Today Jim returns to his series in Colossians. For quite some time now, we've been studying the first chapter of this great book, and gaining marvelous insights for our lives. This powerful letter has a central theme - the majesty and power of Jesus Christ, and the great sacrifice He made on the cross.

Hopelessness is a problem that plagues many people today. Can you imagine facing the hardships of this world without God? That's the problem for people without hope - they need the hope we find in a relationship with Jesus Christ, Paul addresses our hope of glory in Colossians chapter one.

Today we'll resume our verse by verse study through Colossians, as we consider obedience. This life produces a certain amount of suffering for the Christian, but if we remain faithful to God's word, we'll make it through! If you're a parent, you know how happy it makes you when your kids obey and respect your wishes. The same is true with our Heavenly Father.

We'll be continuing our series through Colossians here today on the broadcast, as we begin a four day look at the final six verses in chapter one. You've no doubt been asked to do something that was a stretching experience for you, that called you to go out of you comfort zone. Well, sometimes our call to ministry will lead us beyond our comfort zone too, and that's a good thing as we'll soon see.

Today we continue our series through the book of Colossians. We will be looking today at chapter one, verses nineteen through twenty. These verses have to do with Jesus Christ and His role as reconciler. Who did He reconcile? Jesus came to earth and died on a cross to reconcile us with God.

In times of trial it's comforting to realize that our Lord Jesus Christ is in charge of everything. We are in Colossians chapter one today, and pastor Jim will share some truths about our savior as we study this essential scripture.

We're told in scripture that Jesus is the creator of heaven and earth. So, then what should we do if He really is the God of creation? Pastor Jim Jarrett will pursue that question here today on Growing in the Word.

Today we'll focus once again on the first chapter of Colossians, this time in verses fifteen through twenty. Remember that this letter from Paul was written to a group of believers, the Colossians, who had been deceived by false teachers. In the verses we'll study today, Paul goes about setting the record straight on exactly who Jesus Christ is.

We're currently studying the book of Colossians, and today we'll bring you the second half of a study Jim began last time, dealing with chapter one, verses nine through fourteen. One mistake many people make is believing that you can have a halfway relationship with God. Can you believe in Him, and serve Him, and still walk in the darkness of the world?

Today on Growing in the Word, we're going to once again see the folly of such an attitude. Colossians chapter one points us toward our inheritance in heaven...an inheritance that no amount of money can buy! If you had to choose between riches on earth and riches in heaven, what would be your "final answer"?