I. Start Here | Matthew 4:17 - The central message of Jesus

We live in an epic story that is about a King, his kingdom and his people.

II. The Beginning of the Story | Genesis 1 & 2

A. The story begins with God on the planet with two people in a garden.

B. The story begins with the King creating his people to rule over creation, to work hand in hand with him, to live lives that are in line with his and to reflect his beauty and glory, living under his kingdom rule.

III. The End of the Story | Revelation 21 & 22

A. The story ends with God on the planet with billions of people in a city.

B. The story ends with the King and his people working hand in hand, ruling together all the while humans reflect the beauty and glory of God, living under his kingdom rule.

IV. The Middle of the Story | Genesis 3 - 20

A. Sin disrupts the shalom….the wholeness….the peace….the completeness.

B. When humans sinned, they created a reality, a life outside of God’s good creation.

C. Thus begins a kingdom battle between darkness and light.

V. The Whole Story

A. The story that God is writing is a story about a God who desires to put the whole world back to rights, by reclaiming his creation and placing all things under his kingdom rule.

B. The Jesus story in context is about a God who takes it upon himself to rid the world of the reality that humankind created and to crush evil and its effects. - 1 John 3:8

VI. The Implications

A. Jesus inaugurated his kingdom here on earth now, in the present, in part.

B. We, his people, are invited to live our lives under his kingship, in his kingdom taking back from the kingdom of darkness what has been stolen.

For Further Discussion:

What has your experience been with understanding the message of the kingdom within the context of the entire story (Bible)?

Where have you experienced God’s kingdom in your life this week?

What does it mean to you that as the King’s people, living under his kingdom rule we are invited to live lives of the future in the present, all the while taking back from the kingdom of darkness what has been stolen?

Good Reads:

Surprised by Hope by N. T. Wright

This Beatiuful Mess by Rick McKinley

Simply Christian by N. T. Wright

Breakthrough by Derek Morphew

Christianity Beyond Belief by Todd Hunter

I.       Quiet

A. The lost art of silence

B. Psalm 46:10

II.      The Corridor

A. All of life is lived in the in-between, the tension, the corridor

B. The Holy Spirit is the only way we can effectively live in the tension

III.     Rhythm

A. We learn to live in the corridor by building rhythms into our lives

B. Rhythms of learning to:

1. Listen

2. Slow down

3. Be still

4. Hear his voice

5. Trust

IV. The God of Rhythm

A. Genesis 1

B. Jesus

V. Listen

A. Trust is built in the silence, the quiet, the rest

B. 1 Kings 19

For Further Discussion:

· What areas in your life this week have been full of tension?

· Have you had built in moments of resting and listening for God?

· What has your experience been with hearing God's voice?

Good Reads:

by Peter Scazzero

by Brother Lawrence

I.     Introduction  |  Lan - yap

II.    Lagniappe...a little extra! | Colossians 2:16-23

A.      The situation in Colossae

B.      A little extra…

         1.      Law/shadows (v16-17)

         2.      Asceticism/self-abasement (v18)

         3.      Worship of angels (v18)

         4.      Visions/esoteric experiences (v18)

         5.      Elementary principles (Greek - stoicheion) (v19)

III.   When a little extra is too much | Colossians 2:16-23

A. Judged, defrauded, and excluded because of false reasoning (v16-20)

B. Disconnected from the Head/Christ (v20)

C. Self-made religion and the accompanying false humility (v23)

IV. Lagniappe...it’s my right to a little extra

A. My right to my best life now

1. It might not be my right...

B. My best life is in Christ alone (Colossians 2:8-23)

For Further Discussion:

· How do we follow Jesus without getting sucked into false religion? What are some guidelines that might help keep us out of the ditches?

· How do you tell the difference between shadow and reality when the shadow feels so tangible and concrete?

· What are your thoughts on the examples given of contemporary “sales pitches” for spirituality? (The Secret; The Power of Positive Thinking; Eckankar; etc.)

· What additional questions/comments did you have about the talk?

Good Reads:

Dallas Willard

by N.T. Wright

​The Prison Letters

by N.T. Wright

I.      Freedom | Colossians 2:16-17

A.      Salvation and freedom

B.      Freedom from...

II.     Legalism | Galatians 5:1-5

A.      The attraction of legalism

B.      The problems with legalism

III.    Grace | Galatians 5:4

A.      Receiving grace

B.      Fallen from grace

C.      Restored to grace

For Further Discussion:

· What role did the Old Testament Law play in the grand narrative of the Bible?

· In Colossians 2:17 the Law is referred to as a mere shadow of things to come. What are those things?

