On this Easter Sunday, the question is—Where is my hope? Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

EASTER SUNDAY 2025
TEXT: John 11:25-26
TITLE:  The Best Day of the Year
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet

POINTS:
I. A Hopeless Situation
II. A Hope-Filled Proclamation
III.A Hope-Giving Demonstration

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Resurrection Sunday is the best day of the year. Those angelic words—He is not here. He has risen!—thunder true hope to all the world. On this Easter Sunday, the question is—Where is my hope? Hope is critical to life. Hope keeps us moving forward. Hope gives us life and strength to carry on. Everyone is searching for something to pin their hope on. Everyone needs hope.”

“Of course, we place our hope in many things. At times out of ignorance, at other times out of desperation, but we all put our hope in something. Relationships. Leisure. Education. Medicine. Behavior. Money. Rules. Staying numb. Sooner or later, those things will leave us feeling horribly hopeless. And as Proverbs 13:12 says—Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”

“In pursuit of true hope, we look to a familiar story in the gospel of John. Our passage is wedged within the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.”

“In verses 1-4, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was gravely ill. They had seen Jesus heal before, so they sent the word of Lazarus to Jesus, believing that he would come quickly and heal their brother. Jesus responded that Lazarus's illness would not lead to death but the glory of God. How encouraging is that!”

“In verse 5, it says that Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus. One would think he would go to Lazarus immediately. He didn't. Jesus decides to wait a couple of days, according to verse 6. When Jesus decides to make the short trip to Lazarus, his disciples try to change his mind because of the danger to Jesus. Jesus' response is puzzling—read 9-16.”

“Jesus is speaking very cryptically. His illness does not lead to death. He has fallen asleep. Lazarus has died so that you may believe it. Something is brewing. Never a dull moment with Jesus. But Jesus finally arrives on the scene in 17; it's too late. Lazarus has been dead for four days. It seems like a very hopeless situation.”

“Not all Jews believed in a resurrection on the final day. The Pharisees did, but the Sadducees didn't. But Martha did believe, saying in 24—I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. What follows in our text is stunning; look at 25—I am the resurrection and the life. This is the fifth of seven I Am statements by Jesus. Claims of deity connected to real-life situations during his ministry. Take note: Jesus doesn't say I will raise Lazarus on the last day. He says—I am the resurrection and the life.”

“Don't miss this. Some in this story are focused on the past—Lazarus would still be alive if Jesus had come immediately. Martha is focused on the future—I know my brother will rise in the resurrection on the last day. But Jesus is focused on what is in the present. He is drawing the audience to himself by identifying, not with a theological teaching or future event, but with the very event of resurrection and the reality of eternal life.” 

“Jesus is saying—Martha, I'm glad your eschatology is sound, but believe in me today. I don't just teach the resurrection—I am the resurrection. I don't just preach God's power for life—I am God's power for life. Jesus' claim is not a job description; it's a self-revelation of the One who doesn't just do glorious things; he is glorious—I AM the resurrection and life.”

“Now, Jesus expands and explains this astonishing statement when he says in 25, look at it with me—Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. At first read, this sounds confusing and even contradictory: whoever believes, though he dies, and in the next breath, everyone who believes shall never die. Which one is it? Do we live or die?”

“Ephesians 2 says once we were spiritually dead in our sin. We were alive physically but dead spiritually. But God, who is rich in mercy, resurrects us spiritually, giving us eternal life in Jesus. The moment you are saved by grace, you have beaten death. You still die physically, but spiritually, you never die. Physical death cannot destroy the eternal spiritual life that comes by faith in Jesus. The day this body dies is not the day I die.”

“The day my physical body dies is the day I come into the most excellent and glorious awareness of reality. I will live in the majestic presence of my Savior, first in spirit, then on that great resurrection day when Christ returns, in a glorified body in the new heaven and earth.”

“This is the height of hope! We have an intuitive sense of eternity, a God-given awareness that there is something beyond this life. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says—God has put eternity into man's heart. So philosophers have philosophized, and spiritual gurus have speculated about it throughout the ages. Even the ancient man Job wondered: If a man dies, shall he live again?—Job 14:14”

“Jesus, the Giver of eternal life, says—Yes, Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

“The commanding voice of Jesus, not whispered, but the text says with a loud voice, echoed into the tomb—Lazarus, come out. The voice of God Almighty, who spoke creation into being with the power of His word, speaks with that same power—Lazarus come out.”

“At his divine command, Lazarus's brain began to work; his rotting flesh began to heal, the air started to pump through his lungs, and blood pulsing through his veins once again, strength returned to his ligaments and muscles. And even after four days in the grave,  Lazarus walked out of the tomb alive as a display of God's undeniable power and glory.”

“What a preview to an even more glorious resurrection. The Giver of Life would die on the cross to secure the forgiveness of sinners. But three days later, wrapped and sealed in his own tomb, God rolled the stone away, and Jesus walked out of the grave, defeating sin and death forever for all who believe in him. And Christ's physical resurrection is the first fruits of ours. This is why the resurrection is the most crucial event in history. The empty tomb validates all Jesus claimed about himself—like I am the resurrection and the life—and it is God's cosmic AMEN to his atoning work on the cross that guarantees our physical resurrection to glory as forgiven and justified children of God.”

“Consider the most hopeless situation in your life right now. If God can raise Jesus from the dead, he can handle your circumstance! Do you believe this?”

QUOTES:
R.C. Sproul - “The greatest enemy of man, that enemy that hangs over every human being like the sword of Damocles every day of our lives, the ultimacy of our own personal death, which threatens everything that we do, everything that we say, everything that we learn with ultimate chaos, with what the existentialists call the abyss of non-being, of annihilation—that enemy is conquered by the resurrection.”

APPLICATION:
Darkness doesn't have the last word. Death isn't victorious. Victory comes by faith in the victorious Savior. Jesus is alive and his resurrection is our resurrection and life!

Do You Believe This? Here is the question everyone has to answer. Look at the end of 26—Do you believe this?

If you are not a Christian, the question is—Do you believe in Jesus as the only one who grants and guarantees eternal life with him? I want you to notice what Jesus says at the end of verse 44. What a picture of the gospel. Like Lazarus, you are dead in your sin and without hope. You can do nothing to make yourself worthy of and alive to God. But Jesus died in your place and rose from the dead. And just as he cried—It is finished—the empty tomb is God's declaration—It is sufficient! Today, through the gospel, Jesus calls to you—Come out. Turn from your sin and trust in Jesus, the only source of spiritual life. Through faith, he will unbind and loose you from the grips of sin and hell, setting you free and making you alive forever! His resurrection and empty tomb guarantee it—Will you believe?

To my Christian friend, the application is—Keep believing! Even on this side of the cross and empty tomb, with the Scriptures in our hands and the Spirit in our hearts revealing and guiding us, hope can be elusive. Does true hope seem elusive you today? The resurrection reminds you that your hope in Jesus is real. Your faith is not in vain. Your life is not a house of cards. The tomb is empty, and Jesus is alive. That means your sins are COMPLETELY forgiven. The power of death is TRULY broken. The penalty of sin is FULLY paid. God's love is ETERNALLY yours, and one day, you WILL live in Christ's glorious presence. But that eternal perspective the empty tomb brings is not simply a promise for an amazing future; it's a gift for today:

• The empty tomb ensures you He is there! He is Faithful! He is sufficient! 

• The empty tomb ensures God's promises are Yes and Amen! 

• The empty tomb ensures His throne is approachable as the place of unfailing mercy and all-sufficient grace! 

• The empty tomb ensures your forgiveness and justification before God is full, final, and forever!

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Sing
Rise My Soul The Lord Is Risen
Christ Our Hope In Life And Death
Because He Lives

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
The Roles: Philippians 2:12-13

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin

By Lundgaard, Kris A.

Buy on Amazon

We are excited to sing a new song on Easter Sunday called, Rise My Soul The Lord Is Risen. This song celebrates the resurrection and reminds us of the hope it brings. Not only a future hope of our resurrection, but a hope that is alive and powerful as we walk out our faith today. What a hope we have in a Risen Savior!

I hope this song encourages you as we head into Easter Sunday. I cannot wait to gather with our church and sing praises to our Risen Savior!

Link to Listen & Learn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq9imtMQ3eU

Lyrics

Verse 1:
Rise, my soul, the Lord is risen
Come, behold the empty grave
See the place where darkness laid Him
Sing for only hope remains
Hallelujah, praise forever
Death defeated and life restored
By that great immortal power
Christ is risen, arise, my soul

Verse 2:
Rest, my soul, the Lord is risen
Love's redeeming work is done
Now the Father sees His children
As He sees His sinless Son
O the wonder, O the glory
That same favour is now my own
Shame behind me, grace before me
Christ is risen, arise, my soul

Verse 3:
Peace, my soul, the Lord is risen
Come and have your hope renewed
For this trial is brief and fleeting
Tears will turn to glory soon
Shout with joy and sound the triumph
Let the music of heaven roar
Let the boast of death be silent
Christ is risen, arise, my soul

Verse 4:
Rise, my soul, for I am risen
Seated now with Christ my Lord
As my life belongs to heaven
Fear shall hold its sway no more
Onward, upward, toward the treasure
Filled with courage and endless hope
For this truth is mine forever
Christ is risen, arise, my soul

The more central God's gospel generosity is in your life, the more radical your generosity will be toward others. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

TEXT: Acts 20:32-35
TITLE:  Redeeming Grace and Radical Generosity
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Radical generosity is the fruit of redeeming grace.

POINTS:
I. Keep Believing the Gospel
II. Live Radically Generous Lives
III. Paul's Personal Example

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Our section of Scripture today is known as Paul's farewell. In 25 and again 38, it says these men would never see Paul's face again. This moment marked the end of Paul's church planting work. In Ch. 21, Paul goes to Jerusalem where he is arrested, an arrest that, in God's providence, saved his life and set him on a course to Rome, where he wished to share Jesus with the Emperor. But in Ch 20, Paul summons the Ephesus pastors to come to see him in Miletus, which is a 50+ mile trip. As he leaves them, he has a few things on his heart.”

“First, in 18-27, he reviews the grace in his ministry and where the Spirit was now leading him. He was going to Jerusalem, not knowing what would happen there. Sound familiar? Think eastside church plant—We are Going Not Knowing what will happen. Then, in 28-31, Paul charges them as pastors to protect the church against fierce wolves, i.e., false teachers and divisive people.”

“Finally, in our text, 32-35, and if we're honest, this is a surprise, Paul exhorts them—wait for it—to generosity. That's right, Paul's final words to these men were simple—It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

“To the degree you understand that you are an undeserving sinner saved by the infinitely generous grace of God is the degree to which radical generosity will characterize your life. The greater your grasp on the profound reality that you have an eternal inheritance in heaven that will blow your mind, the more generous you will be with your temporary earthly inheritance. The more you look up, the more open your hands become.” 

“What would your final words to friends you love dearly be? Paul says—Radical generosity is the fruit of redeeming grace.”

“The first thing I want you to see is what Paul says is in 32: I entrust you to the gospel. I set the gospel before you. I want you to remember the gospel. I want the gospel always to be front of mind and heart. I want you to be shaped by the unmerited favor God has shown you in the gospel. I want the reality that you are a sinner saved by grace to touch every area of your life. I want your short time on earth to be informed by your eternity in heaven. Keep the main thing the main thing, and the main thing is the gospel, which all of God's Word points us to—I commend you to God and the word of his grace.”

“That's the last thing Paul says to these men he loves—Live generously. Interestingly, those aren't Paul's words. According to the end of 35, they belong to Jesus. When and where Jesus said this, we don't know because, and I think it's the only instance, these words aren't recorded in the gospels. It's a simple yet powerful call to live radically generous lives. So, Paul's final message is this—Keep believing the gospel and live radically generous lives. Here's the question: Are those two different subjects? Are they disconnected thoughts - Keep believing the gospel and live radically generous lives. They are not.”

“Paul didn't live a greedy life; he lived a generous life because that's what Apostles do? No, because of the grace of God toward him in the gospel. That's the transforming power of the gospel—Saving grace produces radical generosity. We see this connection in other passages.”

“Paul's exhortation is significant. Whether it's time, money, or possessions, generosity can be pushed out by greed—I keep instead of give. As the antithesis to the gospel, greed is serious because it is the fruit of idolatry. Idolatry is treasuring something more than I treasure Christ. Greed is the expression of the treasuring.”

“Greed is also subtle. If you are committing adultery, you know it. You don't need me or anyone else to tell you. However, greed can be difficult to detect. No one has ever come to me and said—Pastor, I struggle with greed. Can we meet?  I don't think that's because we're absolutely free of greed. There's a reason Keep believing the gospel and live radically generous lives are Paul's final words to these pastors. There's a reason Jesus spent more time teaching about money and possessions than heaven and hell combined, including—It is more blessed to give than to receive. Greed affects us all.”

“We are prone to put the burden of proof on giving rather than keeping. Too often, our starting place is Why should I give? instead of Why would I keep? …Here's the word that exposed my greed: Effortlessness.”

“That's what greed looks like in my life. That greed reveals my idol of leisure and having nice things so I can look successful. Maybe yours is different. The call to steward what God entrusts to you is applied by saving every penny you get. Someone else can help those in need. Someone else can bless others. Someone else can financially support your church's gospel mission. You have a plan to control your world and secure the future you have always dreamed of, and nothing gets in the way. That's greed that reveals your idols of control and security. Here's the truth about idols—they control us.”

Illustration: Little Shop of Horrors— Giant Fly-trap yelling ‘Feed me

“So it goes with the greed and idolatry in our own lives. So, how do we put greed to death and grow in generosity? We could:

• Force the will—Just be generous

• Play on emotion—Think of all the sinners your church can reach through your generosity

• Work the mind—What's the best return on my money

Or we could do what Paul does—I commend you to the gospel:

• Set your mind on the things above where Christ, your inheritance sits, and one day will return to you (Colossians 3:1-4).

• Fix your focus on Jesus, who, though he was rich, became poor so that you, by his poverty, might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

• Have the mind of Christ, who left the glories of heaven, condescended to your world to become a servant and die to secure your highest good—eternal salvation (Philippians 2:5-8).

