Introduction

Colossians 2:16-23

Where we've been so far in Chapter Two:

• Christ possesses all wisdom (2:3).

• Christ possesses all fullness of Deity (2:9).

• Believers have been filled in Him (2:10).

• Believers died with Him (2:12).

• Believers were raised with Him (2:12).

• Believers were forgiven in Him (2:13).

• Believers triumphed in Him (2:15).

  
  

Hold fast to Jesus!

1. What were the false teachers holding fast to?

• Observing the ceremonial laws (food, drink, festivals, Sabbath)

  • Colossians 2:16

• Religious asceticism ("don't touch", severe treatment of the body)

  • Colossians 2:18

  • Colossians 2:23

• Personal "spiritual" experiences (worshiping angels, visions)

  • Colossians 2:18

2. How were these people impacting the believers?

• Judging those who weren't observing their practices

  • Colossians 2:16

  • Judge (Krino [kree'-know) - judge, condemn, call into question

• Robbing the believers from delighting in Christ

  • Colossians 2:18-19

  • Condemn, defraud : katabrabeuō  (kat-ab-rab-yoo'-o) - to decide as an umpire against someone, to defraud (rob) of the prize of victory.

• Regulating the believers with human decrees

  • Colossians 2:20-22

3. What did Paul want his readers to hold fast to?

• The Head, Christ!

4. Why hold fast to Christ?

• Christ is the reality of the shadows

  • Colossians 2:17

  • Why hold fast to shadows when you can hold fast to the person, Jesus Christ!?

• Christ nourishes the believer with what they need to grow

  • Colossians 2:19

• Only Christ is able to save us from selfish, fleshly-indulgence (the flesh)

  • Colossians 2:23

  • Coplossians 2:11

  • Romans 8:12-13

  • Galatians 5:16

    
    

Application

• What am I holding onto that is keeping me from holding fast to Christ?

  • Psalm 32:3-5

  • Psalm 32:1-2

• Has something that was supposed to help me follow Jesus quietly become the thing I am trusting instead of Jesus?

What do we need to be aware of?

Colossians 2:8-15

Introduction

• Romans 8:1-2

• John 8:36

• Galatians 5:1

• Matthew 7:15-17

• Colossians 2:8

  
  

We need to be aware of...

1. The characteristics of secular wisdom.

• Colossians 2:8

• 1 Corinthians 1:20-23

• Colossians 2:8

• Mark 7:8-9

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2. The sufficiency we have in Christ.

• Colossians 2:9-15

• 1 John 4:1-3

  
  

Application

• Galatians 2:20

• Romans 8:1

• Galatians 2:21

Introduction

• Matthew 28:19

• Colossians 1:28-29

  
  

Paul's Heart for People...

1. He has concern.

• Colossians 2:1

• Colossians 1:9

• Philippians 3:18

• 2 Corinthians 11:28

2. He wants to encourage.

• Colossians 2:1-2

• Philippians 4:4

• Philippians 4:11-13

3. He charges them to love.

• Colossians 2:1-2

• John 13:34-35

4. He challenges them to grow.

• Colossians 2:2-7

• 2 Peter 3:18

• Philippians 3:10

• Colossians 2:2-7

  
  

Application

Do you have a heart for people like Paul?

Who are you discipling?

The Apostle Andrew

Special speaker Louis O'Tool

• John 1:40-42

• John 6:8-9

• John 12:22-24

Introduction

• Colossians 1:24-29

Paul's Commission

1. To Preach Christ (1:25-27)

   1. Colossians 1:26-27

   2. Galatians 1:15-16

   3. Philippians 3:5-8

   4. Colossians 1:25-26

   5. "The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed, and the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed." - St. Augustine

   6. Colossians 1:27

   7. Ephesians 3:4-6

2. To evangelize the lost and mature the saints (1:28)

   1. Colossians 1:28

3. To be a living sacrifice and suffer well (1:24, 29)

   1. Colossians 1:24

   2. Philippians 2:29-30

   3. Matthew 10🕙

   4. "I am afraid that all the grace that I have got of my comfortable and easy times and happy hours, might also lie on a penny. But the good that I have received from my sorrows, and pains, and griefs, is altogether incalculable... Affliction is the best bit of furniture in my house. It is the best book in a minister's library." - Charles Spurgeon

   5. Colossians 1:29

Application

A Christian's Commission

1. To Preach Christ

   1. Matthew 28:19-20

2. Mature the saints closest to you

   1. Ephesians 5:25

   2. Ephesians 5:26

3. To be a living sacrifice and suffer well for the local church

   1. Romans 12:1

Introduction

• Colossians 1:18-23

• "Few would deny the importance of Jesus.  They would simply dethrone Him.  They would give Him prominence but not preeminence."  - Warren Wiersbe

• Acts 5:41–42

• 2 Peter 3:18

  
  

Why Should Jesus Be First in our Lives?

