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Christ is All and in All (Sermon July 31, 2016)

Colossians 3:1–11 (NRSV)

The New Life in Christ

3 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, ³ for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). ⁶ On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. ⁷ These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. ⁸ But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. ¹¹ In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

What does it mean to be a Friend, a Christian, or a disciple of Christ? This is a question that every denomination and every generation seeks to define. Each group seeks and studies scripture, they spend time in prayer and participate in spiritual exercises in an attempt to hear the voice of God to gain insight in how to be a true follower of Christ in the world. Each generation, each Meeting, and each individual within a Meeting also seeks how best to express their devotion in their own life. We seek, because as history moves forward and as culture advances we are faced with issues that were not significant in the previous era. The struggles that my generation face are not the same as those of my parents and their struggles were different than that of my grandparents, they are different but there are similarities. We can see how history has shaped our present timeframe, but it is more difficult to see how it can shape our futures.

The Colossian people also faced unique struggles. This once prosperous community who built their reputation of coveted purple dyed fabrics, were facing great cultural diversity and economic stagnation. The diversity of their culture brought with it many different perspectives in how to view the world around them. From the Hellenistic cultures of Greece they gained philosophical questions, from the displaced Jewish peoples they were introduced to Abrahamic spirituality, and they also had pockets of influence that emigrated from the northern coast of the Black sea or modern day Crimea. These unique cultures were blended together in one community and into this community was added an additional perspective, the perspective of Christian discipleship.

For a moment I would like us each to consider this community and that of our own. Consider the similarities as well as our own unique struggles. Our cultures are both a diverse melting pot incorporating cultural influences from various places and adapting in our own way. As we consider their history and the struggles that they faced we can gain knowledge and wisdom in how to approach the emerging struggles of our current era.

The second consideration that we should examine is the effect of these cultural influences on the Church. As much as we attempt to prevent it, our culture does influence how we interpret our faith. It is nearly impossible to remove all aspects of the culture from which we were born, but when we are aware of our cultural influences we can recognize the areas of faith that might be clouded by the world around us. We begin to have troubles when we fail to recognize our culture within our interpretation of scripture and faith. This is when we begin to lose the influence we began to see the power of God working. It is in that place where culture and church meet, where we are called to bear witness to the hope that we have, and to speak to the conditions of those around us.

The struggle facing the people of Colossae was that they were caught in this holy tension between faith and culture, and they were looking to their culture to provide the answers to their faith instead of looking to Christ. In this particular portion of scripture, Paul is speaking about the influence of Greek philosophical thought. The influence of philosophy in faith and practice run deep. Paul was speaking about the philosophical belief of separation of the spiritual and the temporal. This compartmentalized thinking allowed people to live dualistic lives and feel as if everything was perfectly fine. They would go to their temples and participate in the ceremonies putting on a religious face and then removing any semblance of devotion to a deity once they left the sacred portal.

These dualistic practices were common among the people, and the only real difference between the pagan and the Christian in this sense was how and where they participated in the religious activity. Paul says, “So if you have been raised with Christ…” For one to be raised with Christ one must first die with Christ. To those reading this letter they are being brought back to the foundations of their faith. The idea of dying to self and being made into a new creation. For a disciple this goes beyond putting on and removing a religious façade. To be a disciple one must take on the yoke or the lifestyle of the teacher; they should reflect their teacher in every aspect of life. 

“Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” This is also a bit tricky because mixed with the defense against dualism, is a defense against radical spiritualism. Also within the church of Colossae was this oracle of charisma; these people required spiritual experiences for them to feel as if they had connected to the divine. They were seeking visions of heaven, prophetic wisdom and utterances to give them direction in the future, and other miraculous wonders. I want us to stop here for a moment, Paul is not saying that these things do not occur. Paul himself experienced these very sorts of things and has testified to it, what Paul is warning us against is developing the totality of our faith on these things. This oracle of charisma coupled with dualistic philosophy leads to inauthentic lifestyles. Where people are required to have a manifestation of spiritual power in the place of worship, but a lack of true devotion outside of the place of Meeting. They were becoming empty shells.