• Jesus, who was without sin, became sin, for you, so that you might know the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

• In Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing and lavished us with the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1).

“What do those passages have in common—they reveal how deeply Jesus treasures you. Let that sink in—Jesus, the sovereign and supreme Lord of all, treasures you. He came for you, was spent for you, and will return for you because he treasures you. How do you measure that? You can't. But you can treasure him back by allowing his redeeming generosity toward you to pour out in radical generosity toward others.”

“Generosity isn't ultimately about a transaction of time, possessions, or money. Radical generosity is a disposition of the heart consumed with the generous love of God in Christ.”

QUOTES:
James Montgomery Boice - “In effect, Paul says, I have not tried to build an earthly fortune. I have not coveted anyone's gold. I have not been in this religion business to become wealthy. The reason I have not done that is I have had my eyes set upon the inheritance laid up for me in heaven.”

John Piper - “If you believe that the wealth of God's grace and the glory of his inheritance are so immeasurable that giving is more blessed than getting, the root of covetousness is severed, and the branch of greed dries up and dies.”

APPLICATION:
Further Study:
- In 2 Corinthians 8-9, Paul links the generous giving of the Macedonians and Corinthians to the inexpressible gift of Jesus Christ.
- As the early church grew, Luke gives progress reports in Acts 2 and 4, highlighting the centrality of the gospel and the radical generosity toward one another.

Today is Palm Sunday. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey just days before he would give himself to the most radical act of generosity to mankind—His life-giving death on the cross and his justifying resurrection from the dead.

This Easter, I invite you to evaluate your generosity in light of the cross and resurrection.  

• Where is your generosity effortless and where does it take much effort?

• Where do you put the burden of proof, giving or keeping? 

The answers will reveal your treasure and expose your idolatry. That's hard, but it's good. It will prepare you to apply the good news of God's generous love toward you so that your generosity can increasingly become a radical act of grace in response to grace. 

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
It Was Finished Upon That Cross
Man Of Sorrows
Jesus Thank You
We Receive

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
EASTER SUNDAY - John 11:25-26

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin

By Lundgaard, Kris A.

Buy on Amazon

Heaven is the place we will finally and fully bask in the fruit of our reconciliation. Until that day, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation with one another. It’s messy work, but where would we go? We’re family, and Jesus is worthy of it all. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Philemon: Redemption and Relationships
TEXT: Philemon 1:17-25
TITLE:  Reconciling Because We Have Been Reconciled
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Forgive because you’ve been forgiven. Forgiven people are forgiving people. Reconciled people are reconciling people.

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”In my 30 years as a Christian, 20 of those in pastoral ministry, I have seen countless people come and go from the church. Some for good reasons and in good ways, but if I’m honest, most for bad reasons and in bad ways. In my mind, so many of the bad departures boiled down to one thing—An unwillingness to reconcile.”

“The church is God’s spiritual family; sinners saved by grace and brought into supernatural relationships with one another. And yes, just like any biological family, God’s family gets messy. If you’re new around here, I promise you, at some time, someone in this room will sin against you. Here's the question: When that happens, what will you do?”

“Will you reconcile or run? Will you forgive or flee?  It's human nature to run. But nothing is more out of step with the gospel than an unwillingness to reconcile with a fellow believer because, in the words of John Calvin— The gospel is the embassy of reconciliation.”

“This couldn’t be clearer in Philemon’s situation. We find his situation coming to a head in 17.”

“Paul uses the word partner to describe their relationship. It’s a powerful term that encompasses every aspect of their relationship. In one sense, they are partners in that they are co-laborers in the gospel. But more than business partners, they are brothers in Christ. At the deepest level, their partnership is expressed in their fellowship. They forgive one another. Encourage one another. Spur one another on. Correct one another. Enjoy one another. Challenge one another. Remember 6—koinonia is a gospel fruit that characterizes God’s people..”

“Paul says, just as you would receive me as a gospel partner, receive Onesimus. Welcome him as you would welcome me. Hug him as you would hug me. Take joy in him as you would take joy in me. Labor with him as you would labor with me. Be hospitable toward him as you would me. Look down at 21.”

“Paul was hoping to come to Colossae. When he did, the expectation, as partners, was hospitality. One can imagine what Paul’s stay with Philemon may have been like. Breaking bread. Catching up. Celebrating gospel grace. These men would have respected, enjoyed, and expressed gratitude for each other. Paul says I won’t be there this time, but Onesimus will—Receive him as you would receive me.”

“You know the story, so you know this is a big ask. Onesimus has sinned against Philemon in numerous ways. The nature of the Greco-Roman master-slave relationship demanded Philemon punish Onesimus. Besides guarding his reputation in the community, making an example of Onesimus would make him think twice about what he had done, and it would deter others from doing the same, showing everyone who is boss.”

“Here’s what’s hard for us to get our arms around—It doesn’t matter. What Onesimus did doesn’t ultimately matter. Here’s what matters: Paul, Philemon, Onesimus, and the entire church in Colossae, listening to this letter being read, believe their faith in Christ has made them one. Notice Paul’s language: (20) Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. (23) Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus.”

“Their union with Christ was center stage. This is an application of what we learned in the longer letter to the Colossians: Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all—Colossians 3:11 ESV”

“If Christ is all and in all and we are in Christ, then Christ in one another is all that should matter to us. Paul knows that Christ in Onesimus is all that matters.”

“The If in 18 shouldn’t be seen as casting doubt on whether or not Onesimus wronged or stole from Philemon. Given the context of a desperate runaway slave, it’s very likely Philemon was robbed, even if it was Onesimus’s service. Paul doesn’t give us details, but the church likely knew the details. What we do get is astounding. Paul says—Whatever he owes you, charge it to me. I’ll pay his debt in full. However he has wronged you, I will make it right so that the two of you can enjoy sweet fellowship in Christ. And did you catch what Paul said at the end of 19.”

“Do you see what Paul does here? He reminds Philemon of the basis of their relationship. In doing so, he moves Philemon from being a creditor to a debtor unable to pay the spiritual debt he owes Paul, i.e., he shared the gospel with him. Don’t miss the miracle of grace here.”

“In 18-19, Paul, in a sense, becomes Christ to Philemon. He becomes a mediator between them. Paul owed Philemon nothing, yet he took Onesimus's debt upon himself. He paid it in full so that Philemon, who could never repay Paul the spiritual debt he owed him, could now regard Onesimus as owing him nothing. What a profound expression of imitating Christ and living out the gospel. We are the spiritual debtors, and sin is our currency. Our sin against a holy God is an unpayable debt. As Romans 3 says—All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and no one can remedy their situation by the works of the law. That was Paul. That was Philemon. That was Onesimus. That was us.”

“Jesus, who owed God nothing; he was without sin, took the debt of our sin and paid it in full on the cross. Just as Philemon should regard Onesimus as owing him nothing because Paul paid it all, we owe God nothing because Christ paid it all.”

“This is the good news of the gospel we hope to bring into our relationships with unbelievers. It’s also the good news that shapes our relationships with one another. 1 Corinthians 15:1 says we stand in the gospel, meaning we keep believing it, living it, and allowing it to inform lives, including our relationships, even the most difficult ones.”

“Forgive because you’ve been forgiven. Forgiven people are forgiving people. Reconciled people are reconciling people. However you want to say it, the gospel is the basis for it. And, the gospel is powerful enough for what we cannot do on our own. Paul’s conclusion is telling. Paul knew Philemon. Most of all, he knew God would provide all the grace for Philemon to see his situation with a gospel-centered perspective of his difficult situation. You can hear it in his conclusion.”

“The Yes that begins 20 is emphatic. It's as if Paul says—Great! I'm glad that’s settled. I can’t wait to see you and Onesimus and all the Colossians. The guys say hello!”

“Forgiveness and reconciliation are the difficult expressions of our fellowship with one another. It can be overwhelming and seem unattainable. That’s because we’re proud. I think the other person is the chief of sinners, not me. We want to dump all the blame on the other person. We believe we are owed something. We believe vengeance is ours, not the Lord’s. We don’t want to pay the price that forgiveness requires, which is absorbing the hurt and embracing the offender. So, we disappear, disavow, or disassociate.”

“Illustration: Driving modes for different conditions: Rock, Sand, Mud, Snow - We must guard against making those kinds of distinctions in our fellowship based on how people treat us—them, but not them.”

“Here’s the truth: If we can’t forgive and reconcile with one another, we don’t have true fellowship. Forgiveness is the test of true koinonia. Here’ another truth: Only the gospel, not our reconciliation skills, is powerful enough to move our hearts to GENEROUSLY forgive one another.”

“When we see ourselves and one another as underserving recipients of the gospel, by God’s grace, we are enabled to do what seems humanly impossible and powerfully demonstrates the light of Christ’s glory and heart of God’s love!”

“God loved us enough to send His only Son. Jesus treasured us enough to give his life for us. In this broken world, the Spirit moves among us, empowering us to be reconcilers. And heaven, oh, heaven is the place we will finally and fully bask in the fruit of our reconciliation. Until that day, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation with one another. It’s messy work, but where would we go? We’re family, and Jesus is worthy of it all.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Romans 5:1
Colossians 2:13-14

APPLICATION:
In response to our text and Philemon as a whole, I want to leave us with two questions:

1. Who is your Onesimus?

   Is there someone you are challenged to forgive and need to reconcile with and restore your fellowship? I’m not going to unpack the theology and practice of forgiveness here. For your application, I encourage you to go to our website and listen to the FORGE teaching on being peacemakers. It will equip and encourage you to pursue reconciliation with your Onesimus. And we need to be encouraged, don’t we? In the words of C.S. Lewis: We all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it.

2. Who do you need to be a Paul to?

   Paul loved the Lord. He loved Onesimus. He loved Philemon. He loved the fellowship their shared life in Christ brought them into. That included the hard parts of fellowship. His appeal wasn’t easy. He chose his approach and words carefully. 

   Are you aware of a brother or sister stuck in unforgiveness and struggling to fellowship with someone because of an offense? Part of your fellowship with that person is to GO be Paul to them. GO be Christ to them. Allow yourself to be used by God as an instrument of reconciliation. If you need help, your pastors are eager to help you. 

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
How Rich A Treasure We Possess
Grace Alone
Christ Is Mine Forevermore
Christ Our Glory
Is He Worthy

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Acts 20:32-35 - The April Offering

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin

By Lundgaard, Kris A.

Buy on Amazon

Philemon is in a difficult situation. His runaway slave has returned home—as a brother in the faith! How will he respond? Will Philemon receive Onesimus into fellowship or exclude him from fellowship? Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Philemon: Redemption and Relationships
TEXT: Philemon 1:8-16
TITLE:  Fellowship That Overcomes
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA:

POINTS:
I. A Foundation of Love
II. A Christ-Centered Perspective
III. A Conviction of God’s Sovereignty

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Last week, we saw how Paul prayed for Philemon in 6—May the fellowship you share with others because of your union with Christ be powerfully effective. In 7, Paul followed that prayer with praise for how powerful and effective Philemon’s fellowship had already been in the Colossians church. To know Philemon was to be encouraged, corrected, and cared for in Christ. Rich koinonia characterized Philemon.”

“Philemon is in a difficult situation. His runaway slave has returned home—as a brother in the faith! How will he respond? Will Philemon receive Onesimus into fellowship or exclude him from fellowship? I want to begin by asking you to do something the Spirit has already moved me to do this week: Will I receive ___________ (multiple names?) into fellowship or exclude them from fellowship?”

“It’s easy to fellowship with the person in lockstep with you. What about a fellow believer you’ve been in conflict with, who is very different from you or is just a difficult person for you, so it’s easier to disconnect from them? Will I receive that person {give them a name and face) into fellowship, or exclude them from fellowship?”

“Here’s what our passage holds out for us: three things that must characterize our hearts if we are to glorify God in our fellowship in difficult situations.”

“Paul was an apostle. And as an apostle, his words carried authority. He alludes to this authority when he begins by saying—though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required. Paul could have commanded Philemon to forgive and receive Onesimus. Instead of demanding, he appeals. The foundation of his appeal is love—(9), yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you.”

“Love is the brand of the Christian life. That doesn’t mean Christian Duty is wrong. To the contrary, it’s biblical. But as a motivator, the law is much weaker than love. Paul is after much more than compliance. Remember his prayer in 6—the sharing of his faith, his fellowship with the saints, would become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in them for the sake of Christ. Paul’s desire for Philemon is a broader and deeper experience of the life he shares with his fellow believers. We see this a few verses later.”

“Paul’s point is that taking Philemon back in complete forgiveness as a brother in Christ must come from a believing heart, not a heavy hand. It needed to come from a heart of love, not a forced necessity. It needed to express the love Paul celebrated in 7 that flowed from Philemon’s faith in and love for Jesus Christ.”

“That’s so important. The cross positions us, and the Bible commands us to live a shared life of fellowship. Praying for one another, gathering with one another, carrying one another’s burdens, reconciling, and being peacemakers with one another, to mention just a few of over 35 one another’s, Scripture commands us to participate in our shared life in Christ.”

“But that duty becomes delight when it’s grounded in love—even the difficult expressions of our fellowship, like forgiving and reconciling with someone who has sinned against us. Duty will only get you so far, but love patiently perseveres, bearing and enduring all things, making our fellowship effective for the glory of Christ.”

“This is the first time Paul mentions Onesimus. In 15, we learn that Onesimus fled Philemon. Verse 18 suggests Onesimus may have been caught stealing from Philemon. Perhaps that’s why he fled—the gig was up. Whatever the circumstance, now 1300 miles away in Rome, he crosses paths with Paul. Paul shared the gospel with him, and Onesimus was saved. Notice how Paul speaks about him.”

“In 10, he refers to Onesimus as his child. The man who came to Paul as a fugitive slave is now his spiritual child. Notice what Paul says in 12.”

“There is deep affection and brotherly love between the two men. Paul isn’t just playing mediator; he is a brother in Christ. Onesimus is a changed man. Somehow, Onesimus crossed paths with Paul. They begin to talk, and Paul finds a way to share the gospel with this fugitive. Perhaps Onesimus had a moment of vulnerability and let Paul in on his situation.”

