Know Christ

Fulfill your Ministry in Christ

October 2, 2016 • Pastor Tanner Sheahan

As Paul closes out his letter to the Colossian church, he sends greetings from his many fellow workers and servants of Christ. There is much to learn from these men and one particular warning: do not take your eyes of of Christ. We have a place and purpose in God's kingdom, purchased by the blood of Jesus, and it begins and ends with knowing Christ and gazing in wonder at all he is.

A Manner of Life Declaring Christ

September 18, 2016 • Pastor Tanner Sheahan

In this final piece of instruction Paul gives some very practical marks of the Christian life. First, an upward orientation of persistent, thankful prayer that is alert to will of God and the needs of the world around us. Second, an outward orientation of grace-filled and winsome speech making the most of every opportunity. In short, our very manner of life should declare Christ.

As is Fitting in Christ

September 4, 2016 • Pastor Tanner Sheahan

In this portion of Paul's letter to Colossae he now gives instruction regarding house order and household relationships of which marriage is the foundation. While there are similarities to other documents regarding house order, there is one important distinction: for Christians, house order is not simply fitting, it is fitting in Christ. Because we are new creations in Christ, we can understand Paul's instructions to husbands and wives to be the primary way redeemed people push back on the effects of the fall.

Tender Mercies

August 28, 2016 • Pastor Steve McGuyre

God asks the Jesus follower to put on a heart of compassion. The phrase "compassionate hearts" comes from two Greek words that picture us showing deep love and forgiveness for those who are difficult to love. It's like the parables of the Good Samaritan, and the attitude of the father in the Prodigal Son. So how do we do this in our day to day lives? Pastor Steve gives several ways to adopt this "tender mercy" attitude.

Reflect the Image of Christ

August 21, 2016 • Pastor Dan Jones

Paul gives us instruction on putting to death the old self so we can properly reflect Christ and our current standing with Him. We learn that for the Christian, not focusing on the things above, cause us to not reflect Christ. We learn that to not reflect Christ is to trample the gospel and what Christ did for us on the cross.

Hearts and Minds on Christ

August 14, 2016 • Pastor Tanner Sheahan

Following several warnings in the previous passages, Paul now urges the Colossian Christians to affirm that they have indeed been raised with Christ and because that's true, he instructs, minds and hearts should be oriented towards Christ. This plays out in Christian lives today as an "eternal perspective" that shapes our work, our politics, and even our Facebook pages.

Qualified in Christ

Human religion is more dangerous than human philosophy when it puts a thin "Christian" veneer over religious effort and regulations. Religious pursuit is the pursuit of material things, much like prosperity theology today places transitory possessions as a measure of faith. When these material pursuits are elevated above Christ, they will "squire you to your final disqualification."

Safe in Christ

July 31, 2016 • Pastor Tanner Sheahan

This passage marks the beginning of the instruction piece of Paul's letter to Colossae and focuses mainly on worldly thought and philosophy that is not according to Christ. The tone for this instruction can be compared to a vaccine; you are safe where you are, do not be drawn out by empty philosophical illusions, this is what Christian thought looks like, continue in Christ. Paul engaged in opposition to a gnostic influence in Colossae that sought to defile the purity of the Gospel with worldly thought. That engagement gives us a framework for engaging human thought in our own circles of influence today with the great Gospel of Jesus as the antidote.

Walking in Christ

July 24, 2016 • Pastor Jason Ogden

It is no secret that the human body is created and designed to walk. Standing up on our own two feet…one foot in front of the other…step by step…from one location to the next…we are created and designed to walk. And likewise the same is true in our spiritual lives. And it is this "walking" that Paul is reminding and encouraging the Christians in the Colossian Church to actually do.

Treasure in Christ

July 17, 2016 • Pastor Tanner Sheahan

The climactic summary statement of all we've studied so far is that in Christ are hidden all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge. Paul moves through the themes of struggle in his ministry to make Christ known the Gentiles and to the Colossian church. He shows us that Jesus is the motivation and the energy to struggle with joy and the aim of ministry is that everyone be made mature in Christ. When we are captivated by the treasure of Christ, we are safe in him.

Preeminence of Christ

July 10, 2016 • Pastor Tanner Sheahan

Paul wrote this letter to the Colossian Church to establish them in the faith in the face of false teaching. This strong christological passage takes on the form of a hymn, declaring the eternal preeminence of Christ in all of creation, cosmic in proportion, and his supreme role in the new creation inaugurated by him through his death and resurrection and his headship of the Church. By this, we hostile rebels are no longer alienated but given new citizenship in his kingdom, reconciled to God, made holy and blameless by the blood of the preeminent Christ.

Gospel of Christ

July 3, 2016 • Pastor Tanner Sheahan

This passage in the Colossian epistle could be called "Paul's Two-Part Prayer." First Paul and company give thanks to God because the gospel is bearing fruit in the church at Colossae and their faith is centered on Christ as the very substance of hope. Paul then prays God would fill them with the knowledge of his will which will shape their lives because the great news of the gospel can be truly known; God has delivered us from death and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.

June 26, 2016 • Pastor Tanner Sheahan

We live in a culture teeming with promises of fulfillment. Money, sexuality, possessions or even simplicity and obscurity or scientific advances promise to meet our deepest needs. But these are broken promises from the start and can never heal a broken world. This sermon introduces the overarching theme of Colossians, the infinite richness in the simplicity of knowing Jesus.