You cannot give what you do not have. Paul is saying seek the things above where Christ is. It almost sounds as if Paul is defending what I am saying he is arguing against, but this is where context is key. Paul is encouraging them to look to Christ even through this shell devotion; seek Christ who is seated at the right hand of God. You are there in this place of Meeting seeking this charismatic experience, you have put on your religious mask of devotion so let’s just walk through this. Look to Christ sitting there at the right hand of God…Why is He there?

You have died to your old life and are raised with Christ; who came down from heaven to live and teach us how to live with God, who died on a cross to take the penalty and wrath for our rejection, and who rose again to give us hope that all things can and will be restored. You are a redeemed creature, restored in the glory of Christ. Any other façade is just that, an empty mask void of any power. And if you have not died and raised with Christ any charismatic experience is a vacant empty shell. Because all that you have and all that you are is hidden in Christ. You no longer live but Christ lives in you. And we only receive glory when Christ is revealed, and revealed through us.

Paul is telling them who they truly are. And then he challenges them as they are struggling in this philosophical and spiritual dichotomy that is leaving them empty of true power. They are struggling and defeated. And they, through their pastor write to Paul and are basically asking, “Why are we no longer seeing what we once saw?” The answer is that they have not totally died to self, so they cannot fully be raised in glory. They are living a dualistic lifestyle loving God on Sunday and then loving the worldly pleasures the other six days of the week. Paul gives them a list of vices that are holding them back: fornication. Impurity, passion, evil desires, greed, anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive language, and falsehood. That is quite a list, but one with a common theme. Reflect on that list; this is the type of people the church of Colossae was filled with, but do not be quick to judge them before we look deeper.

After the first five vices on the list we see a phrase in parentheses, “which is Idolatry.” Idolatry is the worship and devotion to things other than the one true God. I find it interesting that this phrase comes after these first five. Fornication, this is sexual immorality primarily associated with prostitution. Impurity is filth which also has sexual connotations, passion is lust, evil desires or cravings, and greed. Three of these are linked with sexuality and those are linked together with cravings and greed. We can quickly focus on the sexual and say that that is the sin keeping Colossae from power, but I want us to consider something a bit deeper. Each of these vices place one individual as supreme and all others are instruments of fulfilment of those desires. One is exploiting another for a single sided gain. This is the cult of self. The next six vices are the tools we use to preserve the cult of self. And where there is a cult of self, we are incapable to build authentic relationships, because those would leave us vulnerable.

 All this coming from a church that bore much fruit that Paul acknowledged was growing throughout the whole world. Clearly God can even work through broken and corrupt people. But what could he do if these broken and corrupt people were to stop playing the dualistic game? What would happen if they actually put away their idols and totally died to themselves? In the sermon on the mound Jesus asked why we worry about what we will eat, drink and wear. And He then said seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these will be given to you as well. When we are focused on ourselves we seek to fulfill our personal needs first and then if we happen to have extra we might share. Jesus encourages us to seek a different path, seek the kingdom.

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!”

What a powerful verse. Our beings are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of their creator. We are being clothed with and in Christ. Taking on his lifestyle and leaving the cult of self behind. Putting away our desires for honor and power, fulfillment and pleasure and taking on the very lifestyle of Christ; a lifestyle of worship, prayer, and service to others. Seek first the kingdom, and let God hold onto our worries. Seek first the kingdom and let God’s kingdom and influence expand around us. Seek the kingdom as we are faced with the struggles of today, the struggles of faith and culture. And if we seek the kingdom first as we encounter those struggles God will direct our pathways through. We are not called to change the world, we are only called to die to self and be obedient to his leading.

Songs of our Heart (Sermon July 17, 2016)

Colossians 1:15–28 (NRSV)

The Supremacy of Christ

(Cp Jn 1:1–5)

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; ¹⁶ for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. ¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

²¹ And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— ²³ provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.

Paul’s Interest in the Colossians

²⁴ I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. ²⁵ I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶ the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. ²⁷ To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

The first century of the church was one that was filled with much diversity. At the time Paul wrote this letter there was several groups in the community that practiced different things. Looking at the cultural demographic of Colossi includes Jewish, Greek, Roman, and even remnants of the Persians. If you can imagine this cultural diversity had interesting flavor. This cultural diversity also put pressure upon the community of believers.

