from the pulpit at Donnels Creek

Date: January 4, 2026

Lord’s Day: 1

Series: Matthew in Seven Movements: Advent

Title: New Beginnings

Text: Matthew 1:1-17

Today is a first, and this is not only in reference to the first Sunday of 2026 but most likely you have never heard a sermon on this text which is just a family tree or a lineage.  I never thought I would deliver a sermon on this section of Scripture.

A quick review of the travel logs for 15 years of moving showed we had done over 1400 moves of businesses and homes.  You show me a picture of a house and I can tell you how many bedrooms, floors and if it had a basement or not.  Ask me their names?  I would forget them mid move.  I have been horrible remembering names.

There are many occasions when a text would come in and someone is moving again and they want help.  I will ask them for their last address and do a Goggle Earth Search or street view search so I can see the image of their house and then I would know who it was. (see if they were on the naughty or nice list)

Most of us, if we do read it in our yearly Bible reading, whiz right by it or skip it entirely.  “All Scripture breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16 and this is no less true here in this case.

RC Sproul was sharing a story concerning a missionary with the Wycliffe Bible Translators who went into a land that had no written language.  All their communication was oral and the people could not read or write. 

She had to first learn the language and then she developed it into a written form. This took many years and then she was able to teach it to the people and translate Scripture. 

The first book translated was Matthew and because she was in a hurry these first 17 verses were left out thinking that it was not of big interest to them.  When the book of Matthew was delivered to the village it was a disappointment for the people had more interest in the truck that brought the Bibles than in the book itself.

She was crushed for this whole process had taken 10 years and the people did not care at all.  In the second edition of her translation, it did include the genealogy of Jesus and the tribal leader was excited. 

“You mean to tell me this Jesus you have been telling us about is a real person?”

“Yes” she said.

The tribal chief thought she was teaching about a mythical character.  It was only after he could see that Jesus came from real people, in real space and real time that many, including the chief, came to Christ.

This is not a fly over text.   Even though this is a family tree there is A LOT here.  I think it will blow your sock off, so be prepared.  Bring high expectations here.

There needs to be some review that was shared in the adult class last week as this series was introduced. The gospel of Matthew was written to the Hebrew or Jewish audience.  The purpose of this book is to prove that Jesus is the Messiah or the Christ.

There was an “anointed one” introduced in the Hebrew Scriptures and Matthew seeks to prove that this Jesus is him.  How do we know this?  Is it because somewhere in the book of Matthew he says, “Ok, I have written this so you will know that this man called Jesus is the anointed one.” 

Kind of 1:1. BUT also the MAKE UP OF THE BOOK.

This must be understood that the people to whom Matthew was written had a HIGH literacy rate.  Matthew is reflecting on centuries of knowledge and this book is intelligently laid out.  What will be shared today, as said earlier, will amaze you but the readers would have picked up on it.

I had to dig and find it.  Classes and books by Tim Mackie, Steven Bryan and Jacob Stromburg. The first readers of this gospel would not have needed that.  They would have automatically understood.

Take for instance the progress of the book:

This would have been evident to the original readers of Matthew.  What we see in the first 4 chapters of Matthew is this unfolding.  We also see in the first 17 verses of chapter 1 a very similar unfolding.  It is a picture that Matthew is painting and he is saying- THIS IS THE SAVIOR.  THIS IS THE MESSIAH.  PAY ATTENTION!

Let us take a look at this list.  Matthew says, “Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.” (1:17)

There is one other account of the family tree of Jesus and it is in Luke.  There are a couple of issues here that the Bible critic will quickly attack:

What do we do with this?  It appears to be a fallacy in Scripture and for those who have a high value on the reliability of Scripture, how do we resolve this?

I want to introduce you to a term called Gematria.  It is the process of assigning value to a letter and then adding the letters together.  Our text in Matthew is FULL of this practice.  It is something that was FREQUENTLY done in the day of Matthew, not so much today.

Example: A=1, B=2, C=3 and so on.  So my short name M=14, A=1, T=20, T=20 would be 55.  14+1+20+20=55

There is a really long Psalm, most likely you have read it or seen it in the book of Psalms.  It is Psalm 119, it is the longest chapter in the bible and it is an acrostic. 

Turn to Psalm 119.  What you will see there before each section is the Hebrew alphabet.  The fist word in that section begins with that letter.  Aleph is the first letter and so that section begins with the letter Aleph.  The second section is Beth and that section has a word that begins with the Hebrew letter Beth.  This continues through each of the letters in the Hebrew alphabet. 

 Let us combine these two concepts here: the Gematria and the Acrostic:

Let me be clear and repeat, this was a high literacy culture.  The symbolism would not be a mystery.  It would have been picked up on immediately. 

When you and I do our family tree, we are careful to get every detail possible.  I am a direct descendant of the Hatfield family (on my father’s side, Hatfield and McCoy).  So one branch of my tree is very easy to follow and has been well researched.  As I recall I am third generation from Devil Anse Hatfield.  (Don’t mess with me!)

The omission of names and generations is alarming to us.  We do not leave those things out.  We look over at the other genealogy in Luke and see differences and the critics who want to discredit the authority of Scripture immediately say, “There is a problem here.  Different names mean there is a contradiction.” 

The reply is we live in a different culture.  Biblical authors employ numbers as vehicles of meaning.  This does not just apply to Scripture.  The practice holds up in literature outside of the Bible in the same period.

Matthew was more interested in showing the David roots of Jesus.  Steven Bryan shows how this plays out in many ways in these first 17 verses in Matthew.

Value of Name

Position in Genealogy

41

Abraham

14

David

40

28th Jeconiah (last king in line of David)

41

Jesus (man)

42

Messiah (son of God)

Total 14+14+14=41?  Jesus the Messiah is the 42nd so in reality Jesus name is mentioned twice.  Once as his early name, second as the anointed of God, Messiah.

Last week we introduced the idea of the Gospels being written to difference audiences.  Matthew as stressed earlier, was written to Jewish audience.  It would emphasize specific things.  Luke was written to a different audience and his genealogy goes:

Matthew begins this long list of names, and it takes us back to this message of HOPE.  Begins with Abraham in that God sovereignly binds Himself to the promises that He made and unfailingly kept them through a flawed people.

How is this a message of Hope? We are like them.  We may or may not have committed the same trespasses but we bring our own baggage to this relationship. 

We bring trespass, God brings redemption.

We bring trespass, God brings redemption.  Don’t miss that.

“When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5 LSB

It was not a moment too soon and it was not a moment too late.  At the exactly right time. 

God was weaving this tapestry, through time, through a flawed people to bring redemption.  That is why we do not skip over this list of names. 

You and I are in there.  We received a NEW BEGINNING.  This is the NEW CREATION. 

Do not allow culture to blind you from what happened here.  This says brothers . . .for a reason.  Even for you here who are my sisters in Christ. 

This is about inheritance.  We are all, in this state, brothers in Christ.  We can see this throughout Matthew and it begins here in Matthew 1.

Isn’t this beautiful?  Our elder brother Jesus was the first to rise from the dead.  He is the firstborn among MANY.  It includes us.

You see this in our confession today.  We are adopted by God’s free grace into this family. 

We are, by an act of God’s free grace, received into the number and have a right to all the priviledges, of the sons of God. 

Oh what a beautiful reality!

Date: December 28, 2025

Lord’s Day: 52

Series: Matthew in Seven Movements: Advent

Title: Hidden Signs of the Savior

Text: Isaiah 7:10-17; Matthew 1:18-23

Apostles Creed on Christ

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried;

He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From there He shall come and judge the living and the dead.

Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ[e] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed[f] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. XX

20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” XX

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

(which means, God with us). XX

24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. XX

Isaiah 7:10-16 NLT

10 Later, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want—as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.[e]”

12 But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.” XX

13 Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? 14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin[f] will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). XX

15 By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating curds and honey. 16 For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted. XX

There are days, seasons and moments when we feel overwhelmed.  Possibly there are periods of extended time where everything seems to be a challenge.

Looking at this text in Matthew regarding Joseph and it is very easy to see that potentially Joseph is going through one of those times.  It gets buttoned up quickly, the resolution comes within a few words and sentences. 

In 89 words Joseph went from:

That is a LOT of ground to cover quickly.

This is not absent from our lives:

The common reaction for most is that we only look horizontally for the answer. 

ALL of Joseph’s reactions to what was happening was horizontal. 

It was the angel who corrected Joseph.  God is doing something here Joseph. 

We have the luxury of the text.  We have the inside scoop, so it is easy for us to see God is doing something great here.  Joseph did not have that. 

Given we were in a similar situation we would also be looking horizontally.  Pondering the situation and solving it with horizontal means.

There is a very peculiar thing here that Matthew says to us regarding Joseph.  We get to 1:22-23 and we see Matthew, telling us, that everything took place with Joseph and Mary to fulfill what Isaiah had said.

This will happen a lot in Matthew.  We are beginning this new series today looking at the book of Matthew.  It will be broken into 7 sections (movements).  This will be the content of the Sunday Sermon as well Sunday adult class.

As you read through Matthew when it says, “This is to fulfill what  . . . said.”  Follow through. Look it up.

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet” “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” (1:22-23)

Let’s go back and see what was going on with Isaiah.  This is the second text that we read today from chapter 7.  We picked up the story right from where this quotation was made so let’s look at the whole context and see why it was said.

Going back to the beginning of Isaiah 7 we see this king from Judah, his name is Ahaz.  He is 20 years old.  Can you imagine that?  Being a king at 20?

Ahaz is a brand new king, has not been around very long and his life is NOT absent of a lot of issues.

There was panic because as king Ahaz and the people of Jerusalem looked around horizontally, there was a LOT to be feared. 

Syria and Israel look HORIZONTAL: what do we have?

There is a cut in our story right here.  The Isaiah version is the Readers Digest version of this event.  This is the second time this story was told and the first time had a few more details in between 7:2 and 7:3.

2 Kings 16 provides the details here.

Ahaz took money from the temple and took it to the king of Assyria and said, “I am your servant and your son.  Come up and rescue me from the hand of the king of Syria and the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” (2 Kings 16:7)

Horizontal cure – God said ISRAEL is my servant and my son.

Isaiah meets Ahaz at this place called the Washer’s Field

Says, everything will be fine, God will rescue you from Syria and Israel.

Here is the interesting part, Isaiah says, “You want me to prove this?  Ask the sign, the Lord will give you a sign.”

Ahaz says, “I do not want to put the Lord to the test, I do not want to weary him with this thing.”

Now you see the importance of knowing the 2 Kings part of this story.  The reason Ahaz had no desire to seek a sign is because he had already made a deal with Assyria.  Ahaz had no fear because he found, what he thought was the most powerful thing to protect him (horizon).

WhAT IS MORE POWERFUL THAN GOD?

This is when Isaiah insists and gives him the sign anyway.  Here is the sign Ahaz that you do not need to worry about Syria and Israel”

“14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.[h] 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.” Isaiah 7:14-16

Here is your sign Ahaz, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, his name will be Immanuel and by the time he reaches puberty these kings will have died.  This means in 12 to 14 years, this issue Ahaz was facing with Syria and Israel will be fixed.

No need to fear these kings at ALL. In any way.  God is saying here, I got you. Don’t look horizontally. 

This presents a problem.  Anyone see the problem? 

This is a great message to Ahaz.  Is this not a great message to him it is also powerful. At face value this has nothing to do with a birth of Jesus

7:1

Army surround Jerusalem

7:2

All were afraid

7:6

Foreign king to replace Davidic king with someone else

7:3

Message at the Washer’s Field

7:4,11

 Don’t be afraid

7:10

Offers a sign

7:14-15

Sign of eating

Matthew is quoting Isaiah here.  “ALL OF THIS TOOK PLACE to fulfill (fill full) what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.”

I want to share briefly, in part, what I do when getting ready to share a message or teach a class.

There is a thing called hermeneutics which is a very fancy word for interpretation.  There is interpretation for every literature.  My interest is Scripture interpretation, and it is very important. 

