What are your insecurities? Do you feel inadequate? Do you think you've failed too many times?

We cannot define our identity by how we feel or by what others think of us. We must know what our identity is in Christ and Colossians 2:8-15 will show us four truths of who we are in Him:

1. We Are Full in Christ (v.8-10)
2. We Are Transformed in Christ (v.11-12)
3. We Are Forgiven in Christ (v.13-14)
4. We Are Victorious in Christ (v.15)

Rejoice and be confident in Christ! Let the Word of God crush some of you insecurities, and feelings of anxiousness and inadequacy.

The powerful introduction (1:3–2:5) is complete and we now come to the first command in Colossians and what’s considered to be the theme sentence of the letter.

The topic… living a life that is complete in Christ, aka the Christian life. The rest of the letter will flush out, build on, explain, and elaborate on this theme sentence.

Colossians 2:6-7 will explain to us practically what it means to walk in Christ. Verse 6 gives us the command to walk. Verse 7 further explains what this walk looks like.

1. The Simplicity of Our Walk (v.6)
2. The Complexity of Our Walk (v.7)
i. Rooted in Him
ii. Built Up in Him
iii. Established in The Faith
iv. Abounding in Thanksgiving

Paul is a gardener, cultivating in us a love for Christ, but he’s also a guardian, protecting us from lies. The Colossians were threatened by plausible arguments that could lead them away from the truth. As a result, the apostle gives them, and us, a few safeguards to protect from lies.

1. The Threat
2. The Safeguard of Encouragement
3. The Safeguard of Conviction
4. The Safeguard of Contentment in Christ

We continue looking at Paul’s example of ministry from Colossians 1:24-29 to help us simplify what ministry greatness looks like.

1. The Servant’s Charge
2. The Servant’s Goal
3. The Servant’s Strength

Our desire is to one day hear these words, “good and faithful servant.” We have the means to live out faithful servanthood. By the grace and energy of God, let’s get to work.

Colossians 1:24

Being used greatly by God includes being a servant, suffering, and a willingness to be spent for the sake of others.

We look at the example of Paul in Colossians 1:24. Three skills on this godly minister’s resume to help us simplify what ministry greatness looks like.

1. God’s Servant Suffers
2. God’s Servant is Satisfied
3. God’s Servant is Selfless

How do we make sure we have a faith that will last?

In Colossians 1:21-23, we see 3 stages of an authentic faith that endures.

Last week we looked at the supremacy of Jesus in the cosmos and in the church. In this message we see the supremacy of Jesus in our conversion. When Jesus is Lord of your faith, be encouraged that this faith will endure till the end.

1. Once Alienated
2. Now Reconciled
3. Remain Steadfast

As Martin Luther use to say, “Let us Keep to Christ, and cling to Him, and hang on Him, so that no power can remove us.”

We move into this letter’s main emphasis—Jesus is supreme. Jesus is superior. Jesus is worthy of our worship. There is no one like Him!

He is:
1. The Lord of Creation
2. The Lord of the Church

We regularly need an elevated, elaborate, and beautiful view of Jesus for the sole purpose of worship. Let’s not waste this life worshiping anything other than the One who is worthy of our worship, Jesus.

We are created to live a specific life that’s pleasing to God; this should be our godly obsession. But the Lord does not leave us questioning what that life looks like. In this passage we get four traits of a life that pleases the Lord.

1. Grow in Obedience
2. Grow in Knowledge
3. Grow in Endurance
4. Grow in Gratitude

God’s will? Do you know it? How can you determine it? Paul prays for the Colossians to grow in the knowledge of God’s will. We’ll ask three questions to guide our thinking about what it means to know God’s will.

1. How is it revealed?
2. What is it?
3. What do we do with it?