1. He Reveals God to Us v.15a

2. He is Creator over All  v.15b-17

3. He is the Head of the Church v.18-19

   1. Colossians 1:18–19

   2. Ephesians 1:20–23

   3. John 14:16–17

   4. Acts 1:5

   5. Ephesians 1:13

   6. Matthew 16:16–18a

   7. Ephesians 4:4–6

   8. John 10:11

   9. Colossians 1:18–19

   10. Colossians 2:9–10

   11. Colossians 1:18–19

4. He is the Lord Period. v.20-23

   1. Colossians 1:20–23

   2. Ephesians 2:12

   3. Colossians 1:20–23

   4. 1 John 4:2

   5. Hebrews 2:17

   6. Colossians 1:20–23

   7. 1 John 2:1

   8. Colossians 1:20–23

Application:

1. Trust Him (He Reveals God to us, He is Creator, He is Head of church, He is Lord)

   1. Matthew 4:19

   2. Luke 14:27

2. Follow Him (What He says and does) 

   1. Galatians 5:19–21

   2. "Few would deny the importance of Jesus.  They would simply dethrone Him.  They would give Him prominence but not preeminence." - Warren Wiersbe

Colossians 1:15-17

Introduction

• Matthew 16:13–17

• 2 Peter 3:18

• Philippians 2:10–11

• Colossians 1:18

  
  

Why Should Jesus Be First in our Lives?

1. He Reveals God to Us v.15a

   1. Colossians 1:15

   2. 1 Kings 8:27

   3. Hebrews 11:27

   4. Colossians 1:15

   5. Hebrews 1:3

   6. John 14:9

   7. John 1:18

2. He is Creator over All  v.15b-17

   1. Colossians 1:15

   2. John 1:3

   3. Psalm 89:27

   4. Colossians 1:16

   5. Colossians 1:17

      
      

Application:

Trust Him (He is God,  He Creator of all things) 

• Proverbs 3:5–6

• Romans 8:29

• Colossians 1:14

• Malachi 1:6

Prayer Request

Colossians 1:9–14

What Does Paul's Prayer Show us about how to Pray?

1. Paul's Prayer was Educated v.9a

   1. Colossians 1:9

   2. Colossians 1:4

   3. Colossians 4:2

2. Paul's Prayer was w/out Ceasing v. 9b

   1. Colossians 1:9

   2. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–17

3. Paul's Prayer was Bold v. 9c-11

   1. Colossians 1:9–11

   2. Galatians 5:22–23

   3. 2 Peter 3:18

   4. Philippians 3:10

   5. Colossians 1:12

4. Paul's Prayer was to God v.12-14

   1. Colossians 1:12–14

   2. Hebrews 4:16

   3. Matthew 3:17
      

Application:

1. Our Prayers need to be Educated

2. Our Prayers need to be Continuous

3. Our Prayers need to be Bold

4. Our Prayer Life Knows who we are talking to

Introduction

Colossians answers questions related to...

• Science and Technology 

• Unity in the Church

• Authority 

• Purpose of Life

• Relationships in our lives 

• End Times

Gnosticism:  (gnosis)

Emphasizes a secret knowledge of God and salvation. Emphasize an inferior god of creation to the superior god of redemption (material created is evil,  only spiritual world is good).

1. Greetings

• Colossians 1:1-2

2. Thanksgiving

• Source of gratitude

  • Colossians 1:3

  • Colossians 1:7-8

• Content of gratitude

  • Colossians 1:4-6

  • Hebrews 11:6

  • Colossians 1:4-6

  • John 15:12

  • 1 John 3:14

  • Colossians 1:6

    
    

Application: 

• Express Gratitude for God's People 

• Live in such a way that people hear about your faith. 

Introduction

Review of last week: We are Dedicated to...

• The Gospel

• The Word of God

• Evangelism/Missions

Matthew 28:19-20

1. Jesus on Discipleship

• Deny yourself - Luke 9:23

• Take up your cross - Luke 9:23

• Follow Me (Jesus) - Luke 9:23

• Continue/Remain/Obey My Word - John 8:31

• Love Me (Jesus) above anything - Luke 14:26

• Make more disciples - Matthew 28:19-20

2. Paul on Discipleship

• Follow the pattern of Christ and those before you. - 2 Timothy 1:13-14

• Invest/deposit what you have learned in others. - 2 Timothy 2:2

3. A Disciple of Jesus is...

• Following

  • Hebrew - halak = to walk in the way of someone.  Halak is the OT backbone of discipleship. To follow YHWH was to pattern your whole life after His character

    • Deuteronomy 13:4

  • Greek - opisō - behind, in the footsteps of. Following is positional, habitual, and visible.

    • Matthew 4:19

    • Matthew 16:24

• Training

  • Greek - gymnazo = from which we get "gymnasium". Paul's word choice is deliberately athletic. Training implies discipline, repetition, coaching, and failure along the way. This is not passive — it is the sanctifying work of the Spirit meeting human effort

    • 1 Timothy 4:7-8

    • 2 Timothy 3:16-17

    • 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

• Investing

  • Greek - parathou = a banking/stewardship term. It involves transferring assets to someone else for safe keeping.

    • 2 Timothy 2:2

    • Matthew 28:19-20

      
      

Application

If Jesus came this afternoon to give you a personal review of how you are following, training, and investing what would He say?

Discipleship Pathway Opportunities Available at HPC!

• Exploring

• Following

• Training

• Investing