We do not read a phone book like we do a Tom Clancey novel.  This applies all over Scripture because there is differing types of Literature in Scripture.  There are poetry and apocalyptic and story narrative and parable. 

When we read in Psalm 50 that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, we do not interpret that to refer to God as a cattle rancher.  We look at what type of literature it is and from there try to find meaning.

This must be done when teaching.  The struggle is to look at what is written and do the best possible to find the meaning by considering the context in which a passage is drawn.

One DOES NOT WANT TO PULL A READING OUT OF CONTEXT.  YET THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT MATTHEW DID HERE.

Isaiah, meeting Ahaz at the end of the Washers Field and he says to him, “God has you.  No reason to fear.  The sign that you can be assured of this is, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call his name Immanuel, God is with us.”

(God is with you – the child is a sign of that)

The issue here is, Matthew is drawing a quote from Isaiah, “Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear and son, and they call his name Immanuel.”  Yet Matthew is pulling this completely out of context.  It is from Isaiah 7 and this has nothing to do with a future Savior Jesus, saving people from sin.

So how do we handle this?  How do we resolve how Matthew pulls a quote that was a sign for king Ahaz and seemingly in no way pointed to a future birth of Christ?

And that is okay if you want to take that route.  It is God’s book, God can do what God wants to do.  There is nothing wrong with this resolution. 

Fast forward to chapter 36 of Isaiah and we see a repeating pattern.  Almost exactly with what happened to king Ahaz.  Now it is with a different king, Hezekiah.

The city of Jerusalem is shaking and quaking and so is Hezekiah.  Why are they afraid? 

The big boys on the block, Assyria are after them and their army surrounds the city.

The foreign king wants to replace the David king with someone else.  (explain here what is taking place with Rabshakeh.

7:1

Army surround Jerusalem

7:2

All were afraid

7:6

Foreign king to replace Davidic king with someone else

7:3

Message at the Washer’s Field

7:4,11

 Don’t be afraid

7:10

Offers a sign

7:14-15

Sign of eating

36:1

Army surround Jerusalem

36:21,37:1

All were afraid

36:14-17

Foreign king to replace Davidic king with someone else

36:2

Message at the Washer’s Field

37:6, 30

 Don’t be afraid

37:30

Offers a sign

37:30-32

Sign of eating

The constant solution is vertical. 

Matthew’s book is written to Jewish people.  As we look at the gospel accounts, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, they retell the story of Jesus.  They are written accounts of the life of Christ. Each are written to a different people.  Matthew written to the Jewish people.

Matthew is looking back a whole entire sections of scripture and showing Christ in the Old Testament.  This is where Christ is. 

Matthew, when he quotes this passage in Isaiah 7 is giving a nod to all of Isaiah.  He is seeing a pattern.  This first account of Christ’s birth is, quit looking horizontally rather, look vertically.

Rather than seeing the words, “The virgin shall be with child . . .“ the Matthew quotation reflects a way of seeing Israel’s story as a resource of repeated patterns with Jesus as the culminating climax of all the patterns.  Matthew is seeing the entire view of Isaiah and see Jesus as the fulfillment.

THE DELIVERER FROM THE ENEMY – God with us!

What can be seen in Ahaz and in part his son Hezekiah is this horizontal view that is absent of God.

What is the application for our lives today? What is the so what here?

The answer to all of our issues in life is vertical.  There is a greater work of God.

He began painting this picture in the book of Isaiah and pulling out and seeing the MACRO view is God is in control.

Christmas Eve we touched briefly on the fact that the circumstances of Christ’s birth followed him through his life.  The accusations of him possibly being a child conceived in sin.

Why would the Father do this?  Why would the Father have him born in such substandard circumstances. 

The filth of a barn and a manger.  Is not Jesus king?  Why God, Why would you do this?

In the hour of our deepest lack of understanding, He calls us not to simply looking at our horizons but to look vertically.

Matthew is saying, there is this greater work of God going on – I want you to pull back and see how He has been working salvation.  It is in Jesus – Immanuel God with us.  Just as much as he delivered the sinful, rebellious king Ahaz and the arrogant self-depending Hezzekiah, He deliverers us in redemption.

18-Date: December 24, 2025

Lord’s Day: Christmas Eve

Series: Matthew in Seven Movements: Advent

Title: Hope Hidden in Plain Sight

Text: Matthew 1:18-2:5a

Matthew 1:18-2:5a

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ[e] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed[f] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[b] and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea

The first Advent candle that we light was the candle of HOPE.  How do we define this hop?

I was pondering that word hope when considering the Christmas message. 

When I think of hope what comes to mind is that throughout life, I have placed my hope in a lot of things:

HOW DO YOU DEFINE HOPE?

When the Hebrew writer says, “We have this HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure,” (Hebrews 6:19) and he is referencing Jesus, what did he mean?  It sounds A LOT different that the way we use the word hope.

The reading earlier is, in part, the Christmas story. If you have been a believer for even just a short time, this is well known. 

But there were many HOPES in this story.

1:18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed . . .

This means she was engaged.  Joseph was hoping to wed Mary.  He was betrothed to her, a word that is fainting in our culture but still used occasionally. 

In the time frame of Christ, this was a little different than being engaged in our culture.  If one decides not to marry, (UNCOMFY CONVERSATION) they simply break off the engagement and give back the ring.

BETROTHAL - This was a legal status for the couple.  In order to break the engagement there was a formal “divorce” process. 

The couple would not be living together because they were not married but this time period of betrothal several things were done:

It was during this time, while Joseph was doing all these things and they had not been together sexually, “she was found to be with child.” (1:18).

This had to completely ROCK Joseph’s world – HOPES SHATTERED!  Oh I had really hoped I could marry you. 

Can you imagine Joseph receiving this disheartening news.  Looking deeper into this text is reading it supernaturally.  There is no details of all that Joseph went through, but we have each suffered heart break (THE CONVERSATION). 

Were there conversations between Joseph and his momma?  We are not privy to this sort of thing because it is not in the text but you know there were a lot of conversations happening.

He pondered, what do I do?  Like any other person, he was thinking that Mary had been unfaithful to him and this could not stand.

It appears from John 8 that this stigma surrounding His birth seemed to follow Him. 

Joseph  had hoped to spare Mary bad reputation.  He came up with an idea, “I will put her away quietly (in secret so as not to shame her) and resolved to do this quickly.” (1:19)

But he was given a vision and instructed, “Jospeh, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.” (1:20-22)

The text gives us the inside scoop.  This was not normal conception.  When Mary asked THE ANGEL how she could give birth as a virgin, the angel replied that the power of God would overshadow her, meaning the Creator would create a child inside her, much as He created the first man in the Garden. Just as Adam had no human father, nor would Christ have a human father but would be created out of the womb of Mary by God. Mary was with child because of God.  Joseph did not know this. 

Joseph then had, again, a different hope. 

You know what the Magi were?  These were professional star gazers.  They were east of Jerusalem, which is couple hours walk away from Bethlehem.  These Magi hoped to solve a mystery.

They had seen something in the sky.  Whatever they witnessed led them to believe there was a king involved and they came to worship him.

In our nativity scenes there are typically 3 Magi but Scripture does not say how many there were.  It just mentions the 3 gifts that the Magi brought.

I like to think there were A LOT.  I base this upon the text.  How else would an entire town become stirred. There was a stir in Jerusalem.  It says, “During the time of King Herod, Magi form the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?’ We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him”

Was a king and he hoped to retain his seat on the throne.

We know from history that Herod was an Edomite who was force converted to the Jewish religion. 

He saw an opportunity and $$bought$$  his was into power and this is how he was king.  He was so ready to protect his power and if there was any threat. His hope was in his seat as king.  That is the best he could do!

Herod was known to have several assassination attempts taken upon him and this made him very unstable.  He had one of his ten wives and two of his sons (Alexander and Aristobulous) killed because he suspected them trying to plot against him and take the throne.

Herod had placed all his hope in himself and his place upon the throne. 

Isn’t it funny the things we HOPE in? 

Isn’t it ODD how we define HOPE? 

COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN HEBREWS 6

All of this hope in the various people surrounding the life of Jesus. 

Just like me, and my new college car the hope was NOT SECURE  NOT AN ACHOR. 

These do not define Hope like Hebrews

What is the hope that the Hebrew writer had in mind when he spoke of a hope that is an anchor for the soul, steadfast and sure? 

The hope of Christ Hebrews is strong. It is like it is a reality, because it IS. The hope of Hebrews is the Hope of promise in God’s word.

The hope of Christ is the hope of Adam and Eve after they sinned.  God said, that the offspring of the woman would destroy our enemy.  

It is then that God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden to a place.  This place is simply given the title, East of Eden.

This is the same direction of The light of hope shining in the sky. It came from the east 

It is in the birth of Christ that we have hope.  Why?  Because He came reversing the direction of the fall, uniting us back to the Father.

One of the things that I find so fascinating about this time of year are how short the days become.  Christmas is almost on the shortest day of the year.  A day of darkness. 

As is tradition, we surround our Christmas trees and decorations and string hundreds of lights. 

Light in the darkest time of the year. In the darkest time of the year comes the light of Christ. In the darkest hour Jesus was born.

The light of the world is our hope.  Jesus comes in the darkest of moments and becomes the greatest of hopes. 

The most important part of this is how is this hope born?  Is He born in You?

How differently this world will become as He is born more in this community.  When He is born into the Mayor’s building.  When He is born into the school as He is born in our homes and lives. 

Our hope is the promise of God.  He was born into this world and born again in each believer.  It is hope hidden in plain sight.  Into darkness comes the light.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer[a] must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,[b] sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Titus 1:5-9

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,[d] and his children are believers[e] and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer,[f] as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound[g] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

This is the reading of God’s word

About a week ago a post came across my feed.  It was just some random person who, from the comment made, seemed to be a believer.  (Maximus Decimus Meridius)

He made a funny comment – it was in relation to a meme.  The meme is comparing two things that are extreme opposites. On one end were people who present at conferences (the R.C. Sproul’s, The John Pipers, The Paul Washers).  On the other end was this guy, who was simply saying he feels small.

I did chuckle – the post was funny but it was also sad.  I have been there.  I have admired leaders of congregations as if they were a step or three higher than me. 

One such man, it is a part of my testimony, is Mark Driscol. Mark founded a congregation and named it Mars Hill in Seattle Washington.  Within 5 years it grew to a multi-site campus of about 10K members.  Little after that it grew to multi-state campus close to 25K members.

Mark targeted his message to men 17 to 35.  I was in that age range and his messages really hit home.  He saw that most males were not men.  He took the message of Christ and made boys into men.

I greatly admired Mark.  He had an awesome speaking skill and in a powerful way drilled the message right to the heart.

Mark’s downfall was very public.  In fact, if I mention a person by their name, most likely they have been very visible in the public.  You may not know the name Mark Driscol – but he ended up being accused of very harsh leadership, abusive leadership and he was put into church discipline.  He ended up leaving there and after a couple of years began a new church in Arizona.

Leaving behind a HUGE mess.  Mark was Mars Hill and Mars Hill was Mark.  From over 2K miles away I watched an enormous 25k member church break into crumbs.

About 3 years ago Mark Cosper did an almost 20 episode series called the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill.  It marked about the 6th year anniversary of the end of Mars Hill.

There were some issues I had with maybe 15% of the content of the series but the rest, was very eye opening. 

Mark had made such a memorable impression upon me.  God had used Mark, there is no doubt or question. But that is my point of this story.  Mark was just a man. 

I had come to a place where I wanted to teach or preach and pastor a congregation. I would pray, God, I would love to be just as effective as Mark.  And then the fall happened.  The news spread and the fall out that went on for years.

I really struggled for a short while with questions.  There was a distinct turn around in my life all those years ago in 2004 and 2005.  I was uncertain if Mark was even a Christian, that is how abusive things were.  My question was, is my new life legit? 