When people study the letter that Paul wrote to this community they sense several issues. One being similar to the church of Galatia where there were people within promoting the Gentile adherence to the Jewish laws. Another is very similar to the first with its roots in Jewish spirituality with a twist of angel worship. Then along with this there was the ideas of secret knowledge, and philosophy. They ranged from the very legalistic, to the charismatic including those focused on social justice and those more concerned with socializing. When I said last week that there is nothing new under the sun, I mean that in a very real sense of the word. Pretty much ever struggle we have within the church today has been a struggle throughout the centuries in some degree or another.

So Paul is sitting there in prison at Ephesus, receiving notes and updates from disciples who are going out into the communities surrounding the area and he receives the news about what is occurring in this city one hundred miles to the east. His cherished friend who has been working so hard teaching and encouraging these people finds himself caught under the pressure of multiple ideas weaving themselves into the gospel and he does not quite know what to think or do. We are not sure of the cultural heritage of this man but we do know that he loves Jesus and sought advice from a trusted friend.

That is something I do want us to remember. We are not alone in our struggles, and God does not intend for us to bear the burden of a community without assistance. This is something that is fundamental in the Christian faith, but one that we easily overlook. We are called to be a community, the very term we translate as Church means assembly. An assembly implies that there are multiple individuals present. Individuals with unique ideas and gifts that when brought together can make a beautiful collage of personality.

All these different people from various backgrounds. Some educators from Jewish tradition, some dyers of purple wool works, some shepherds, philosophers, and tradesmen. Men, women, slaves and freemen all gathered together celebrating life in Christ; singing and praising God all together. Have we ever really stopped to think about what a beautiful sight the church really is? Have we taken the time to actually appreciate the miraculous wonder that has brought all of us together not to mention the expansive kingdom of God that spreads around the world?

This diverse community is beautiful but it is also a struggle. When people come together very few of them have similar life stories, even close relatives have different experiences that have made them who they are. And when these various people come together with radically differing perspectives it becomes difficult to maintain unity. As much as we appreciate the uniqueness of individuals, as much as we respect and love the different stories that others bring into a community we also really like those around us to be as similar as possible. We are more comfortable around people who speak the same language, who enjoy similar activities, or have similar careers. We may tolerate differences but we would prefer that the majority around us we as much like ourselves as possible.

This is why Paul wrote this letter. His dear friend went to Colossae, to share the gospel. He may have been from this city or he might have just considered it to be a good place to move, we do not know how he got to where he is, but we do know that he encouraged those around him to take a journey with Christ. As he taught and listened people began to respond and eventually this man was ministering to an assembly of people. And as they grew in number and bore fruit tensions began to rise as well. And this pastor along with other leaders are becoming discouraged. Instead of one unified church factions are emerging. But there is one thing that brings them together, JESUS.

Today’s scriptural text includes what most believe to be a first century hymn. Something that all the various groups used and recognized. That is something amazing about music, it can cross those barriers we place between people. Believers from all the various traditions of faith will often sing similar songs. Even a poem composed by an American Quaker poet has become one of the most popular hymns of the United Kingdom. What is the hymn Paul includes?

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.

Consider the words of this passage. As you read and listen you can sense a meter emerging. Paul speaks to them through a song to get their attention. There are factions among the people and Paul brings them together by reflecting of the testimony they speak as they sing.  The image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Imagine again this diverse group of people: Jews, Greeks, Romans, Persians maybe even a Galatian through in for good measure, all singing this hymn together. The image of the invisible God, those who come from a Jewish heritage approach these words with a perspective cast in the light of centuries of Jewish tradition. The Greek, someone who did not have the privilege of those centuries of tradition hear these words differently yet with just the same awesome grace.

The image of the invisible God. This is a powerful statement and a statement that Paul wants us to reflect upon. This faith which we claim, whatever the tradition is based on one thing, the one of which this song is sung. Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He is the one who embodies and lives the light of wisdom and hope offered through faith. Jesus himself confirms the truth of this statement when he spoke to his disciples saying, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” What Paul is telling them is we can know God and be known by God, he is not a statue in a temple and he is not a fearsome force read to devour those who are unclean but God is Jesus the one who walked with us and taught us how to live a life with God.

The song goes on to say that in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created through and for him. All things visible and invisible, thrones, dominions, rulers or powers all of it created through and for Him. This should cause us to adjust our perspectives just a bit. Jesus the embodiment of God, for and through all things were created, created all thrones, dominions, rulers, and powers invisible and visible, for him. I want us to just consider that for a moment. There are reasons those who are in power are currently there and reasons why others are not. How often do we stop and consider this and how often have we pray for insight into why those in power are there for Jesus’ will?

