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Episodes
Sermons preached at the Hinckley Evangelical Free Church (Hinckley, MN)
Episodes
Monday Mar 13, 2017
Monday Mar 13, 2017
Putting Christ First: Fullness in Christ
Colossians 2:9-15
Fullness in Christ (v. 9-10)
- Paul asserts that in Christ alone dwells the fullness of God (v. 9; see 1:19)
- Not in some temple
- Nor dispersed amongst various semi-divine beings (v. 10b)
- Thus, when we find our lives in Christ, we are filled too
- Paul is countering a claim of false teachers that we need more than just Jesus
- All that we can know or experience of God is therefore found in our relationship with Jesus
- We need no other experience from any other source
- For Jesus, as God, is over them all (v. 10b)
Inclusion in Christ (v. 11-12)
- Paul goes on to describe how we have been made full in Christ
- By circumcision: A symbol of inclusion into God’s people
- Not the physical rite
- But a spiritual circumcision of our hearts ( 10:16; 30:6; Jer. 4:4; Rom 2:29)
- By baptism: A symbol of inclusion into Christ’s death
- Sharing in His burial
- In order to share in His resurrection
Alive in Christ (v. 13-14)
- Paul describes our need for death & rebirth
- Before Jesus, our sinfulness left us:
- Both its natural result: dead
- And its underlying root: rebellious (“uncircumcised flesh”)
- But through Christ, God has made us alive
- By forgiving our sins
- By legally fulfilling the punishment that our sins deserved on the Cross
- By forgiving our sins
Victory in Christ (v. 15)
- Through His death and resurrection, Jesus not only paid for our sins
- But claimed victory over all rebellious powers
- Both human and spiritual
- Thus, we have nothing to fear from them
So What?
- Do we find our lives in Christ?
- As Redeemer from sin
- As Conqueror over our rebellious hearts
- Are we living out of that truth?
Meditation Verse: Colossians 2:13
Monday Mar 06, 2017
Monday Mar 06, 2017
Putting Christ First: In Christ Alone
Colossians 2:8
A Warning (v. 8a)
- As Paul mentioned in v. 4, Paul warns the church against false teachers
- Whose words sound good
- But would capture and make plunder* of the hearers
- Συλαγωγέω (sulagogew): to gain control of by carrying off as booty
Philosophies (v. 8b)
- These false teachers do this through hollow and deceptive philosophy
- Paul is not speaking of all philosophies here
- The belief systems of Judaism were called philosophies by Josephus
- But rather, he is warning the church against the empty and deceitful beliefs of the false teachers
Human Traditions (v. 8c)
- These teachings were based on human traditions
- Teachings based in human-centered speculation
- The same language Jesus uses to describe the Pharisees and teachers of the Law (Mark 7:1–23)
Elements of the World (v. 8d)
- These teachings were based on basic ‘elements’ of the ‘world’
- Could have 3 different meanings:
- The fundamental components of the world (2 Pet. 3:10, 12)
- Earth, air, fire, water*
- Based on a natural view of the world alone
- Limiting spiritual truth to physical behaviors like circumcision, diet, and holy days (see v. 16, 20-23)
- Or basing our understanding of the world only on ‘science’
- The fundamental components of the world (2 Pet. 3:10, 12)
- The elementary principles of this world (see Heb. 5:12)
- Tied to their understanding of the Law in life of Christians
- Thus, to them righteousness would be tied to keeping the Law rather than faith in Christ (see v. 16. 20-23)
- Spiritual forces
- Giving too much attention to angels, demons, and other spiritual beings (see v. 10, 15, 18; 1:16, 20)
- And thus taking away the central place of Christ
In Christ Alone (v. 8e)
- Paul returns to what our lives and faith must be centered in
- CHRIST: Jesus as Lord!
- Nothing else and no one else helps us understand the world and our place in it
So What?
- What are we building our lives upon?
- Is Jesus the lens through which we see the world and ourselves?
Meditation Verse: Colossians 2:8
Monday Feb 27, 2017
Monday Feb 27, 2017
Putting Christ First: Rooted, Built, & Established
Colossians 2:4-7
Paul’s Concern (v. 4-5)
- Paul’s reason for laying out his love and ministry for the Church is to fight against:
- False teachings
- Pithanologia: “arguments that sound reasonable”
- But are not rooted in the truth of Christ
- False allegations
- Against Paul as a minister of the Gospel
- Pithanologia: “arguments that sound reasonable”
- False teachings
The Keep Walking (v. 6-7)
- Since we have received Jesus as:
- Christ: Savior
- Lord: King
- We need to live out that reality
- We live this out by being:
- Rooted in Christ
- A horticultural metaphor
- Like a tree needs to be rooted deeply in the soil
- We need to be rooted deeply in the person of Jesus in order to grow
- Built up in Christ
- A construction metaphor
- Adding to the firm foundation that has been laid
- Both the foundation and what is built upon it is centered in Jesus Himself (1 Cor. 3:10-15)
- Established in the faith
- A legal metaphor
- Like an argument with solid reasoning
- Unlike the false teaching which merely sounds reasonable
- All these metaphors are passive
- Meaning that it is God who is doing the work in us
- Our faith is built upon the person of Jesus
- And since this all comes as a gift
- It should lead us to thanksgiving
- Rooted in Christ
So What?