“Did Onesimus argue or believe immediately? Did they meet repeatedly or just once? We don’t know. We do know that, like the prodigal son, Onesimus is not the same person who fled Colossae. He is transformed by the saving grace of God.”

“Paul makes a play on words here. Onesimus means useful. But up to this point, he has only been useful to Philemon and only for earthly matters. Regarding Philemon’s true work of advancing the gospel and building the church, witnessing to the lost, a work he passionately shares with Paul, Onesimus has been useless as an unbeliever. But now, he joins the heavenly ranks of laboring for eternal things in Christ, which is exactly what he’s been doing in Rome.”

“Was he still a runaway slave—Yes. Did he still need to return and reconcile with his master, Philemon—Yes. But he is not returning home the same person. He had a completely new standing before his master: he was now a brother beloved, identified with Paul, and therefore accepted. If Philemon’s fellowship was going to be effective with Onesimus, it would begin here—A Christ-centered perspective of Onesimus.” 

“Imagine the moment Philemon and Onesimus are in the room. Whatever the moment was like, it had to be complicated. Paul’s words in 15-16 are meant to help Philemon see this problematic situation with the eyes of faith needed for effective fellowship with his new brother in the Lord.”

“Onesimus decided to make a run for it. But without mitigating his guilt or dismissing Philemon’s disapproval, Paul helps Philemon see this through the lens of God’s providence. He helps Philemon interpret this difficult situation through the sovereign hand of God, who is constantly working all things for Philemon’s good (Romans 8:28).”

“This is God’s doing. Onesimus fled from Philemon. But ultimately, God took Onesimus from Philemon. Why? Onesimus was gone for a little while—that you may have him back forever (play on words), not as a slave but as a beloved brother. As a slave in a Christian household, who knows how many opportunities he had to believe. Hearing the gospel in the home. No doubt, church members are praying for him. In God’s design, it took running away 1300 miles smack dab into Paul. Why? God’s plan for Onesimus!”

“Paul could have turned Onesimus in. Instead, he shared Christ with him and said you need to return and make things right. That’s who you are now. You serve a new Master. You do all things for the glory of your heavenly Master. For Philemon, he gets to experience the most powerful fellowship he has ever experienced—forgiving and receiving a runaway slave, no longer as a slave, as his beloved brother in Christ, serving the same Master he serves.”

“To this world, what Paul was asking Philemon to do was revolutionary. But in the kingdom of God, what’s revolutionary is not outwardly following a set of rules but living in step with the realities of the gospel from a changed heart. And today, we must be reminded of the same gospel reality that defines us. Do you want to know how to impact the world? We don’t start revolutions. We fellowship with one another in brotherly love, even with the most difficult or different person because they are a brother or sister in Christ, and our relationship is a providential outworking of God’s sovereignty in our lives. How powerful is that? This is how God changes us and the world.”

QUOTES:
John Woodhouse- “The effectiveness of the fellowship believers share is seen most clearly in difficult situations, where this fellowship changes things in unexpected ways.”

Geoffrey Wilson - “If this letter presented no revolutionary challenge to the social structures of the day, the implications of its teaching were bound to prove fatal to slavery in the end

APPLICATION:
- Will I receive ___________ (multiple names?) into fellowship or exclude them from fellowship?

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
We Give Thanks (Psalm 107)
Sing
Here Is Love
Help Us See Christ
There is One Gospel

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
GUEST PREACHER - Rich Richardson

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

There are many facets to our life as a church! Our hope is that these posts will enable you to plan, pray, and ultimately rejoice in what the Lord is doing at Sovereign Grace Church. Here are a few updates for you to do just that! 

regional assembly of elders (RAE)

The pastors will be attending the RAE in California from March 27 to March 29.

Please pray for them as they are cared for and encouraged by other pastors in the Sovereign Grace Churches West Region!

SG Youth Chili & Pie Competition Fundraiser

SGYouth’s FOURTH annual Chili & Pie Competition Fundraiser is March 30, after the service!

The rules are simple, SIGN UP, BRING YOUR BEST, and the church will vote for the winners. If you want to compete but haven't signed up yet, CLICK HERE.

Not competing? No problem! Just come hungry and enjoy the delicious chili and pies. All proceeds will support students in our youth group attending the Sovereign Grace Regional Retreat this July. See below to find out more about Youth Camp!

Baptism Sunday

Baptism Sunday will be on April 13 after the Sunday morning service!

A light lunch will be provided.

If you would like to be baptized, or if you want more information, please contact Pastor Tom.

You can also check out this blog post written by Pastor Derek titled “The Importance and Joy of Baptism Sundays” HERE.

Good Friday service & Easter Sunday service

Good Friday and Easter Sunday are just around the corner! Join us for the Good Friday Service on Friday, April 17 at 7 PM as we come together to worship Jesus and reflect on His sacrifice on the cross.

Then, come back for our Easter Sunday Service on Sunday, April 20 at 10 AM as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior!

This is a wonderful opportunity to invite friends and family to worship with us!

Forge

FORGE speaks into the lives of men regarding the church, family, work, and leisure.

Save the date for the next FORGE meeting on April 26. All men are invited. More details to come.

Check out the past FORGE teachings HERE.

Sovereign Grace Regional Youth Retreat

The next Sovereign Grace Regional Youth Camp is Jul 11-14 and Registration is NOW OPEN! The theme of this year’s youth camp is “Christ Over All”!

To sign up or find out more, please CLICK HERE!

*Early Bird Registration ends on March 31!*

Welcome to the book of Philemon. Just 335 words in the original, Philemon is about redemption and relationships. It’s about how the gospel transforms our relationships by creating true and meaningful fellowship with one another. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Philemon: Redemption and Relationships
TEXT: Philemon 1:1-7
TITLE:  Got Fellowship?
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Fellowship is a powerful blessing God calls every believer to flourish in.

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Just 335 words in the original, Philemon is the third shortest book in the Bible. Only 2 and 3 John are shorter. Paul wrote Philemon around the same time he wrote Colossians and Ephesians, 62 AD.”

“It’s different than Colossians and Ephesians. As you read it, you won’t find Paul arguing grand theology. You won’t see him connecting the Christological dots of the gospel to OT promises. You won’t find Paul using his apostolic authority to shape local church polity and liturgy. Philemon is a Christian speaking to a Christian about a personal matter. In a sense, it’s Colossians fleshed out in a real-life situation.”

“Paul intercedes for Onesimus, a slave who has deserted his master, Philemon. Paul crossed paths with Onesimus in Rome, shared the gospel with him, and now he sends him back to Philemon with this letter.”

“Philemon is about redemption and relationships. It’s about how the gospel transforms our relationships by creating true and meaningful fellowship with one another.”

“Verse 1 makes it clear that Paul is writing this letter. Equally clear is who he is writing it to. First, he mentions Philemon, the primary recipient of the letter.”

“Philemon lived in Colossae and was part of the church there. We don’t know when he became a believer, but 19 suggests he was saved under Paul’s ministry. Our text makes it clear that Philemon was a church pillar, serving and hosting. It’s clear from this letter that, unlike most in the Colossians church, Philemon knew Paul and labored in the gospel with him in some way.”

“Paul also greets Apphia, probably Philemon’s wife, and Archippus, possibly a leader in the church, but probably Philemon’s son. Paul’s letter concerns matters in Philemon’s household, so including Philemon’s family would make sense. Paul thought highly of Archippus, encouraging him to fulfill his ministry in Colossians 4:17 and referring to him as our fellow soldier. If Archippus was Philemon’s son, the picture here is beautiful: A young man on fire for God serving in his parent's church. The next generation laboring side-by-side, ready to take the helm. It reminds us of what we are building for here at SGC on the west and east side.”

“Speaking of the church, Paul ends by greeting the church at the end of 2—and the church in your house. So Paul is writing to Philemon about a personal matter, but he is doing it very publicly.”

“Paul finishes his greeting in 3, reminding everyone what has brought them together and what binds them together—the grace and peace of God in Jesus Christ. Every word that follows is an outworking of the gospel that now defines their existence, including the heartfelt appeal Paul is about to make to Philemon.”

“Paul now turns his attention to Philemon. The you’s and your’s from 4 to 21 are singular, meaning Paul speaks directly to Philemon. You can imagine Tychicus reading this letter to the church, repeatedly lifting his eyes to look directly at Philemon. You could probably hear a pin drop.”

“Paul isn’t trying to publicly pressure Philemon. The personal and public nature of this letter speak to the nature and centrality of what Paul is about to commend Philemon to—true fellowship. The first thing Paul does is pour out his gratitude for Philemon.”

“It reads a bit more awkward here, but Paul is commending Philemon for the same thing he commended the church for in Colossians 1.”

“Philemon was an exemplary man of faith. Paul has nothing bad to say or correct about Philemon. His faith in Jesus was strong. He loved the Lord. He longed to please God with his life. And that love and zeal for God bubbled out into his relationships. He loved the church. He loved his brothers and sisters in Christ. He was known for the fruit of the Spirit that should characterize everyone saved and indwelt by the Spirit, a gospel cause and effect according to 1 John 3:14—We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers.”

“Whatever strengths Philemon had - Bible knowledge, business skills, or maturity in wisdom - his faith in Jesus and love for the church stood out the most, and all Paul could do was say—Thank you, God!”

“Now, in 6, Paul shifts his prayer from what he sees to what he hopes. This is the key verse in our text. It’s also the most difficult. It sounds like Paul has Philemon’s personal evangelism in mind—the sharing of your faith may become effective. The sharing of faith here is not evangelism—it’s biblical fellowship. Sharing your faith with those in the faith. Sharing your love for and life in Christ with other believers.”

“The word Paul uses for sharing is koinonia. It means fellowship, partnership, or sharing. It communicates the shared life believers have together. It’s the word used to describe the intimate nature of the early church in Acts 2 and the Philippian's devotion to Paul and his ministry in Philippians 1:6.”

“You can’t manufacture koinonia; the gospel creates it. You can’t have this fellowship with your unbelieving friends because it’s rooted in your identity in Christ. Koinonia is between believers— sharing your faith with those in the faith—love, encouragement, forgiveness, correction, learning, burdens, patience, friendship, hope, interdependence—all the blessings we have in Christ, we share with one another, not just intellectually or in theory, but experientially. That’s koinonia. That’s biblical fellowship.”

“You could say it this way: I pray your experience of our shared life together, because of our common faith in Christ, will bring you into a deeper understanding and experience of the blessings we have as a result of our union with Christ for the glory of Christ.”

“Why is Paul praying this way? Paul is about to ask Philemon to do something unheard of, unnatural, and counter-cultural in his day—welcome back his runaway slave, who is now a believer in complete forgiveness as a fellow brother and co-laborer in Christ. Only the power of the gospel is sufficient for this. So Paul prays that the fellowship Philemon knows to be God’s will for and goodness toward His church will now be freely extended to Onesimus, whose life is now bound up in fellowship with Jesus; therefore, his life is now bound up in fellowship with Philemon and the rest of the church.”

“Paul prepares Philemon by drawing his attention to God’s will and his experience of God’s will for His church. Paul’s prayer precedes his appeal because he knows Onesimus’s return to Colossae will be a true test of gospel union and fellowship in Philemon’s home and the Colossians church.”

“We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But we are not alone. The Christian life is personal but not private. When we are joined to Christ, we are joined to one another. In a society that prizes individualism, that can be hard to embrace.“

“It’s easy to think about the church as a voluntary group of people who meet on Sundays because they share the same doctrinal beliefs or ministry paradigms. But the most intimate expression of our doctrine and the most powerful testimony to our ministry is our fellowship with one another.”

“God uses our mutual fellowship to strengthen our faith, conform us to Christ, lighten our burdens, enlarge our sense of awe and wonder of Christ, and shine as a bright light in our dark world. Koinonia is a powerful thing.”

“If Paul knew our church I know he would say the same thing, even calling some of you out by name. The question remains: Are you in fellowship? The path to meaningful fellowship doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating. Start with your church family. Start small.”

“Biblical fellowship is a powerful blessing. Fellowship expresses our dependence upon one another. Fellowship is central to our partnership. That is not a SGC thing; it’s a gospel thing. It’s a Bible thing. It’s a God thing. Got fellowship? If not, you are missing out in a big way on what God has for you.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Colossians 1:3-4
1 John 1:3

QUOTES:
David Garland - “Paul is referring to the mutuality of Christian life which springs from a common participation in the body of Christ. Shared faith in Christ has a bonding character and welds us to others who share the same experience of faith.”

David Garland - “The spiritual well-being of the congregation will always be demonstrated publicly by the well-being of its social relationships. The reconciliation of a disloyal slave with his master as brothers in Christ speaks volumes to the community within and without. It demonstrates how Christian faith recasts all relationships and how Christ reconciles all things to himself.”

APPLICATION:
There’s one big question for us today: Got Fellowship?
- What do you see most in others? What makes you say—Thank you, God!—when someone comes to mind?
- Are you in fellowship? Do others know you, and do you know others in your church? Not simply by name, but do you spiritually KNOW them, and do they spiritually KNOW you?

• Come to church early and stay late so you can get to know people. Rushing in late and rushing out early doesn’t help. 

• Grab a lunch after church with someone. 

• Open your home.

• Accept the invitation into someone else’s home. 

• Join a CG, a context to share life your life in Christ—the ups and downs, good and bad, triumphant and tragic—with fellow believers.

- We’re all busy, the question is, What am I busy with? But if Fellowship is a powerful blessing God calls every believer to flourish in, then we must make time for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to be busy with koinonia.

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Our Song From Age To Age
How Vast The Love
The Steadfast Love of Christ
God Is Faithful (Psalm 114)
Reformation Song

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Philemon 1:8-20

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

As a Christian, your name isn’t in print, but you join this list at the end of Colossians. By grace you have been made Alive In Christ to carry on their same gospel mission locally in our city and globally through SGC. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 4:7-18
TITLE:  In This Together
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: The Gospel unites and knits us together in one shared purpose.