Of course, I know the answer to that now.  I really struggled with this.  It was not until it dawned on me that God can use anyone.  He even used a donkey to get his message across.  And it is not the messenger; it is the message.`

That is why that guy’s meme was funny at first and then took a serious turn.  Those who lead large congregations and write books and attend conferences, they are just men.  Talented and gifted – and some (even most) remain faithful to the end.  But they are just vessels used by God through His Spirit.

I have lived long enough now to see many examples like Mark.  I am not referring to the Jimmy Swaggarts.  I am talking about men who preaching solid sermons for years and then it is found that they are involved in something.  Most often it is a sexual thing.

A few months ago, back in the summer, a picture came across my twitter feed.  It was a photograph of a conference from just a few years ago.  On that stage were 6 men who were pastors of congregations.  It was the Q and A session from that conference. 

These were pastors who were a pretty big deal.  Of the six that were on the stage, four were no longer active pastors.  Each rocked by a scandal.

We have been in this topical series, Shepherding the Church for two weeks.  This is an examination of Elders, Bishops, Overseers and pastors; in short, church leadership.

The rock-solid foundation for the leaders of God’s church must be humble.  When a leader falls it totally rocks the boat for many.

It is one of the reasons why the qualifications are elders, pastors, bishops are mentioned given in the New Testament.  These qualifications are the character traits that a congregation is to look for in the leader.

We are going to touch on this briefly today.  We could literally spend several weeks on this.  It will wait until a future time.  I want to conclude this series today so we can begin Matthew next week and get into some advent lessons.

Before we begin, let us pray and ask a blessing upon the message.

Lord, we thank you for this time in Your word.  We are so grateful that you have left it for us to study, read, consider and from it pattern our lives. 

We pray for Your church, the Bride of Christ.  The church you have said Jesus, would stand and the gates of hell would not prevail against her. 

Open our hearts as we briefly look into this text this morning.  There is much here and we are just spending a little time, but help us by Your Spirit to understand what is being taught by Paul.

It is in Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

As we close this short series this week my desire is to reveal the implications for the congregation here at Donnels Creek.

Quick review so we begin with all of us on the same page:

Because these several terms refer to the same office I will use them interchangeably.  In reality I will mostly just call these leaders of the church pastor or elder. 

I would like to turn our attention to the qualifications of the elder/pastor and shepherd.  We find those in our texts that was read earlier in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus.

I am going to make 3 propositions today regarding Church Leadership (elder, pastor, bishop etc.).

Paul had selected Timothy and Titus to go from congregation to congregation and establish elder ships.  Evidence in Scripture supports strongly the plurality of elders.  (repeat that)

Those congregations with a plurality of elders best represent what Scripture teaches.  This statement is based directly upon the words used and also the implications made.

Consider the following passages where a plurality of elders is stated directly:

Therefore, based upon those passages, it is clear from Scripture that a congregation should have multiple elders. 

One additional observation I would like to make before we move this does not mean a congregation is in grave error if they do not have multiple elders. 

Titus and Timothy had a job given to them by Paul.  He labored them with the task of setting up elders in existing congregations of churches.  This means there was a time when these churches did not have elders and they were still Christian church gatherings. 

How do we know who the elders are?  We have here in 1 Peter 5, Titus 1 and 1 Timothy 3 some qualifications.  Before we go over these, and we will not be looking at them in detail because of time constraints, I want to point to some things to consider.

I say using wisdom and balance because I have an extensive list here of all the qualifications.  There are 15 in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 and there are 6 in 1 Peter 5.  The list in 1 Timothy and Titus is mostly the same and 1 Peter 5 is completely different. 

Titus and Timothy did not have our New Testaments – they were in two different areas.  They would have looked at their list, and their lists would have differed.  If we are to combine the lists and use them as a check marks (no one would be qualified) you would be doing something that Titus and Timothy could not do.  Wisdom and balance.

But remember, I said, the qualifications should be applied with wisdom and balance. (This is a very serious matter on one end – understanding tO WHOM it was written on the other end)

You would be able to find someone in Paul’s life that would say he is not above reproach.  That was old Paul, right?  He used to kill and imprison believers. 

There are people who come to the Lord and grow in the Lord, and their lives look completely different than 5 or 10 or 15 years ago.  This would be just like Paul.

Note that in this list is not a recent convert.  That is true.  There is no specified time given but this is a mature Christian. 

This is what is meant to use wisdom and balance. 

Being that it says husband of one wife does that mean he has to be married?  Remember wisdom and balance.

There are congregations that look at this list as a check list.  I personally know of men who were appointed as elders and served as elders for many years.  These men lost their wife, and they resigned.  Why?  Because it says that an elder must be the husband of one wife.  This appears on two of the three lists.

Is that proper?  Is this a good interpretation of what is meant here?  I say no.

Here is why, Peter and Paul were elders.  They were apostles but they were also elders (Acts 15; 2 John; 3 John; 2 Corinthians 2:11-12; 1 Peter 5:1).  One of these men was not married.  Paul was not married.

The proper English (2) interpretation here is a one-woman man.  These qualifications were written to a culture where it was not unusual for a man to have more than one wife. 

Seeing that Paul was not married and was not just considered an Apostle but also a elder and pastor, it can be easily detected here there is nothing magical about a married man. 

This is an instance where we get into the nuance of the Greek language.  If a man does not have believing children does that disqualify him?  We speak of children who are adult and seemingly have left the faith.

Some look at this passage and say yes.  Others say absolutely not. 

Titus 1:6

Greek word (pistos) + Sentence structure = word referring to BELIEVING children or Faithful children.

Relation to faith vs. relation to how the house was ruled

Translations –    place emphasis on faith (ESV, NIV, NASB) believers

                                    Place emphasis on the house (KJV, LSB, CSB)

I lean house:

Among those who took this stance: John Calvin, Matthew Henry, John Gill, Charles Hodge, John Stott (single man), William Mounce (Greek scholar and teacher).

Johnathan Edwards, George Whitfield, Charles Spurgeon, John Wesley and Martyn Lloyd-Jones all had at least one child who died unbelieving or lived for years as a prodigal.  No one in their day suggested this disqualify them. 

This is more in reference to did this man have control of his house?  Did the children respect his leadership?  This is about leading a house.  Wisdom and balance.

These are the most controversial of the qualifications.  But if you look through the list, everything that falls below “above reproach” clarifies what above reproach looks like.   This even bleeds over into the 1 Peter passage.

Currently the organization structure has:

Here is the issue: that is not what Paul sent Titus and Timothy to do.  This is not what Peter was doing in the churches that he helped plant.

This is not ME making a power grab.  Absolutely NOT!

I am suggesting here that a PLURALITY of ELDERS pastor the flock at Donnels Creek, current and future.  THERE WILL BE NO LONELY ACRE!

Elders are men of God,  mature in The Faith who are servant leaders within a congregation for the purpose of leading through teaching, protecting, and guarding the health of the church.

The rest of the organizational structure remains.  The leadership team, the moderator, the finances, the secretary, all remain the same. The deacons remain the same.

The elder’s responsibility:

This is a serious business. 

As we began this short series I had shared with you that this is a result of some ongoing conversations that Fred Circle and I have had dating back to the summer.  After some time had passed Fred was convinced and convicted that we should address this sooner than later.  I was already involved in the Colossians series and it was decided that we could address it after that was complete and here we are.

The various ministries continue.  The various committees continue. But it is my firm conviction that this is the proper step.

We can develop a path forward in the coming weeks and months.  Search and find men who are qualified to work with me.  They would be pastors just as much as me.

Their role is different, but their authority is the same.  There is room for this in the teaching of Paul.  I labor in this. 

Acts 20:28-31

28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God,[e] which he obtained with his own blood.  29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 

1 Peter 5:1-4

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,[a] not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;[b] not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

This is the reading of God’s word

Lord, You have given hope to a people without hope.  You have given peace to us, when we were without peace.  We thank you for this very gift of Your mercy.

We return our attention to the topic of how to shepherd the church.  As Your church, we are a people that You have purchased with Your own sacrifice.  Again, we thank you for this very gift of Your mercy.

Open our hearts as we look into Your word.  We remain hopeful that you will continue to bless us in Your mercy to understand Your word. 

In Jesus’ Name Amen.

A few years ago, Tina and had been at a congregation for quite some time and I was really struggling through some things.  I am not going to mention the congregation because it is full of terrific people, it is led by a team of great elders and has two terrific teaching pastors.

Both of us were involved and plugged in. We were very active members. 

I had been on the worship team for a long time and had even been approached to lead that team.  Tina was plugged in and serving, therefore, both of us were involved, going to class, men’s meetings and groups.

There were several key events that took place over a stretch of about a year that had given us pause: 

Our son, Mason, was on an Uber food delivery, he was in a traffic accident in northern Columbus that resulted in his death. As you can imagine the nature of this really cut deep.

Several months after this event, there was a conflict within the worship team and rather than make a scene I decided to take a break for a while.  I kept it to myself; I shared only a little with Tina. 

Then a couple months after that, the elders of the congregation took a very weak stance on a public issue.  Their stated goal had always been, to keep the main thing, the main thing.  The main thing in particular is Jesus.

This is a terrific policy, but sometimes public issues and Jesus will cross paths, and this was one of those issues. 

I began to ponder our time at that congregation.  Tina and I loved the preaching.  Yet I had in many ways felt like we were on the outside looking in. 

In less than a year our family had experienced a major life event, and our participation had gone from very high and visible to very low.  Not one visit.  Not one phone call.  Not one side conversation on Sunday.  Not one text.

I wrote my thoughts about it one day in the form of a small poem I entitled the “Lonely Acre.”  It is about being in this position where there are shepherds but one sheep that has seemed to wander away unnoticed and ponders if he had found a lonely acre, one that even the shepherd does not know and cannot find.

It goes in part . . .

Unknown and overlooked and no protection,

No fence! Escaped without detection.

Wanders again amidst the fray,

Because, it’s so much easier to walk away!

As I was preparing for this series that moment in our life together came back to mind.  That short poem came back. 

I really felt like we had found a lonely acre that the shepherd could not locate, and we had been lost on it. 

We loved that church body.  We enjoyed being plugged in there.  But as the sheep that the shepherds were supposed to oversee, I just felt alone.  So, we walked away.

I want to put this in perspective for you looking back and reflecting on the message last week. 

We looked at how serious David took his job looking after his father’s sheep. There was NO lonely acre for David.  He with great observation looked over his father’s sheep.

He was giving his resume to King Saul and recounted how, apparently on more than one occasion, had to wrestle lions and bears. 

I was making the connection with Paul’s words in Acts 20 and the job of the pastor to shepherd the flock and to watch for wolves. 

Paul has been in this place called Ephesus for 3 years training the elders.  He says, The Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for God’s church.  He has obtained this church with his own blood.  He has died for this church.  You are to oversee it.  How?  Fierce wolves will come in among you.  They will teach twisted things.  They will twist the word of God.  Don’t let that happen.  Watch over the sheep.  Watch over this flock.

My addition here is watch over God’s flock like David did his father’s flock. When a wolf comes, protect the sheep.  Be in the know . . .be aware.  Be in prayer.  Be vigilant looking after the sheep, just like David.

Towards the Sheep, in the words of Peter from 1 peter 5, overseeing but not ovrbearing, not domineering gentle . . with care

It is like this staff, remember?  This staff can be used to look over the sheep but also be used as a weapon to keep away danger and harm.

I learned a lesson from that experience.  I began this story saying that I am not angry and that is true.  I harbor no hard feelings at all, I love those people, and I look forward to seeing them in eternity.  In preparation for this series I even had discussions with them because I had some practical questions.

They are not perfect; I do not expect them to be perfect. I am not perfect and will make mistakes as well.  I really just want to work hard to NOT make that mistake. 

In that case the pastorate failed.  What I took away from that as a promise to myself to do everything I can to not repeat that mistake.

The shepherds of the church have a tremendous responsibility to care.  We began this topical study last week on the Shepherds in the Church.  This week we will get into more what the meat of this topic.

