Big Idea - Do you make New Year's resolutions? The New Year is a time of starting over, a fresh beginning. We should always seek to make the coming year better than the last! But what will make it better? Did you keep the promises you made to yourself last year? Did you achieve the goals you set? Maybe we have given up on making resolutions because nothing ever comes of them. There are many goals we can make that will help us have a better life, but the most important goals that will impact our lives are our goals for spiritual growth. What is your plan to grow spiritually in the next year? And how can we make sure we are successful in reaching these goals so that we really do grow?

Paul warns the saints in Colossae not to let others, those who think they are super spiritual, derail their spiritual growth with a plan that is not from God but is rooted in worldly thinking and the weakness of the flesh. The danger of this "philosophy" for spiritual growth was that it had the opposite effect - by making them more a slave of the flesh rather than setting them free from the desires and cravings of the flesh. Our flesh, sinful nature and desires keep us from reaching our goals for growth and spiritual maturity, so any plan that depends on the flesh is doomed to fail! There were two main problems with their plan. First, they were pursuing the wrong things. They were setting goals about things that were, at best, only a shadow and, at worst, were human teachings that were the very opposite to the truth of God. They appeared to be very good, but they were of no help in overcoming the sinful desires of the flesh.

The second problem was that they had the wrong idea about how to be successful. They thought it was a matter of their own determination and effort. They thought the way to reach your goal and grow spiritually is to just try harder, and you can do it! But you cannot overcome the weakness of the flesh by the weakness of the flesh! Paul has a better growth plan. One that is guaranteed to work. First, we need to pursue the right things. Not meaningless rules made by the world, but the goal of holding fast to Christ, who is the head. We cannot grow ourselves. True growth results from God's hand at work in our lives! This growth comes about as we draw near to Jesus and get connected with His body, the Church. Secondly, our growth plan is not a matter of our own effort or determination to overcome the desires of the flesh. Instead, we trust in the work of Christ on the cross in which we participate when Jesus put the flesh to death. When something has died, it is no longer responsive to the things in this life. We don't overcome the flesh through rigid discipline but by trusting in the power of the cross to kill those desires. Those desires are tempting only because we decide we want to desire the desire. But, if we draw near to Christ and seek His holiness, we will find that those temptations no longer have the power they once had.

Big Idea - Do you make New Year's resolutions? The New Year is a time of starting over, a fresh beginning. We should always seek to make the coming year better than the last! But what will make it better? Did you keep the promises you made to yourself last year? Did you achieve the goals you set? Maybe we have given up on making resolutions because nothing ever comes of them. There are many goals we can make that will help us have a better life, but the most important goals that will impact our lives are our goals for spiritual growth. What is your plan to grow spiritually in the next year? And how can we make sure we are successful in reaching these goals so that we really do grow?

Paul warns the saints in Colossae not to let others, those who think they are super spiritual, derail their spiritual growth with a plan that is not from God but is rooted in worldly thinking and the weakness of the flesh. The danger of this "philosophy" for spiritual growth was that it had the opposite effect - by making them more a slave of the flesh rather than setting them free from the desires and cravings of the flesh. Our flesh, sinful nature and desires keep us from reaching our goals for growth and spiritual maturity, so any plan that depends on the flesh is doomed to fail! There were two main problems with their plan. First, they were pursuing the wrong things. They were setting goals about things that were, at best, only a shadow and, at worst, were human teachings that were the very opposite to the truth of God. They appeared to be very good, but they were of no help in overcoming the sinful desires of the flesh.

