Whooops.  I was so sick this week, this thing slipped right past me.  I’m feeling better now…so let’s think about our text for this Sunday…shall we?

This week we’ll be starting chapter 3 of Colossians, and reading the first 11 verses.  (Message version)

In the last chapter, Paul talked about taking care not to let other people become religious judges of our spirituality based on religious codes and rules.  But that’s not to say that no changes will be evident in our journey with God.  In fact, as we look at how Paul begins this segment in ch 3, we notice that he’s adamantly challenging us to gain a different perspective on who we are.  Who are we, according to verses 1-4?

Once we remember who we are…Paul then encourages us to specific action.  He wants to challenge us about the way we live…the choices we make, the way we think, the things we do.  

If it’s not a code of conduct or a set of rules that he’s setting forth in v5-9…then what is it?  What is Paul saying about the way we used to live, and the way we should live now, because of Christ?  Why does it matter how we live, if all has been forgiven by Christ’s sacrifice?

We seem to like dividing ourselves into camps…insiders and outsiders.  Paul even addresses that concept in v 10-11.  All the ways in which we try to define ourselves fall short of God’s original inentions…what is the one definition Paul puts on life in v11? 

Putting it all together, our hearts are changed by Christ…which challenges us to accommodate that change of heart by the way we live…yet even the way we live isn’t the means of giving us our identity, it’s just the “way we dress” the real us inside.

What are your thoughts on these verses?

One of the things that I think is fascinating about the New Testament is the ease in which it deals with antinomies.  On one hand, we are encouraged to sell out completely when it comes to our allegiance and love for Christ; and on the other hand we are cautioned about become extremists in the pursuit of our faith.  It’s such a delicate balance that from my observation, the church has had a great deal of difficulty finding it.  We usually seem to be swaying from one extreme to the other, more like a drunk than a tight rope walker.

Paul is going to address extremes in the passage we’ll be looking at this Sunday.  You can read it here: Colossians 2:1-10.  And you should read this in the Message version also.

While he’s never actually met the Christians he’s talking to, Paul feels a great deal of concern for them.  He wants them to stay on course…and again, remain simplified in their priorities.  As we read these verses, we see it all comes down to Jesus.  Nothing more, and defiantly nothing less.

As you read vs 6-7, what does it seem like Paul is trying to encourage these Christians to do? 

His warning in v 8 is another interesting paradox.  Paul himself was a man of great education.  He even quotes popular Greek philosophers and playwrights at different times.  It’s hard to believe he’s taking some sort of anti-intellectual stance here.  What would be the “key qualifier” in v8?  In other words, what is it about these philosophies and traditions that make them untrustworthy?

What extremes do we need to avoid in our culture that are similar to the ones Paul warns about?

Anyway….stuff to ponder ’till Sunday.

Moonrocket to Mars is leading worship…so you may want to show up late.  😉

First, before we talk about the passage we’ll be looking at this Sunday, I need to offer an apology.  I was confronted about the Jib Jab video I showed at the beginning of my teaching, and was advised that it really wasn’t appropriate for public viewing.  For at least one person, and maybe more, the subject matter and presentation of that particular satire was offensive and crass.  It was something they wouldn’t have viewed voluntarily…and yet I showed it publicly and without warning.  That was an abuse of my role in our community, and I’m very sorry.

If you took offense, please accept my sincere apologies, I didn’t set out to hurt anyone.  I’ve stated more than once, I’m not very good at this…but that doesn’t excuse me.  I will determine to be more cautious in the future.  The last thing I want to do is cause us to lose sight of what’s important just for the sake of a laugh.  I hope you’ll forgive me.

Ok…so, this Sunday we’ll be looking at vs 15-23 of Colossians 1 ( I highly recomend you read it in the Message as well).  Here is where Paul transitions from his opening remarks and moves toward his main point.  Remember, the Colossians had begun to drift away from the Message that they had been planted with, and were embracing errant teachings that minimized Jesus’ role in their spiritual lives.

As you read these verses, you’ll see that Paul is pretty excited about Jesus, and who He is. He makes statements about Jesus and His relationship to God.  What does the text say that Jesus is in relationship to God?
Paul also points out Jesus’ relationship to creation.  What is it?  After that, Paul points to a new order of things in vs 19-20.  What is God doing with the world through Jesus?

The question that seems to be implied in all of this is…who’s in control?  It’s a good question to pose to ourselves, considering the modern, American church’s propensity to compartmentalize our spirituality.  We seem to like the idea that we can keep church stuff to Sundays, but the rest of the week is a different story.  Do you get that impression from what Paul says here?  Based on what Paul says about Jesus, is there ANY part of life, the universe and everything that Jesus isn’t in control of? 

As we look at our own lives…is Jesus compartmentalized, or in control?  What areas do we tend to try and keep for ourselves?  Everything converges in the person of Jesus Christ.  That is where life is found…no other place.  If that’s true…then that should fundamentally change the way we view the life that we have in this world…shouldn’t it?

Stuff to ponder.  See you Sunday.

This Sunday we’ll keep looking at Paul’s introductory remarks to the church in Colosse.  We’ll read vs 9-14 in chapter one.  In this section, Paul moves from complimenting the stuff he knows about the Christians in Colosse, to the stuff he’s hoping for concerning them.

The whole movement of this section is about change.  V12-14give us the heading, and we sort of work in reverse from that point.  What’s the big, overall change that’s taken place in our lives because of Christ?

Working backwards, we see three areas of change that Paul prays for to continue happening with the Christians in Colosse…and what we want to see in ourselves.  V9 speaks of growth in our knowing something…v10 speaks of living something differently…v11 speaks of an ability to continue in these changes.  What will we grow to know?  What will change in our lifestyle?  What enables us to continue on?

Stuff to think about.  See you all Sunday!