What does Biblical church leadership look like?  That is the key question. 

There are three main types of polity (Church Leadership).  Each has not been made up out of nothing but, rather, lean on various Scriptures to support these ideas.  I do not want you to get confused because all three of these types resemble a name of a denomination. 

Two of these three types are named after Greek words: Presbyterous which means elder.  The other is Episcope which means bishop.

Let us deal with this one now:  Episcopalian Church leadership.  It is defined from the word, episcope in Greek which means Bishop in English. 

Lord / Archbishop / Bishop / Pastorate / Congregant or Laity.

This is a system where a bishop governs several local churches.  I have drawn some quick sketches to give you a mental image.  Think of The Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church (Epsicopal in U.S.A.) and the United Methodist Church.

Under this system the justification in Scripture is found that Timothy and Titus (which we will be spending more time in next week) were to go from town to town establishing elders. 

The Second is Presbyterian.  As you are already aware, this comes from the Greek word presbyterous, meaning elder or overseer. 

This is where there are several elders who govern the affairs of the congregation.  But there is a regional assembly that governs several congregations.  The graphic here is one congregation but a plurality of elders.  This is done in the Presbyterian Church, Christian Reformed Church

Lord / Regional Elders / Congregation of Plurality of Elders / Deacons / Congregant

The last is Congregationalism: This is where a congregation governs itself.  They may have a single pastor, elder or plurality.  But there is no outside assembly that controls or governs that local congregation.

The sketch here is one congregation, either 1 or multiple elders.  Example of denominations that use this model (the one most often used) is Christian Church, many Baptist churches, Southern Baptist and independent, non-denominational congregations.

Lord / Elder(s) or pastor (s) / deacons / congregant

All of these look to the same passages of Scripture for justification.  The Episcopal, Presbyterian and the Congregational all together look at the same Scriptures and from this interpret this differently.

How? It really comes down to is how we define the words that we brought up last week from our various passages of Acts 20, 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 5.  Those terms are Bishop, Elder, Pastor, Shepherd, Overseer.

Are all these words different?  Some think that they are.  They are different Greek words.  But are they referring to 5 different things?

I am going to argue that even though they are different words, they are all referring to the same thing. 

I am asking you to stick with me – this is important, and I think it is important for all the congregation. 

As we prepare to grow again, I think this is highly important.  Why?  As we get new members, as this congregation grows, a STRONG ELDERSHP, STRONG SHEPHERD isthe best path to not find someone in a lonely acre.

Tina and I found ourselves in a lonely acre where the shepherd was (or seemed to us at least) far away. 

Fortunately, we were strong.  I had been working as a chaplain for many years but what if we were not strong in the faith?  Where were these shepherds when we had lost a son? 

Why did no one come to investigate? What if it we were straying?  No one was there to investigate, and I fear for that as a pastor of a church. 

The Job of a shepherd is to be in Your business.  They will account for you on judgement day.

In a church with 200 members, with 2 teaching pastors, and 3 other pastors, why was there no one to check on us?  This could have been a disaster – it was not, praise God. 

We are not just concerned with death and dying but marital issues and people who may find themselves caught in grievous sin.  The shepherd and pastor of a church is to look over the church just like David did with the sheep.

David faced lions and bears.  In many cases this is what the shepherds of the church are to do as well. 

Now, let us look at some passages here and I am going to make the case that Bishop, Elder, Pastor, Shepherd and Overseer (all different words not just in English but in the Greek text of New Testament) are all referring to the same office in Scripture and in the church.

Paul calls a group to himself; they are the elders.  They are the presbuterous.

Same context, you get to our reading in verse 28 and you find this. Paul is talking to them and he says, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (episkopous) to care (poimanein) for the church of God, which he obtained with His own blood.”

POINT 1:  All the words were used by Paul referring to same office in Acts 20.

So here in one context we have Elders, Overseers and Shepherd all referring to the same group.  Three out of the five terms used to define the leadership of the church are all used here in one passage. 

Now consider the qualifications for an elder.  These qualifications will be the focus next week but for now we can learn something regarding our study this week.

He is giving Timothy qualifications of what to look for and is doing the same thing for Titus.  But yet he calls what they are looking for by two different names.  Same qualifications (mostly) but two different names. 

1 Timothy 3:1 “If anyone desires to the office of overseer (episkopes) he desires a noble task.”

Titus 1:5  “This is why I left you in Crete, that you might put what remained in order and appoint elders (presbuterous) in every town.”

After each of these Paul goes on to list what they are to look for.  They are all in reference to the same office. 

POINT 2: Qualifications in 1 Timothy and Titus are mostly the same pointing to the same office.

He (the Holy Spirit) . . . gave the shepherds and teachers

Let us go back to our definition of Elder from last week.  I put it on the note section of your bulletin so you would have it.

Elders are men of God, mature in The Faith who are servant leaders within a congregation for the purpose of leading through teaching, protecting, and guarding the health of the church.

Typically, the word pastor is used in reference to the person who delivers the sermons each week.  This is technically true.  But this is not the only thing that a pastor does.

Next week in our time together I will show the differing roles that are found inside those who lead the church.

My point today is to show that the chief Shepherd Jesus, who bought the church with His blood, has under shepherds.  Those whom, as we see in Acts 20:28, are designated by the Holy Spirit, to lead the church, protect the church, grow the church in holiness.

The chief Shepherd Jesus tells us in John 10, the extended passage read from last week, that the sheep know the shepherd’s voice.  This is an example that the under shepherds need to follow. 

To know what direction the congregation needs to go.  Where there needs to be correction.  Where there needs to be defense from error.  To look out for wolves.

These men are men of the word, men of prayer and men who are serving in humility. 

There is a view in some congregations that the body of Christ is a democracy.  Every person has a vote in the spiritual direction of the congregation.

To be clear, every person’s voice is important. Every single soul in a congregation is of equal value in the sight of the Father. 

But there are some BY THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT who spend an extraordinary amount of time in Scripture and prayer and have been gifted in this area who are to be entrusted to lead the congregation. They have been burdened and moved by the Holy Spirit in this area. 

When David gives his resume to King Saul – King Saul says, you can’t do this.  How am I going to send you to fight this Goliath.  David says, here is what I have done.

I have considered his words.  David was not relying on David for his ability to wrestle the lion and bear.  He said, “The Lord who delivered me from the lion and the bear shall deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37)

David’s words were a complete abandonment of self and full acknowledgement to the Lord.  This is the heart of an elder.

Drawing attention to David’s courage to fight for the sheep and then pointing to the shepherd of God’s people, the elders – is not putting a superman S on their chest.

It is the opposite.  The shepherd of God’s people leads by submission to the Father.  All ability, all strength, all wisdom come from the Father. The Holy Spirit has worked in the heart of this shepherd that he knows this.  He humbly accepts his weakness and recognizes the source of his strength.

We are going to dive into this next week.  I want to remind you to write down your questions, and you will be afforded an opportunity to ask them. 

In our next time together, we will explore what are the qualifications for elders and we find those in 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1 and 1 Peter 5. 

Date: November 30, 2025

Lord’s Day: 48

Series: Call for Duty

Title: What Is it?

Text: Acts 20:26-32; Acts 20:26-32

The Reading of God's Word

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. XX

5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. XX

9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. XX

13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. XX

17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” XX

Acts 20:26-32 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God,[e] which he obtained with his own blood.[f] XX

29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. XX

32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

This is the reading of God’s word XX

We come to you at this moment in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, the righteous with thankful hearts that you have brought us together once again.  We are grateful for the time we have had this past week with family and friends.

Lord bless us in our study today and over the next few weeks as we look into the Elders, pastors and under shepherds.  Open our hearts to receive Your Scripture and please bless and guide me that I may teach properly.

In Jesus’ Name Amen.

So often is the case that we read Scripture, especially for those who have been in the faith for a long time (most of their life or grew up going to church), and the text does not grab us completely.  What I mean is, we read something and do not grasp the complete depth of what was stated. 

Allow me to give an example:  1 Samuel 17, I want you to think of David.  In this text, he was a boy.  He was not an adult.

You have this army that represented the Philistine people.  They were on one elevated, hill named Socoh; then there was a valley of Elah and on the other side of that valley was another hill.  On that opposing hill was Israel.

Apparently, because I know how men area, there was some jawing going on back and forth between the two hills.  There was a challenge. 

The Philistines said, rather than using both our armies to fight this out, we will choose one champion, and you choose a champion.  They will face each other The winner of the battle between these two champions will determine the winner of this thing between us.

Then they bring out their champion, Goliath. He was a brute.

That is an amazingly huge man.  Think of Shack (at Staples display) and add 3 feet. This was the champion for the Philistines.

Israel had nothing.  The Philistines taunting them, day after day.  What do you have for us?  Israel had nothing. 

They were worried.  Fear began to grow in the camp. What are we going to do?  We have no one to fight Goliath. Day after day the taunting and the fear. This went on for 40 days.

Then there was little boy David.  He was a shepherd of sheep.  His brothers were on the side of the hill looking at Goliath. David’s father had sent him with some food to give to the boys. 

When David arrived he inquired what was going on and they brought him up to speed (no Walter Cronkite to bring everyone at home up to speed on what was going on in this war).

Without hesitation, David says, I will fight him.  Can you imagine that? 

THE REACTION!:  Are you nuts little brother?  What do you mean you will fight him?  Why are you here, are there not sheep which need tending?  Get back to your sheep.  This is man’s business.  This is serious business!

The king Saul heard David’s words.  He had been worried.  We are in quite the pickle and who is this, someone has stepped forward to fight Goliath? Bring him here.

It is the boy David.  Fail.  We can’t use this boy. 

RESUME:  David insists.  Gives his resume.  Here is David’s resume for why he should fight Goliath:

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. XX

36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:34-37

I began this by saying, sometimes those of us who have been around Scripture, we read things and it does not jump off the page.  Here I am saying, don’t go too fast.  Stop there and consider what little boy David just said.

I use to watch my father’s sheep.  There was a time when a lion or a bear would come around. When the lion took off with a sheep, I tracked him, gabbed him by the beared I whopped them.  Do you hear that?

Think in your head Ricky.  I am not making fun of Ricky.  But I want to give you a visual.  Think of me, slightly bigger than Ricky.  What if I told you I fought a lion and a bear and I am here today to talk about it?

Do not read passed this too quickly.  David did this while looking after sheep.  A job that many, maybe even 100% of the people, if they were watching the sheep today they would, if there appeared a lion or a BEAR, They would run!

“Let’s see, it will take about 10 to 12 minutes for the lion to eat one sheep, that gives me a good head start.  Then off we would go running.  Get me out of here – “

No, not the shepherd.  Not a good shepherd.  A good shepherd looks out for the  sheep even when bears and lions appear.  They fight and protect them as if they were like family.

This is an amazing Scripture.  “David, how do you think you are going to beat this giant?”  David says, “Well, God did this thing for me here with some lions and bears, I have faith that He will come through over here in this situation.”

You know what the tools of shepherd are?  It is possible, even likely, David used a sling shot in his duty as a shepherd.  But in this case, no.  He wrestled this lion.  The tools at his disposal are the shepherds staff and himself.

Jesus called himself, in our John 10 passage, the “Good Shepherd.”  He is a shepherd who comes in by the door and the sheep hear His voice and the recognize Him.  His sheep follow him.  He leads them out to a rich pasture.

Not the thief.  Not the stranger.  These come to steal, kill and destroy.

The Good Shepherd is not like the hired hand: the person hired to watch the sheep.  They do not love the sheep as much as the shepherd.

The hired hand, when they see danger they run.  The hired hand, when they see the lion and the bear, and when the lion takes the sheep away, he does not go after the lion and wrestle him.  They do not care for the sheep the way the shepherd does.

The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  Jesus here is foretelling what He is going to do for those whom the Father calls: He is going to lay down His life for the sheep. 

