We take a break from our series in Romans for November’s All-Age service. Chris and James show us how we can show the love of God through whatever we do and wherever we are.
Lynne and Mike lead this week’s sung worship.
Sermons on Colossians
Our year text is a call to live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him by bearing fruit and growing the knowledge of God but it is also a prophetic blessing over us to enable us to do those things.
Chris introduces the year text and speaks about what he believes is the Lord’s vision for 2020.
Some of the most important things in life are imperceptable to our 5 senses. There is a spiritual dimension to life which is vitally important but not always visible. In this service we learn about Jesus who makes the invisible God visible and think about how we might respond.
Chris summarises our current series, applies our year text Col 2:6-7 and invites us to identify where we are being fruitful.
Having explored the different ways in which we can live out our calling as envoys of God’s coming Kingdom this week Chris focuses on the most direct means of sharing the mystery of Christ: Proclaiming it. He highlights that even Apostles need prayer to do this yet every believer is to act wisely and take every opportunity to make known the mystery of Christ.
Knowledge, wisdom and understanding brought by the Spirit imply a responsibility to speak out for truth and justice. Chris explores the extent to which this responsibility can be fulfilled within the church and how we should exercise this prophetic gifting there and in the wider world.
As we continue in our studies in Paul’s letter to those in Christ at Colossae Chris explores how Paul seeks to change the culture. As Paul’s arguments are all rooted in the believers new status in Christ Chris asks how much influence we can have on the wider culture which denies Christ. He concludes by asking whether we are moulding the culture around us or being moulded by it.
Our growth in faith, love and hope are inextricably linked with the message we believe. You can’t believe the message that God did all that for you and not be changed by it. You can choose not to really believe it or you can be transformed. Those are the only options. To the extent you put our belief in the gospel into action you will grow in faith, love and hope.
Who we are called to be changes what we do. Wherever we find ourselves on a daily basis, it is here that we are called to live out our faith, in the midst of particular relationships and particular duties. It is with these people and these tasks in everyday life that we will find the good works that God has prepared in advance for us to do.