POINTS:
I. The Gospel Brings Us Together
II. The Gospel Produces an Enduring Heart for One Another
III. The Gospel Gives Us a Shared Purpose

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”We come to Paul’s concluding words of this remarkable letter. Filled with profound theology, rich Christology, and practical Christian living, Colossians has been invaluable to my faith, and I trust it has also been invaluable to you. Today, we end with a list of names. What do we do with this? It seems rather anti-climactic. Here’s what we’ll do: I want to introduce you to each person Paul mentions briefly, and then we’ll mine three nuggets of gold.”

“In 7-9, we are introduced to Tychicus and Onesimus. They were the mailmen. They delivered this letter to the Colossians. As Paul says in 7, Tychicus was a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. He was a regular with Paul, called out by name in Acts 20, 2 Timothy 4, Titus 3, and, again, at the end of Ephesians. Joining Tychicus was Onesimus, the runaway slave. More on him next week as we dive into the book of Philemon.”

“In 10-14, we meet six other men. First, Aristarchus. From Thessalonica, Aristarchus was with Paul on his third missionary journey. Committed to Paul and his gospel mission through thick and thin, he was one of the men dragged away by the angry mob in the Ephesus riots in Acts 19. He was with Paul when he sailed to Rome, according to Acts 27, and now 10 makes it clear he was imprisoned with Paul. 

Then there was Mark. Also known as John Mark, he was famous for writing a gospel and parting ways with Paul about a dozen years earlier over a sharp disagreement, according to Acts 13.

Then, in 11, Paul introduces Jesus, who is called Justus. All we know about Justus is what Paul says here. 

In 12, Paul mentions a man we have already met, Epaphras. Probably converted under Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19), Epaphras returned to his hometown of Colossae, where he planted and pastored the church. This letter was a response to the update Epaphras gave Paul on the church. 

In 14, Paul mentions the good doctor, Luke. Well known, Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke and its sequel, Acts. He was Paul’s wingman. 

Paul mentions one more companion in 14—Demas. All we know about him is that three or four years later, according to 2 Tim 4, he fell in love with the world and deserted Paul. 

In 15, Paul turns his attention to the church about ten miles away from the Colossians in Laodicea. He asks them to pass his letter on to them and read the letter he sent them. In particular, to say hello to Nympha, the woman whose home the church in Laodicea met in.  

Finally, Paul mentions Archippus. He is mentioned only here and in Paul’s greeting to Philemon. Was he Philemon’s son or close friend? We don’t know. We know he lived in Colossae and was connected to Paul in ministry, according to Paul’s encouragement.” 

“So, where’s the gold? Here’s the gold? The Gospel unites and knits us together in one shared purpose.”

“As you read our text, you realize these were real and ordinary people. Like you and I, they had their own anxieties, struggles, triumphs, and dreams. They grew up and lived in different towns and cities around the Mediterranean. They had different experiences and backgrounds. Some grew up Jewish, some Gentile.”

“Just like you and I, they came to faith in Jesus Christ at some time, and their lives were changed. A big part of that change was their relationships. Paul was a Christian-hating religious prodigy turned church-planting and scripture-writing apostle who is now hanging out with a runaway slave, Onesimus. Their stories couldn’t be more different!”

“…the gospel brings us together in all our differences. This is the power of the gospel. Do you remember what Paul said in 3:11? So many differences. So many stations in life. So many experiences. But one thing transcends all of it—Christ!”

“Paul had a big brain. His theological prowess was unmatched. His Christological depth was unequaled. His church planting knowledge was unparalleled. His wisdom in practical Christian living was unsurpassed. He was the smart guy of the smart guys. We see that in all his letters, including Colossians. But as big as his brain was, Paul’s heart was even bigger.”

“Paul didn’t live in a high tower with his books withdrawn from people. Paul had a heart for people. He used his gospel knowledge and understanding to encourage others in Christ and knit them together in brotherly love. This is what Paul cherished in the Colossians.”

“Look at 7—Paul refers to Tychicus not just as a faithful minister and fellow servant but, first and foremost, as a beloved brother. In 9, he refers to Onesimus similarly—a faithful and beloved brother. Before Paul was interested in their gifts, he was interested in them.”

“If Paul dictated this letter to Timothy as many believe he did, then his heart for the Colossians is uniquely on display in 18. More than mere authentication, one could imagine Paul, filled with affection for his brothers and sisters, taking the pen from Timothy and saying—This is personal; let me write the final greeting.”

“Branding is significant in the business world—Nike swoosh, Apple apple, McDonalds golden arches, Amazon smile, colorful Google G. You see the image and immediately know who it is. Love is the Christian brand. The love of God poured out at the cross marks the Christian life.”

“Paul’s purpose in life was to make Christ known with his words and life. In this mission, Paul knew he was not a one-man show. Even in his difficulties—he writes from prison—Paul is aware and celebrates how God is using others to advance the gospel and build the church.”

“Whether it was Tychicus and Onesimus delivering his letter to the Colossians, Epaphras pastoring them, the gospel labors, personal loyalty, and close friendship of Aristarchus, Mark, Justus, and Luke, Nympha hosting Sunday services in Laodicea, or the undisclosed ministry of Archippus in Colossae, Paul publicly celebrated and passionately supported the ministry of those around him. He valued their gifts. He supported their service. He celebrated their contribution because he understood they had a shared purpose in Christ.”

“The reality is God’s design is that we need each other in life AND ministry. The gospel has brought us together, knitted us together, and given us a shared purpose for which no one alone is sufficient.”

“We want to do more of that [encouraging and sharing God’s grace] publicly and privately. The truth is we need each other. God has distributed different gifts to different people. We need them all. No one in the church is a one-man show. As 1 Cor 12 says—there is one body but many members and each one is important.”

“Notice the final four words of this precious letter—Grace be with you. Paul ends where he began—God’s amazing grace. Everything we have seen over the last five months in Colossians is rooted in God’s grace. As Christians, we stand in the grace of the gospel. We obey in the grace of the gospel. We grow in the grace of the gospel. We proclaim the grace of the gospel. Our lives demonstrate the grace of the gospel. We stand in God’s grace.”

“As a Christian, your name isn’t in print, but you join this list. By grace you have been made Alive In Christ to carry on their gospel mission locally in our city and globally through SGC because: The Gospel unites and knits us together in one shared purpose.”

APPLICATION:
- Take a season and fellowship with folks you don’t typically fellowship with.
You don’t have to abandon your crowd; just make room for others. Learn their stories and celebrate how the gospel came to them. The gospel has brought us together; let’s pursue togetherness. 

- Is there someone in your life that love would not be the brand of your relationship? I encourage you to pray and pursue.

- You may not be part of the east side CG, but like Epaphras in 12, you can—struggle on our behalf in your prayers for us.

- Cultivate a new habit: Every Sunday, thoughtfully thank someone as they serve

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
How Great Thou Art
O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing
The Steadfast Love of Christ
Crown Him With Many Crowns
There is One Gospel

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Philemon 1:1-7

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

Church, we are excited to sing a new song this week from Sovereign Grace Music: The Steadfast Love of Christ. This is a song of hope and assurance that Christ’s love for us will remain steadfast through all things. What a wonderful promise for us to declare with and to one another!

We hope you take some time this week to learn the new song and come eager to sing praises to our Savior on Sunday.

I can’t wait to gather and worship with you!

Link to Listen and Learn: https://sovereigngracemusic.com/music/songs/the-steadfast-love-of-christ/

How you act and speak around unbelievers matters to God because He uses it to create gospel opportunities. This makes our gospel mission an everyday mission. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 4:5-6
TITLE:  An Everyday Mission
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: God uses your conduct and words to draw unbelievers to Himself

POINTS:
I. Watch Your Walk
II. Watch Your Talk
III. Watch God Work

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”God uses your conduct and words to draw unbelievers to Himself. That’s the message of Colossians 4:5-6. How you act and speak around unbelievers matters to God because He uses it to create gospel opportunities. This makes our gospel mission an everyday mission.”

“In the preceding verses, Paul exhorted the Colossians to a mission-minded prayer life. Now he takes us from the prayer closet to the public square when he says—Walk in wisdom toward outsiders.”

“By outsider Paul means unbeliever. If you have trusted in Jesus Christ for your salvation, you are in the eternal family of God—You are an insider. But if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, you are outside the eternal family of God—You are an outsider.”

“You may have been raised in a Christian home. You may be a faithful church attender. You may know the Bible inside and out. You may hang out with Christians. You may live a pretty wholesome life. But if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, you are on the outside of the family of God without hope in life and death. Good news—You can repent and believe today!”

“For the believer, the call is to live wisely around unbelievers. Paul has already said in Colossians 2:3—Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. So wisdom here is not one’s own judgments or the conventional wisdom of the world built on humanistic ideas and philosophies. Wisdom is to live according to God’s will and His provision in Jesus Christ. Simply put: Act like a Christian, even around non-Christians.”

“As Christians, the Colossians were a minority trying to follow Jesus in a hostile environment. Like us, they faced pressures to conform to fit in, be accepted, win the approval of others, and take some of the sting off the social repercussions of living for God in an anti-God society. That reality makes it easy to capitulate and compromise the convictions of our faith in the name of personal comfort and advantage. It’s tempting to justify the means with the ends in the name of evangelism.”

“Whatever ways you are trying to build with your unbelieving friend, they need to be worthy of the gospel and pleasing to the Lord. That calling always applies—our conduct matters.”

“Our mission statement as a church reads:  We exist to build a God-glorifying community that proclaims and demonstrates the transforming power of the gospel to Tucson and beyond. Here’s a question: Are there ways your demonstration is hindering your proclamation?”

“Our lives shouldn’t confuse people about the gospel; they should commend people to the gospel.”

“There is a strategic urgency to this calling—read 5. We could say, grab every opportunity, seize every open door, buy up every moment God gives us to witness to Jesus. Time is short, and eternity is at stake. The one thing we won’t do in heaven is evangelize—it will be too late.”

“Paul turns the focus from mission-minded behavior to mission-minded speech. The Bible says the tongue is a powerful thing. James 3 says it builds up and burns down. Psalm 19 says our words are an indicator of our devotion and desire to live in a manner worthy of and pleasing to the Lord. Jesus said our words reveal our hearts in Matthew 12.”

“(6a) Let your speech always be gracious. This is not a call to always speak about God’s saving grace. It’s a call to allow God’s saving grace to shape our speech. Our words should reflect the gracious disposition of God toward us in Christ. Theys should reflect love, gentleness, compassion, patience, and hope.”

“(6a) Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt. The imagery helps us in two ways. First, when you season something with salt, it brings out the good flavors. It makes the bland tasty. The second thing salt does is preserve. In a day when there was no refrigerator, you packed meat in salt to keep it from rotting. Speech seasoned with salt will be winsome and wholesome instead of arrogant and defiling. Your conversations with unbelievers will be enjoyable. They will have a positive effect for the good of others. Your conversations will arouse a thirst (effect of salt) in others for continued conversations.”

“It’s the grace and power of God alone that saves. But God uses means—messengers of the gospel like you and I. God desires not religious lingo, but winsome and wholesome speech seasoned with the grace and goodness of Jesus.”

“This is cultivated as we personally meditate on the wonder of the gospel. Take time to muse on the glories of heaven. Take time to consider the unfailing sufficiency of Jesus.”

“Now, the goal of speaking with gracious and seasoned words is this—(6c) so that (purpose) you may know how you ought to answer each person. Here’s Paul’s assumption: The unbelievers in your life are watching and listening. If your conduct and conversations are consistently Christlike, people will notice. And whether it's someone suffering, someone seeking more in life, or someone looking for a fight, sooner or later, the Lord will lead that someone to ask you—What’s up with you? Why are you different? And that is your 1 Peter 3:15 moment.”

“That moment is what you’ve been praying for. That moment is why you watch your walk and talk. That moment is one of the millions of moments that God creates and uses to build his kingdom. That moment is one of the greatest moments of doing all things for the glory of God. Be encouraged. God is the God of that moment. There is no moment too big or heart too hard for God. And no matter how equipped or unequipped you feel for that moment, the Spirit will show you how to answer each person.”

“Our gospel mission is real. Wherever you go tomorrow, there will be real people watching and listening. Your conduct and words matter in the mission. But don’t be afraid; God has sent you, and he goes with you.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 2:4-5
1 Peter 3:15

QUOTES:
HB Charles- “Sometimes we excuse ungracious speech by claiming we are brutally honest, when in reality we use truth as a pretext to express ourselves at other people’s expense. I am not saying that you ought to avoid truth-telling, rebuke, and confrontation when the situation calls for it. But the Lord would have us to say hard things in a gracious way. Ephesians 4:15 says we are to be “speaking the truth in love.” This holy balance of truth and love is all the more significant when it comes to proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. We are to be faithful witnesses, not prosecuting attorneys or condemning judges. We are trying to win souls, not win arguments. We are to proclaim the name, person, and work of Christ, not promote our knowledge, experience, or maturity. Do not let lies, gossip, criticism, negativity, profanity, complaining, or backbiting to rob you of the opportunity to share the goodness of God, the plan of salvation, and the hope of heaven with lost people.”

APPLICATION:
Q. Are you redeeming the time? Do you believe that anytime you are with someone, God has ordained that moment and though you may not be able to tell them about Jesus, your conduct matters to your witness?Repent. Rejoice in the finished work of Jesus. Trust God. And in the power of the Spirit, move forward, redeeming the time with faith, courage, and zeal for Jesus.

Q. How do I cultivate graciousness and saltiness in my speech? Take time to fill your head and heart with Jesus—What goes in will surely come out.

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
How Great (Psalm 145)
Praise to the Lord
Bless The Lord O My Soul (Psalm 103)
We Give Thanks (Psalm 107)
As You Go

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Colossians 4:7-18

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” - Colossians 4:2-4 (ESV)

The Good News of Christ will advance according to God’s purpose. In His purpose, “being on gospel mission includes praying for our gospel mission.” Paul exhorts the Colossians to join the gospel mission by praying for those on the mission. 

Be encouraged church! Our local gospel mission is advancing through you in many ways, and the following are some ways that you can pray for our gospel mission:

• Pray for revival—that the Holy Spirit would fill and edify our church while we are on mission. Pray that God would save the lost and advance His kingdom!