For this Jesus reason is called by Peter (I Pt 5:4) the Chief Shepherd. Because we are His church, God’s called out ones from the world, “The Lord is our Shepherd.” (Ps 23:1)

We begin a short topical series today titled, “Call for Duty.”  It is about the shepherds of God’s church.  Before we get into this series I want to share the genesis of this series.  It came about from several conversations that Fred Circle and I had over mid to late summer.

As stated earlier, this is a topical series.  Most of my teaching is textual/exposition of Scripture but there are occasions where we will look at a topic.  This is one of those occasions and we will be looking at the shepherds of Christ’s church.

Like David, one of the jobs of a shepherd is to look out for wolves, as Paul puts it in Acts 20:28.  Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you.

There are wolves that desire to attack the body of believers and one of the jobs of the shepherds is to, like David, be on the look out for these moments and protect the sheep.

I have this shepherd’s staff here and there is a reason that I bought this.  I want it to be the visual of a shepherd’s job in Biblical times, and really even today. 

Sheep are not the smartest animals.  I do not know this from experience.  I have not raised any sheep. Fainting goats and sheep are great.  I can’t get enough videos of fainting goats. 

But I have been told that sheep can fall into a ditch, feet in the air and they are stuck.  They do not know or are unable to get themselves out of that position. 

This is where a shepherd will come up beside them and give them a gentle nudge.  Just enough to startle them and they wiggle and get back on their feet and off they go. 

In that capacity the staff is gentle.  When the sheep begins to wander off from the others and is in danger of being alone and open to attack, the shepherd will use the hook to gently bring them back into the group.  This is a gentle.

These are examples of this hook being used gently.  It is not used to beat the sheep. 

In the life of Jesus, it is so very easy to see this imagery of the shepherd’s rod.  This rod has at least two purposes:

Jesus did this.  There were times that, like David when a lion threatened, Jesus was quick to defend from danger. 

John 8:44 with the Pharisees so confident in their own righteousness, Jesus says, “You are of your father the devil and your will is to do your father’s desires.  He was a murderer from the beginning and has nothing to do with the truth because there is no truth in him.”

There are not many pastors in America today that would stand that strong against the enemy as Jesus did.  There are not many who stand up to the wolves (PAUL’S WORDS IN ACTS 20) and confront it and beat it with the staff because (in the words of the late Vodie Baucham) “Thou shalt be nice is the 11th commandment.”

But Jesus often used harsh confronting words when they were needed to address enemies of truth.

At the same time that Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, gently disciplines those whom were his own:

After Jesus had fed the 5,000 the disciples went on ahead of him in a boat to the other side of the lake.  Jesus went up on a mountain and prayed .  Then when evening came he was alone and it says, the boat was a long way from the land. 

It is here that fierce waves had began beating on the boat. They were in fear as the waves were really bad and then they see Jesus walking to them.  It is here that Peter asks Jesus, “Command me to come to you,” and Jesus does.

You know this story.  Peter gets out and begins walking on water briefly.  He takes his eyes off the faithfulness of Jesus and places them on the unsettling waves around him and he begins to sink.  The Look of Faith became the Look of Fear.

Jesus reaches in a gets him.  Does he yell at him?  It may appear that way.  In English it reads, “O you of little faith, why do you doubt?”  That is one reading we can read into that an angry tone.

But in actuality, the original text gives a clue (“oligopistos”).  Oh, you of little faith, why do you doubt?  It is a gentle rebuke.  It is a soft reminder.  It is a loving word to Peter.  It is not the harsh beating given to the Pharisees.  It was a gentle nudge.

As we spend time together in this series, you will see that these people I am calling shepherds are in actuality under shepherds who labor for the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ.  In the next couple weeks you will see how this plays out in Scripture.

We will be looking at several texts: Acts 20, 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter. 

We will be looking at the terms: Bishop, Elder, Pastor, Shepherd, Overseer and see what these terms mean?  All used in New Testament Scripture for the Church.  Are they different?  Are they the same? 

We will be working with this definition and by the time we get to the last message in this short series, this will make perfect sense.  We will be working from this definition:

Elders are Men of God,  mature in The Faith who are servant leaders within a congregation for the purpose of leading through teaching, protecting, and guarding the health of the church.

Scripture reveals a way in which our Lord has provided leadership and protection for the church. 

Our reading in Acts 20 comes as Paul is getting ready to leave Ephesus.  He has been there three years establishing this church.  He had been daily teaching and providing for those people and it was time for him to leave.

The section we read were his words to the plurality of elders there.

Pay careful attention to this body.  There will be trouble.  Protect the sheep. 

I think of David.  I think of the courage that it took for David to do what he did for the sheep that were under attack by bears and lions.  This is the passion of the pastor and elder of the church.

Would you not with great joy and confidence place trust behind a group who were looking after you like David looked after his sheep?  That they would have courage to gently lead and passionately protect!

I am greatly looking forward to our time in this study and the implications that it means for Donnels Creek.

Colossians 4:2-4

Genesis 15:1-6

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue[a] childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son[b] shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Praise be to God

Have them speak out of stories of the Bible that they love – why did it impress them as it did?

Have you given a thought about this faith that we hold dear?  This faith that contains these mighty acts of God?

I believe in these accounts found in Scripture`:

I believe those things.  I believe the stories you shared. I believe that they happened and I believe that they are as real as I am standing before you now.

But a short while back a video came across my Twitter feed and there was a man who was profanely boasting on how insane it was that anyone would believe these things.

In his words, those who believe that someone swallowed by a fish is not fit for society.  In fact, he went on to say very forcefully, that if we believe such things, it should automatically take away our right to vote on anything.  We are absolutely insane and should be shamed and rejected in every way possible.

I was listening to him go on and even saved it. 

These were the type of people that Paul was facing as he wrote Colossians.  Everyone had their expert opinion on this, that and the other.

We are at the end of this letter, Paul is wrapping it up, saying goodbye and his final request came by him asking for prayer. His prayer for them to pray? He is asking, “Pray that God may open to us a door for the word to declare the mystery of Christ.”

He says further, “that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”

Paul is praying for opportunity and ability to share the gospel. Give me an opportunity Lord . . .”and help me to speak clear.”

This is the issue with Scripture. 

It is not just a collection of random stories. 

They are all connected.  They are all together and pointing in one direction. 

This mysterious direction to which they point is in Jesus Christ.  All of Scripture finds its fulfillment in Christ.

But, the problem in Colossae (Ephesus, Philippi, Rome. . . those places Paul was facing) is the same that we have in Springfield, Ohio: How do You know?  How do you know that this thing is precious to you is God’s word?  How can anyone know?

Can you defend that? 

Before we find and answer to this let us ask the Lord to bless our time together in His word.

There is an issue that ties Adam (from creation), Colossae and Springfield, Ohio all together. In Genesis 2 we have an early description of this issue.  The revelation of God, God’s very word was spoken to Adam.  This is a passage of which we are all well aware.

Genesis 2:16-17, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but the tree of knowledge of Good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

This is the revelation of God.  God’s word.  And what was the first thing the first thing the enemy went after in the temptation.  The very first thing he said is, “Did God really say?”

He does the same thing with Jesus in his temptations in the wilderness.  In our time together over the past several months in Colossians we looked at the similarities between the temptation of Adam and Eve and those of Jesus (the second Adam) in the wilderness.  They are identical (Lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life).

But the enemy, as crafty as he is, as cunning as he is, he is not very creative.  He uses the same tactic on Jesus that he used on Adam and Eve.  “Did God really say?”

With Jesus, he was in the wilderness, he had been fasting.  The last thing he heard before going to the wilderness was the Father saying, “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.” 

The first thing we see in Scripture is the enemy saying, “If you are the son of God . . . .”

The enemy is big on getting us to doubt this word that Paul wanted to proclaim.  Ever since the fall man has suppressed the God’s word in unrighteousness. 

When you leave today, I want you to leave here with a whole new perspective on the word of God.  I want you to see the power that it has.  It is unlike anything ever.

So much that I want you to understand this that I am asking you to listen to this sermon again.  Go to my web site, I post the audio there or go to the church web site, the video is typically posted there.

The reason I am asking you to listen to this again is that you may KNOW, deep in your heart, this is the direction of how this congregation will grow.  It may take more than one listen for this to fully set in. 

This congregation will grow because of the power of the spoken Scripture.  That is it!  That is the only way the gospel goes. 

Herein lies the issue with the unregenerated heart specifically when it comes to defending the faith: I was raised on an apologetic (defense of the faith) that was evidence based. 

I was raised and felt like, you know the person who is not in Christ is in neutral territory and I must get on his level and if I can just explain it in a way that they understand and convince them, then they will become a believer.

There is no neutral ground spiritually.  There is none.  There is zero.

You are either in Christ or you are dead in sin and hostile towards Christ.

Those are the two positions Scripturally.  These are the two descriptions given.

“The preaching of the cross is foolish” to those of the world.”  They want nothing to do with it.    But to “us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

1 Corinthians 2:14 “The natural man cannot accept the things that are of God”

Read that again, read it slow.  It is from Paul.  The same guy who wrote Colossians.  What does that mean? 

What about Jesus’ words to the Pharisees in John 8:43, 47 “Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. . . 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

It is because for those who are outside of Christ, they “by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[g] in the things that have been made. XX So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:18-21

But we read that, “The heavens declare the glory of God,

We see this, but those who are unrighteous suppress it.  They suppress the truth in unrighteousness.  They are NOT in neutral.  “7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  Romans 8:6-8

What hope is there?  If this is the condition of man, what hope is there?

It is in the word. The very word of God that the enemy, all the way back in the Garden of Eden, that word that he contradicted.  That word of God, the revelation of God that the enemy said, “Did God really say?”

Take our friend Abraham here.  We read of him earlier. 

16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,   XX 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”  XX   19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness[b] of Sarah's womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,   XX. 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,   XX. 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Abraham believed the word of God.  God calls those things which are not into existence. 

Why do you think at least one of the reasons it took so long for Abraham and Sarah to conceive? So that it was definitely from God.

Do not doubt the word of God.  The word of God is what brought us to faith.  It was not cleaver argumentation.  It was not a sales pitch.  It was the word of God.

“Faith comes by . . . .hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

This is why I place so much emphasis on God’s word.  There is nothing like it.  It is the revelation of God and somehow, some beautiful way God works through this and it becomes living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword.  It pierces right to our hearts, and it convicts us.

We have been in this study of Colossians since the beginning of June.  I called it the Mystery of Christ because that is the phrase used by Paul several times, even here in chapter 4 of our reading that he asked for prayers “that God may open to us a door for us to declare the mystery of Christ.” Colossians 4:3

This mystery is what God, through His Spirit has opened to us by the hearing of HIS word.

This is not a teaching isolated to Colossians.  He says in 1 Corinthians 2 something very similar in, “7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. . . . 0 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.   XX.  12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.  “  (1 Corinthians 2:7, 10-12)

There is nothing like this word of God.  The very thing that brought life to Sarah’s womb is the very same thing that called Lazarus to come out.  God’s word is powerful.  It is how the Spirit brings life to unbelievers.

I look at the situation with the Colossian church.  I was pondering what are some similarities that Donnels Creek has with the Colossian believers.  I also considered what are some differences between us and them.

After considering several things I found that there is one thing I can say that answers both questions.

We differ in that they are a brand-new body of believers.  They were young believers.  They were a young church.

We differ with them in this area.  Most of the people here have been believers for a long time.  Some of you can’t remember a time that you were not a believer.  Others who are here have been in the faith for decades.

We also are a congregation that is over 200 years old.  Donnels Creek has been here a long time.

So we differ in those areas.  Where we are alike is that we want to grow.  I am certain the Colossian church wanted to grow.

Earlier I said, this may be a sermon you want to listen to again.  The reason I said that is I wanted to really emphasize the power of God’s word. 

I want this church to grow.  I want it to grow in knowledge: I absolutely want you to gain and knowledge of God that is deep.  I want to lead you in this.

I have found, the more I know of God, the greater my praise is of God.  There are moments that I learn something new and it moves me emotionally.  It deepens my faith and deepens my praise.

