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Colossians 3.18 – 4.18 Household Rules (3.18-4.1) Humorous Household Rules by Ian Frazier in the article Laws concerning food and drink; household principles; lamentations of the father. © The Atlantic Monthly, Feb 1997 v279 n2 p89(2) Have you heard the old saying? “Don’t be too heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good.” We … Read more
Colossians 3.18—4.18 This section begins with some basic household rules. Paul addresses three groups of people: Wives (submit) and Husbands (love), Children (obey) and Parents (don’t provoke), Slaves (obey) and Masters (treat with justice/fairness). He gives each group instructions (see parenthetical statements above) on how to live together in ways that honor God. (Note: In … Read more
Colossians 3.1-17 Key verse: Keep seeking the things above … Keep thinking about things aboveKnow who you are in ChristThe transformation: put to death, put off, put onVv 1-4 are theological foundation for the following practical verses. Focus on things above because:-you died to the old order-you are already raised with Christ so that you … Read more
Colossians 3.1-17 Let heaven fill your thoughts! Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ … Read more
Colossians 2.6 – 2.23 Intro: Warning LabelsI get in my car and there are three warnings posted on my visor: high rollover risk; airbag; and seatbelt. Other places we see warning labels:prescription drugsSurgeon General’s Warning: Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy.On coffee: Caution: Hot! Many warning labels today are to … Read more
We see warning labels all over the place. There’s a warning label on boxes of cigarettes: "SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, and May Complicate Pregnancy." On coffee cups, you’ll notice the warning, “Caution: Hot!” You might see signs occasionally, exclaiming, “Flammable!” or "High Voltage!" On homes, you might see signs … Read more
Colossians 1.24–29Colossians 2.1-5 EQUIPEQUIP is a ministry of John Maxwell which is designed to equip leaders abroad to do the work of Christ. Bill Bright predicted that 1 billion people would come to know Christ in the first decade of the 21st Century (by 2010). This is creating a need in the church:4,000 pastors needed … Read more
For this series, we’re using the New English Translation. It’s posted online by chapter, so you can read today’s text by clicking on Colossians 1.24–29 and Colossians 2.1-5. God call servants First, let’s talk about God’s call. Paul writes, “according to the stewardship from God.” Clearly (from here and other writings), Paul understood that he … Read more
It’s great to be with all of you today at the Shaver’s Creek Community Building where the six United Methodist congregations, representing hundreds of years of ministry here in the Juniata Valley, are gathering for a special day of worship and fellowship. Community From early on in our planning, we knew we wanted to focus … Read more
Colossians 1. 1.15-23 What moves you?Do you have a passion for something? A hobby, sport, … Do you have something that moves you emotionally: that gets you excited, pumped up, (or triggers disappointment, anger?) On our way home from a youth event, we stopped at a McDonald’s for dinner. The last 5 minutes of the … Read more