process of
giving thanks, I'm
reminding myself
all over again of
everything that
Christy has done.
How much more
vital is it to be
overflowing with
thankfulness for
all that Christ
has done?
Because as we
thank God, we're
rehearsing, we're
reminding ourselves of
all he's done for
us.
Thank you, Lord
Jesus, for your
grace to me.
thank you for
dying in my
place.
Thank you for
taking my
unholiness and
my blemishes and
my guilt and
suffering the
judgment I
deserve.
Thank you that
by faith I
receive your
life, your
purity, and
that you make me
acceptable and
beautiful and
presentable before
before God.
Thank you, Jesus,
that you can take
someone like me
and make me
beautiful, that
you can make me
fully mature in
Christ.
Can you see how
overflowing with
thankfulness retells
the story of what
God has done for
you?
So as we walk
with Christ,
let's be rooted
in Christ.
Let's be
strengthened by
Christ.
And let's
overflow in
thankfulness for
Christ.
And together,
as we share
these treasures,
we become
more mature,
we become
presentable
before God.
Let's pray.
Thank you,
Father God,
for all that you
have done for us,
for taking the
initiative,
for intervening
into our life,
for giving us
Jesus,
so that we
can be
presentable
before you.
Thank you
that now,
as we trust
in Christ,
you look at
us as holy
and blameless
in your sight.
Thank you
for that
wonderful gift.
and please
help us
that we
would go on
sharing these
treasures with
one another
and that
together we
would walk
with each
other as
we walk
with Christ,
building each
other up,
strengthening
each other,
and together
overflowing
in thankfulness.
We praise you
for what you
have done
and what you
are doing
in us
today.
In Jesus'
name,
Amen.
Well,
we're going
to sing
together.
When you
should all
know,
be thou my
vision.
There's a
verse just
to draw your
attention to.
Comes
towards the
end there,
you can see.
riches I
heed not,
nor man's
empty praise,
thou mine
inheritance now
and always,
thou and
thou only,
first in
my heart,
high king
of heaven,
my treasure
thou art.
If you
are trusting
in Christ,
well then
you'll want
to sing
this song.
Let's
stand together
if we're able
to and we'll
sing.
ל׍
都
Cloud
Thank you.
Thank you for the treasures, the riches we have seen in your word today.
Thank you for Christ.
Thank you for all he has done for us.
Give us the wisdom and knowledge that we need to live this out in practice this coming week.
We thank you for tea and coffee.
We thank you for tea and coffee and for time to chat.
Thank you for one another.
People you have given to us to help us in our walk with you.
Thank you, God.
Amen.
Well, I do encourage you to stay behind for tea and coffee and catch up.
Thank you.
Amen.
Well, I make you peace.
Thank you.
tout nossa peut.
Thank you.
Awesome girl.
Thank you,istan.
Thank you.
Thank you, you.
Thank you.
They were grand-tees anyway.
It was like at least George.
Yeah, they were quite important when you played that.
Yeah, and if we're trying to play that,
I'm not sure if we're going to play that.
Yeah, there's probably four different ways to play that.
Yeah, and if we're trying to play that,
there was one that had recently
the movie by Bishar's completely different score.
Yeah, the model, they've changed a bit now and then.
That's probably the one that leans towards that.
Yeah.
But again, pace-wise you can do it differently as well.
There's a 4-4 or 2-4.
.