The letter to the Colossians is written to a people who easily forget.  They are taken off course by many false trails - propelled by their search for something more.   Their search for something more seems harmless but actually undermines…

The letter to the Colossians is written to a people who easily forget.  They are taken off course by many false trails - propelled by their search for something more.   Their search for something more seems harmless but actually undermines the full life in Christ they have already received.  Paul lays a trail of “shells” to help them remember their true home in Christ.  In this series, we will discover how this letter speaks powerfully into our lives today.  The intent of the letter to the Colossians, is that its readers - then and now - will be mature in Christ and fully assured.

 

November 13, 2016

Text: Colossians 4:2-6

Title: “Watch and Pray”

Paul uses the fourth and final catch-phrase “watch and pray”, to teach the church the manner in which they are to turn toward those outside the church.  In doing this Paul is showing them what ‘being the church’ is really all about.

 

 

November 6, 2016

Text: Colossians 3:15-18

Title: “Be Subject"

Paul uses the catch-phrase “be subject”, to teach the church that the practice of submitting to each other will shape - as a community - into the image of Christ.

 

October 30, 2016

Text: Colossians 3:12-15

Title: “Put On these new clothes”

Paul uses the catch-phrase “put on”, referring to the virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, as an essential practice that will shape the church into the image of Christ.

 

 

October 23, 2016

Text: Colossians 3:5-11

Title: “Put Off these old clothes”

Paul uses the catch-phrase “put off”, referring to the old behaviours in which the newly converted church has been accustomed to living, as an essential practice that will shape the church into the image of Christ.

 

 

October 9, 2016

Text: Colossians 3:15-17

Title: “And Give Thanks”

This week we look at the story of Consumerism, and how Paul’s repeated exhortation for us to “give thanks” is a powerful antidote to the pull of consumerism.  

 

 

October 2, 2016

Text: Colossians 2:6-23

Title: “Continue in Christ"

Paul exhorts us to be rooted in Christ, and not be pulled away by false philosophies.  We’re going to look at the modern and postmodern stories, and how the biblical story competes to be the overarching story we believe to be true. 

 

 

September 25, 2016

"A Hymn to Christ"

Colossians 1:15-20

These five verses- believed to be an early hymn, communally professed by the early church - speak of Christ with such comprehensive grandeur that the reader is left with no doubt that the early church believed the story of Jesus to be the true story of the whole world.  Jesus Christ is Lord of all creation; and Lord over the redemption of all things. 

 

September 18, 2016

"Grow in Grace"

Colossians 1:3-14

The practice of thanksgiving is a powerful antidote to fight the power of consumerism in our lives - which may begin with material goods but also bleeds into the realm of our faith.   Paul's thanksgiving section is especially long in this letter to this church who is always looking for more to be fulfilled.  Paul teaches them to embrace with thankfulness what they have received in Christ, and to grow in this grace that they have received.  

 

 

September 11, 2016

Scripture: Colossians 1:24 - 2:5

Title: “Leaders Contend”

We are introduced to the letter of Colossians, and discover how Paul contends for the church (rejoices in his suffering), and to which end he contends (for the church to be mature in Christ, firmly rooted).