The Local Church

In Colossians 3:5-11, Paul reminds us to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the salvation that Christ has given us. When we consciously and continually choose sin instead of God, we become less and less human. Because we are alive in Christ, we must seek to be more like Him. Because we died with Christ, we cannot wear the clothes of the new creation if we are still wearing the clothes of the past.  God wants to renew us and make us into the image of his son, Jesus!

In Colossians 2:16-23, Paul reminds us that we cannot earn our way into Heaven. Many highly religious people will argue that obeying man-made laws is necessary for salvation, but Paul says that's not the case. Strict discipline and adherence to rules can represent an increasing reliance on the self, which will always fall short in comparison to resting in Jesus' finished work.

It's easy to be deceived by the world and convinced that we can decide for ourselves what is good and evil. But in Colossians 2:6-15, Paul reminds the church that Christ is sovereign. We can joyfully leave behind our old selves that struggle for control and trust in Him above all.

According to Colossians 1:24-2:5, Christ is in us and He is the hope of glory. If we truly believe this, it changes everything: we have the responsibility and privilege to share it.

A perfect gift awakens a response that realizes the value of the gift and brings transformation. In Colossians 1:21-23, Paul explains that Jesus's physical death offers the gift of rescue and reconciliation. Our continued faith and choice to make Him our foundation bring about the fullness of life that God wants for us.

Viewing the poem in Colossians 1:15-20 as the beautiful, full truth about Jesus, we can take away four powerful applications about: where we find fullness of life,  the "threats" of this world,  Christ's capability to sustain us, and how vital connection to the church body is.

Are you intentional about becoming something wonderful, or are you ambivalent? An outline of the Colossians 1:9-14's "ask" and outcomes helps us understand the power of setting intentions targets and praying for certain characteristics in our lives.

In just the first few verses of Colossians, Paul reminds the church of the "already, but not yet" reality that we are God's, already declared holy, but not yet seeing its fruition. He also outlines three key anchor points of the Christian life: faith, love, and hope. Which do you need to grow in your life?

Ephesians urges the people of the church to “bear with one another in love” because the thing is, relationships are hard and people can be annoying! Examining the original translation of the text gives us a rich understanding of what it looks like for us - and for God - to truly bear with people in love, even when it's difficult.

June 11, 2023