Colossians 2, ESV
⁶ Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Keep in Christ.

Reasons to walk in Christ:

⁹ For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

1. He is .

¹⁰and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

2. In Christ, we have that we need.

¹¹ In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³ And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him,

• In Christ, we are made .

having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴ by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

• In Christ, we are .

¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

• In Christ, we share in his .

 

Colossians 2, ESV
¹ For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face…

• The spiritual good of is worth the struggle.
  

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” (Colossians 4:12)

² that their hearts may be encouraged…

• Pray that we will be committed to the .

“…so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:14)

…being knit together in love…

• Pray that we will be committed to .
  

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

…to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

• Pray that we will be committed to .

 ⁴ I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

• Don’t be deceived by views that sound but are not .

⁵ For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Colossians 1, ESV
²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 

• One reason Christians suffer is to advance the – and in that, we !

“²⁴ Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; ²⁶ on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; ²⁷ in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ²⁸ And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:24-28)

“³⁰ for he [Epaphroditus] nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.” (Philippians 2:30)

²⁵ of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ²⁷ To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

• Christ is the hope of .

²⁸ Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. ²⁹ For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

• we proclaim.

“² For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)

 

Colossians 1, ESV
¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

1. Christ is supreme in .

• He is the of God.

• He is the of all creation.
  

• All things were created him.

• All things were created him and him.

• He holds the together.

¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

2. Christ is supreme in the .

• He is the of the church.

• He is the from the dead.
  

• He is in all things.
  

• He is God.

• He is the .

²¹ And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

3. and Jesus above everything.

 

Main Theme: The and of Jesus
He is and he is

Colossians 1, ESV
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
² To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, ⁵ because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, ⁶ which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, ⁷ just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf ⁸ and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

• The gospel is meant for the .
  
  • Am I ?
  • Am I ?
  • Am I sharing/ ?

⁹ And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

• The gospel should be bearing fruit in our .
• Three uses of “the will of God”:
  • Will of decree (hidden will)
  • Will of command (revealed will)
  • Will of direction

¹¹ being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;

• God us to live fruit-bearing lives.

¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

• Fruit is the of our salvation, not the cause of it.

 

Joshua 1, ESV

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, ² “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. ³ Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. ⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.

• A new season brings new .

⁵ No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

• In this new season, the Lord is us.

⁶ Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be strong and very courageous,

• In this new season, be and courageous.

…being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

• In this new season, be .

Bible Reading Plans

1. “Every Word in the Bible” – Bible in three years, a chapter a day.
2. “Five Day Bible Reading Plan” – Bible in a year, five days a week.
3. “Blue Letter Bible Chronological Plan” – Bible in a year in chronological order.
4. Morning and Evening, Charles Spurgeon – Daily devotionals (book or app)

 

¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴ For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. ¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Matthew 7:13-16 (ESV)

• Following Jesus is , , and often .
  • Many enter the wide gate because…
    • We are (v. 11)
    • It is (v. 13)
    • Others it (v. 15)

¹⁷ So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. ²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:17-23 (ESV)

• Faithful followers of Jesus bear good for God’s .
  • A genuine of Christ leads to a genuine to Christ.

²⁴ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)

• Wise people build their lives on a firm foundation through an to Christ and for Christ.
  • Wisdom involves seeing life from God’s and then living and obeying accordingly.
  • Obedience to Christ is not a burden but a ; it is a natural response to his love and sacrifice.

²⁸ And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, ²⁹ for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 7:28-29 (ESV)

 

¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19–20 (ESV)

• This command of Jesus provides his disciples, his fully devoted followers, with a profound that matters for all eternity, with drastically outcomes!

²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, ²³ but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! ²⁴ “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:21–24 (ESV)

• Jesus connects what we choose to with the attitudes of our heart and as evidence of our with God.

“We are mastered by our appetites. God has given us our appetites; hunger, thirst, and sex are God-created. But the moment that a man is dominated by them, or mastered by them, he is a slave to them.” D. Martyn Lloyd Jones

¹⁷ As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. ¹⁸ They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, ¹⁹ thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (ESV)

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25 (ESV)

anxious: 1: characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency: worried (Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary)

μεριμνάω [merimnao /mer·im·nah·o/] v. 1 to be anxious. 1a to be troubled with cares. 2 to care for, look out for (a thing). (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)

³⁸ Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38–42 (ESV)

• Again, this command of Jesus provides us with a choice to make. Is what we are worrying about really it?

²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸ And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matthew 6:26–30 (ESV)

• We are more by our Heavenly Father than all creation and He is over the details of our life.

³¹ Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31 (ESV)

²⁵ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁶ If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Luke 12:25–26 (ESV)

⁴ Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:4 (ESV)

• Even the limited time we have in life is an to demonstrate God’s extraordinary grace.

¹⁹ When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. ²⁰ For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:19–20 (ESV), see also 1 Corinthians 7:32-35

³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:31–33 (ESV)

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31–32 (ESV)

• Obedience to the command of Jesus demonstrates our distinct faith in the of God as we , or value, His glory over our own needs.

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6–7 (ESV)

³⁴ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25–34 (ESV)

• This command of Jesus emphasizes our dependence on Him regardless of the circumstances of other days.

⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)

 

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 6:1, ESV)

⁵ “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
⁷ “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
(Matthew 6:5-7, ESV)

1. God is the audience when I pray. Focus on , not , not .

2. Because God is in secret, and He knows what I need, the reward of private prayer is not , but a .

The Lord’s Prayer

⁹ Pray then like this:

3. Jesus did not give us the Lord’s Prayer to teach us a , but .

9 Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.	that Almighty God allows me to call Him Father. Acknowledge and affirm His .
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.	Surrender to His will.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,	Ask for my needs.
12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.	Confess my sins, and commit to be a .
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.	Ask for help in my with temptation.

WHAT TO DO WHEN MY PRAYERS ARE NOT ANSWERED

… a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
¹⁰ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities…
(2 Corinthians 12:7-10, ESV)

The purpose of pain is to deliver me from –.

The purpose of pain is to lead me back to .

The purpose of prayer is not results, but a relationship.

The purpose of prayer is .

 

Sermon on the Mount Introduction
“Probably the greatest tragedy of the church throughout its long and chequered history has been its constant tendency to conform to the prevailing culture instead of developing a Christian counter-culture.” (John Stott, 1978)

5 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. ² And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: (Matthew 5:1-2, ESV)

The Disciple’s Character

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
⁷ “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
⁸ “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹ “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12, ESV)

• A Disciple of Jesus acknowledges his spiritual .
• A Disciple of Jesus grieves over .
• A Disciple of Jesus is and .
• A Disciple of Jesus yearns for .
• A Disciple of Jesus extends .
• A Disciple of Jesus acts with pure and intentions.
• A Disciple of Jesus lives with and promotes .
• A Disciple of Jesus persecution.

In other words, a disciple of Jesus is free from:

• Pride (Blessed are the poor in spirit…)
• Spiritual (Blessed are those who mourn…)
• Overly aggressive or behaviors (Blessed are the meek…)
• The love and power of (Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…)
• Revenge (Blessed are the merciful…)
• Selfish (Blessed are the pure in heart…)
• Causing strife (Blessed are the peacemakers…)
• The fear of (Blessed are those who are persecuted…)

The Disciple’s Influence

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

• The character of your will draw others to Christ.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16, ESV)

• The intentionality of your will draw others to Christ.