Mark Driscoll Audio

If someone were to summarize your life, character, and ministry, what might they say? In the final section of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he does this very thing while writing from prison. In this study, we will examine our own lives to see what the Holy Spirit might have to say to us individually. We will also consider the people in our lives who have been a blessing and a help to us, to whom we may even choose to write a letter of gratitude.

Critics of the Bible are prone to find controversial issues in complicated Scriptures and use them to discredit and dismiss God’s Word. This includes the occasional New Testament exhortations to “bondservants” which some translations refer to as “slaves.” Rather than editing God’s Word, apologizing for God’s Word, or dismissing God’s Word we should study God’s Word to find God’s wisdom. In these highly debated and controversial Scriptures, we learn how to be in authority like Jesus our Master, and under authority like Jesus our Servant – particularly on the job at work. Subsequently, we will learn together how to worship at work.

What does God expect of Christian parents and their children? In this incredibly practical sermon, we explore in great detail what it means for children to obey their parents, and parents to lovingly lead their children toward God’s best for them. This sermon will help you consider how you were raised, and help you correct errors in how you may be raising your children. And, it will give hope to imperfect parents as even Jesus was raised by imperfect parents but turned out just fine.

If you have ever seen what happens when someone points a hose at a bees’ nest, then you have witnessed what basically happens when the the Bible verses about wives submitting to their husbands are discussed. In this sermon, Pastor Mark examines in great practical detail what the Bible means and does not mean when instructing wives to submit to husbands, and husbands to love their wives and not be harsh with them. Grace Driscoll joins Mark at the end of the sermon to help explain how the dynamics of decision making play out practically in their friendship and marriage of nearly 25 years.

Every day, we take off our pajamas and put on our clothes for the day. Using this analogy, the Bible also tells us that we need to not only prepare ourselves physically but also spiritually each day, by putting on the character of Christ. Because, as we go out into the culture we are to bring the Kingdom of God. The Christian life is to be lived Kingdom down not culture up. This theme dominates the entire second half of Paul’s letter to the Colossians as we learn to live from our Kingdom identity, experience maturity, and worship wholeheartedly. The exploring of these massive themes in great detail in this soul-satisfying, mind informing, and destiny-altering section of God’s Word help us to enjoy our relationships starting with God.

If you have ever experienced another culture, you remember how the customs, traditions, and mindsets were different than your own. So, you had to learn the new culture and how to live in light of your new context. Becoming a Christian is a bit like this. In meeting Jesus, we become citizens of God’s Kingdom - and we begin to learn how our sexuality, relationships, and underlying identity are to be understood not in light of the culture on earth, but rather in light of the Kingdom of God in heaven.

There are 3 counterfeits to Christianity that Paul not so tenderly blows up: lawmaking legalism, hippie mysticism, and minimalist asceticism. Too often, religious error takes itself too seriously, and God not seriously enough. So, in this sermon there is a bit of comedy intended to offend and edify everyone before pointing them to Jesus Christ as better than our silly pursuits at filling the gap between us and God with morality, spirituality, or suffering.

In the tradition of epic ancient battles as depicted in movies like 300 along with The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series, this section of Colossians reveals Jesus as a Warrior King who defeated Satan and Demons in a bloody battle. Through His victory, we have been set free from slavery to an awful king and kingdom of death, darkness, and despair. Furthermore, we have been welcomed by the wonderful King and Kingdom of life, light, and love. By remembering and celebrating the victory of Jesus Christ, we are guarded from being caught up in the latest faddish spiritual trends which, over time, prove to be untrue, unhelpful, and ungodly.

No matter how hard we work to prevent it, avoid it, and deny it, we all suffer. Why do we suffer? How should we see our suffering? How can we use our suffering? As he sits in a jail cell, the Apostle Paul talks about how suffering can teach us about Jesus, make us more like Jesus, and give us a ministry that blesses others. This text of Scripture reveals an incredibly rich countercultural way of making the best of your worst times.

Jesus Christ is the most significant person in the history of the world. Our calendar measures time by His life, and each year our biggest holidays (Christmas and Easter) are devoted to his birth and resurrection. Today, billions of people on the earth worship Him as God and more songs are sung to him and books written about Him than anyone who has ever lived. Jesus once asked, "Who do you say I am?” How you answer that question charts your destiny. In Colossians 1:15-23, perhaps the richest single section in all of human history regarding the deity of Jesus Christ, Pastor Mark unpacks 10 Big Truths About a Big Jesus! Get ready to have your mind blown and your soul fed.