- Who we are is based in what and who we believe
- Our lives need to be found and defined in Jesus
- Are we rooted, built up, and established in Him?
Meditation Verse: Colossians 2:6-7
Monday Feb 20, 2017
Monday Feb 06, 2017
Monday Feb 06, 2017
Putting Christ First: Christ, The New Age
Colossians 1:21-23
Out with the Old (v. 21)
- Paul describes our state before Jesus
- Alienate from God: Our standing
- With our minds against God: Our thinking
- Practicing evil: Our actions
- Paul connects evil actions with a hubris on our thinking
- Presuming that we know better than God
Enter the New (v. 22-23)
- Through His sacrifice, Jesus ushered in a new age
- Marked by reconciliation
- In which we are declared:
- Holy: Set apart for God’s use
- Blameless: Like the Old Testament sacrifices
- Above reproach: Legally innocent
- Not by our own merits, but by Christ’s work
- This declaration has a future-focused undertone
- It is something started on the Cross
- And something that Christ is working out in us even now
- Thus, the call to continue in the truth of the Gospel
- So that, when we stand before His Father, we will have in it fullness (Phil. 1:6)
- The work of Jesus has ushered in the Messianic era
- Marked by holiness, righteousness, and truth
- But, we await the full culmination of this new age
- Which will take place when Christ returns
Putting the Pieces Together
- Because Jesus is lord of all (v. 15-20)
- We can have confidence that God’s rescue mission (v. 13-14) will be successful
- Ushering us into the Messianic Age (v. 21-23)
So What?
- Have you trusted in Jesus’ work of reconciliation?
- Having peace with God
- Are we letting Him transform us now?
- Preparing us for eternity with Him
Meditation Verse: Colossians 1:22
Monday Jan 30, 2017
Monday Jan 30, 2017
Putting Christ First: Christ, Our New Creation
Colossians 1:15-20
The Lord of All Creation (1:15–18)
- Paul defines the person and work of Jesus in terms of the Creation
- He is the image of the invisible God
- He has made the invisible visible
- Much like God’s desire for humanity (Gen. 1:26)
- He is the firstborn of all Creation
- Not that He was created or born
- But it represents the ancient concept of birthright
- Which gave the firstborn a privileged status and responsibility within the family
- It is an ancient way of saying that Christ is preeminent
- And thus, He is the means by which the Father created all things (v. 16; see also John 1:1-3; Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26)
- And since Jesus is the means by which all is created
- He is Lord of it all
- Including both physical and spiritual things
- Thus, He is in control of every aspect of our lives
- There is no compartmentalizing
- And He is the Lord of the Church
- Dictating and empowering her mission
- And in His resurrection, He has become Lord of even death
- He is Lord of it all
The Lord of the New Creation (1:19-20)
- As God’s people, we must find our life in Jesus
- Who is fully God (v. 19a)
- The Author of Creation
- In Christ, we are able to become part of His new Creation
- Which comes as a result of His reconciling everything to Himself
- Bringing us back to a state of peace with God
- This New Creation is not purely a future event
- He offers it to us now (2 Cor. 5:17)
- Started at the Cross
- Enacted through His blood
- Which comes as a result of His reconciling everything to Himself
So What?
- Do you need to be made new?
- Jesus is in the business of creating something new
- And He wants to begin that in us today
Meditation Verse: Colossians 1:19-20
Monday Jan 23, 2017
Monday Jan 23, 2017
Putting Christ First: Christ, Our New Exodus
Colossians 1:13-14
Teaching Tools
- Throughout history, people of faith have used various tools to teach and remember valuable truths
- Songs
- Creeds
- Stories
- Paul utilizes some of these tools when speaking to the Colossians
- Especially important because they did not personally know each other
- Paul describes God’s work in Christ in 3 ways which would have been familiar to his audience:
- A New Exodus (v. 13-14)
- A New Creation (v. 15-20)
- A New Age (v. 21-23a)
- Based upon prophetic promises
The New Exodus (v. 13-14)
- Paul describes the work of God in Christ as deliverance
- God has delivered us from the ‘domain of darkness’
- Exousia: Authority, power
- Not understood as a physical territory, but rather as a spiritual bondage
- Like God delivered the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt
- Exousia: Authority, power
- God not only frees us from bondage, but also transfers us to a new type of authority
- “He transferred [us] to His Son’s kingdom of love.” (v. 13b)
- One ruled by love
- One ruled by His Son
- God’s rescue agent
- Again, not understood as a physical territory, but rather as a spiritual reality
- Just like Israel was not called to just leave Egypt, but was called to the Promised Land as an inheritance (see v. 12)
- God has delivered us from the ‘domain of darkness’
So What?
