Living In Response to the Preeminence of Jesus Christ

Colossians 1:1-23

Purpose: Because Christ is preeminent over all things and is God, live faithfully
                and joyfully in Him.

1. Live Body-Committed (Colossians 1:1-5a)
   United in Faith
   United in Love
              United in Hope

2. Live Gospel-Centered (Colossians 1:5b-14)
   Proclaim
             Pray
             Praise

3. Live Christ-Dependent (Colossians 1:15-20)
   Find Rest
   Find Peace
              Find Life

4. Live Eternity-Focused (Colossians 1:21-23)
   Pursue
                       Persevere

The Preeminence of Jesus Christ

Colossians 1:1-23

Purpose: To understand the absolute preeminence of Jesus Christ over and in all things.

1. Greetings & Grateful Prayer (Colossians 1:1-5)
       The Reason for Gratitude: the Gospel (Colossians 1:6-8) 
       Prayer Due to Fruit (Colossians 1:9)
       Purposes of the Prayer (Colossians 1:10-12) 

2. The Father’s Performance (Colossians 1:13)

3. The Son’s Preeminence (Colossians 1:14-18)

4. The Father’s Purpose (Colossians 1:19-20)

5. God’s Effect on People (Colossians 1:21-23)

The Pastors of God’s Flock Held Accountable
1 Timothy 5:17-22

          Purpose: The Overseer/Elder/Pastors of God’s flock are held accountable by fellow elders, the church, and ultimately the Chief Shepherd, Christ himself.

1. The Accountability of The Plurality (1 Tim. 5:19-22; 1 Peter 5:1)
    Luke 22:32 – “Strengthen your brothers”
       1 Timothy 1:19-20

2. The Accountability of The Body (1 Tim. 5:20)
    Matthew 18:15-17

3. The Accountability of The Chief Shepherd (1 Timothy 5:21; 1 Peter 5:2,-4)
       James 3:1
       Hebrews 13:17
       2 Peter 2:1-3

The Pastors of God’s Flock

Purpose: rediscovering the God-given way Pastors Shepherd God’s Flock

1. Shepherds as Teachers
     -Ephesians 4:11 “pastors and teachers”
     -1 Timothy 4:16 “Pay close attention to yourself
          and to your teaching”
      -1 Timothy 3:2 “An overseer, then, must be … able
          to teach”
      -2 Timothy 2:2 “entrust these to faithful men who
          will be able to teach others also”
      -2 Timothy 2:24 “The Lord’s bond-servant must …
           be kind to all, able to teach, patient when
           wronged”

2. Shepherds as Guardians  
      -Titus 1:9 “able both to exhort in sound doctrine
          and to refute those who contradict”

3. Shepherds as Stewards
      -2 Timothy 1:8-14 “in Christ Jesus… Guard, through
          the Holy Spirit… the treasure” 
      -2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5 “Preach the Word”
      -Titus 1:7 “the overseer… God’s steward”

4. Examples of Shepherds as Teachers, Guardians, and Stewards
      Peter’s Example

• Peter’s 3 Denials of Jesus (John 13:38; 18:15-17; 25-27)
• Jesus Restores Peter 3 Times “Shepherd My Sheep” (John 21:15-19)
• Peter’s Teaching, “long for the pure milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:1-9)
• Peter’s Exhortation, “elders… shepherd the flock of God” (1 Peter 4:14-5:5)

                   Paul’s Example (Acts 20:17-38)

• “with you the whole time” (18)
• “serving the Lord… humility… tears… trials” (19)
• “did not shrink back from declaring … anything… profitable” (20)
• “solemnly testifying… repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (21)
• Paul’s willingness to testify unto death (22-24)
• “preaching the kingdom” (25)
• “innocent… for I did not shrink from declaring… the whole purpose of God (27)
• “be on guard… for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you overseers” (28)
• “shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (28)
• Why? “savage wolves… not sparing… speaking perverse things… draw away” (30)
• “be on alert… remembering… admonish each one with tears” (31)
• “now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace” (32)
• “coveted no one’s silver or gold… ministered to my own needs” (33-34)
• “remember the words of the Lord Jesus” (35)

The Leaders Qualified by God
1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9

          Purpose: Jesus, the head of the Church, has given overseer/elder/pastors to his church to care for their souls as undershepherds. As such, he has called and qualified these men to serve the church he created.