But I also want this congregation to grow in number.  Not to pad statistics.  Not for pride.  I want Christ’s kingdom to advance. 

This will only come by the preaching and teaching of God’s word.  This is how God works. 

It is very simple really.  There are no tricks. 

I am praying, like Paul for opportunities to speak clearly.  I will tell you, I work hard every week to be a better preacher.  And again, this is not about me.  It is not about getting a pat on the back. 

Encouragement is great.  I love to hear how God has ministered to you through His word from me.  But it is not about me.

God has gifted me with a craft.  I want to be the best I can at that craft. 

Just like Paul desired to speak clearly.  This is what I want to do. 

But this word is NOT dependant up on me.  It is not dependent upon any visual lesson I give when I preach.  It is 1000% dependant upon the working of the Holy Spirit to awaken dead hearts.  It comes through the WORD.  This is it. This is our prayer, and this is our mission.

Date: November 9, 2025

Lord’s Day: 45

Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ

Title: Eat, Sleep, Pray

Text: Colossians 4:2-4; Genesis 32:22-31

Prayer with thanksgiving, being a special part of religious worship, is

required of all people by God. That it may be accepted, it is to be

made in the name of the Son, by the help of his Spirit, and according

to his will, with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith,

love, and perseverance, and if vocal, in a known tongue.

Colossians 4:2-4

Genesis 32:22-31

22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Praise be to God

Prayer:

We come as a people into this moment asking that you guide my words and open our hearts to receive your word. 

We are a people that believe in prayer but at the same time I ask you lead us into a deeper relationship with you.  Allow this text to speak to us. All this text to mold us. 

It is in Christ name we pray, Amen

We come to our passage in Genesis and become reacquainted with our friend Jacob.  He has a background story that leads up to our text that because of time I will only highlight.

Jacob is a twin. His name means trickster, so this is not the kind of guy from which you want to buy a car.  Can you imagine?  You come to the car lot and out comes the man in the suit with a tie and says, “Hi there, my name is trickster, how can we get you in a nice vehicle today?” 

You would reply, “We are at a car lot?  Oh my, how did we get here?  Thought this was the parking lot for the concert.” And then you would make your way out of there.

Jacob’s father was Isaac was married to Rebecca.  When she was pregnant with Jacob and his twin brother Esau, it said they were jostling around inside her.  As she was carrying them around, they were wrestling in her womb, and it was uncomfortable. 

It was so distressing that she prayed about this.  “What is going on inside of me?”

The Lord replies, “You have two nations inside of you. . . the older will serve the younger.”  Interesting response.  Very mysterious, right?

In time, she has the children and Esau, who is described as red and hairy (not a good combination is it?) comes out first.  But coming in at a close second place is Jacob who is holding on to the heel of his brother Esau.

Earlier, I did say his name means trickster.  His name actually means “grabs the heel” but in Hebrew that is not a positive thing.  It means supplanter, which is also, not a word we use in English right?  It means to gain and advantage usually by trickery or deceit. 

As the boys grow, Esau becomes a daddy’s boy.  He is red, hairy, masculine and ends up being a good hunter.  Trickster is a momma’s boy.

In short time Jacob lived up to his name and tricked Esau out of being the first born.  Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of soup.  He was hungry. 

But that trade was not completely final unless the father blessed it.  This was the next trick.

A blind Isaac was near death he asked for one last meal and sent Esau out to get game.  After the meal was eaten, Isaac would bless Esau. 

Rebecca overheard and quickly devised a plan.  She would cook a meal, Jacob would get in disguise, and to get the blessing.

They put the plan into play, and you really have to think again about how hairy Esau was.  Jacob put on animal fur.  That is hairy man.  That is really hairy.

He brought the meal to Isaac while in disguise and he was like, wow, already back? You got the game and cooked it, and you are already back? 

The trick is on shaky ground.  Isaac thought something was up because the voice sounded like Jacob.  Come here and let me feel you.  He reaches out and sure enough, you smell and feel like the wild man Esau.

He ate and then blessed Jacob, thinking it was Esau.  Knowing the outrage that this would cause, Rebecca tells Jacob to pack his bags and get out of Dodge: and this is what he does.

Then Esau reappears and learns what has happened. He is broken up.  He is outraged. In tears. He begs for this to be fixed.  It can’t be fixed. 

Jacob has left.  Esau leaves. 

It is 20 years later as we come to our text.   Jacob is about to meet Esau.  The trickster devises another plan.  It is a pretty good plan and there is nothing ethically or morally wrong with this plan.

He sits back and sends three waves of gifts.  Each wave as it reaches Esau are to say, “Here is a gift to you from Jacob.”

I looked up the total for these gifts.  In US dollars at the very lowest end would be $31K.  Total, the amount of labor these donkeys and sheep would provide over their lifetime would equal almost $400k.

The trickster is trying to soften him up.  He prays to God and says, “When I left home I had only a staff and what was on my back. Now I have all this.  You told me to go back to the land of my fathers, and that is what I am doing.  Please save me from my brother Esau.”

This is what leads up to our passage that we read earlier.  That is a heavy prayer. 

I am going out on a limb of faith here.  This is similar to Peter on the water, it really is.  Peter asks Jesus to command him to come to him and Jesus does and Peter steps out of the boat.  The wind gets to him.  The wind catches his attention, and faith begins to fail.  I get that.  I see that and I would most likely have never gotten out of the boat.

LIKEWISE: For perspective, Jacob here is going out on a limb of faith.  God gives him the exact same promise that he gave to Abraham.  But also sends him back to the land of his fathers and must go through Esau to get there.

Ok Lord, I will go back. You said I would prosper.  I have been avoiding this for 20 years. 

I believe what you said.  I believe your promise.  I do need you to protect me from Esau.

He sends the three delegations with the gifts to Esau.  He remains back.  This is where we are with the text that we just read. 

He sends everyone, even his family, ahead across a River named Jabbok.  He is alone.

Then it says, a man – out of nowhere, just in the middle of the thought there appears a man.  Verse 24 has two short sentences in our English:

“And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.”

 What a peculiar thing. Jacob was alone. A man wrestled with him all night.

I am floored by this. 1. The sheer strength that it would take to do this.  This is not easy. 

I have spoken before about wrestling, and it is an exhausting experience.  Those who are in the UFC, boxing, wrestling, get short breaks.  There are rounds.  They can catch their breath momentarily.

With wrestling it is three periods that are 2 minutes long.  That is it.  Two minutes and if you are not in shape that is the longest 2 minutes of your life.  It might as well be 2 weeks.

Jacob did this all night long.  He holds on to this, mysterious man, until daybreak.  He wants to know his name.  I will not let you go until you bless me!

And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”28 The man said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” xx And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 

  This is a Christophany.  What is a Christophany?  It is a term used to describe the incarnate appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. 

This is an extremely important moment.  After wrestling all night with Jacob, this man just touched his hip – destroyed.  Jacob knew this was supernatural.  This is God.  I have seen the face of God.

Jacob held on to this man until he blessed him.  I will not let you go until you bless me.  He wrestled with him until he got the blessing.

This is a different Jacob.  He was used to tricking.  He had tricked Esau with a bowl of soup.  He had tricked his father with a furry suit.  He had tricked Laban, his cousin.  His days of trickery were over. 

He was now – talking to God.  He was up all-night wrestling with God seeking a blessing.

This story of Jacob wrestling at the Jabbok River has long captivated the Puritans because for them, this event symbolizes not just a physical combat but a profound spiritual discipline: fervent, persistent prayer where one grapples with God until He blesses the soul. 

The puritans saw this as a model for believers facing trials, urging us to approach the throne of grace with tears, faith and an unyielding resolve. 

“We are told by the prophet Hosea (12:4) how Jacob wrestled: he wept and made supplication; prayers and tears were his weapons.  It was a spiritual wrestling.” Matthew Henry Genesis 32:24-25  XX

“Jacob kept his ground; though the struggle continued long, the angel prevailed not against him, this discouragement did not shake his faith, nor silence his prayer.”

Thomas Watson wrote: “Jacob feared exceedingly (Genesis 32:7). His spirits were ready to faith, note that he goes to the promise. Lord, you have said you would do me good (Genesis 32:12). This promise was his food.  He got so much strength from this promise that he was able to wrestle with the Lord all night in prayer and would not let Him go till He had blessed him.”  All Things for Good

Do you pray like this?  Have you prayed like Jacob?  Have you prayed all night long over a matter that distresses you?

We come to our text in Colossians 4 and Paul is seeking the “steadfast prayer” of the Colossian church.

ILLUSTRATION: Maybe your prayer has been like some of mine in the past.  I have a matter or maybe several matters on my heart and I go over here, and I begin praying (act out prayer – then distractions)

The thought for some to pray all night is intimidating. Isn’t God going to get tired of hearing from me?  I can’t even make it 5 minutes. 

Dear family, I am not implying that every prayer that we have must be this way. We are in the Lord’s army . . . even those who are in the military get a break.  They are not always on high alert. 

I go to an extreme on purpose.  The rhetorical question for you to ponder, have you ever had a matter that you prayed all night long?

For some you the answer is yes.  For most, the answer is I can’t make it past ten minutes.

This is alarming.  Because you will spend all night worrying about the matter and failing to bring it to the Lord.  A matter will ROB you from sleep. 

This matter will rob you of hours of sleep.  And you will dwell on it and maul it over in your head.  You will play out this scenario and that scenario and you will not give it 15 minutes of prayer.

My child has . . . My job. . . My spouse . . . The doctor said . . .

ILLUSTRATION: For many, not for everyone, but for many and maybe even most in the Christian faith, their view of prayer is like this wheel. 

Now, when I say this, no one would come right out and say, this is how I view prayer.  What I am implying here is that this is our secret attitude of prayer.  We go to the Lord in prayer, and we do not follow through. 

We do not “CONTINUE” in prayer.  We are not “STEADFAST” in prayer. We are not “EARNEST” in prayer.  We are not “DEVOTED” in prayer. The answer, or lack thereof, gets lost and we go on.

What I want to do here is to look at Colossians 4:2, which is the beginning of our passage.  I want to break it down and then make some applications.  We are looking at one sentence.  Let’s look at that, see what it meant to the people there and then find some application for us today.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Col 4:2)

This is the idea.

This is an imperative. It is plural that the church and congregation must do this.

They are to stay alert. Be watchful. Look around. Keep head on swivel.  Seeking opportunities and occasions to pray.

The word is in present, which also means it is not only something to be done right now but ongoing.  It is never to stop.  This is your life.

Why does this apostle have them pray?  Does Paul not have an “in” with God? 

Afterall, God stopped Paul on the way to Damascus with a bright light and converted him to the very thing he was persecuting.  Talking about having an “in” with God. 

You imagine giving your testimony in the presence of Paul?  Well, this couple named Phil and Cora shared the gospel with me and after a few weeks of study I was just converted. I wanted to repent and live a new life.  How about you?  Who did your Bible study?

(Paul would say) Well, I was on my way to kill some Christians and God, well, there was this bright light.  I was converted by God.  He stopped me, took away my sight.  But amazingly, I was more able to see when I was blind than at any time when I actually had my sight.

This is Paul.  Supernaturally converted.  Yet he is asking these people to pray for him. 

PAUL WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO PRAYED – JESUS ALSO PRAYED.  THE SON OF GOD DEFINITELY WAS IN WITH GOD. HE PRAYED

Let us look at the prayer life of Jesus. HE HAD AN IN WITH GOD   Mark 1:35 “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”

If Christ needed to pray, how much more does Paul (and us) need to be about prayer.

Notice here that Jesus was alone.  He went away.  He went to a place.  Got away from people that he loved and prayed. 

The point here is not that we need to go and pray all night this week.  Jesus did pray all night (Luke 6:12).  But every prayer was not all night. 

My encouragement is that we need to be willing, that it if it needed, there be no hesitation for us to pray alone (like Jesus and Jacob) and all night (like Jesus and Jacob). 