- In Christ, we have been rescued from our slavery to sin
- And grants us entrance into a new kingdom
- Where Jesus reigns in love
- Have you accepted this rescue mission?
- And are we living in the reality of Jesus as king?
Meditation Verse: Colossians 1:13-14
Wednesday Jan 18, 2017
Wednesday Jan 18, 2017
Putting Christ First: Thanksgiving & Prayer
Colossians 1:2b-12
Paul Gives Thanks (v. 2b-8)
- Paul starts with a standard greeting (v. 2b)
- Grace: Greek greeting
- Peace: Hebrew greeting
- Paul thanks God for the Church’s:
- Faith in Jesus (v. 4)
- “Faith that has Jesus Christ as its ultimate reference point” –Douglas Moo
- Love for God’s people (v. 4, 8)
- Based in the hope we have in God’s work in eternity (v. 4)
- And the Spirit at work in us now (v. 8)
- This message of hope is presented in the Gospel
- The truth about Jesus
- Which was brought to the Colossians by Epaphras
- Faith in Jesus (v. 4)
Paul’s Prayer (v. 9-12)
- He prays for the Church to have:
- Knowledge of God’s will
- So that we may live in a way that pleases God
- Doing good
- Growing to know* Him better
- About a relationship
- Growing to rely on His strength more
- So that we may endure hardships with patience
- Being thankful
- Because of our understanding of what God has done and is doing for us through Christ
- We are now heirs with Christ
- Part of God’s family!
- Because of our understanding of what God has done and is doing for us through Christ
- So that we may live in a way that pleases God
- Knowledge of God’s will
So What?
- Is our life defined by the truth of the Gospel?
- Are we living in a way that pleases God?
- Not through our strength
- But through a growing relationship with Jesus
Meditation Verse: Colossians 1:10
Monday Jan 09, 2017
Monday Jan 09, 2017
Putting Christ First: Introductions
Colossians 1:1-2a
What is Colossians?
- It is one of Paul’s letters written to a struggling congregation
- Written with Timothy (v. 1)
- Who was from the nearby Derbe-Lystra area (Acts 16:1)
- It was written around AD 60 to 62
- It was written while Paul was in prison
- Possibly in Rome
- It was written to the church in Colossae
- Written with Timothy (v. 1)
The City of Colossae
- In Paul’s day, was considered a “small town”
- Overshadowed by nearby Laodicea (Col 4:15–16)
- But due to its history as a military outpost and its previous grandeur, it was home to a mixture of people groups
- Phrygians, Greeks, Romans, Scythians and Jews (see Col. 3:11)
- The Church was probably founded by Epaphras (1:7; 4:12-13)
- Between AD 53-55
- About 7 to 10 years before the writing of the Epistle
- Between AD 53-55
The Issue at Colossae
- False teachers threatened to undermine what Epaphras had taught
- Which threatened to undermine the church from its strong Christ-centered foundation
- Thus, Paul’s message throughout Colossians is:
- Christ must be center to the life of the Church Body
- Christ must be center to the life of the Church members
Christ the Center
- When Christ is not the center of life the church it fail to be the Church
- The community which:
- Is called out to be different from the world
- Which is why Paul calls the Colossians ‘saints’
- Reflects Christ’s kingship to the world
- Which is why Paul calls them ‘faithful’
- Is a new family in Christ
- Which is why Paul calls them ‘brothers’*
- The Church is called to offer the world an alternative
- Which can only be found in Jesus
- When we put Him first
- Which can only be found in Jesus
- Is called out to be different from the world
- The community which:
So What?
- Are we living as faithful saints, putting Christ first?
- Are we ready to be challenged to keep Christ as the center of all we are and do both corporately and individually?
Meditation Verse: Colossians 1:2a
Monday Jan 02, 2017
Monday Jan 02, 2017
The Gift of Jesus: Prince of Peace
Isaiah 9:6; Various Texts
The Promised Prince
- This child is described as śhar šhālôm
- Shar = the representative of the king
- Not used of one who inherits a position
- But rather used of one who earns it
- Shalom = peace
- Refers to an absence of war or conflict
- This prince who is promised will bring about peace
- Shar = the representative of the king
The Gift of the Prince
- Yet, there is no promise that this peace will not come at a price
- In fact, Isaiah himself says that it will be costly (Isa. 53:5 NIV)
- The peace that Jesus offers is not simply a lack of war or external conflict
- But an inner peace that transcends our circumstances (Phil 4:7)
- Because we are at peace with God Himself (Rom. 5:1)
- When we trust Him, and take Him at His word, we will have peace even when the world around us is in turmoil
- Which helps us not be offended so easily (Ps. 119:165)
- And frees us from worry (John 14:27)
The Gift We Can Give
- If we trust Jesus, we ought to have inner peace
- Thus, we have Jesus’ peace to offer to the world
- And our world needs it now more than ever
So What?
- Do you know Jesus, and thus have peace?
- And are we living out of that peace?
- Are we offering the world the inner peace and peace with God that Jesus alone offers?
Meditation Verse: Luke 2:14