• Pray for our evangelism training, Bridge Course, and Outreach Adventure testimonies.  

• Pray that the Lord would open a way for you personally to speak of the gospel with your family, friends, co-workers, and other connections in the community.

• Invitation Sunday (March 9th) - Pray that this event will help us make gospel connections with family and neighbors in our community.

• Pray for an Eastside church plant and a church planting pastor.

• Eastside Community Group - Pray that this new group will grow and advance the gospel on the Eastside.

• “Pray also for us.” Pray for you pastors as we lead our church on mission, that we would boldly proclaim the word of God. Pray for our monthly Pastors Day. We pray for you and our mission, evaluate ministries, plan, and more during these times. Also, pray for our pastoral counsel and ministry among the saints.

• Pray for our ministries - Youth, Children’s, Men’s, Women’s, Marriage, Community Groups, Welcome Team, Worship Team, Sound, Media, and more—that each would strengthen the church while on gospel mission.
  

Here are just a few ways that you can pray for our family of churches in Sovereign Grace Churches:

• West Regional Assembly of Elders (March 27-29) - Pray that the pastors and teams at this gathering would be filled with the Spirit, encouraged, grow, and be granted wisdom from God as they lead their local churches on mission.

• Pray for the Sovereign Grace Pastors College - Our churches need men trained and deployed on mission. Pray for this invaluable means of preparing future pastors for pastoral ministry within our family of churches.

• Pray for future church plants - Check out (here) the many ways you can pray for church planting in Sovereign Grace.

• Pray for the numerous Sovereign Grace Churches mission opportunities. Sign up for the Sovereign Grace Churches Missions Blog/Email (here) to learn ways to pray for our family of churches’ mission.

Today’s text is a call to Mission-Minded Prayer. Praying with God’s redemptive purposes in mind. In a sentence: Being on gospel mission includes praying for our gospel mission. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 4:2-4
TITLE:  A Mission-Minded Prayer Life
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Being on gospel mission includes praying for our gospel mission.

POINTS:
I. The Priority of Prayer
II. A Priority in Prayer

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”It’s not that we can’t pray for anything else but our gospel mission, rather, because everything is connected to and finds its ultimate purpose in our gospel mission: Being on gospel mission includes praying for our gospel mission.”

“Prayer is critical to the Christian life and Paul’s words remind us of that. We are too busy, too weak, too foolish, and too blessed not to pray. Like the characteristics we have already seen in Ch 3—an aggressive hatred for sin, a passionate pursuit of righteousness, and humility and grace in the home and workplace, prayer should mark the Christian life.”

“This is Paul’s point when he says—Continue steadfastly in prayer or pray without ceasing. The point is not that we are to pray every waking moment but that our lives should be devoted to prayer.”

“Prayer should be the Christian’s first impulse. We pray often, repeatedly, and without giving up. Prayer is not a hit-and-miss discipline reserved for difficult seasons of life. It’s a lifestyle born out of our dependence on God that permeates all we do. So more than a spiritual discipline box to be checked off, God desires that we live with an attitude of prayer—Continue steadfastly in prayer.”

“This is a divine command to be obeyed. But it’s also a heavenly invitation. God loves it when His people pray.”

“God desires that we ask Him for things - Philippians 4:6. God delights in the prayers of His people - Proverbs 15:8. God secured the privilege of prayer with the blood of His Son - Hebrews 4:14-16.”

“God invites us to speak to Him, to come to Him with our praises and requests. In Jesus, the name we bear before the throne above, the God who speaks and holds the stars into place, who creates life in the womb, who numbers the grains of sand on the earth and the hairs on our heads, He says, speak to me, pray—My ear is open to you!”

“Is prayer a priority in your life? The question is not meant to condemn your conscience; it’s meant to drive you to Jesus, you’re only defense before God, the one who qualifies you to pray. If you lack the desire to pray, the God of sanctifying grace has His ear open to you—Pray and ask Him to help you.”

“To be watchful is to be alert or awake. We don’t sleepwalk through our prayers. We don’t pray on autopilot. The idea of watchfulness in prayer is that our prayers reflect that we grasp the spiritual realities of the moment we live in, what we are called to, and what is at stake.”

“Paul isn’t exhorting us to wordiness or turning our prayers into theological dissertations. When it comes to prayer, God cares about our faith. Watchfulness in prayer is praying with a gospel-informed consciousness. It’s a mission-minded watchfulness shaped by God’s redemptive purposes.”

“In the context of Colossians:

• Their prayers should reveal that they are alert and awake to the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ (1:15-21) and who they are in Christ (3:1-4). 

• Their prayers should be informed by the sovereign purposes of God through His church to save sinners (1:28). 

• Their prayers should reflect an awareness of the temptations of mixing the world’s ways with God’s (2:8). 

• As they pray, they should be conscious of God’s desire that they live a life pleasing to Him (1:10) and do all things for his glory (3:17). 

• Their prayers should reveal the hope they have in the triumphant return of Christ (3:4).”  

“Jesus demonstrated this mission-minded watchfulness as he went off to pray on the eve of his death in the Garden of Gethsemane—Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation—he told the disciples. In other words, be alert to the moment. Be spiritually awake to what is at stake. Know what is happening here. Don’t be spiritually lazy, pray for me in my time of need and guard your own hearts—The mission is moving forward.”

“Paul’s prayer is a mission-minded prayer. Here’s the question for us: Whatever our circumstances, whatever our needs, whatever our station in life, do we see it all through our gospel mission to live for and tell others about Christ? If we do, our prayers will reflect it in some way.”

“A mission-minded prayer life. It really isn’t complicated. You don’t need a seminary degree, you just need to know Jesus.”

“Being watchful in prayer is not about living anxious and scared. It’s not about connecting the dots between every global event and Christ’s return. Fear doesn’t motivate and energize a mission-minded prayer life. Thanksgiving for Jesus, all we are and have in him, the certainty of all that God is doing, and the unfading hope we have that Jesus will return in glory—that energizes our prayers and saturates our prayer life with thanksgiving.”

QUOTES:
Charles Spurgeon- “Prayer can never be in excess.”

John Woodhouse - “Praying like Paul comes not from a sense of guilt at not praying enough, or even a mere duty that Christians should pray, but from watchfulness and thankfulness. Watchfulness and thankfulness come, not from just being told to be watchful and thankful, but from the extraordinary thing that God has done and is doing. It is a marvelous circle. If you are filled with the knowledge of God’s will you cannot but be joyfully thanking him. If you are really thanking him, how can you not be praying that his marvelous work will have its full effect in you, your friends, in the whole world?”

APPLICATION:

• How often do I find myself justifying prayerlessness with busyness? (even good busyness) 

• When my typical prayer time gets bumped, do I desperately find some way to still pray?

• What characterizes you most when someone shares a need with you: I‘ll pray for you, or, Let me pray for you right now? (Pause and Pray)

• In your efforts to be productive, do you functionally view prayer as unproductive? (Spurgeon—A little prayer between me and everything I do)

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
It Is Finished
We Have Been Healed
The Greatest Of All
Jesus Thank You
Father You Are All We Need

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Colossians 4:5-6

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

Before there was sin, there was work. Work was part of God’s perfect creation and order. Sin affected work, but work has always been good to God. The truth is God does care about your job, and our text is proof of this. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 3:22-4:1
TITLE:  Working for the Audience of One
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: The gospel transforms our work into worship.

POINTS:
Principle #1 As a Christian, you have a new Master in the workplace
Principle #2 As a Christian, you have a new mission in the workplace
Principle #3 As a Christian, you have a new motive in the workplace

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”It’s easy to have an unbiblical view of work. We can disconnect our work from our faith as if God doesn’t care about our job. The truth is, work is good. God created work. When He introduced Himself to us in the Bible, He revealed Himself as a working God. When God created man, He told him to get to work. When we work, the image of God is on display for all to see. Before there was sin, there was work. Work was part of God’s perfect creation and order. Sin affected work, but work has always been good to God. The truth is God does care about your job, and our text is proof of this.”

“Christ’s work for and in us transforms how we work for Him.”

“In Ch. 3, Paul turns his attention to the marks of a life transformed by and submitted to Christ:

• 1-4—Life that identifies with Christ alone

• 5-11—Life victorious over sin

• 12-17—Life characterized by righteousness and love

• 18-21—Life marked by humility and grace in the home

Paul introduces one more today—work. The immediate context is the slave-master relationship. Although there are significant differences between first-century slave-master relationships and modern employer-employee relationships, there are three principles of worshipful work.”

“The moment we read the word slave, our minds race. Slavery in the Greco-Roman world was indeed different than the slavery that has tainted the history of our country. Still, slavery is slavery. So why doesn’t Paul condemn slavery here? Did he condone slavery? Was he acquiescing to the culture? The Bible never condones slavery, and Paul never bowed to the culture.”

“Slavery was a reality in the first-century church. Some households in the church in Colossae had slaves. One slave in the church was Onesimus, who we will learn about when we begin Philemon in a few weeks. However, Paul’s goal here is not to ignite outward systemic change but to show the inward transformative power of the gospel even in the most challenging situations. That transforming power begins with our identity.”

“The adjective earthly sets limits on the noun master. The point is there is another master, the ultimate Master that the slave serves and identifies with. This is the foundation of Paul’s instruction here:

• 23—Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, not men (not even earthly master)

• Then, in 24, Paul says it as clearly as he—You are serving the Lord Christ

• Finally, in 4:1, Paul addresses the earthly masters—Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing you also (like the slave) have a Master in heaven.” 

“Paul’s instruction makes it sound like their earthly master doesn’t exist. That’s the point. They work for a person, but it’s the person of Christ for whom they genuinely work. They work for the audience of One, and that One is the One who created all things, sustains all things, is over all things, and reconciles all things to Himself.”

“Paul sets the slave's obedience and the master's authority in a whole new context. The earthly master is not decisive, and if you’re a boss at work, you should remember that (4:1). Christ, their heavenly Master, is decisive. For slaves, that meant whatever indignity, shame, and drudgery they faced, as slaves of Christ, their work had value and worth in the eyes of God.”

“The work you do, in or outside the home, pushing papers, making the sale, engineering the chip, running your company, no matter how menial or mundane, has worth and value because it is serving him.”

“In 17, Paul said–And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. His words here in 23 echo that mission—Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord. Those words roll off our lips without a second thought. But this was a tall order for a first-century slave. The work of slaves was often unpleasant. They were constantly exploited. So, the natural temptation was to do the minimum to be seen as obedient or escape punishment. That’s the idea of eye service and people-pleasers. When the master is looking, look like you’re working so they will be happy, and you will be safe. But without making a distinction in the nature of the work, Paul says, Don’t work that way. Don’t put on an act. Don’t turn it on and off for your advantage.” 

“Instead, notice the end of 22—work with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. In other words, work from the heart. Work in a way that reflects your love, trust, and reverence for God (i.e., fearing the Lord). Whether your earthly master is watching or not, your heavenly Master is always watching.”

“This is the freedom we have in Christ. We can put off half-hearted service and work from the heart. We can put off an attitude of drudgery and ungratefulness and work from the heart. In keeping with Colossians, we don’t have to ascribe to the world’s attitudes toward work, reflected in the 80s hit—Everybody is working for the weekend or TGIF. Whatever work God has called you to, a teacher, homemaker, engineer, doctor, salesperson, carpenter, truck driver, or business owner, you can do it wholeheartedly unto the Lord.”

“The theology inherent in our text is God’s sovereignty. He is in charge in whatever circumstance you are in. He has providentially placed you right where you are. Your job, and think about this, a context in which you will spend 1/3 of your life, is a context to worship Him with your work.”

“He deserves and demands the best you have to give. And, for His glory, He provides the wisdom and power to work with diligence, integrity, joy, gratitude, and excellence.”

“A paycheck is essential and favor with the boss is great. But God’s purpose is this—1:18 in everything he [Christ] might be preeminent. The gospel gives us Christ’s glory as our highest purpose, even as we work for imperfect bosses in the fading structures of this world. Any other motivation as your highest motivation is sinful and expressions of pride and self-love.”

“In the Roman world, slaves and rewards didn’t go together. They had shelter, food, and clothing but not much of a payday. And they certainly had no inheritance to look forward to. They were used to being motivated by punishment. So imagine how fulfilling Paul’s words must have been—you will receive the inheritance from the Lord as your reward for your work.”

“Again, even the slave's work is redeemed. Their heavenly master has an eternal inheritance waiting for them. Their earthly master may not give them what their labors deserve, but no matter how exploited they are, they are not in vain because the Lord sees all their work and will reward them in heaven. The flip side of this is in 25.”

“Paul doesn’t say if he is speaking to the slaves or the masters here. I think it’s both. The point is that obedience to God is paramount, even in the worst of work situations. God cares about our work. He is watching as we work. And He desires that our work reflects His holy nature and righteous purposes.”

“Our salvation is secure on Judgement Day because our sins have been obliterated on the cross. But, every believer, employee or employer, will be rewarded, whatever that looks like, according to how they devoted themselves to their heavenly master, including how we go about our work.”

“Paul ends his instruction by effectively saying that the slave and master are the same—accountable to God. In this context, the slave and master are both believers, bought with the blood of Christ, brothers in Christ (1 Tim 6:2), both slaves to Christ. So Paul ends this section where he began in 1-4: Whether you are an employee or employer, as a Christian, you do not identify with your vocational calling. You identify with your Master in heaven. As you work, you look in faith and draw your strength from the Perfect Worker!”

“Christ obeyed His Father when he took on flesh to work for our salvation. That work took his life as he rendered Himself to God’s will. And we are transformed workers only because of his work in the gospel. The work Jesus did with his life, death, and resurrection is the work we now identify with. The work Jesus did 2000 years ago is what gives your work today meaning and value. His redeeming work redeems your work, transforming it into heavenly worship that pleases God, exalts Christ, and brings you joy.”

“Whether you are an employee or employer, the gospel gives you the freedom to put sinful behaviors and patterns off and put on Spirit-empowered, Christ-exalting excellence. As we work for our heavenly Master, finding our mission and motivation in his provision and purposes, we’ll see that Christian employees and employers are not only the best in the workplace, but our work truly is worship to the one true God.”