The specific thing here is Jesus was alone. In your prayer life, you need to do this.  Every single day of the rest of your life is pray. 

Spouses, leave room for your spouse to pray.  Find a place where you can be alone.  Guard that time.

Keep the cell phone away.  Keep the distractions away.  Dad, give mom time away from the kids to pray.  This is more important than sleeping.  This is more important than eating. 

Have you ever prayed that God keep you in a tough situation that you are in?  Paul did not say, pray that I would get out of prison here. 

We have had such a heavy prayer list since my arrival.  Buddy and Joanna Adams and their family.  There is A LOT going on there.  Phil and Cora with Kash and Kason. This past week, Phil Morrow sent me a photo of a before and after with baby Kason.  He needed surgery on his esophagus. 

We have been praying for him and there is absolutely nothing wrong with praying that whoever needs healing, please heal them.  There is nothing wrong with that prayer.

However, often it is the first and only thing we pray for.  In our text Paul is in prison.  Let’s pray for his release.  And then there is no other prayer than that. 

Paul is in prison because God sovereignly placed him there.  What if there was a job for Paul to do while in there.

You know what Paul asked for?  Open a door for me here to share the gospel.  Let that sink in.  He could have prayed for an open door of the jail cell.

Do not misunderstand my point.  If you are ill and I hear word of it, I am going to pray that you be healed.  I want you to recover.  But that will not be my only prayer.

That just like Jesus prayed in the Garden, “Lord if there is any other way, please let this cup pass from me . . . . but not my will Lord.  Not my will but Yours be done.”

There were two prayers there.  One where an expressed personal desire is stated in two levels.  One, I would like this suffering to end.  But if this is your will – let’s go. 

Can you pray like that?

Absolutely it changed him.  How? 

For the first time he did not try to trick to get a result.  His name was changed after this from Trickster to Israel.  Isn’t that amazing.

This may be the most powerful part of prayer –The fact that prayer changes us.  We can get to a place where we are like, I trust you Lord – This is what I want, but I trust you.  Wherever you go, I will follow.

Prayer:

One of the most difficult things for us to relinquish is control.  We want to be in the driver’s seat.  We want control – but yet at the same time, we recognize that you are truly the only sovereign. That you will work all things perfectly.

I am asking that you lead us to conversate with you daily.  Speak to us through your word, and hear us as we speak to you in prayer.

Change us – mold us just as you did Paul and Jacob. Mold us more and more into the image of your Son Jesus and it is in His name we pray, Amen.

Date: November 11, 2025

Lord’s Day: 44

Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ

Title: The Loving Order

Text: Colossians 3:12-23

Apostles Creed

I  believe in God,

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

Amen.

Colossians 3:12-23

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.   18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters,[f] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 

A much younger version of me hiked a very good portion of the Appalachian Trail.  I was thinking about that several day ago and these thoughts popped in my head.

Not everyone is a hiker.  In fact, I do not think I am a hiker any longer.  I enjoyed the freedom of it.  This led me to think, what could be done with hiking to make it more attractive? 

Some of the first thoughts that came into my head were they could build some restaurants.  Can you imagine the outcry?  Can you imagine how silly that would be.  But yet, at the same time it is true. 

If they built some Chick-fil-a’s, Popeyes, Applebees right on the trail, It may increase the number of people interested in hiking. 

What if they built some Holiday Inn express or Hampton Inn and Suites?  The trail is 2200 miles long and goes through many cities and even very close to NYC.  So there are some hotels and places to eat along the way.  But there are 100 mile sections that are remote and have no access to a town.

So what if on those stretches they put some places to eat and sleep?  The outcry would be loud and deserved. 

One does not start a trip on the A.T. to get to McDonald’s.  Trips on the A.T. are to get away from these sorts of places.  It would be absurd to consider such a thing.  If this were to happen, at that moment it would no longer be the A.T.  It would just be any other place America.

Yet this exact same thing happens in the Christian church.  Again, I speak in generalities with no specific accusation at Donnel’s Creek. 

There are often people who desire to bring the things of the world into the church.  The desire (and the reality of what is happening) in what some are calling churches, is let us build things that are not in the word.  Allow us to erect some of these things that we like – things we don't want to let go of and change - and it is at that point that it ceases to be a church.

This is the beauty of the word.  Our passage from Ezekiel 36 to which I often refer: This word is one method in which the Spirit works.  It turns our heart, a heart that is rock hard and resistant to God, into this soft substance in which it can be shaped.

Those things that are of the world are fallen, corrupt and anti God.  These are the things for which we must be shaped.

It is like this piece of play dough here.  I am taking this play dough and shaping it into a bowl.  I am the one shaping it.  It is my mind that comes up with this idea, I am going to shape you into a bowl or a cup or an ash tray (that is what most of our art projects from school ended up being). 

Yet, what if this piece of play dough said to me, I do not want to be made into this.  Make me into a pitcher.  What if it said, make me into a book end? 

This is the clay telling the potter what it wants to be.  It is absurd, yet there are scattered here and there through this country this morning this is absolutely is what is taking place.

This is the desire I have for us with this passage today.  That in all things we all God’s word to shape us.  That we do not turn God’s word into what is attractive to our flesh. 

I put this cactus out here this morning and you may think, why is this cactus up here on stage.  What crazy thing has Matthew planned for us.

This was the mental image I had while working through this text.  I have not been here a year yet and some of you may have read ahead in Colossians and found this text.  Here we are.

Wives submit. Slaves obey.  How is he going to handle this text.  This is why the picture of the cactus came to mind.  Because how do you handle a cactus?   How do you handle a cactus?  Carefully.  You will end up stuck and hurting.  Some just prefer to not hold the cactus at all.  We can skip right over this passage right?

The answer to that is no.  If it is in the text we will address it. 

We will not address the text as the world does.  Why be afraid of God’s word unless we have been building McDonald’s on the A.T.? 

What is this text saying?  What does it mean when it says, wives submit to your husbands?  What is this about slaves?  Does this not make the Christian faith look archaic or place it in some very bad light?  Why doesn’t Paul encourage the readers of this letter to FLEE the slave owner?

We will address all of these issues but first let us seek the Lord’s blessing?

My desire here is to go to the end of the passage first and address that because it will greatly aid us in understanding the first part of this passage.

What did he mean here by slaves?  This passage, along with the book of Philemon and the companion passage in Ephesians is used by critics of the Christian faith.

What we bring to the table in our culture when slavery is mentioned is the slavery that was in the early part of the country.  Does Scripture condone this?

The answer is no.  The early abolitionists founded their argument against slavery in Scripture.  William Wilberforce, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, John Adams, John Jay, Thomas Paine and Fredrick Douglass were not just against slavery, they used Scripture to justify their position.

There were different types of slavery.[1] I can list several here, some of them were good and some of them were ungodly.  We have briefly discussed these in the adult Sunday class in the past year so for some this is a repeat. 

Types of slavery both good and bad:

These are some of the examples.  There are others but not all slavery was bad.  Roman records indicate that almost half of the population were slaves.  They represented all professions and social classes.  There were household servants, laborers, teachers, doctors and managers who were slaves.

It is simply untrue to say that Scripture supports what we had early in our history.  Exodus 21:6 says that the penalty for that type of slavery was death. 

Maybe now you can see how the early founding  fathers mentioned previously used Scripture to support their position.  This slavery topic is not as cut and dry as it would seem to be. 

We come to this passage in Colossians and view it in a whole new light.  Paul was not referring to what we had in early America. 

Go back to 2:12, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another, forgiving one another. Put on love, which binds everything together, let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, let the word of Christ dwell, teaching each other, doing ALL things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. . . .”

So here is the issue – my translation puts a title there, a heading.  It says, “Rules for Christian Households.”  What an interruption!  Right there in the middle of the thought.

This is all one context.  This is not a new thought.  This is a continuation of a thought.

Put on these things.  Here is how you treat each other and why.  As said before, Paul is writing to Christians instructing them how to be Christian. 

“Whatever you do in word your deed to all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Here is an example of how I have misinterpreted this passage for decades.  Mainly because of this heading “Rules for Christian Households”.  It says something similar  in every translation.  (NKJV The Christian Home, NIV Instructions for Christian Households, NASB Family Relations)

You may think I am making a big deal of nothing.  The title does not help because it makes it appear as if it was a new thought.

I have looked at Col 3:17, “whatever you do . . .do all in name of the Lord” in 2 ways.  1. Life worship.  That worship is not just something we do here at the Creek on Sunday AM.  Your LIFE is to be worship. 

I have also interpreted it as 2. Whatever your job is, teacher, welder, carpenter, farmer, gas man . . . do it in the name of the Lord Jesus.  That we are all working for the Lord.

Even these headings which have been mentioned are proper, just poorly placed. 

How you may look at that and say, “Those things are true.”

Let me share this with you.  There is only ONE interpretation of a passage.  Now there are many APPLICATIONS.  There maybe a dozen or a hundred applications of the passage.  But when it comes to interpretation, there is only ONE.  That is it.

Those two things I mentioned are applications.  They are valid.  They are true.  But it is not the interpretation of this passage. 

The context is, slaves, because of putting on Christ . . chosen, loved, kindness . . forgiving, in peace . . because of this serve your masters.  Whatever you do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.  This is a continued thought.  Do not let the heading (added by the book publisher) throw you off. 

He goes through this list: wives, husbands, children, slaves masters.  Because of 12 through 17 here is how it looks for you.  This is how it plays out.

We can’t allow culture, who does not even believe in this Bible, has no regard that it is the word of God, to come in a cherry pick verses and stir up controversy.

“How in the world can you Christians believe in slavery?  What about you women . . . submit?  What is this submission thing?  That is crazy talk!” 

They have no idea what they are talking about. 

If you come to this passage in Colossians and think it is a cactus passage, the you are unaware the impact culture has had on your thinking.   You are more prone to build McDonalds on A.T.  This is the result of the transgression in the Garden of Eden.

Before the fall there was total unity. The case can be made that the perfect unity between the trinity was there at creation between Adam and Eve.  It was a perfect union.  Can you imagine that?  There was absolutely no strife. 

This is not because the man was better than the woman.  This passage in Colossians 3 is not about man better than woman.  It is clearly a passage of God is molding us, God is shaping us and this is how it looks, husband, WIFE (not woman), children, slaves and masters.

Can you see that in its framework? 

Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and in Genesis 3 we have the confrontation with our Lord’s judgement upon those guilty.  To the woman, he said, “I will increase your pain in childbearing. . . your desire shall be for your husband but he shall rule over you.”  (Genesis 3:16)

The original language here (also used in Genesis 4:8) indicates that she will be in opposition of the male headship.  This will be an ongoing struggle.  This will result in damaging conflict in marriage.

This rebellion that exists in marriage points all the way back to the Garden.  You most likely did not know this.

Eve was not the only one affected by this.  Adam will also abscond his responsibilities as the leader of the relationship. 

So does this play out?  Paul writes the same advice to the Ephesians.  Remember, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians were all written at the same time as Paul was in prison. 

“Wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church . . . Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:22-23, 25)

That is a heavy call.  Here is how I am like Adam, I would rather trade.  Loving your wife as Christ loved the church is a big hill to climb.

I have stood between a man and woman as they get married.  I address this issue because it needs to be addressed.  Our culture wants to overlook it.  Let’s just skip this passage. 

No, let’s look at it square in the eye because what woman, what sane woman, what Christian woman would hate it if her husband loved her like Christ loves the church? 

Men, it is a high call.  It is far more difficult to live up to our task than for the women to submit.  But when we are loving like this, with the Spirit changing us, molding us, the roles in a marriage are much easier to accept.

We have no issue with SUBMISSION in any other area in life.  We really don’t.  We understand that the boss is over us as a role.  Does not mean he or she is a better person.  Does not mean that he or she is a more valuable person.  We are equal.  They have a role, we have a role.

We have no issue with parent to child.  This passage shows the relationship of parents having headship over the children.  Culture doesn’t look twice at this . . .but that word . . .submit.