If we were to continue to read through this hymn it tells us that Jesus came to bring peace and reconcile us and all of creation with us to God. Not because we were good enough for that honor but because we were not at all fit. We were hostile to God yet he came to bring peace to those who entrust their lives to him.

The song is encouraging us to stay focused on the proper things. This community and life is not about our own personal agendas, it is not about power or dominion, and it is about Jesus and bringing about reconciliation with all of creation. It is about the community who calls itself by the name of Christ living with and in Christ as they live among those in the world. It is about Loving God embracing the Holy Spirit and living the love of Christ with others. The song and faith in general is about bringing those diverse lives and backgrounds under God’s banner and being able to use those stories to encourage those around us to turn to Christ who is the embodiment of all that is holy.

I approached this passage this week with a heavy heart because the very land to which this letter was written is again engaged in a struggle between factions. I approach this passage with a heavy heart because even our own nation seems to be engaged in a similar struggle. So often we as people let things divide us, God wants those very things to unite and strengthen us. Are we as a community of believers focused on the ways of Christ or are we allowing the things of this world to direct our actions? Are we as followers of Christ repenting and returning to God through Christ, and using that grace we have received to spread the hope of the Gospel? Paul encourages these people of Colossae to return their focus on Christ, and to live Jesus’ lifestyle in their community. He is encouraging them to allow God to redeem their diversity and use it for the glory of God. I pray that that too will be our will and our desire.

Where is Our Hope? (Sermon July 10, 2016)

Colossians 1:1–14 (NRSV)

Salutation

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

² To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Paul Thanks God for the Colossians

³ In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, ⁵ because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God. ⁷ This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, ⁸ and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. ¹¹ May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³ He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Throughout the history of faith there have been ups and downs, ins and outs, and some pretty strange things occur. Some of these things were very important to the emergence of the Church and others were just weird. If you were to look at the various movements throughout the history of the church, we would see that many of the movements from the first centuries they would resemble many of the movements that we are familiar with today. The main exception would be the technology used, which can allow the teachings to spread wider and faster. I mention this because just as Solomon says, “there is nothing new under the sun.”

In the apostolic church there were groups that thought that the followers of Christ should keep the Old Testament laws even if they were born Gentile. There are those that believe this today. There were groups that were focused on what we would call charismatic manifestations of the Spirit, these groups are still here today. There were groups that were focused primarily on correct doctrine and those that were more likely to focus on social justice. There is nothing new under the sun. All of these groups, expressing their faith the best way they knew how. For centuries these groups all worshiped and praised how they best saw fit and at times epistles were written to encourage them to reconsider their focus. There is one thing that the first centuries of our faith did that we today can look back on and praise, through all the various thoughts and debates they were passionate about Christ to the point that they were willing to face death for their faith. Humanity is a passionate creature. We can sometimes become so passionately enthralled that we can become blinded by reality. This is why Paul wrote his letter to the people of Colossae.

The city of Colossae was one that was at one time very important. It was situated on the highway that connected the Eastern Empires to the West and was one of the prominent cities of Asia Minor when the Persians and Greeks were clashing. It was a city that was known for the production of fine wool, particularly purple wool. This is interesting because the first European mentioned to become a follower of Christ was Lydia, a merchant or dyer of purple cloth who met with Paul in Philippi and was from the city of Thyatira. I find this fascinating because it shows how the gospel spread not only because of the Apostles going out into the community but because people who had heard and believed took that gospel with them where they worked and along the trade routes, Lydia was a merchant or a craftsman of purple garments and Colossae is a city that is known for their purple wools.