QUOTES:
John Loftness- “Our calling to labor is not equal to our calling to Christ. Christ rules our work, and He gives it meaning and purpose. Our call to relationship with God in Christ shapes, elevates, and dignifies our calling to work. Work becomes more than a means of survival, more than a means of satisfying physical needs and fulfilling our identity in the image and likeness of God. Work becomes a means of giving honor and glory to God.”

John Piper - “That is amazing freedom. You think, earthly lord, that I am obeying you. But it’s not what you think. You do not have any final authority over me. I do not do anything you say simply because you say it. I have a Lord who is infinitely stronger, infinitely wiser, infinitely more satisfying, infinitely more authoritative in my life than you. What I do, I do for his sake. You have no ultimate claim on me. I march to the beat of another drummer. If you tell me to do anything that contradicts his will, it’s not going to happen. I am in your service at his bidding. And I serve you the way I do because he is an infinitely greater Lord than you are.”

APPLICATION:
- What motivates you to work from the heart?
- Who does my attitude and work ethic reveal I love the most?
- What are your temptations at work?

• Eye-service and people-pleasing

• Half-hearted or shoddy work

• Begrudging attitude

• If you work from home, are you working from home

- If you are over people, what sinful patterns are you vulnerable to?

• Unreasonable expectations

• Ungracious responses

• Stingy compensation

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Come Praise And Glorify
God Over All
We Give Thanks (Psalm 107)
God Is Faithful (Psalm 114)
My Life Is An Offering

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Colossians 4:2-4

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

Families typically have certain distinctions. Christian families are no different.  The Gospel marks Christian families. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 3:18-21
TITLE:  How Christ Marks Christian Families  
PREACHER: Tim Lambros

POINTS:
Mark #1 - Submitted Wives
Mark #2 - Husbands that Love
Mark #3 - Children that Obey
Mark #4 - Fathers that don’t provoke their children

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Now in V. 18 we get into specific application YET we don’t throw out all we’ve learned and been anchored in from  the earlier parts of the epistle.”

”So how do you typically approach the to-do’s of the NT? The calls and commands of those who have a life hidden in Christ? Here’s some help. It’s important for every believer to understand how Justification and Sanctification are rich and important aspects of the Christian life. Christians need to know that these two are inseparable but have distinctions that help us understand the differences. Here's a warning – if you don’t get your mind around the distinctions between justification and sanctification – then attempt to obey God in the calls and commands of the NT – you will quickly become a card-carrying legalist. We’re about to explain four commands God wants to obey but first let’s review some distinctions between  justification and sanctification.”

“Justification - being declared righteous, our position before God, objective – Christ’s work for us, Immediate/complete
VS.
Sanctification - being made righteous, our practice before God, subjective – Christ’s work in us, process – you will be more sanctified.”

“So we are alive in Christ – our lives are hidden in Christ – we now work hard at putting to death certain sins and putting on Christ-like righteousness. So let’s look at 4  distinctions we are to pursue, to be marked by.”

“There are not too many topics that will arouse the anger of a certain segment of our culture. Our post-modern, rights-seeking, power-seeking culture. Yet if people would truly understand how liberating the Scriptures are, they would appreciate the wisdom of God in the creation of man and woman.”

“First, the fact that God’s Word addresses wives and men would be radical to the early recipients in Colossae. Women were property, they had no legal rights. Men had no fault divorces and women had no say in the matter. Husbands had all the privileges and wives had all the duties. God’s Word comes thundering in to correct this.”

“Secondly, God’s Word teaches men and women are equal before God. Equal in dignity, value, and worth. Yes, they are called to different roles, but all throughout history the abuses of women are outside God’s Word. If Biblically understood, God’s Word is the most liberating and elevating message to women there is. The Bible clearly teaches that men and women are EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT.”

“Reread the text. ‘Wives submit … as is fitting in the Lord.’ Biblical submission has some edges, definition. It can’t be culturally defined or generically understood. What is fitting to the Lord? A wife is submitted to one man-her husband. We’re talking about the Christian home here. We’re not addressing all the contexts outside the home.”

“Wives submit … this is beautiful because it’s first modeled in the Trinity. There is equality in the Godhead but there are roles too. Christ submitted to the plan of salvation – He submitted to the plan to take on flesh, live within the limitations of a human body, live sinlessly although facing every temptation you and I face. He submitted to the Cross. He was tortured, beaten to the point of death.”

“A wrong attitude about Biblical submission, an unbiblical view of a wife’s role, not only goes against the clear teaching of Scripture, but it also cheapens Christ’s submission to God the Father. A submitted wife, a wife that intelligently and joyfully compliments her husband in decisions, ministry, parenting, and all of their lives together, paints a picture - the  Trinitarian Godhead.”

“‘Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.’ As you can probably imagine, this command is because men will be tempted in their flesh - the way they used to live BEFORE they were alive in Christ - to serve themselves and be harsh with their wives.”

“More than just a command, this should humble all husbands and future husbands with this reality – apart from the power that comes by being in Christ, being alive in Christ, you will resort to your former self – the old man – living like you did before you came to Christ.”

“Gospel power – the power that comes not from us but by our union with Christ – enables and empowers us to love our wives in a way that echoes how Christ loved us – sacrificially. Christ’s love was sacrificial – Philippians 2:5-11 states that Christ left the comforts and glory of heaven, willingly setting aside His equality with God, lived with the constraints of a human body, and died a death He didn’t deserve – AND DID THIS FOR THE  JOY SET BEFORE HIM.”

“This kind of sacrificial love is what characterized our Savior Jesus. We can be marked by this kind of love as we live in the power of the Cross. As we are marked by our Savior. Husbands, this is a command. This is God’s will that you live like this. When Paul wrote in Colossians 3:1 that we ‘seek the things that are above’ this is what he’s addressing. Loving your wife sacrificially and joyfully comes as you seek Christ, who is above, seated at the right hand of God.”

“Wives and husbands are to be marked by the transforming grace of God…so you’ll notice these commands cannot be done apart from God’s power. Seeking those things and setting our minds on things above need gospel power.  These marks or these calls and commands inherently position us to lean on the Holy Spirit.”

“‘Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.’ Define obey – First, note that it’s not ‘submit’, where there is a joyful, intelligent offering of a wife’s submission.  Second, the word obey really consists of two words – listen and under. Listen under your parents. Really listen to your parents and come under what they say.”

“Children are to listen and be under their parents – how many of us have taken our kids through the Proverbs? Proverbs 1:5 -  let the wise hear. Proverbs 1:8 - Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and not forsake your mother’s teaching.” 

“Children are to obey – in everything. You may ask – everything like there aren’t any exceptions? No, this is not a whip that a cruel parent can use to cause his children to sin. This is not a command so parents can take advantage of their kids or harm them. Yet the command is meant for parents to expect their children to have a posture of obedience – notice what the text says next – for this pleases the Lord. Similar instruction in Ephesians 6 – where the command simply states ‘obey our parents for this is right.’”

“IMPORTANT: Children learn to listen to the voice of God’s Word by listening to their parents.”

“Colossians 3:21 and Ephesians 6:4 warn fathers to not provoke – to not exasperate their children.”

“To exasperate means ‘to make very angry or irritated.’ To embitter means ‘to arouse  bitter feelings in.’ In Colossians, the verb translated as ‘exasperate’ or ‘embitter’ means ‘to  stir up.’”

“We must bring up our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord with a pure heart and not a self-serving motivation (to impress others, to avoid embarrassment because we are irritated or because they make life hard). Our children must know they are dearly loved and enjoyed - they are not projects suited for our benefit. To do otherwise is to risk exasperating or embittering your children.”

“What does it mean to provoke or exasperate your children? To frustrate them? A  couple of examples to consider: 

• We call them to obedience but don’t tell them the why.  

• We criticize or berate our children instead of encouraging them. 

• We expect our children to change but don’t engage them with the gospel.”

“Why the command/warning? A child so exasperated or embittered will ‘become  discouraged’ or ‘lose heart.’ We can subtly communicate to our children that no matter what they do they are always wrong or lacking so what’s the use?!”

“What a chance we have to shine in this culture. You see it in the grocery store, you see it at the ball game, you see it when families gather – Fathers exasperating, frustrating their children. We have been saved by Christ and now we are alive in Him! We live to obey Him in all ways – as His children, we are setting our minds on things above.”

“Do you encourage your children to obedience in non-conflict times? Are you training and discipling your children primarily in the non-conflict moments of life?  Deuteronomy 6 "‘when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise.’? These are the daily, mundane parts of each day and this is when you have the prime time for discipling your children. Parents who only deal with their children when they need correction are immediately on a slippery slope to exasperation. Gospel-less correction will provoke your children. Will discourage your children. “

QUOTES:
William Plumer- “Justification is an act. It is not a work or a series of acts. It is not progressive. The weakest believer and the strongest saint are alike equally justified. Justification admits no degrees. A man is either wholly justified or wholly condemned in the sight of God.”

Kent Hughes - “The point is, we have here a simple and powerful command to all children to truly, from the heart, obey their parents. Neglect of this command brings great sorrow, if not now, then surely later in life. But if obeyed, it brings fullness.”

APPLICATION:
What are you characterized by when it comes to obedience to Christ's commands?
- Are you a legalist when it comes to obedience to Christ's commands?
- Are you licentious when it comes to obedience to Christ's commands?

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Rejoice
There is a Fountain
I Will Glory In My Redeemer
Rock of Ages
I Need You
Turn Your Eyes

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Colossians 3:22-4:1

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

All obedience begins here—a thankful heart for God’s redemption. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 3:12-17
TITLE:  Putting On Our New Life in Christ
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Because we are Alive in Christ, we don’t just stop living for the world; we live according to Christ.

POINTS:
1. A New Life
2. A New Wardrobe
3. A New Vision

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes are taken from the pastor’s notes.
”Look at verse 12—Put on then, now before [Paul] tells them WHAT to put on, he does what he has already done in 1-4 and 10-11—he reminds them WHO they are—as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.”

“This is identity language from the Old Testament—Deuteronomy 7:6-8—You are a holy people—The Lord has chosen you—The Lord loves you. Like He chose and loved Israel, God chose the Colossians. Like He chose the Colossians, He chose you. You are holy because He has set you apart as His. You are beloved because God has lavished His love upon you. All of this is at God’s initiative alone, IN Christ alone.”

“All obedience begins here—a thankful heart for God’s redemption. In 15-17, Paul calls us to be thankful three times, each connected somehow to God’s provision through Jesus. Thankfulness reveals that you get the gospel.”

“The reminder is critical because while we are commanded to live a new life, we cannot create one. Our responsibility before God is to be who we have already become. This is the difference between Christian obedience becoming duty or delight, frustration-filled or faith-filled, works of the hands or worship from the heart.”

“It’s human nature to give ourselves to mechanical obedience, self-sufficiency, and personal achievement. But those are ways we mix worldly thinking into our Christian life—Just Do it. If it's to be, it's up to me. Hold my drink; I’ve got this. That’s the old man talking. Hard work and ambition are good, but they are not mediators between God and man. The new man begins with the person, provision, and power of Christ.”

“Now we are ready for the putting on.”

“In 5-9, Paul gave a representative list of the sins that belonged to our old self. Before our conversion, we were ruled by the passions and desires that give way to those sins. But in Christ, we put them off.”

“As important as putting off sin is, it’s not sufficient. God is not interested in moral neutrality: He demands righteousness—Be holy as I am holy, 1 Peter 1:16 says. So we put off sin and put on righteousness.”

“The phrase Put on means clothe yourself. The imagery is something we do every day—get dressed. So let’s take a look at the wardrobe in 12.”

“Put on compassion: Compassion is a genuine concern and tenderness toward others who find themselves in difficult and trying circumstances. Put on kindness: Kindness is goodness and generosity toward others motivated by genuine care and interest. Put on humility: Humility is a willingness to consider the interests of others by putting away selfish ambition and recognizing others as more significant than self. It’s not a graveling servility usually rooted in pride, but it is the opposite of self-exaltation. As Phililippians 2:4 says—counting others more significant than yourself. Put on meekness: Meekness is a gentleness that doesn’t assert itself over others but judges charitably and serves graciously while trusting God with situations. Put on patience: Patience is long-suffering with others in a way that endures wrongs and refuses to judge or exact vengeance.”

“Each one of these is a reflection of our Savior. To put these qualities on is to put Christ on. We aren’t perfect. We still sin. The penalty of sin due us was paid, and the power of sin over us was broken at the cross. But on this side of heaven, the presence of sin remains around us and within us.”

“There is an enemy within our hearts—Sin! That’s why the only place in Scripture Christians are called to be violent is with our sin. That’s the command of 5. Sin is serious. It’s a bully that never takes a break. We cannot consent to it. We must kill it.”

“And we can. The Christian life is a victorious life. The strength we have is the Spirit. Our tools are prayer, the Word, and fellowship. The promise we have is the one we look up to is always interceding for us. So, as we Look Up to Christ, eyes always on him, who he is, and who we are in him compels us to put off the garments of sin and put on the garments of righteousness, bringing our lives in line with who we are in Christ in a way that reflects who he is and what he is like.”

“That, my friends, has a huge implication. Notice what 15 says—you have been called into one body. The righteousness of Christ you put on every day is meant to bear fruit beyond your own life—read 13. The consequence of living in line with who we are in Christ is harmony with other believers—enduring with and forgiving one another.”

“Everything Paul has said, he now holds it all together with love—read 14. In other words, none of them matter without love. As it says in 1 Corinthians 13—Without love, we have nothing. Love keeps them in the proper perspective. Love completes them. Love validates them as genuine. Love ensures harmony.”

“What unifies and binds us together isn’t philosophy or personal convictions. It’s not experience or expertise. It’s not social or economic status. It’s not the way we educate our kids or view dating. What unifies and binds us together is the love of God in Christ—the Gospel!”

“In three phrases, Paul shows us the key to the new life in Christ. First Phrase (15) Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Second Phrase (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Third Phrase (17) Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

“For Christians, when it comes to the heart, we are to allow the gospel truth to call the shots. What does that mean?