Military, we have no issue there.  There are various ranks.  In God’s eyes is the private less important than the four star general?  No. Equal status as a human being. 

However, we get to marriage and when headship or leadership has been assigned by God, from creation (this is a creation ordinance) there is a negative reaction. 

Yet sin has invaded all relationships and this is undeniable. You may ask questions:

Sin has not just affected the marriage relationship, it has affected everything.  Men who draw back from loving their wives properly.  As Christ loved the church.  There is your standard. 

Jesus submitted.  The call from Paul is for Husbands to be like Christ in their love and wives to be like Christ in their submission.  

Jesus submitted and was equal with God.  Philippians 2:5-10 we are encouraged to have the mind of Christ “who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped by made himself nothing, taking on the form of a  . . .slave.”

You see that? Jesus was equal with God, submitted to the point of a slave. It goes on to mention that Jesus submitted to the death on a cross.  This, men is the love we are to have for our wives.  Love her as Christ loved the church.  You would give your life for her.

Isn’t this a beautiful passage?  My words are not directed at any one person Today.  I would never do that from the Pulpit unless absolutely necessary. 

My words are encourage us to not  permit culture to remove the beauty of it.  Do not allow that to happen.  We take our cues, our direction, our affections from Christ and His word.

[1] For further study on this topic John MacArthur has an outstanding book and sermon series entitled “Slave” on GTY.org.

Date: October 26, 2025

Lord’s Day: 43

Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ

Title: Peace Rule and the Word Dwells

Text: Colossians 3:15-17, Luke 8:26-36

Westminster shorter catechism

 Church, what is sanctification?

Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

Colossians 3:15-17

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Luke 8:26-36

34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 

Through the years I have had the pleasure of taking most all of my family to an Ohio State game. So much has changed with the game and it is not the same, but the experience has remained the same.

The experience is most likely the one thing that has kept me interested in college football.  When it gets to this time of year, the smell in the air, even when it is still warm, it ignites memories.

It takes me back to the very first time I was able to go into Ohio Stadium.  It was the mid-1990’s and Ohio State was playing Bowling Green on a September Saturday.  I was able to get a ticket for $19.  This was when the track was still around the field.

The sound of the band and the drums as they echo in the rotunda before they go on to the field. 

Then you go to your seat.  When you come out of the tunnel and see that electric green grass on the field, oh, it just takes your breath away.  I am certain every fan of something like this.  (Cricket, baseball, rugby, soccer)

I wanted to share this with family and friends.  Through the years, I have been able to take almost every family member to a game.  I took my father to see Ohio State play Marshall University. 

I recall on that one praying the night before the game, “Please Lord, don’t put anyone around us that swears a lot.”  My father would have said something . . . I would have been the one having to defend it cause he was frail. 

Anyway, one of the games that I took my son Hunter to was very special.  Before coming here to Donnels Creek, I was a chaplain and one person that I knew there where I worked was an Ohio State 1. alumni 2. band member AND3. “I” dotter. 

He had gotten to a place where he could not go to the alumni games and he would give me the tickets every year.  The first year I decided to take Hunter. 

The process of getting the tickets is not as cut and dry and paying for them and they mail them to you.  You actually had to meet someone and because of traffic (I had planned for traffic but this was different) we missed the pick up.

Various people tried to help us.  They made calls and sent us here and then there but ultimately, there was no way for us to retrieve the tickets.

I was very disappointed and brought Hunter up to speed and he was very gracious.  Told him that we would have to try again in the future and he accepted that. 

We were making our way back to where we parked and we were going a little slow now and just taking in the scenes.  Out of a crowd of people a man emerged and he said, “You father and son?”  I said, “Yes”

He said, “You have tickets?” I nodded no and was beginning to give a very short version of what happened but he quickly said, “Here are two tickets.  A father and son should experience at least one game.”  I told him I did not have enough $ to pay him and he was like, they are free.  We had these given to us, I am giving them to you.

We were so thankful – he was just trying to hurry to get to his seat.  But problem solved right?  It was terrific.  Hunter and I got to enjoy the game after all for which we were so grateful. 

But these events, the people get so worked up.  You even have fans who have season tickets, who also go to every away game and they wear the same out fit.  They end up on TV and end up signing autographs.  They are no athletes – but what they are known for is being a fan.  They are paid to go to events, “You can see Buckeye man”. 

Fans of every sport get so worked up painting their bodies.  My son-in-law is a chiefs fan, he grew up in Missouri.  Even though he lives in Grove City, he works in Missouri in the family business. 

The chiefs are a pretty good ball team.  He is a fan.  He went to one of the playoff games one year and it was some crazy temperature.  It gets to the third QTR and he takes his shirt off.

He is a seminary student at Westminster Theological Seminary – he is taking his shirt off for the team when it is single digit cold with wind.  He is taking pictures and sending it to family.

People do this.  People go wild and crazy and support their team. Painting faces, wearing jersey’s and yelling to give the home field advantage.

We are so excited to be a part of things we don’t want to miss.  We are so excited.  We mark it on our calendar; I do not want to miss this and we go.

It leads me to ask this question that I want you to really think about.  Do not answer it out loud, you can just answer it rhetorically. 

How do you view the time here with your Church family?  Are you coming here because you can’t live without it or because it is a habit or obligation? 

This is not about, do you like me or the other members here.  This is about if this is an event that you can’t miss.  I am not trying to guilt you into it.  Honesty is needed here because it directly relates to our text in Colossians 3:16.

Last week we were in 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”  That word there for rule is the same word that means umpire, judge or arbiter.  It was an official position in the Olympic games. 

Let the peace of Christ be the umpire in your hearts.  Let the peace of Christ call the balls and the strikes.  That is the picture Paul is painting here in this letter. 

The peace of Christ should be the moderator in our hearts.  The peace of Christ should be overseer in our hearts. 

This really changes how we process decisions.  We are at peace.  The reason we are at peace is Christ for us.  Now that we are at peace through Christ, let him oversee us. 

How do we do that?  This is where we pick up today. 

The peace of Christ rules, the word of Christ dwells.  3:16

It takes up residence in our heart.  This is a sanctification passage.  It is a beautiful sanctification passage and one that will introduce an idea which we have not considered yet.  We will get to that in a moment.

I would like us to consider our friend that Jesus met at the tombs.  He was not at peace.  He was not at peace with God, he was not at peace with the people in the town where he lived and he absolutely was not at peace with himself.

Can you imagine living like this?  He wore no clothes.  He was a wild man and not in a good way.  He had not lived in a house.  He was out of THE town at the tombs. 

He was supernatural in a bad way.  So, it appears they tried to put shackles and chains on him and he would break them.  He was a prisoner and would have these fits and break off the chains and break free and go to the desert.

He was possessed by a demon(s) and when they saw Jesus, just the sight of him, they come in order.  “Please, do not destroy us.  Do not send us into the abyss.”

“What is your name?” Jesus asked.  “Legion, for we are many.” 

The legion was a Roman military unit (1,000 soldiers).  SO the answer was, there are tons of us in here.

Jesus sent them into the pigs and notice what happened. 

“The people went out to see what had happened and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon possessed man had been healed.” Luke 8:35-36

Peace. Clothed and healed, sitting at the feet of Jesus

For the first time in only God knows how long, this man had peace.

He was not in the jail curious, when will the next episode hit?  I hate being like this and there is uncertainty when it will happen again.”  He was at peace.  The peace of Christ was ruling . . . and it ruled the demonic right out of this man’s life.

How about us?  Our cosmic war.  Our cosmic treason.  How quickly we forget. 

We get distracted by all those things in our lives. The very things that threaten to take away our peace (remember the rocks).  Distract us. 

We forget that the war is over.  We are at peace.  This man is forever changed.  He will never be the same.

This is what fuels me.  It really is.  I can not express enough how grateful I am Jesus for completely changing my life.  It is bittersweet for on the one hand I was not ignorant of the Scriptures. 

I knew them in my head – I did not know them in my heart.  Scriptures were handy when needed but I could not let them get in the way of what I truly loved: myself, the world.

There came a time when all that changed. This is in my life peace with Christ. 

Can you remember a time in your life when you had no peace with God?  Compare that to now. 

This man in the tombs, can you picture yourself there?  You were not demon possessed, this much is true.  But you were in a baren deserted place and you had no peace.  I was right beside you.

This man would be forever changed.  Nothing else needed to be written of his story, we know how it ends.

We should be just like him.  Forever changed.  Yet this is NOT the experience for most Christians. 

Now that the peace of Christ rules in us we also see that the word of Christ should dwell.  Teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

The word of Christ dwelling in us is sanctification.  The process of growing more holy.

We have discussed this sanctification in this sermon series in Colossians.  Some months back we looked at the fact that sanctification is something that is instant and also something that is ongoing in the believer.

We are to be growing in holiness.  This is a “set apart for holy use.” This is what it means.  We are to, as long as we have air in our lungs, forever to be growing in holiness. 

Is the word of Christ dwelling in you?  

That word for dwell is oikos.  Sound familiar?  It is not in reference to the Greek Yogurt.  Let the word of Christ be like Greek Yogurt?  No.  Oikos means dwell, inhabit to take heart. 

How much time do you spend in this word? 

Some may say, “Pastor I read through the Bible a time or two.  Is there anything else for me to learn?”  Another may say, “well we are not a teacher in the church and we are not a pastor, you are calling us to read this like you.”

Dear friends, if I lived 500 years and read through this Bible every year twice- I would never plumb the depths of this word.  I am serious.  I am not just saying this. 

There is nothing like God’s word. 

Let me ask the question again: How do you view the time here with your Church family?  Are you coming here because you can’t live without it or because it is a habit or obligation? 

I am certain the man who left completely free of a demon was motivated NOT by obligation but passion. 

Often the world has more passion for the things that it loves than we do for Christ and His church.  They show love for teams and musicians and concerts and actors.  Even though there is nothing wrong with supporting your team, those in the world know more fully how to show love with all their heart.

That same passion that causes the men who are fans of teams to take their shirts off when it is 9 degrees.  That is passion.  There is nothing wrong with liking your team.  Support the team.  Support the TEAM.

But find a passion for Christ!  Find a passion for HIS church.   We have the OUTSIDE stuff down pat.    

THE OUTSIDE STUFF IS WHAT THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN JESUS DAY HAD PERFECTED.

Over the past few weeks a repeated though which is repeated in Dt 11:18 “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”

This is God’s advising them with a picture.  By the time of Jesus in the Gospels, these frontlets were small boxes tied to the head.  Small passages were placed in these boxes. 

What good does that do?  Is this how God was leading these people?  Is this the expectation?

It is insane.  Yet that was the religious peer pressure of Jesus’ day.  Put the passages in the little box. 

God was saying, “My word is so important, so life giving, so needed, so saving, so wise, so perfect, you need to put this word in you.” He says this painting a picture as if the word was tied to their head.  Know the word like this.  Have the word in you like this!  Plumb the depths of my word.  Let me lead you.

And the Apostle Paul here was encouraging the people of the church in Colossae to know the word of Christ and to encourage sanctification.

LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY.  Teach and admonish one another with Psalms and hymns and Spiritual songs, singing and making melody with all your heart. 

Have this in your heart.  Dwell (OIKOS) on it.  Then share it.  Share it with each other.

God has sanctified you in Christ at salvation – You are continually growing IN Christ – and as a body of believers, this church is a part of your sanctification. 

We are to be teaching and admonishing.  It is my job as a pastor, to shepherd this church and grow it, but I am not the only one.  You are here for each other. 

What do you know with all your heart?  Do you know Jesus with all your heart?

Dear friends, I do not want you hear if you are here because you feel obligated. (checking the box)  I want you hear because you want to love Jesus more.  I want you here because you can’t find anywhere else what you can find here. 

I want you here because you want to help me grow.  You and I have the peace of Christ ruling in our heart, and we want the word of Christ to dwell within our hearts.

Our praises will change.  The way we praise WILL change.