Colossians
The Supremacy & Sufficiency Of Jesus
The Riches Of Friendship
June 16, 2021 • Pastor Chad Thompson
As Paul wraps up his letter to the Colossians, he takes time to mention and appreciate several friends in the ministry that have partnered with him and ministered to him during his imprisonment. A friend provides three things vital for a quality life. Friends provide companionship, without which we’d be lonely and isolated. They provide comfort – a pat on the back, a shoulder to cry on, and kind words of consolation when we need them. And they provide the accountability and perspective we need to keep us on the straight path.
The Divine Design For Communication
May 26, 2021 • Pastor Chad Thompson
In the text, Paul addresses both dimensions of our speech, the vertical and horizontal planes. Our vertical speech is directed to God. Our horizontal speech is directed to other people. And Paul points out that one of the reasons what we say on the horizontal plane is so important is because we say it to those who are lost and don’t have a vertical relationship with God. Our horizontal speech can have an impact on someone else coming into a vertical relationship with God.
The Divine Design For The Workplace
May 19, 2021 • Pastor Chad Thompson
Although this passage refers to servants, or slaves, and masters, or slave owners, the principles taught here certainly apply to the employee/employer relationship. In this lesson we will look at the both the original context of this passage and how it applies in our modern day work life. What Paul has to say speaks directly to the dignity of work, our work ethic, and how we treat workers with fairness.
The Divine Design For The Home
May 12, 2021 • Pastor Chad Thompson
When Christ is our life, His peace will be the decisive factor in what we think and feel. And the truth of His Word will saturate everything we say and do. By default then Christ as our life will also impact our homes, marriages, families, etc. In this text, Paul will deal with the home, husbands, wives, parents, and children. As with all things that God created, God has a divine design for the Home. Not all of that design is laid out here in these four verses, but if as families we would implement the truths of these four verses, we would be healthier and happier and glorify God.
Put It On & Turn It On
May 5, 2021 • Pastor Chad Thompson
Paul uses the image of changing clothes illustrate how our actions are to match our identity as the elect, holy, and beloved of God. Since we are the elect of God, holy and beloved we have some solemn responsibilities to God to put on spiritual clothes and turn on spiritual controls. Instead of sensuality, materialism, and negative emotionalism, we are to have compassion, kindness, humility gentleness, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, love, and unity.
Living In Christ's Victory
April 21, 2021 • Pastor Chad Thompson
In the first two chapters of the book, Paul laid down the doctrinal part of Colossians. He exposed the false teaching that was robbing the Colossians of their spiritual maturity. Now in chapters three and four he gives practical application of those doctrines that leads to genuine spiritual maturity. Christianity brought a change to the way of thinking and living for the Colossae believers. What we believe has a very definite connection with how we behave. It has too. Being in union with Christ means we share His life. He cannot live in us by His Spirit and permit must to live in sin. In the first eleven verses of chapter 3, Paul will give us a three-step procedure for living the victorious Christian life.
Don't Be Intimidated
April 7, 2021 • Pastor Chad Thompson
After making it clear that Jesus is all we need (He is sufficient), Paul attacks the heresies and false teaching of his generation. He begins verse 16 with the conjunction therefore, pointing to the connection between the practical application that follows and the theological discussion of sufficiency of Christ that he just shared. From verse 16 to the end of the chapter, Paul focuses his attention on three threats the Colossian believers were facing: Judaistic legalism (vv. 16-17), Gnostic mysticism (vv. 18-19), and dualistic asceticism (vv. 20-23).
Jesus Is Sufficient
March 31, 2021 • Pastor Chad Thompson
In every generation there seems to be some teaching or doctrine that arises that attempts to lead people to add something to Jesus in order for them to be saved, to be forgiven, to live life, to have victory, etc. How can we protect ourselves from being drawn to such enslaving philosophies? The answer is Jesus. He’s all we need because Jesus is sufficient. In this passage (2:9-15), Paul teaches us how Jesus is sufficient as our Lord, for salvation and the forgiveness of sin, and for our victory.
What Christians Need To Mature Spiritually
March 24, 2021 • Pastor Chad Thompson
We (believers) need each other to achieve our maximum potential in spiritual growth. We can’t grow they way we should if there is no “we” in our lives. A lone ranger mentality in our Christian life will impede our growth. There are many things we need to do as individuals, but there are also needs that we have that are best met by others. Individually we can emphasize bible study and prayer, but alone we miss out on aspects of Christian community and accountability. The Apostle Paul, as great as a Christian as he was, surrounded himself with others who helped him in his walk with Christ. He shared with the Colossians five things that will help us grow in Christ: 1) Concern for others, 2) Comfort with others, 3) Compassion for others, 4) Confidence in God's Word, and 5) Conduct that brings stability.
Good Advice For Fulfilling Your Ministry
March 10, 2021 • Pastor Chad Thompson
We are all called to ministry. If we going to fulfill our ministry we must: 1) Have the right attitude - joy 2) Serve in the right area – the stewardship of our life 3) Know the right assignment – proclaiming Christ and His gospel 4) Realize the aim and purpose - present every man (believer) spiritually mature in Christ 5) Depend on Jesus - realize that we can’t do in our own efforts
God's Will And Spiritual Maturity
February 24, 2021 • Pastor Chad Thompson
Paul prayed that the Colossian believers would be filled with (controlled by) the knowledge of God's will. Paul knew that knowing and doing (obeying) God's will leads to spiritual growth and brings stability in the face of temptation and false teaching. When I know and do the will of God for my life, then I walk worthily, work fruitfully, withstand gloriously, wait joyfully, and worship thankfully.
The Real Gospel
February 10, 2021 • Pastor Chad Thompson
If you change the gospel's message, you by default change who Jesus is. The gospel is simple faith in Jesus' work of the cross to save us from sin. It is a message of grace. If you add to or take away from the gospel, then you adding to or taking away from the cross-work of Jesus and you declare Jesus to be insufficient. Jesus is sufficient to be our Lord, our life, and our leader. He is supreme. And when you know that and believe that, you will not be easily moved by false teaching.