• Rest in the free justifying grace of Jesus, not circumstances

• Find personal contentment and worth in being hidden in Christ, not a familial role or earthly ambitions. 

• We call sin sin instead of sugarcoating or normalizing it with worldly ideas and cultural norms.

• It means when I want to lash out in anger at Donna, I put my anger off, put on humility and patience in love because Jesus loved me by humbling himself to the point of death on a cross for me, and every day, he patiently works to make me more like him.”

“God’s Word, and in particular, that which Paul called of first importance in 1 Corinthians 15:3—the gospel—is to find its home in your heart. To occupy and live in your heart.”

“Old saying—What comes up in the bucket is what’s down in the well…What’s in your bucket? It’s a silly but important question because the bucket's content reveals what’s in the well of your heart. Over and against secular philosophy and worldly perspectives, we are to let the gospel take over our hearts so that it’s what comes out of us as we fellowship with, give counsel to, and encourage one another.”

“This is why we encourage one another to be in God’s Word. It’s why your pastors continually encourage you to read Christologically rich-books. It’s why our CG is about leading you to the cross, where you meet the love and kindness of God. Corporately speaking, if you're visiting, it’s why we preach Christ, counsel Christ, and sing Christ. He is our all-in-all! Resolve today to Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”

“[Verse 17] is the exclamation point on 1-17. Live your life because of Jesus, for Jesus, in the strength of Jesus, for the glory of Jesus. Whether in the home, at work, at church, with our money and possessions, relationships, competition, you name it—the glory of God in Christ is our highest priority.”

“Every day, we choose to either put on the garment of sin or the garment of Christ’s righteousness. When the gospel rules what goes on inside of us, when it permeates what comes out of us, and when Christ is our highest purpose, by His grace, we will choose righteousness, living more and more as people truly Alive in Christ.”

QUOTES:
David Garland - “Our holiness will not come from our futile attempts to comply with an arbitrary list of observances and taboos. Our godliness is not measured by the things we do not do. It comes from being in Christ, dying with Christ, and being raised with Christ.”

G.K. Beale - “Bearing with one another and forgiving one another is the atmosphere that saturates the five virtues of verse 12. These virtues are all linked to bearing with and forgiving.”

John Woodhouse - “The image here may be of an overcoat which is to be put on over all the other garments already mentioned. It holds them all perfectly together.”

Douglas Moo - “These virtues attain their full power only when they are unified and empowered by love.”

APPLICATION:
- Do you have a hard time forgiving others? Are you quick to judge rather than bear with someone? What do you need to put off and put on? Here’s the good news—You have victory over sin in Christ. Kill it. And put on the heavenly quality of life you now have in Christ.”

- What rules your heart in conflict? Prosperity? Moment of sexual temptation? What calls the shots when someone offends you?  Resolve today to Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Sing
It Was Finished Upon That Cross
Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus
There is One Gospel

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Colossians 3:18-21

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

There are many facets to our life as a church! Our hope is that these posts will enable you to plan, pray, and ultimately rejoice in what the Lord is doing at Sovereign Grace Church. Here are a few updates for you to do just that! 

Eastside Community Group

Please be praying for those in the new Eastside Community Group! This group will be meeting on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month at 7pm in a public location on the Eastside. If you know anyone on the Eastside who might be interested in visiting or joining this group, please feel free to invite them and let Derek know!

You are also welcome to visit the group yourself! Just reach out to Derek to give him a heads-up and confirm the meeting location.

marriage cOMMUNITY group

The next Marriage Community Group is starting on February 7th! Please be praying that the Lord would strengthen the faith and marriages of the couples who will be part of this Marriage Group.

This February-April group is full, but if you’d like to be notified about the next Marriage Community Group, please reach out to Tom Wilkins.

bridge courses

TWO Bridge Courses will be starting up in March!

More details coming soon.

The Bridge Course is great for everyone, especially those with questions or doubts, or those who want to learn what true Christianity is all about. For a list of the questions and topics for each session, go to BridgeCourse.org.

To get involved or learn more, contact Tim Lambros.

Invitation Sunday

Our next Invitation Sunday is March 9th!

This is a Church-wide focus on inviting friends, neighbors, or anyone else to join us for church and then FOOD & FUN after the service.

Invitation handouts will be available within the next few weeks. Be praying about who you can invite!

Leadership Training: Part two

Join us for the second part of the Leadership Training on Saturday, March 15th from 8AM to 11AM.

Missed Part One? You can watch the sessions HERE!

This free training is open to everyone—men, women, youth, friends, and anyone who wants to grow in their understanding of biblical leadership.

SIGN UP HERE!

baptism Sunday

Baptism Sunday will be held on March 16th after the Sunday morning service!

If you would like to be baptized, or if you want more information, please contact Tom Wilkins.

You can also check out this blog post about Baptisms HERE.

Today’s text reminds us that we are not home yet, but Victory in Christ has been secured. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 3:5-11
TITLE:  Victory In Christ and Killing Sin
PREACHER: Tom Wilkins
BIG IDEA: Our victorious new life in Christ calls for us to put to death our old life.

POINTS:
1. A time to kill
2. A time to live

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes are taken from the pastor’s notes.
”While at the pastors and wives retreat, we got word that [my mom] went to be with her Savior. We received word in the midst of planning my father-in-law’s memorial service which is next weekend. Our hearts are heavy, BUT THEY ARE ALSO HOPEFUL!”

“You see, heaven has drawn near to us, and ‘the veil between this life on earth and heaven has become thinner.’ We are not there yet, but we can see a little clearer now what is to come - no more pain, no more sorrow, no more sin. Mom and Dad are now Alive in Christ and with Christ like never before. Today’s text also, reminds us that we are not home yet, but Victory in Christ has been secured.”

“For those in Christ and until we step on the shores of heaven, we are deeply encouraged in this life and charged to live in Christ. Encouraged by the present truth of our NEW LIFE in Christ and charged to now PUT TO DEATH OLD LIFE.”

“Victory over our “old life in this world” is secured in Christ, and our victorious new life in Christ calls for us we must mortify the “old man” - killing our old way of life.”

“We are called to ‘Put to death,’ kill, mortify. We must get a sense of the gravity of this. What follows must be truly horrible, so bad, such an enemy, such a fo, that we are not warned. We are not told to watch out. We are not told to be careful. IT IS IMPERATIVE! It is commanded - and the sense of the original is one of continually MORTIFYING. Kill Kill Kill Kill and keep on killing.”

“Our greatest enemy is the enemy within. We must continually mortify our sinful nature within us.”

“This is strong language! But our dilemma is that we underestimate the depravity and the strength of our sinful nature. We underestimate our dire need to mortify the flesh. What follows begins to paint a grim picture of the nature of our flesh. Sexual immorality (were we get the word porn and serves as head master of those that following, each of which is driven by the first), Sexual Impurity, Sexual Passion (lust), Sexual Evil Desire, Covetousness - not simply desiring things that we don’t have but hearts gripped an insatiable idolatrous lusting after more and more things and covetousness shares its nature and manifests itself in sexual desire as well.”

“And if this list were not enough to make it clear that we must kill them, Paul elevates their worthiness of death as we hear the terrifying words, “On account of these the wrath of God is coming.” These are terrifying words reveal the sinfulness of sin. Sins of the flesh must be killed, and if you didn’t get it the first time - the wrath of God is coming - this enemy truly is our enemy, but they are the enemy of God, and He is on his way!”

“The relevance of this list could not be more clear in our culture today. Each and every one of these sins pours across our screens, fills our literature, and drives a chunk of our politics. Every single one is celebrated as freedom, as identity,… these are excused and protected in our laws.”

“Paul specifically and for clarity lists 5 more sins: Anger (Here, anger serves as headmaster of those that follow, each of which is driven by the first), Wrath, Malice, Slander, Obscene talk (more than simple foul and impure talk but the mouth that destroys).”

“‘But now…’ means so much more than simply the next thing we do. ‘But now’ means that something has radically changed about us, in us, for us, and that change is that we have been given a completely new life in Christ. Everything in 5-8 revealed WHO WE WERE according to our former way of life in the flesh - This is who you were! ‘BUT NOW’ -  An eschatological new victorious age has dawned!”

“Look with me at the language of v9. “...seeing that you have put off the old… and have put on the new self…” Something has already happened. The putting off of the old self and the putting of the new self has ALREADY happened. This does not let us escape from the imperative need to mortify sin BUT rather it pumps hope and life into the imperative. Put to death sin, because you are now alive in Christ! Put away all sin, because all of your sins have been removed by Christ! Fight because the Victory has been won!”

“The point isn’t ‘successfully kill these things so that you can gain new life’ but rather ‘remembering they are of your old life, completely kill these things because you are now alive in Christ.’”

“No matter who you are, you are now made new to be like Jesus! The Old Man looks nothing like Christ. The New Man is re-created to reflect, show, and be like Jesus. It is about Jesus, and it has always been about Jesus.”

QUOTES:
John Owen- “The choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin.” and “Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it while you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.”

APPLICATION:
Q. What of your old life needs to be mortified?
Q. What are you waiting for?

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
The Lord Almighty Reigns (Psalm 93)
Before The Throne Of God Above
Crown Him With Many Crowns
Behold Our God
His Mercy Is More

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Colossians 3:12-17

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

The Christian life is about identifying with two glorious realities—We look back to the cross where the gospel made us new in Jesus and we look forward to seeing Jesus in heaven. Our life is lived between these two spiritual bookends. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 3:1-4
TITLE:  The Glorious Bookends of Life
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Our past and future in Christ is meant to shape our present with Christ.

POINTS:
1. In Christ, we are not who we once were
2. In Christ, our focus is not where it once was

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes are taken from the pastor’s notes.
”The Bible repeatedly tells us the gospel gives us new life in Christ. We are still a work in progress, but our identity is securely bound up in Christ and one day we will be with him in heaven. This self-understanding is fundamental to the Christian life. At its heart is identity—Who am I? “

“Nothing in this life is more important than who we are in Christ. No matter your station in life, your identity is bound up in Christ. This is where all spiritual growth and joy begin.”

“Welcome to Colossians 3:1-4. We are halfway through Colossians. Today's text is a summary of the first two chapters and a launching pad for the final two.”

“The Christian life is about identifying with two glorious realities—We look back to the cross where the gospel made us new in Jesus and we look forward to seeing Jesus in heaven. Our life is lived between these two spiritual bookends.”

“Paul begins by drawing our attention to past events—(1) If then you have been raised with Christ. Again, in 3—For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Paul refers to spiritual death and resurrection, which he explains in 2:11-12. That moment God acted on your hearts through regeneration, and you put your trust in Jesus. At that moment, your old man (flesh) was put to death, and you were raised to new life with Christ.”

“This is an extraordinary event that changed everything. You are no longer who you once were. You are not the same person you were before you believed in Christ. Your name is the same.  Your looks are the same. But you are not the same. Your testimony of salvation describes the moment you died to the flesh, were raised with Jesus, and your life became hidden with Christ. More than that, 4 says—Christ IS your life.”

“When I googled finding your identity: '‘Finding your identity involves exploring your values, interests, and experiences, and understanding how you see yourself and how others see you.’ Sadly, too many Christians have a Google theology. If you agree with that statement, you are in trouble. That philosophy is empty, vain deceit. It centers the world on me instead of Christ. Listen, things happen to us in life that can have powerful effects. Some good, some bad. [But] nothing changes who we are and what we look forward to in Christ. People and events may be influential in our lives, but they are not determinative because they cannot change who we are in Christ.”

“As a Christian: 

• You have been freely and fully forgiven of your sin

• You are eternally loved and accepted by the heavenly Father.

• You are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who is always with you, exercising the power of God in your life. 

• You’re a member of God’s ultimate family, the church, where you can grow, serve, and thrive in your faith. 

• Though the fullness of your identity is hidden, that is, not yet fully revealed, heaven awaits you, where, according to Psalm 16:11—is a fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. 

Nothing can erase these gospel blessings and realities. They are what now defines you. This is the glory of your conversion.”

“Having reminded us of our true identity, Paul draws attention to the future implication of our identity: One day, we will be with Christ in all his glory and majesty. Heaven is our home. We are citizens of heaven.”

“The fullness of our joy and glory with Christ is hidden today, but one day, it will be fully revealed and experienced when Christ returns. Then, there will be no more sin and suffering. No more sickness and death. No more conflict and confusion. All will be made right in the glorious presence of him that makes heaven, heaven—Jesus Christ! What a magnificent future that awaits us! Application: Study Heaven!”

“How do we live out our identity in Christ? Paul tells us—read 1. Seek—Identifying with Jesus involves seeking the things above. What are the things above? Not heavenly geography but the person, presence, and sufficiency of Jesus, whose presence consumes the heavenly realm.” 

“He is seated at the right hand of God. In Scripture, the right hand of God is the position of ultimate power, honor, dignity, and glory (Psalm 110:1). It’s the place of sovereign rule over creation (1 Peter 3:22). Hebrews 1:3 says it’s the place of ultimate victory. The risen and exalted Jesus sat down, figuratively a way to say my work of salvation is finished and sufficient. So seeking is a call to identify with all our sovereign and victorious Savior has accomplished, all he has promised, and all that awaits us in heaven.”

“And the nature of our seeking is intense. The verb seek implies a persistent effort and continuous concentration. Earnestly seek Christ above and keep seeking him. Think about your persistence when you want or believe in something. The idea is a relentless pursuit of Christ and the heavenly blessings that are ours in him. We don’t take our eyes off heaven.”

“This can look a lot of ways. But Paul says it begins with the mind—(2) Set your mind on the things that are above. Look up! [As though we are ] afraid of heights—Don’t look down—when you look down, fear, anxiety, and panic set in.” 

“That’s what these verses are meant to do: grab us by the temples and say—Look up! In a world full of pain, frustration, and uncertainty, Look up to Christ.”

“Look up where you will find your forgiveness and righteousness. Look up where you will find your worth and purpose. Look up where you will find your hope and joy. Look up where you will find your strength and security.”

“Take your eyes off the ideas, values, and circumstances of this world and LOOK UP to identify with Christ and all God’s promises that are Yes and Amen in him. Over and against the philosophies, wisdom, and hopes of this world, fix yourself on Christ.”

