Practically, what were the false teachers saying to the Colossian church? v21 – “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch?” The false teachers tried to turn the church at Colossae from a community of grace to a community of performance. From a true community of life-giving faith into a community of religion and rules and regulations […]
Jesus
Colossians 2: Don’t Lose Your Head (pt2 of 3)
If God’s desire is for us to stay connected to Jesus so that you can continue to be nourished and grow spiritually, what do you think Satan’s desire is? Isn’t it quite obvious? Satan will do everything in his power to get you and me to let go of Jesus and to make something else […]
Colossians 2: Don’t Lose Your Head (pt1 of 3)
Text: Col 2:1-23 Last week, we spent most of our time on one verse. Col 1:18 [READ] If you recall, the main point of last Sunday’s sermon was rather simple–Jesus is first place. We worked our way backward through v18. First, as a summary statement, we read that Jesus is first place in everything. Next, […]
Philippians 3: In Pursuit of the Prize (pt3 of 3)
This chapter ends with a warning to all whose end is not Christ, who are not straining forward for the prize of Christ. Phil 3:18-21 [READ] If Christ is not your end, then your life will end in destruction. Paul reiterates this point from the opposite vantage point. If Christ is the end goal of […]
Philippians 3: In Pursuit of the Prize (pt2 of 3)
Let’s read Phil 3:14. [READ] Here, Paul connects the word “goal” with the word “prize.” These two words almost seemed to be used interchangeably. I pursue as my goal the prize. The goal is related to the prize. They are not quite equivalent, but they must be closely linked somehow. To understand the word “prize” […]
Philippians 3: The Surpassing Value of Knowing Christ (pt3 of 3)
This is what it means to be a Christian. Our vocabulary falls short in trying to describe the surpassing value of knowing Christ so we use metaphors and we use strong comparative language like loss, filth, rubbish. We’re reaching for words here. For the Christian, you have found Christ to be like that treasure hidden […]