The second problem was that they had the wrong idea about how to be successful. They thought it was a matter of their own determination and effort. They thought the way to reach your goal and grow spiritually is to just try harder, and you can do it! But you cannot overcome the weakness of the flesh by the weakness of the flesh! Paul has a better growth plan. One that is guaranteed to work. First, we need to pursue the right things. Not meaningless rules made by the world, but the goal of holding fast to Christ, who is the head. We cannot grow ourselves. True growth results from God's hand at work in our lives! This growth comes about as we draw near to Jesus and get connected with His body, the Church. Secondly, our growth plan is not a matter of our own effort or determination to overcome the desires of the flesh. Instead, we trust in the work of Christ on the cross in which we participate when Jesus put the flesh to death. When something has died, it is no longer responsive to the things in this life. We don't overcome the flesh through rigid discipline but by trusting in the power of the cross to kill those desires. Those desires are tempting only because we decide we want to desire the desire. But, if we draw near to Christ and seek His holiness, we will find that those temptations no longer have the power they once had.

Chiangmai Christian Fellowship

Big Idea - The believers at Colossae were at risk of being convinced that something was missing in their lives. Due to this lack, they did not measure up, and without a major upgrade, they could not be truly spiritual or maybe not even saved. The deceptive teaching was centered on the fact that they were all Gentiles, and what was missing was a Jewish identity. But Paul warns them that this teaching is a lie, an empty deception that will lead them away as captives in chains if they follow. While the same deception would not tempt us, we are surrounded by other messages trying to convince us that we are not enough, that something is missing, and that we cannot, therefore, be truly happy or have worth or significance. It is a message that we may believe all too easily because we are painfully reminded of our shortcomings, our failures, and our weaknesses. It is not hard to convince us that something is missing because we feel inadequate. So, when someone comes along promising that they can give us what we are missing, we may be tempted to follow them. But, like the Colossians, it is an empty promise, and the result is that we fall under their power as prisoners. Actually, we are really "following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience." Ephesians 2:2 For the Colossians, the problem was deeply rooted in their sense of identity - who they were and what gave them worth and value as a person. It is the same with us. When we feel something is wrong with us, that something is lacking or missing, and we will never really be "somebody" until we find that missing "something." So, what is missing? How do we shape a sense of our identity that has true worth and value but is not based on the empty lies and deception of Satan?

Paul is very clear in warning us not to be taken in by the empty deceptions that are all around us. They might be empty, but they are extremely dangerous because they make us prisoners. They capture us and control us when we buy into their lies. When we follow the thinking of the evil one and of the world, they both become our masters, own us, and their goal is to drag us away from Christ and our faith. The key to resisting their lies is understanding that we have been filled in Christ, in whom God's very character and nature live fully. We may feel inadequate and incomplete, but that is only because we fail to see what we are now in Christ. A lot is missing when we see our life as it was apart from Christ and without Him! But, in Christ, we are filled - nothing is lacking or missing! We are 100% complete in Him! So, how do we form this sense of ourselves as full and complete, as a whole person in whom nothing is wrong, lacking, or deficient, when we may feel inadequate and when the world is quick to point out our weaknesses? The key is to grasp and experience all that Christ has accomplished for us on the cross. We need to so closely identify with Jesus' work on the cross as our own experience that it shapes our very sense of who we are. First, we have superior proof of our identity. Second, we have a superior initiation into our new identity. Third, we have a superior means of forgiveness. And finally, we have a complete victory over every evil power.

Big Idea - The believers at Colossae were at risk of being convinced that something was missing in their lives. Due to this lack, they did not measure up, and without a major upgrade, they could not be truly spiritual or maybe not even saved. The deceptive teaching was centered on the fact that they were all Gentiles, and what was missing was a Jewish identity. But Paul warns them that this teaching is a lie, an empty deception that will lead them away as captives in chains if they follow. While the same deception would not tempt us, we are surrounded by other messages trying to convince us that we are not enough, that something is missing, and that we cannot, therefore, be truly happy or have worth or significance. It is a message that we may believe all too easily because we are painfully reminded of our shortcomings, our failures, and our weaknesses. It is not hard to convince us that something is missing because we feel inadequate. So, when someone comes along promising that they can give us what we are missing, we may be tempted to follow them. But, like the Colossians, it is an empty promise, and the result is that we fall under their power as prisoners. Actually, we are really "following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience." Ephesians 2:2 For the Colossians, the problem was deeply rooted in their sense of identity - who they were and what gave them worth and value as a person. It is the same with us. When we feel something is wrong with us, that something is lacking or missing, and we will never really be "somebody" until we find that missing "something." So, what is missing? How do we shape a sense of our identity that has true worth and value but is not based on the empty lies and deception of Satan?

