The Epic Life - Bob Hallman

(Pastor Bob's sermons notes on this series can be found on bible.org).

Introduction

There are a growing number of TV shows that are designed to take what you got (whether it’s your house, your car or your body) and reshape, reform, rebuild, and rework it so that the before and after shots are breathtaking!

I went to the website for Extreme Makeover on the ABC site and they described the show this way: “… lucky individuals are chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to participate in Extreme Makeover. These men and women are given a truly Cinderella-like experience: A real life fairy tale in which their wishes come true, not just to change their looks, but their lives and destinies.”

      We like these kinds of shows because:

God isn’t interested in renovating your life – He wants to transform it!

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The Epic Life

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(Pastor Bob's sermons notes on this series can be found on bible.org).

In chapter 3, Paul makes a transition from teaching spiritual truths and begins to teach the practical applications of what he has presented in chapters 1 & 2.  BTW, he does the same thing in Romans 12:1 and Ephesians 4:1.

In essence, Paul is saying that our doctrine should impact our lifestyle. In light of the fact that we have been raised from the dead with Christ and have a new identity as believers with a new citizenship in His heavenly kingdom, our lifestyle should become radically altered to reflect our new life.

God isn’t interested in renovating your life – He wants to transform it!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life

[email protected]

(Pastor Bob's sermons notes on this series can be found on bible.org).

In chapter 3, Paul makes a transition from teaching spiritual truths and begins to teach the practical applications of what he has presented in chapters 1 & 2.  BTW, he does the same thing in Romans 12:1 and Ephesians 4:1.

In essence, Paul is saying that our doctrine should impact our lifestyle. In light of the fact that we have been raised from the dead with Christ and have a new identity as believers with a new citizenship in His heavenly kingdom, our lifestyle should become radically altered to reflect our new life.

God isn’t interested in renovating your life – He wants to transform it!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life

[email protected]

(Pastor Bob's sermons notes on this series can be found on bible.org).

      The believers in Colosse were being influenced by false teachers who were promoting a mixture of doctrinal error, humanistic philosophy, pagan superstitions, and Eastern Mysticism --- sounds like life on Kauai.

      In yesterday’s paper I counted no less than 5 articles that were promoting the very same 3 false teachings that Paul addressed in the book of Colossians:

      “The focus of each of these practices is trusting in the religious activity rather than trusting in God. It is putting our confidence in a practice rather than in a Person. And without fail this will lead us to love the practice more than the Person.”  (Jack Deer, Surprised by the Power of the Spirit, p. 151)

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life

[email protected]

(Pastor Bob's sermons notes on this series can be found on bible.org).

      The believers in Colosse were being influenced by false teachers who were promoting a mixture of doctrinal error, humanistic philosophy, pagan superstitions, and Eastern Mysticism --- sounds like life on Kauai.

      In yesterday’s paper I counted no less than 5 articles that were promoting the very same 3 false teachings that Paul addressed in the book of Colossians:

      “The focus of each of these practices is trusting in the religious activity rather than trusting in God. It is putting our confidence in a practice rather than in a Person. And without fail this will lead us to love the practice more than the Person.”  (Jack Deer, Surprised by the Power of the Spirit, p. 151)

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life

[email protected]

(Pastor Bob's sermons notes on this series can be found on bible.org).

It must be a fearful thing to be taken hostage.  And while we may think of kidnapping as something that happens far away in foreign lands, Paul warns us in Colossians that as Christians we need to be on guard against being spiritually kidnapped and enslaved by false doctrine.

As you may recall from our previous studies in Colossians, the church in Colosse was being infiltrated by false teachers who were teaching what later became known as the Colossian Heresy.  In addition to simple faith in Christ:

      See to it = Blepo = “Beware or be on guard” (present imperative command)

2 Peter 3:17  “… be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.”

 Take captive = Sulagogeo = “To strip and lead away as slaves or hostages”

 It is used here figuratively of carrying someone away from the freedom that comes from the truth in Christ into the bondage of doctrinal error.

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life

[email protected]

(Pastor Bob's sermons notes on this series can be found on bible.org).

It must be a fearful thing to be taken hostage.  And while we may think of kidnapping as something that happens far away in foreign lands, Paul warns us in Colossians that as Christians we need to be on guard against being spiritually kidnapped and enslaved by false doctrine.

As you may recall from our previous studies in Colossians, the church in Colosse was being infiltrated by false teachers who were teaching what later became known as the Colossian Heresy.  In addition to simple faith in Christ:

      See to it = Blepo = “Beware or be on guard” (present imperative command)

2 Peter 3:17  “… be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.”

 Take captive = Sulagogeo = “To strip and lead away as slaves or hostages”

 It is used here figuratively of carrying someone away from the freedom that comes from the truth in Christ into the bondage of doctrinal error.

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life

[email protected]

(Pastor Bob's sermons notes on this series can be found on bible.org).

In Colossians 1:28-29, the apostle Paul described his goal of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ by “admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom that in order that he might present everyone perfect (or mature) in Christ.”

As a Pharisee, Paul had only been concerned with what he communicated. But now as a Christian, Paul was also concerned with how he communicated. Through Christ and the modeling of Barnabas, Paul had learned the “Power of Encouragement” and became of source of encouragement for the church!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life

[email protected]

(Pastor Bob's sermons notes on this series can be found on bible.org).

In Colossians 1:28-29, the apostle Paul described his goal of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ by “admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom that in order that he might present everyone perfect (or mature) in Christ.”

      As a Pharisee, Paul had only been concerned with what he communicated. But now as a Christian, Paul was also concerned with how he communicated. Through Christ and the modeling of Barnabas, Paul had learned the “Power of Encouragement” and became of source of encouragement for the church!

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life

[email protected]

(Pastor Bob's sermons notes on this series can be found on bible.org).

Pat Tillman reminds me of another great man of the past, the Apostle Paul who penned this letter to the church in Colosse:

I  Paul's Attitude In Life

            Three things characterized Paul’s suffering: They were a source of joy; They were for others; They were related to the afflictions of Christ

            As you recall, Paul wrote the book of Colossians from a Roman jail. Undoubtedly, the false teachers in Colosse claimed that Paul’s imprisonment and suffering was a clear sign of God’s disapproval of his life and ministry.

 But Paul, instead of being ashamed of his suffering, rejoiced in it!

                  Rejoiced = Chairo = “To be cheerful”

You can support this ministry: Donate

The Epic Life

[email protected]