Colossians 3:1-4; Paul's desire is for the Colossians believers to be mature in Christ. How are they to grow? Paul begins by telling them to THINK. Obedience to Christ is a matter of our thinking first and foremost. Here we see WHO WE ARE in Christ; WHAT WE SHOULD DO because we are in Christ; and WHY WE SHOULD BE OBEDIENT to Christ.

Colossians 2:20-23; We are not Christians because of what we do, but what and in whom we believe. We are Christians because we have heard and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because we are Christians we respond in faith to Christ in obedience. In this passage Paul warns the believers in Colossae to avoid human regulations because they actually INCREASE fleshly indulgence.

Colossians 2:16-19; Christians are those that are captive to Christ and free to the world. We are free from the worldly restriction of diet and days and rules and regulations. False teachers will restrict their by requiring law keeping for the sake of salvation. The result is arrogant thinking, puffed up living and malformed growth. In Christ, however, we should expect Christ focused thinking, humble living and natural and healthy growth.

Colossians 2:6-15; Now that Paul has taught the indicatives (who the Colossians ARE in Christ) he moves on to give the imperatives (what they should not be doing). In these verses he gives two commands: first, walk in him and second, don't be taken captive by the empty philosophies of the world. Even in the commands we see that Paul is focused on Christ and indeed, the only way to DO anything as a Christian is to be IN Christ.

Colossians 1:24-2:5; the Apostle Paul is filled with joy inspite of his suffering for the gospel, his stewardship of the gospel and his struggle to proclaim the gospel. Paul wants the Colossians to have Christ and nothing else!

Colossians 1:15-23; Paul argues that Jesus is the Excellent one because he is the Head of Creation, the Head of the Church and the Head of Salvation. Why go anywhere else?

Colossians 1:9-14; The Apostle Paul shares what he prays for on behalf of the Colossians. Paul prays that the Colossians would be filled with two things: All knowledge and all power. Paul combats the false teachers by praying that God would give them his knowledge and his power.

Colossians 1:3-8; Paul begins the body of his letter to the Colossian believers with a word of thanks. Even here Paul make the point to remind them and us of the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul shows us Gospel Thanksgiving, Gospel Results and Gospel Witness.

Colossians 1:1-2; Paul greets the believers at Colossae with a typical greeting found in letters of his day. But this is no ordinary greeting. Paul begins to confront false teaching and false teachers that had begin to entice the faithful believers away from Christ. In this greeting we see Paul's Authority, Paul's Audience and Paul's Announcement.

John 20:19-31; Jesus Christ's bodily Resurrection is John final sign that Jesus is God in human flesh come into the world to save all who believe in from the judgment that is to come. In this passage John give Resurrection Proof, Resurrection Pardon and Resurrection Peace.