Rooted in Christ: Faith, Love, and Hope
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we began our journey through the book of Colossians, a letter written by the Apostle Paul, with Timothy as a co-author, to the church in Colossae. This letter, penned during Paul's house arrest around 62 AD, addresses the church's strengths and areas needing correction, particularly concerning false teachings and the integration of Greek philosophy with Christian theology. Paul commends the Colossians for their faith, love, and hope, emphasizing that their faith is rooted in Christ, their love is unconditional and sacrificial, and their hope is anchored in the promise of heaven.
Paul's gratitude extends to the transformative power of the gospel, which has borne fruit in the lives of the Colossians and continues to spread globally. He underscores the importance of adhering to the "word of truth" and warns against deviating from the gospel's teachings. The gospel's impact is not just internal but also external, compelling believers to share their faith with others.
Paul also highlights the faithful leadership of Epaphras, the pastor who brought the gospel to Colossae after hearing Paul preach in Ephesus. Epaphras is praised for his dedication to teaching and discipling the church, ensuring that the gospel's truth is upheld and that the church continues to grow and evangelize.
As we reflect on this message, we are reminded of the importance of maintaining a strong foundation in Christ, exhibiting faith, love, and hope, and being proactive in sharing the gospel. We are also encouraged to appreciate and support our church leaders who faithfully guide us in our spiritual journey.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith Rooted in Christ: True faith must be anchored in Jesus Christ. Just as we trust our car to start because we maintain it, our saving faith must be based on the truth of Christ's lordship and sacrifice. Without this foundation, our faith is meaningless. The Colossians exemplified this by trusting exclusively in Christ for their salvation. [13:54]
2. Unconditional Love: The love we show to fellow believers should be unconditional and sacrificial, mirroring the agape love Christ demonstrated on the cross. This love is not selective or conditional but extends to all saints, binding us together in perfect harmony. The Colossians practiced this love, which was evident in their actions and relationships. [17:22]
3. Hope as Our Anchor: Our hope in Christ is the foundation of our faith and love. This hope is not just an anticipation of future glory but a present reality that anchors our souls. It is the personification of Jesus Christ, who will one day appear, and we will see Him face to face. This hope sustains us and motivates us to live out our faith. [21:49]
4. The Transformative Power of the Gospel: The gospel changes lives both inwardly and outwardly. It compels us to share the good news with others, producing fruit that is evident to those around us. The Colossians experienced this transformation, and their faithfulness in spreading the gospel led to its growth and impact in their community. [23:43]
5. Faithful Leadership: Effective church leadership is crucial for spiritual growth and discipleship. Epaphras, the pastor of the Colossian church, exemplified this by faithfully teaching and caring for his congregation. His dedication ensured that the church remained grounded in the truth of the gospel and continued to flourish. [35:20]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:20] - Introduction to Colossians
[02:58] - Background of the Church in Colossae
[04:27] - Paul's Purpose in Writing
[05:48] - The Impact of False Teachings
[06:56] - The Real Jesus
[07:43] - Paul's Greeting and Thanksgiving
[09:12] - Co-Authorship with Timothy
[11:05] - Faith, Hope, and Love
[13:18] - The Importance of Saving Faith
[16:44] - Unconditional Love for All Saints
[20:32] - Hope Laid Up in Heaven
[23:04] - The Working of the Gospel
[26:17] - The Gospel's Global Impact
[29:28] - The Call to Evangelize
[35:20] - Faithful Leadership of Epaphras
[41:20] - Conclusion and Call to Action
[45:28] - Invitation and Communion Preparation
[48:20] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Colossians 1:1-8 (ESV): "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit."
### Observation Questions
1. What are the three virtues Paul commends the Colossians for in his letter? ([11:05])
2. Who brought the gospel to Colossae, and how did he come to know it? ([02:58])
3. What does Paul mean by "the word of truth" in Colossians 1:5? ([24:22])
4. How does Paul describe the impact of the gospel in the lives of the Colossians? ([23:43])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Paul emphasizes faith, love, and hope in his letter to the Colossians? How do these virtues interrelate? ([11:05])
2. What might be the implications of the false teachings that were infiltrating the Colossian church, and how does Paul address these issues? ([04:27])
3. How does the example of Epaphras' leadership provide a model for church leaders today? ([35:20])
4. In what ways does Paul suggest that the gospel should transform both the internal and external lives of believers? ([23:04])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own faith. Is it rooted in Christ as Paul describes? What steps can you take to deepen your faith in Jesus this week? ([13:54])
2. How can you show unconditional and sacrificial love to fellow believers in your community? Think of a specific action you can take this week to demonstrate this love. ([17:22])
3. What does it mean for you to have hope as an anchor in your life? How can this hope influence your daily actions and decisions? ([21:49])
4. The gospel compels us to share our faith with others. Identify one person in your life who needs to hear the gospel. How can you share the good news with them this week? ([23:43])
5. How can you support and appreciate the leaders in your church, similar to how Paul commends Epaphras? Consider writing a note of encouragement or offering to help in a specific way. ([35:20])
6. Paul warns against deviating from the gospel's teachings. Are there any areas in your life where you might be influenced by false teachings or cultural pressures? How can you realign with the "word of truth"? ([24:22])
7. Think about the transformative power of the gospel in your own life. How has it changed you inwardly and outwardly? Share a testimony of this transformation with your small group. ([23:04])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith Rooted in Christ
True faith must be anchored in Jesus Christ. Just as we trust our car to start because we maintain it, our saving faith must be based on the truth of Christ's lordship and sacrifice. Without this foundation, our faith is meaningless. The Colossians exemplified this by trusting exclusively in Christ for their salvation. [13:54]
Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV): "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."