                   1. Aspiration and Ability (1 Tim. 3:1, 2)
                          A man who Aspires
                          A man able to teach

                  2. Character and Maturity (1 Tim. 3:2-4, 6; Titus 1:6-9a)
                         Possess exemplary Integrity and maturity, not perfection.  
                          Above reproach*                 Husband of One Wife*                 Temperate                                       
                           Prudent                                  Not accused of dissipation          Sensible
                           Respectable                          Hospitable                                     Able to teach                                                        
                           Not addicted to wine*         Not pugnacious*                           Not Self-willed
                           Not Quick tempered            Gentle                                            Peaceful
                           Not accused of rebellion     Free from love of money             Not fond of sordid gain                     
                           Manages Household well    Children who believe                   Not a new convert     
                           Loving what is Good            Just                                                  Devout                         
                           Holding fast to the faithful Word (Gospel)     Good Reputation outside of the Church 
                            

                3. Reputation and Responsibility (1 Tim. 3:5,7; Titus 1:5,9b, Acts 6:4)
                       In a specific locale
                       Guarding the local church

The Church Created by God

Purpose: to rediscover the true church created by God

1. Jesus Builds His Church

The Foundation is The Great Confession of Jesus Christ

Matthew 16:15-19 – “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

2. Jesus Purchases His Church from Among All Nations

The Message is The Gospel of Christ

Matthew 26-28, esp. 26:31-32 – The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ

            Luke 24:44-47 – The resurrection: All of Scripture, All in Jesus Christ, for All Nations

            Acts 20:28 – overseers, shepherding the flock, created by the Trinity

3. Jesus Gathers His Church

The Covenant Sign is Baptism Into the Body of Christ

Matthew 22:35-39 The Great Commandments

Matthew 28:18-20 The Great Commission

Acts 2:29-47

           Gospel Preached, People Repent & believe then baptized, & discipled in the body

1. 39 “as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself”

            Rom 6:3-4 – baptized, buried, and raised with Jesus Christ!

            1 Corinthians 12:13 - “baptized into one body”

            Galatians 3:27 - “baptized into Christ”

            1 Corinthians 11:20-26 – the Lord’s Supper, the New Covenant in His blood

            Ephesians 2:19-22 – God’s holy temple in Christ, built on the apostles & prophets: Bible

4. Jesus is Head of His Church

Jesus Christ, not any man, is Head of the Church Created by God

Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:10, 21; 5:23, 27 – Jesus is Head of the church, His body

Colossians 1:18 – Jesus is Head of the body, the church

            2 Cor 2:14-17 - Jesus leads believers in triumph

            Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Cor 5:17-21 – believers are new creatures, ambassadors for God

            Acts 14:23, 20:28 – elders (pl) appointed in every church (sg) to shepherd the flock
                                             bought with His blood

            1 Timothy 3:15 – the church is the Pillar and Support of the truth

            Hebrews 12:22-24 – the New Covenant church enrolled in heaven

5. Jesus is the Bridegroom of the Bride, His Church

            The Eternal Destiny of God’s People is to be With Christ

John 3:29 – Jesus is the bridegroom

            Ephesians 1:4 – chosen in Jesus before the foundation of the world, holy and blameless

            Ephesians 5:27 – present to Himself the church in all her glory, holy and blameless

            Colossians 1:22 – reconciled, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless

            Revelation 19:7; 21:2, 9; 22:17 – the marriage of the Lamb and His bride

God-Empowered Change
Ephesians 4:20-24

Purpose: "As Christians, we resolve to be more like Christ every day, laying aside the old self and putting on the new, which is created in God's likeness!"

1. Learn Jesus, The Source of Truth (Eph. 4:20-21)

2. Lay Aside the Old Self (Eph. 4:22)

3. Put On the New Self (Eph. 4:23-24)

The King of Christmas

Purpose: to hear the greatest story, of the greatest King, ever told 

1. When God was King of His People  
       Leviticus 20:26
       Numbers 9:15-18
       Numbers 35:34
       Deut. 1:32
       Deuteronomy 17:14-20
       Judges 8:23

2. When God’s People Rejected Him as King    
       1 Samuel 8:1-22, esp. v. 7

3. When God Proclaimed His Return
        2 Samuel 7:1-17
        Psalm 29:10; 47
        Isaiah 43:15
       Jeremiah 23:5
       Lam. 5:19-22
      *Ezekiel 20:33
       Ezekiel 37:20-28
       Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14, 27
       Zechariah 14:9
       Micah 5:2, quoted in Matthew 2:6

