Paul asks for prayer so that he may be effective in proclaiming Jesus and then he urges the Colossian Christians to seize every opportunity to share their faith. Finally, the letter ends with a list of people who have found their place in the Gospel work of Jesus. This message include video greetings from extended BridgePointe family.

When Jesus is given reign in our hearts and lives, He changes everything about us from the inside out—from the peace that we experience in our hearts to the harmony we have in our relationships. As we surrender to Jesus, he restores God's image in us and gives us a new way to live.

In chapter three of Colossians, the focus shifts from what Jesus has done to how we respond to what He has done for us. In this week we look at how we must put to death the sin that separates us from the life Jesus wants to give us.

We can easily be deceived into thinking we need to add more to Jesus, but Paul writes powerfully to show that Jesus is enough and there is no need to add anything else to faith in Him.

Perhaps one of the biggest dangers to the faith of the Christians in Colossae and to us today is a diminished view of Christ. In this portion of scripture, Paul writes to correct a wrong view of Christ and reveals who Jesus is from pre-creation through the completion of his substitionary death. He is Lord over all and has reconciled us to God.

This is the first message in our series in Colossians, a study that aims to deepen our roots of faith and produce fruit in our lives… for our good and for God’s glory.

In his introduction, Paul applauds the church and prays for them. What he celebrates and what he prays for give us a picture of what the church is supposed to be. The predominant thought (vs. 9-14) is that the church most pleases God when its people live lives worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit, growing in knowledge, being strengthened and giving thanks for what He's done for us.

Because of what Jesus has done for us, we continually want to be part of helping others find life and hope in Him. We all have unique circles of influence and sometimes it's overwhelming to know where to start. The best place to start is asking God to give one person to share His love with.

We need other people to help us follow Jesus. Worship gatherings are a great place for relationships to start, but small groups are where relationships can grow. By connecting consistently with a group, people have a safe and loving environment to wrestle with faith, receive care, and be challenged to walk more closely with Jesus.

In response to what God has done for us, Partners joyfully and sacrificially give to the church to make sure that the mission has adequate resources to keep moving forward. God has always expected His people to give generously for His glory and purpose. When we create a rhythm of generosity toward Jesus and His mission, it increases our trust in God and moves our heart toward him. Often, generosity becomes the catalyst for spiritual growth in other areas.

God intends for every person who believes in Jesus and is filled with His Spirit to serve the church for the advance of His mission. The individuals experience joy and purpose through serving. And the church has everything it needs to bring people to maturity in faith.