Reflection: Think about an area in your life where you struggle to fully trust Jesus. What steps can you take today to deepen your faith in Him and rely on His truth?
Day 2: Unconditional Love
The love we show to fellow believers should be unconditional and sacrificial, mirroring the agape love Christ demonstrated on the cross. This love is not selective or conditional but extends to all saints, binding us together in perfect harmony. The Colossians practiced this love, which was evident in their actions and relationships. [17:22]
1 John 4:11-12 (ESV): "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."
Reflection: Identify someone in your church or community who may feel unloved or overlooked. How can you show them Christ-like, unconditional love today?
Day 3: Hope as Our Anchor
Our hope in Christ is the foundation of our faith and love. This hope is not just an anticipation of future glory but a present reality that anchors our souls. It is the personification of Jesus Christ, who will one day appear, and we will see Him face to face. This hope sustains us and motivates us to live out our faith. [21:49]
Hebrews 6:19-20 (ESV): "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
Reflection: Reflect on a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can the hope you have in Christ provide you with strength and encouragement today?
Day 4: The Transformative Power of the Gospel
The gospel changes lives both inwardly and outwardly. It compels us to share the good news with others, producing fruit that is evident to those around us. The Colossians experienced this transformation, and their faithfulness in spreading the gospel led to its growth and impact in their community. [23:43]
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."
Reflection: Think of someone who needs to hear the gospel. How can you share the transformative power of Christ with them this week?
Day 5: Faithful Leadership
Effective church leadership is crucial for spiritual growth and discipleship. Epaphras, the pastor of the Colossian church, exemplified this by faithfully teaching and caring for his congregation. His dedication ensured that the church remained grounded in the truth of the gospel and continued to flourish. [35:20]
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (ESV): "We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves."
Reflection: Take a moment to pray for your church leaders. How can you support and encourage them in their ministry this week?
Quotes
1. "And I think as believers, we spend a lot of time in the temporal world, this temporary world, we forget about heaven and the glory that's going to happen. And we get to worship in our terms, to put it in any human terms, 24-7 worshiping God and glorifying him." [00:30] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "However, there's some times in our lives that we get so bogged down with life that life becomes more important than Christ. So, it's important that we read these books that talk about the gospel, that talk about the gospel, that talk about all the good things the church is doing, but also corrects the negative things they are doing. Because we all need a greater devotion to Jesus in our lives." [04:27] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We cannot allow the culture to dictate what the church believes and what the church does. The church needs to influence the culture on how they act and how they do things. And so, Paul is really hitting the nail on the head when it comes to culture wars within the world. Thus, the Holy Spirit leads Paul to write these letters to the churches." [05:48] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "There are different forms of Jesus out there. There's the Jesus of Scripture. There's the Jesus we create in our own mind, who we say Jesus is. And there's the Jesus that the world says he was. Oh, he was just a guy. He was a good teacher. He was just a good man with good teachings. But that's not who Jesus was. He was the Messiah, the only Son of God." [06:56] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The same thing is true with our saving faith. If our saving faith is not good, if our saving faith is based on anything other than Jesus Christ, then our saving faith is worthless because it's not based on truth. There are not 50 ways to get to heaven. There is one way, and that's the man Jesus Christ." [14:28] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The love that we have for one another in the body of Christ binds us together in perfect harmony. There's a reason why cross keys is thriving right now. It's the love we have for one another and for Jesus, because it binds us together. You see, Paul was thankful for the sacrificial love that this church in Colossae had, because it was the love of Christ and not the love of the world." [19:50] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The hope that we have, it awaits for us in the eternal home that we will have in glory, and that is Jesus Christ. That is the hope that is laid up for us in heaven. He is the very personification of hope for us. And one day that hope will appear and we will see our Savior face to face again." [21:08] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "The gospel does not just change us inwardly. It also changes us outwardly as well. Because if we're not hearing, if it were not for hearing the gospel being preached and then responding to it, the Christians, the Colossae, would have been incapable of faith, hope, and love. It would be impossible for them to be able to share the gospel." [24:22] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "We either believe what the Bible says or we believe in something other. The Bible is the gold standard. It is the truth of Scripture, it is the truth of God, and we need to adhere to what the Bible says to do. And that is what Paul is telling the Colossian church. Look, you have a scribe, subscribe to the word of truth, which is the gospel as preached to you by your pastor. Now stick with it." [25:39] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "When people notice that you are a Christian, that's the only thing they're going to see is Jesus through you. The Colossians did not hide their light under a basket. They didn't leave their doors locked when the church was meeting. They let their light shine for all to see. So Paul was thankful that the gospel was working in the lives of those within this church and the fruit that is being produced." [34:34] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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