4. The King of Christmas  
       Matthew 2:2; 21:1-9
       John 12:13; 12:15; 18:33-38
       1 Peter 2:9-10
       Titus 2:11-15
       1Timothy 6:14-16
       Revelation 15:3; 17:14; 19:21

Authentic Christianity 101

Hebrews 13:20-25

Purpose: to glorify Christ in worship, discipleship, and mission

1. God Raised Up the Great Shepherd Jesus Christ (Heb. 13:20)
      “God of peace”
      “Brought up from the dead”
      “The Great Shepherd of the sheep… Jesus our Lord” (Heb 9-10; John 10:11; 1 Pet 2:25)
      “Through the blood of the eternal covenant”  (Heb 7:25; 9:12, 15; Heb 8 and Jer 31)
      The gospel of eternal salvation!  (Heb 5:9; Luke 24:44-47; 1 Cor 15:1-8; Rom 10:9-14)
      Worship only Jesus! (Heb 1:5-14)

2. God Equips His People to do His Will (Heb. 13:21)
      Faith (Heb 11)
      Hope (Heb 12)
      Love (Heb 13)
      “Equip you for every good thing to do His will”  (Heb 13:21)
      This is authentic Discipleship!
      To Jesus be the glory forever and ever! (Eph 3:20-21)

3. God Calls His People to His Word (Heb. 13:22-25)
      A Brief Encouragement!
      The Supremacy of Jesus Christ over all! (Heb Chs 1-10)
      Five Warnings designed to preserve the soul (Heb 10:39)
         - Jesus is Superior to Angels, listen to His message of salvation (Heb 2:1-4)
        - Jesus is Superior to Moses, take heed (Heb 3:1 – 4:13)
        - Don’t Go Backward; leave OT shadows and go to NT realities (Heb 6:1-8)
        - The Danger of Despising God (Heb 10:26-31)
        - Do Not Refuse God (Heb 12:25-29)
      The Living Word: Jesus is God’s message to the world (see Heb 1:1-4)
      The Written Word (see Heb 4:12)
      Jesus is better! Live the Mission of Jesus!

 God’s man or woman, knows God’s will, from God’s Word!

Living the Authentic Christian Life – Together
Hebrews 13:15-19

Purpose: Because Jesus is “better,” we are called to live the authentic Christian life together as His Church, as a testimony to the world.

1. Authentic Sacrifices (Heb. 13:15-16)
   Praise and Thanksgiving, not Lambs and Goats.

2. Authentic Submission (Heb. 13:17)
   As to the Lord

3. Authentic Supplication (Heb. 13:18-19)
   To the honor of Christ

Living the Authentic Christian Life

Hebrews 13:1-14

Purpose: Because Jesus is “better,” we are called to live the authentic Christian life …

1. In the Principle of Love (13:1-4)
   Despite trials, we continue Christian community and brotherly love

2. In the Provision of God (13:5-6)
   Despite our own need, we continue to support those who minister the gospel

3. In the Permanence of Jesus Christ (13:7-9)
   Despite unstable situations, we trust in the unchanging faithfulness of Jesus Christ

4. In Partnership with Jesus Outside the Camp (13:10-14)
   Despising the shame, we count it a privilege to be suffer with Christ

Living the authentic Christian life is about enduring faith in Jesus, hope in Him who entered the eternal city , and love of one another despite all temporal difficulties!

Sinners In The Hands Of A Holy God
(Hebrews 12:18-29)

Purpose: We have confidence that the blood of Christ perfects those who endure, so that when we come face-to-face with the Holy God, we will experience eternal, unshakeable joy.

• The Weight of the Holy God (Heb. 12:18-21)
  Sinai – the Old Covenant mountain of God (Exodus 19:10-14)

• The Welcome of the Holy God (Heb. 12:22-24)
  Zion – the New Covenant city of God (Revelation 21:2-4)

• The Warning of the Holy God (Heb. 12:25)
  The Curses of Deuteronomy 28:15-68

• The Word of the Holy God (Heb. 26-27)
  The coming Judgment

• The Worship of the Holy God (Heb. 12:28-29)
  The eternal, unshakeable joy of the redeemed