Paul was confident in the authenticity of the Colossian church. Because of this he actively prayed for the believers of Colosse to know, understand and embrace God’s will, and in doing so would walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord. This life of bringing pleasure to the Lord would bear 4 ongoing marks.

As God welcomes us into his family through Christ, he promises us that he will lead us and guide us by his Spirit. Discerning God’s will for our lives starts with understanding who God is and what he is like. As we grow in the knowledge of God, we can increase in wisdom and understanding by his Spirit.

The grace of God is the central feature of the gospel that Paul preached. But it was not simply the grace that brings us to God. That is only the beginning of grace— the tip of the iceberg— the tip of the grace burg.

As Paul continues to unpack the grand truth of Gospel to the church of Colossae, he commends them for the love and faith that flows out of the great hope that they have in Christ. This hope serves as the anchor for all of life in Christ.

In the opening words of Paul’s third letter written from prision, he immediately brings us into a life and lifestyle completely foreign to our own. In this epistle, we awake in the love of God’s family, caring about, loving and investing our heart and time in a whole new way.

The Spirit calls us to remember where we came from, what our purpose is and how this has happened for us so that we do not waste our lives and grow into the beauty of the strength of Christ.

On the heels of his great temptation, Jesus enters into his ministry, summoning his disciples to himself and beginning his ministry of teaching, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, compassionately providing for the suffering, fulfilling prophecy and freeing the people from the oppression of demons. As Christ calls us forward, we will make the choice to take heart and embrace courage or we will cater to the fear and become cowards.

3 of 3 sermons on the Temptation of Christ. Unlike Israel who failed to trust the Father’s timing and worship God in the wilderness of Sinai, the True Son endured testing perfectly for us all and defeated Satan.

2 of 3 sermons on the Temptation of Christ. Unlike Israel who failed to trust the Father’s wisdom and wait on God in the wilderness of Sinai, the True Son endured testing perfectly for us all and defeated Satan.