The other interesting thing about this city is where it is located. By the time this letter was written the city of Colossae was dwindling. When the Greeks and Persians ruled Asia Minor Colossae was thriving because it was along a major trade route. When Rome became the overlord of Asia Minor, they built roadways and they shifted the route of to a different city, Laodicea, which is about ten mile west of Colossae. Paul and Timothy most likely wrote this letter to the church from the City of Ephesus, which is located on the coast of Asia Minor which is approximately 100 miles west. I am hoping you are recognizing some of the city names, because they are the very cities to which John was to send the Revelation of Jesus to; Ephesus, Laodicea, Philadelphia, Sardis, Thyatira, Pergamum, and Smyrna. These seven churches form a triangle with Pergamum being at the northern point, Ephesus on the West and Laodicea on the East. Can you see a possible pattern here? Pergamum, Smyrna, and Ephesus are on the coast and the others are inland but all very important to the economy of the Empire. These cities were merchant cities and merchants traveled the lengths of the Roman roads to purchase and sell their wares, and Colossae is right there. All these struggles that these seven churches had were probably issues that Colossae was facing as well.

So Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles is in Ephesus, most likely imprisoned there and Epaphras hears that he is there and sends word to Paul to inform him about the ministry and struggles in Colossae. We do not know much about the man Epaphras, but we do know that Paul held him in high regard. He is mentioned in this letter and in the letter to Philemon, who was the master of a runaway slave who Paul was trying to protect, and also from the city of Colossae.

The interesting thing about the letter to Colossians is that Paul did not visit the community, and was not a direct participant in the establishment of the church. Many believe that Epaphras was the one that planted the church in Colossae, and that Epaphras may have been a student of Paul’s in an early formation of a seminary in Ephesus. So when Paul hears about the work of his student, the beloved fellow servant, he is overjoyed even though he is also concerned. Why would Paul be concerned? Their focus is becoming skewed. There are many theories about what concerns Paul; some believe that they are mixing the teachings of Christ with philosophy, others believe that like the people of Galatia they might have a group promoting gentile participation in Jewish law observance, while others believe that they were focused on experiencing wonders.

We will get to the concerns later. What I want us to look at today is how Paul begins his letter of addressing the concerns that he senses. When Paul writes a letter he usually begins with how the people are doing things correctly. “For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.” He then speaks of the fruit they are bearing and is growing in the whole world, as they hear and comprehend the grace of God.

Paul begins to speak to them by praising them for the positive things in their lives. This is very important to note. In our current era the church is often seen as being judgmental, because we often focus on the things we do not participate in and become outspoken about issues we see as being contrary to the ways of God. Paul speaks first about the positive aspects of their faith. “You are bearing fruit, and it is growing throughout the world.” He is excited for them and the potential they have in the kingdom. While this is not a prominent city in the area, it has the potential to become a central hub for the Kingdom of God. He is saying these things to a community that once knew greatness and had lost so much of what they once had, they there is hope and that hope is what makes them great.

Many of us can identify with the concerns of diminishing. We have all personally felt the struggles of a diminishing economy. We have also tasted the fear of diminishing influence in a community. But we should not focus on those things. Our economic standing does not determine our value, and our influence within a community does no define who we are. When we place our hope in these things we will live in the fear of diminishing.

“For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.”

Imagine if Billy Graham wrote those words to us, imagine if those words come to us from the personal pen of Richard Foster, Eugene Peterson, C.S. Lewis, or John Calvin. Imagine if those words came from some great teacher or preacher, we respect and they were written just for us. Epaphras wrote to his mentor and friend possibly lamenting, and Paul tells him look at what you have done. You have been a faithful minister of Christ. You have gone to a place for us, and people who were once without hope are bearing fruit. Keep your eyes on the hope we have in the Gospel. Stand in the light, and continue to work.

Paul is praying that they be filled with knowledge and spiritual wisdom and understanding, and that they will live a life worthy of Christ bearing fruit in every good work. We gain this knowledge and are directed in the good works of Christ when we focus on Christ and the lifestyle He taught while he ministered on the earth. It is through this lifestyle of worship, prayer and service that we learn to listen to God’s voice. In this type of lifestyle we learn to discern where the Spirit is leading us to become a blessing and spread hope. And it is in this lifestyle where through our obedience we become instruments of God’s blessing to the world.

Colossae was once a major city but diminished, yet they did become great in the kingdom. Their struggle is often our struggle and their hope is our hope. We can so often become distracted by the things around us. We watch the news and feel as if the world is crumbling around us. But are these reports areas of ministry that God is calling us to? Do we watch the news and pray that we gain knowledge and understanding in how to become a blessing in our community? “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Worship, pray, and serve. Praise, Pray, and Bless. Entrust our lives and our church to God in whom our hope is secured through Jesus. And let us look at what He can do through us in the future.