Paul is very clear in warning us not to be taken in by the empty deceptions that are all around us. They might be empty, but they are extremely dangerous because they make us prisoners. They capture us and control us when we buy into their lies. When we follow the thinking of the evil one and of the world, they both become our masters, own us, and their goal is to drag us away from Christ and our faith. The key to resisting their lies is understanding that we have been filled in Christ, in whom God's very character and nature live fully. We may feel inadequate and incomplete, but that is only because we fail to see what we are now in Christ. A lot is missing when we see our life as it was apart from Christ and without Him! But, in Christ, we are filled - nothing is lacking or missing! We are 100% complete in Him! So, how do we form this sense of ourselves as full and complete, as a whole person in whom nothing is wrong, lacking, or deficient, when we may feel inadequate and when the world is quick to point out our weaknesses? The key is to grasp and experience all that Christ has accomplished for us on the cross. We need to so closely identify with Jesus' work on the cross as our own experience that it shapes our very sense of who we are. First, we have superior proof of our identity. Second, we have a superior initiation into our new identity. Third, we have a superior means of forgiveness. And finally, we have a complete victory over every evil power.

Big Idea - Scripture is full of many warnings that we must persevere in the faith because there is a real possibility that we could fall. That is that our faith could fail. We see the Church and Christianity coming under attack more and more every day. Recent youth surveys tell us that only one in four High School graduates will hold on to their faith when they get to college. This is all a very bleak picture, but it is not new. The same enemies were at work in the time of Paul, seeking to pull people away from Christ and the truth. But, Paul is confident that the Colossians can have an unshakeable and immovable faith. This kind of faith, however, is not automatic or guaranteed. It must be nurtured and worked on. It needs to be built up. So what can we do to build up our faith so that it is unmoved by the many attacks against us?

First, Paul tells us that we continue (walk) in Christ, that is, in the Christian faith, the same way we began the journey with Him. How did we get started on this path? Simply by receiving the teaching and instruction that was proclaimed to us. The content of this instruction is not a set of rules or religious practices but is Jesus Himself. This teaching is summed up in the Gospel - that Jesus is both rescuer and Lord. Second, Paul commands us to be rooted, built up, and established in our faith. He knows the dangers of being taken captive by wrong teaching and false beliefs. So, how do we develop stronger roots and a more solid foundation for life? It is a command, but not a command to do something, but to have something done to us. It begins by understanding that we cannot do it. Getting stronger is not like going to the gym, where it depends on how much work we put into it. Instead, it happens to us when we submit ourselves to a process that we do not control and is not in our power to accomplish. And what is this process? It is simply that of being taught of learning from the correct teaching. The instruction that establishes us in the faith is 1) Biblical, 2) Gospel-centered, 3) by the Holy Spirit, and 4) through human teachers. Our part is to put ourselves under this kind of teaching and to submit to its truth even when it rubs us the wrong way. Not because we trust in the human messenger but because we accept the Word of God as absolute truth. The proof that we are growing stronger is a life overflowing with thanksgiving.

Big Idea - Scripture is full of many warnings that we must persevere in the faith because there is a real possibility that we could fall. That is that our faith could fail. We see the Church and Christianity coming under attack more and more every day. Recent youth surveys tell us that only one in four High School graduates will hold on to their faith when they get to college. This is all a very bleak picture, but it is not new. The same enemies were at work in the time of Paul, seeking to pull people away from Christ and the truth. But, Paul is confident that the Colossians can have an unshakeable and immovable faith. This kind of faith, however, is not automatic or guaranteed. It must be nurtured and worked on. It needs to be built up. So what can we do to build up our faith so that it is unmoved by the many attacks against us?