· According to the text from Galatians 5:1, what does a “yoke of slavery” refer to?

· Why do you think we gravitate to legalism?  Why is it so appealing to us?

· What does Paul mean when he tells us that if we go back to legalism we are falling from grace?  Are we no longer saved?

Good Reads:

N.T. Wright

by Dallas Willard

I.     Colossians 2:16-17

II.    Shadow

A.  What is a shadow?

B.  Shadows in the Bible

1.  Old Testament shadows always point to the reality of Christ.

2.  Why would God give shadows before the reality?

3.  Shadows in the Old Testament

· The law

· Nationalism

· Violent prone deity

III. Substance

A. New humanity without law-based relationship

B. One true people of God

C. God is love as evidenced by the sacrificial love of the cross

For Further Discussion:

· What additional thoughts and comments do you have concerning the talk?

· Do you agree or disagree with the idea of the Old Testament not carrying the same weight as the New Testament?  Why or why not?

· What are your thoughts about God as a missionary? Has He ever revealed things slowly to you?

· Did anything in the talk surprise you?

Good Reads:

by Paul Copan 

by Christian Smith

N.T. Wright

 

I.  What Is Most Important | Matthew 16:33

II.  Treat Everyone with Dignity  |  Genesis 1:27.

III.  I Am Loved by God  |  Luke 15

IV.  Why I Am Here  |  Romans 12:2

V.  Getting There from Here

A.  Not even Jesus got a resurrection without a death…“I think that, when I die, it might be some time before I know it.” Dallas Willard 1936-2013

For Further Discussion:

· Which segment of today’s talk meant the most to you? Why?

· What do death and resurrection look like in our everyday, ordinary lives?

· What do you think of the quote by Dallas Willard? What are its implications?

Good Reads:

by Henri Nouwen

by Dallas Willard

by Dallas Willard

N. T. Wright

 

I.      The Wondrous Cross/Resurrection | Colossians 2:13-15

A.      Overcomes evil

B.      Exalts Jesus as King

C.      Rescues creation and humanity from the powers of darkness

D.      Establishes humanity as coregents with Jesus

 

For Further Discussion:

· What was your primary thought concerning the significance of the cross/resurrection prior to hearing this talk?

· Has that thought been changed and/or expanded by the talk?  In what ways?

· What does it mean to have the “charges dropped” as opposed to simply being forgiven?

· What does it mean that there is no condemnation to those who are “in Christ”?

 

Good Reads:

 

The Prison Letters

by N. T. Wright

by Paul

 

I.     Living in a Magnificent Story... | Colossians 1:26-28

A.      The truth of Christ in you

         1.      perichoresis

II.    ...Or Not!

A.      When reality does not line up with truth

         1.      The clouds are blocking out the Son

         2.      Declare war on compartmentalization of life

III.   Re-Education of the Imagination | Colossians 2:5-7

A.      Pick a metaphor!

1. “rooted like a tree”

2. “solidly built like a house”

3. “confirmed and settled like a legal document”

4. “overflowing like a jug of full wine”

B. Imagining the Kingdom and the Kingdom life

1. Discipline and stability

For Further Discussion:

· What do you think of the “re-education of the imagination” terminology?

· Have you learned to get your nourishment from being rooted in Christ?  What does that look like in practice?

· Have you ever hugged God or experienced Him hugging you?  What are your thoughts on the whole idea of experiencing God’s love?

· Why do you think there is so much emphasis on being rooted in Christ ?

Good Reads: 

by N. T. Wright 

 

by James K. A. Smith

 

 

I.     Telos - The Goal | Colossians 1:28-2:6

A.      Paul’s agony over the Colossian Christians (Col 2:1)

B.      Paul’s goal for the Colossian Christians (Col 1:28)

C.      Paul’s concern for the Colossian Christians (Col 2:4)

D.      Paul’s instructions for the Colossian Christians (2:6)

1.      Receiving Christ Jesus the Lord

· paralambano - receiving  meant submitting

2.      Walking in him

· peripateo - the whole of life’s activities shaped by Christ

II. Receiving Christ

A. What exactly does it mean?  What does it look like?

1. Contract

2. Covenant

​For Further Discussion:

· What was your understanding of “receiving Christ” before you heard this talk?  Has it changed in any way?

· Why is contract thinking so much more comfortable than covenant thinking when it comes to salvation?

· What would a contract marriage look like?  What about a covenant marriage?

 

Good Reads:

·  Resident Aliens by Stanley Hauerwas and William H. Willimon

· The Next Christians by Gabe Lyons