Fight For the Authentic Christian Life
Colossians 3:1-17

Purpose: The authentic Christian life is the spoils of a war already waged and won by the preeminent Christ. The outcome is sure, even as our battles rage.

1. The Conflict of Life (Col. 1-4)

2. The Strategy of Sin (Col. 5-11a)

3. Christ Our Champion (Col. 3:11b)

4. The Strategy of Christ (Col. 3:12-14)

5. The Spoils of Victory (Col. 3:15-17)

The Authentic Christian Life

Colossians 3:1-17

Purpose: The authentic Christian life is found in Christ alone, on earth and in heaven!

1. Focus on Future Glory (Col 3:1-4)
       A command: “keep seeking” what?
       Another command: “set your mind” on what?
       The REASON for this Focus: You have “died”
           See Gal 2:20

2. Consider Your Conversion (Col 3:5-8)
       Another command:  “kill” what?
          See Matt 6:24; Luke 16:13; 2 Peter 2:19
       Another command: “you put them all aside”

3. Authentic New Life (Col 3:9-11)
       Another command: “Do not to lie to one another”
       The REASON: “since” you “laid aside” the “old self
       NOW “put on” the “new self”
           See Rom 8:29; Eph 2:1-16, but esp. 13-16
       This is the “mystery” lived out! Christ “in all” who believe regardless of
       distinction!
           Col 1:24-29 & Eph 2:14-18, Saved Jew & Gentile become one body in Christ’s church

4. Live for CHRIST (Col 3:12-17)
       Another command: “Put on a heart of compassion”
           See Gal 5:22ff; Matt 18:23-35; Phil 2:1-8
       Another command: “be thankful” 

The authentic Christian life is found in Christ alone, on earth and in heaven!

The Risen Life in Christ

Easter 2024

Purpose: To live the Risen Life in Christ

1. The Risen Christ, Happy Easter!
      Matthew 28
          Jesus Christ died on a cross to pay for our sins!
          Jesus is Alive! He is Risen from the dead!
          Jesus is the Savior of all who believe!

2. The Root of our Risen Faith
      1 Corinthians 15
          The Risen Lord is the Reality of our Faith

3. Requirement of the Risen Life
       Luke 9:18-26; Romans 6:8-11; Ephesians 2:1-10
          Dead to self, Alive in Christ!

4. The Result of the Risen Life
       Romans 6:1-14; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:8-12;
       Colossians 3:1-11
          Free from Sin to Live in Christ!

To live the risen life in Christ:

Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sin and rose again to save you

Repent from your sin and cry out to Jesus to be your personal Savior and Lord

Live your life in the certainty of His forgiveness and the power of a new risen life

Live by faith in Jesus Christ and all that he teaches in His Word, from baptism to full obedience

Set Your Face to Jerusalem
(Luke 9:51-62)

Purpose: The journey to the cross was one of focused, purposeful determination to bring life through death. When we take up our cross and follow Him there, we too participate in the triumphal procession of Christ who brought peace and reconciliation with God.

1. His Resolve Displayed (Luke 9:51)

2. His Reason Declared (Luke 9:52-56)

3. His Requirement Defined (Luke 9:57-62)

Living a Substantial Life
(Colossians 2:6-23)

Purpose: Only in the preeminent Christ, the Lord of All, can we live a life of substance that glorifies Him.

1. Walk in Christ (Col. 2:6-7)

2. Think Like Christ (Col. 2:8)

3. Glory in Christ (Col. 2:9-15)

4. Be Confident in Christ (Col. 2:16-19)

    5. Rebel in Christ (Col. 2:20-23)

The Substance Belongs to Christ!

Colossians 2:4-23

Purpose: God is the primary Actor in all of history, believe only in Jesus Christ! 

1. Paul’s Purpose: A Warning! A Command! A Command Warning! (Col. 2:4-8)

2. Jesus is God… is Supreme… is Alive! (Col. 2:9-12)

3. Made Alive in Christ! (Col. 2:13-14)

4. The Absolute Triumph of Christ Over All (Col. 2:15)

5. The Substance Belongs to Christ (Col. 2:16-19)
       Christ v. Religion
       Shadow gives way to Substance

6. How Then Shall We Live? (Col. 2:20-23)

God in Jesus is the primary Actor in all of history, therefore to believe in anything other than Jesus Christ is to miss out on the greatest experience of existence, life itself. 

Generating a Heart for the Lost
Colossians 1:24-2:5

Purpose: to foster Christian hearts willing to sacrifice for the salvation of the lost

Introduction - Paul’s Gospel Focus:
    Romans 1:16-17 “the gospel… the power of God for
salvation to everyone who believes”
    Romans 15:20 “I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named”
    1 Corinthians 1:24 “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God”
    1 Corinthians 2:2 “to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified”
    1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ”

1. Sacrifice for the Salvation of Others (Col 1:24-27)
       Acts 9:13-16
       1 Peter 2:21-25
       1 Peter 4:19
       2 Timothy 2:3-10 The Heart of An Apostle, Suffering for the Sake of Christ in Others

2. To Present Them Complete in Christ (Col. 1:28-29)

3. Because God’s Mystery is Now Revealed in Christ! (Col 2:1-3)
       God’s Mystery is Christ Himself (v. 2)
       All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found only in Christ (v. 3)
       1 Corinthians 2:7-13

4. Resulting in All Believers Standing Confident in Christ (Col 2:4-5)

A heart for Christ generates a heart to sacrifice for the salvation of others, to present them complete in Christ, because God’s mystery is now revealed in Christ, resulting in all believers standing confident in Christ.

Bearing the Gospel Burden
Colossians 1:24-2:5

Purpose: The responsibility of proclaiming and defending the gospel of the preeminent Christ, is a burden to be carried with joy and care.

1. Paul’s Joy in Suffering (Colossians 1:24)

2. Paul’s Task of Stewardship (Colossians 1:25-27)

3. Paul’s Purpose in Preaching (Colossians 1:28-29)

4. Paul’s Goal in Striving (Colossians 2:1-3)

5. Paul’s Heart of Unity (Colossians 2:4-5)

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)