First, Paul tells us that we continue (walk) in Christ, that is, in the Christian faith, the same way we began the journey with Him. How did we get started on this path? Simply by receiving the teaching and instruction that was proclaimed to us. The content of this instruction is not a set of rules or religious practices but is Jesus Himself. This teaching is summed up in the Gospel - that Jesus is both rescuer and Lord. Second, Paul commands us to be rooted, built up, and established in our faith. He knows the dangers of being taken captive by wrong teaching and false beliefs. So, how do we develop stronger roots and a more solid foundation for life? It is a command, but not a command to do something, but to have something done to us. It begins by understanding that we cannot do it. Getting stronger is not like going to the gym, where it depends on how much work we put into it. Instead, it happens to us when we submit ourselves to a process that we do not control and is not in our power to accomplish. And what is this process? It is simply that of being taught of learning from the correct teaching. The instruction that establishes us in the faith is 1) Biblical, 2) Gospel-centered, 3) by the Holy Spirit, and 4) through human teachers. Our part is to put ourselves under this kind of teaching and to submit to its truth even when it rubs us the wrong way. Not because we trust in the human messenger but because we accept the Word of God as absolute truth. The proof that we are growing stronger is a life overflowing with thanksgiving.

Chiangmai Christian Fellowship

Big Idea - S - Paul writes that he rejoices in suffering. He was writing to the Colossians from prison, so it was not idle words, or fluff. We do not like to suffer. The modern world has gone to great lengths to move as far from suffering as possible. Most of us arrange our lives to avoid suffering at all costs. How can Paul rejoice in suffering? While it is true that we tend to avoid suffering most of the time, we will suffer and sacrifice if it is for the right cause. People suffer through all kinds of diets to lose weight. Athletes make great sacrifices training, and even suffering pain and agony in order to win. A parent will make great sacrifices for their child, because of their love. So, it is not that we always avoid suffering, rather, that we don't want to suffer for something that is not worth it. Paul could rejoice in suffering because he was suffering for a cause that was worth it. Martin Luther King Jr. said "If you have not discovered something you are willing to die for, then you are not fit to live.” What we should be asking ourselves, is not, how we can live the most safe and comfortable life! Rather, we should be asking, is there any cause, any purpose, anything out there that is so great, so important, and so life changing that it is worth sacrificing anything and everything for?

Paul says, yes, absolutely. In short, it is the life-saving, life-transforming Gospel of Christ. Therefore, Paul can rejoice in his suffering because 1) it is for Christ, 2) it is for His body 3) it is the price of making Christ known, 4) of the incredible outcome or result, 5) it is the most important thing we could possibly invest our life in, 6) we have an incomparable power to accomplish the task.

Big Idea - S - Paul writes that he rejoices in suffering. He was writing to the Colossians from prison, so it was not idle words, or fluff. We do not like to suffer. The modern world has gone to great lengths to move as far from suffering as possible. Most of us arrange our lives to avoid suffering at all costs. How can Paul rejoice in suffering? While it is true that we tend to avoid suffering most of the time, we will suffer and sacrifice if it is for the right cause. People suffer through all kinds of diets to lose weight. Athletes make great sacrifices training, and even suffering pain and agony in order to win. A parent will make great sacrifices for their child, because of their love. So, it is not that we always avoid suffering, rather, that we don't want to suffer for something that is not worth it. Paul could rejoice in suffering because he was suffering for a cause that was worth it. Martin Luther King Jr. said "If you have not discovered something you are willing to die for, then you are not fit to live.” What we should be asking ourselves, is not, how we can live the most safe and comfortable life! Rather, we should be asking, is there any cause, any purpose, anything out there that is so great, so important, and so life changing that it is worth sacrificing anything and everything for?

Paul says, yes, absolutely. In short, it is the life-saving, life-transforming Gospel of Christ. Therefore, Paul can rejoice in his suffering because 1) it is for Christ, 2) it is for His body 3) it is the price of making Christ known, 4) of the incredible outcome or result, 5) it is the most important thing we could possibly invest our life in, 6) we have an incomparable power to accomplish the task.