Preacher: Jeremy Herbert
Thesis: Let us prepare our hearts for 2021 by focusing on Christ as a family
Texts:
- Colossians 3:1-11
- 2 Timothy 3:13
- Colossians 4:9
- Mark 3:32-35
- Matthew 18:15-20
Notes:
- The church of Colossae was started by Epaphras
- Paul commends the church of Colossae for the things they did well
- But he addresses some things they were not doing so well
- When new believers come to Christ they bring their old baggage with them
- There are radical changes that happen upon conversion
- But we still dwell within a sinful body
- Some of the Gentile Colossians were tempted to syncretism
- Keeping their false gods and adding Christ to them
- Some of the Jewish Colossians were tempted to legalism
- Clinging to the Old Testament ceremonial law and adding Christ to it
- Both groups were being pressured to conformity
- Conformity to the pagan Roman culture
- Conformity to the old covenant
- People don’t like being told they are wrong
- People don’t like giving up their sin
- Paul is addressing cultural and racial issues in Colossian church
- We need focus
- The gospel transforms societies and system–not revolutions
- Politics cannot transform societies because it cannot transform hearts
- Bible studies on Colossians are often paired with Philemon
- Philemon and Onesimus were from the church of Colossae
- Onesimus was a runaway slave from Philemon
- Note: slavery under the Roman empire was quite distinct from chattel slavery practiced in early American
- Colossians 4:9, “…Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother….”
- Don’t be sidetracked
- “rise up O church of God, be done with lesser things”
- We need a family
- Example: firefighters
- A firefighting crew requires a number of crewmembers in order to work together to fight fires effectively
- One man can’t do it alone
- The church family must equip, train, and work together like a family if they are going to make an impact in this world
- In the New Testament the members of the church are frequently called “family,” “household,” and “brothers and sisters”
- Example: firefighters
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