“Why? Point 1—You have died and risen with Christ, whom your life is now hidden in. Your life being hidden in Christ means you are eternally secure. It means the fullness of your life in him is yet to come when he appears (4). Most of all, it means all the realities and blessings above are yours here below.”

“We live in the now but not yet. Breaking news—we are not in heaven yet. But because by faith we identify with Christ now, we think and live as those who belong to the above because we do. Now, don’t take Paul to the absurd. His point is not to divorce yourself from this world as if we never think about things like education, politics, or finances. [Rather let] your perspectives, your attitudes, your emotional life, your responses, your preferences, your worldview, how you think about marriage, money, parenting, work, politics, tragedy, success, failure, singleness, education, leisure, retirement, health, sex, entertainment, and whatever else you think about—let it all be shaped, formed, and governed—not by this world, not by your life experiences or upbringing—but by your identity in Christ and the power and fullness of God in this life and eternity that is yours as a result.”

“This is not passive—It’s active. We must seek the things above and keep seeking them. Pursue them. Chase them. Hold onto them. Focus on them. Savor them. Treasure them. Never forget them. Never let them go. Seek them by setting your mind on Christ, in whom they are yours!”

“In my love for creative bookends, I know they need to be able to hold the books upright. The power of the cross and glory of heaven are sufficient to hold you upright in your walk with the Lord. Set your mind on them. Seek Christ. Believe and know you will never be disappointed in Him!”

QUOTES:
G.K. Beale - “The “seeking” is a desire to have one’s thinking and lifestyle continually oriented around Christ’s kingship over all things.”

Kent Hughes - “We see in these verses the “Great Divide” in the Christian life. What we set our minds on determines our seeking and thus the direction of our Christian lives.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Philippians 3:20
2 Corinthians 1:20
Ephesians 2:4-6
Philippians 4:8

APPLICATION:
Q. What characterizes your thought life?
Using common sense here, when you’re at work, your thoughts are on your work. I get it. But as you consider even your work, where does your mind go? When you set your mind on the things above you are more apt to seek the power of God for work through prayer. Is your thought life consumed with this world's responsibilities and material things, or do Christ and the things above characterize it?

Q. How do you respond when possessions, station in life, or a long-awaited opportunity is taken from you?
Do you lose your joy? Get angry? Blame God? Fall into self-pity?  Our responses in these moments reveal if our heart is fixed on this world or heaven above. As Jesus said—For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also—Matthew 6:21. When you set your mind on the things above, you are more apt to cherish your heavenly blessings more than your earthly treasures.

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
My Soul Will Wait (Psalm 62)
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
Cling to Christ
The Solid Rock

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Colossians 3:5-11

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

Self-made religion, with its forced regulations and condemnation, is an enemy to the finished work of Christ. This concerns Paul for this congregation in Colossae and this should concern us. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 2:16-23
TITLE:  Hold Fast to Christ
PREACHER: Tom Wilkins
BIG IDEA: Hold fast to Christ, for our life and growth in Him depend on Him alone.

POINTS:
1. Warning: Let no one judge you (vs. 16-17)
2. Warning: Let no one disqualify (vs. 18-19)

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes are taken from the pastor’s notes.
”Before [Paul] gets to those implications (a life in Christ), he warns the saints in vs. 8 (last week’s sermon) concerning this self-made “philosophy” that is “according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ” is creeping into the church - “See to it that no takes you captive by philosophy…”.  And today, Paul continues with two more warnings.”

“Until we step onto the golden shore of heaven, every generation of church will need to heed these warnings.”

“‘Let no one pass judgment on you…’ There were some who were ‘bringing them to task,’ challenging them in judgment, already condemning them… for their failure to follow certain Jewish dietary rules and celebration of certain sacred days. You should not be eating certain foods and drinks - the severe treatment of the body. You should be following the “festivals, new moon, and the Sabbath.” Originally, these things would have prepared the followers by making them clean and acceptable in tabernacle/temple/worship. They were passing judgment on the Christians based on their strict adherence to these regulations. Paul does not see each of these as THE threat but rather the requirement of these things.”

“Vs 17 ‘These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.’ He uses the word “shadow” in vs 16 and contrasts it with “substance.” The not-real with the real. For these things foreshadowed the “substantive body” that cast the shadow.”

“These OT regulations were shadows that pointed to something, to someONE. These things pointed the REALITY… the “substance” …the reality… was always Christ!”

“This draws out the great truth in redemptive history: the rules and regulations, sacred days, and celebrations all pointed to Jesus. They had a temporary purpose that has now been fulfilled in Christ. They were never the point!”

“The real and true Son of God came in the flesh

The real Lamb of God born to die impaled on a real Roman cross by real nails as his body poured forth his real and precious blood… He bore the full weight of God’s righteous wrath upon his broken body for the final punishment of our real sins. He dies a real death as he gasps his last breath. His heart stopped. He was wrapped in real death clothes and placed in a real tomb. Three real days passed, and the real stone was rolled away and our true and now resurrected Lord stepped away from the death wrap and exited into the early morning sun that he had created, appearing the disciples and hundreds more before they stood and watched Him ascend to real heaven and reign forevermore on THE throne as THE REALITIES OF REALITIES - THE LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH HIMSELF IN MAJESTY head over all rule and authority!”

“Paul’s warning in verse 16 is related to the judgment of those who take us to task and condemn us. He now delivers his next warning in verse 18: disqualification - disqualifying us from the award by self-appointed arbitrators or umpires who rob us of our prize. ‘Let no one disqualify you!’”

“BUT It is clear: all of these things in Verse 16 and 19 belong to the ‘philosophies’ ‘according to the elemental spirits of the world’ in mentioned again in the coming verse 20. THE RESULT is of a carnal nature ‘puffing themselves up’  and all of this being all in their ‘unspiritual minds’ ‘without reason by reason of a sensuous mind.’”

“If we submit to these things of the sensuous mind… to the philosophy and elementary spirits of this world… We let go of Christ. We let go of the very life stream for growth in God. We turn and submit ourselves to the rule and governance of this world…THIS is our ROOT PROBLEM and it is exposed in the text, and the matter could not be more dangerous.”

“Our root issue and dilemma is our failure to hold onto Christ as our Head. Something will always vie for the centrality of Christ in our faith. Verse 19 declares that we have dropped the very thing that feeds/nourishes, and holds us together - our life that “grows with a growth that is from God.” God does not grow us with the things of the flesh, no matter how impressive and insightful the principles of the world may sound. In our efforts to somehow hold onto Jesus and also hold onto the principles of the spirits of this world we have NOT gained… we have not grown… have not increased our insight into the struggle of the soul. The kingdom of this world does not add anything to the kingdom of God! In fact, it is an enemy of God’s kingdom. If we try to syncretize the two kingdoms by attempting to hold onto Christ and embracing these elemental spirits. Verse 19 says we drop Jesus, and we starve our souls!”

“Thank God for Head - Jesus… the head of the church, where, together with the church, we are now His body, and we are nourished by him alone and not by these things. Our growth and change come from Him.”

“Paul now brings his opening theology in chapters 1 and 2 to fruition. Paul has built his Christological framework: Through the preaching of the supremacy of Christ, declaring that we are now alive in Christ, he unfolded the mystery of Christ. He has warned us again and again and again. NOW in verses 20-23 Paul rounds the corner with his coming exhortation in chapter 3. In the coming chapters Paul moves from preaching the Glorious gospel - and he continues to hold fast to Christ - as he moves to the application… the implications of the gospel in our actions.”

QUOTES:
Peter O’Brien - “Christ has arrived.” “The substance has already come. The regulations belonged to a transitory order and have lost all binding force.”

David E. Garland - “Why play in the shadow world when you have experienced the real thing?”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Hebrews 10

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Reformation Song
Death Arrested
Jesus Paid It All
My Life Is An Offering
Cling to Christ

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Colossians 3:1-4

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

There is no other knowledge you must obtain, wisdom you must discover, or practices you must keep. Jesus is the supreme and sufficient Savior. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 2:8-15
TITLE:  As Good As It Gets
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Don’t be fooled; knowing Christ is as good as it gets.

POINTS:
1. Live alert to spiritual dangers
2. Live out of your union with Christ
3. Live free in the gospel

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes are taken from the pastor’s notes.
”Today’s text warns us of another kind of mixology—a spiritual mixology. To this point in the letter, Paul has repeatedly emphasized the Colossian's completeness in Christ. To know Jesus by faith is to know all you need to know to belong to God. There is no other knowledge you must obtain, wisdom you must discover, or practices you must keep. Jesus is the supreme and sufficient Savior.”

“The claim of the gospel is that if you have faith in Jesus, then you are in union with Christ, and you lack absolutely nothing regarding your standing with God. So how do we live in the good of that?”

“Our text begins with a warning. Of course, the presence of a warning means the possibility of danger. In 8, Paul says—See to it that no one takes you captive. The word captive is vivid. The imagery is a kidnapping. A person being carried away over someone’s shoulder. Paul warns the Colossians to live alert so they are not carried away from their only hope, Christ. Paul explains what they are to be on the alert for.”

“As it does today, in the first century, philosophy covered a wide range of ideas and practices meant to give one a deeper understanding and fuller experience of life. Some of it helpful. Some of it useless. In this context, Paul is warning about systems of thought and methods of living, probably a mix of Jewish tradition (16-23) and pagan belief, that was being integrated with the gospel as gospel.”

“Paul says—Don’t be fooled; it’s just empty deceit. It’s vain, worthless, and void of true spiritual value. Like sinking sand, it has no firm basis. Here’s why:  (8) It’s according to human tradition. It’s man-made. It’s preference, not truth. Remember 6-7—Build your life on what you received—Christ Jesus the Lord.”

“[Paul] tells us is to live alert to being carried away by worldviews and perspectives that promise greater purpose and fullness of life. WHY? Look at the end of 8—they are not according to Christ. They are not rooted in the gospel you heard from Epaphras (1:7). They are not centered on the one who is supreme over all creation and sufficient for salvation (1:15-20). You may not believe in mythical gods or follow the stars. But Paul’s warning is equally if not more important to us today. How many people blend Christianity with worldly philosophies?”

“The gospel is meant to be at the center of all our thinking and living.”

“Are you about to be kidnapped? Paul says—Beware of spiritual mixology. Be on the lookout for any ideas or teaching, no matter how plausible it may be, that promises greater blessing and spirituality apart from the gospel.”

“Paul spends the rest of the text showing the Colossians why all they need is Christ, emphasizing what God has done for them in Christ. In doing so, he shows any human and worldly philosophy to be ridiculous and empty, no matter how plausible they sound.”

“Paul counters the empty philosophies of the world to the fullness of God in Christ—read 9-10. The word dwelling should take us back to the OT, reminding us how God has revealed Himself throughout redemptive history. The God who once dwelled with His people on Mt. Zion, in the Tabernacle, then the Temple of Jerusalem, now dwells with His people in Jesus Christ. It’s the Christmas miracle of the Incarnation—Jesus was, is, and forever will be God in the flesh.”

“Jesus isn’t a shadow or virtual reality. Jesus is the wisdom, majesty, holiness, and glory of God made flesh who has been given all rule and authority. If Jesus is the fullness of God in every way—(10) you have been filled in him—then you have all the fullness of God you can ever possess in this life because in Christ God has given Himself to you. So, to have Christ is to lack absolutely nothing before God.”

“In this context, Paul uses circumcision to communicate the profound reality of their union with Christ. Look at 11 again—In him you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands (not physical but spiritual—a circumcision of the heart) by putting off the body of the flesh (that’s the spiritual circumcision—death of our old nature with its passions and desires according to Gal 5:24) by the circumcision of Christ. The circumcision of Christ being his death on the cross.”

“So the circumcision here is a graphic illustration of the death of Christ, in which we share through the miracle of regeneration where our old heart is stripped away (circumcised) in the spiritual death of the old man now made new by the Spirit. Notice the progression in 12—Having died in Christ, we were buried and raised with Christ, the spiritual reality demonstrated through baptism. Such is our union with Christ. We have spiritually died with Christ, were buried with Christ, and raised from the dead with Christ, so that, as it says in 13— we are made alive in Christ.”

“This is the glorious result of our union in Christ—full forgiveness. Notice Paul says we are forgiven of ALL our trespasses. The entire record of debt that stood against us was nailed to the cross with Christ.”

“Paul says the record of our debt was nailed to the cross with Christ. Picture a document that lists all the sins you ever committed. What a document that would be. What a lengthy document that would be. What a horrific document that would be. For every item on that document, you owe a debt to God. Impossible. But look at the precious words at the end of 14— This—that long horrific document of ALL your sin—he set aside, nailing it to the cross, effectively canceling it ALL.”

“The word canceling is a strong word. It means obliterate. The document with all your sins no longer exists. Your slate has been wiped clean before God. So that now, by faith, you are free to live life to the fullest. Free from the dominion of sin and free from the penalty of sin, you can seek a life of fullness that comes only by faith in Christ. Nothing else is needed, and no mixing is required because, through the death and resurrection of Jesus—read 15. Christ has won the battle. He has conquered sin, death, and evil. And because Christ has conquered, we have conquered and will conquer.”

QUOTES:
Kent Hughes - “Christ’s circumcision on the cross involved not the stripping away of a small piece of flesh, but the violent removal of his entire body in death.”

APPLICATION:
Where do you go to make sense out of life? As we turn the corner into the new year, some self-evaluation is good:

1. How much time do you spend on social media? Personal musings and sound bites aren’t a good place to find the purpose of life. 

2. How discerning are you about the resources you read? Do you have a system to discern them

3. How often do you submit your thoughts to others? It’s easy to live in a bubble.

4. BIG ONE: How much time do you spend in God’s word? 

See to it that in your honest desire to grow as a Christian, you aren’t taken captive by the things that diminish and distort Christ. You don’t need something new; you need something true, according to Jesus. Anything less will carry you away from God, and you lose.

Don’t be fooled; knowing Christ is as good as it gets.

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Man Of Sorrows
It Was Finished Upon That Cross
We Receive
My Redeemers Love

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Colossians 2:16-17

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon