outsiders

Dealing with the World

Colossians 4.5-6
I. Limited Time
We are only on this earth for a limited time. God has numbered our days and selected our paths. Knowing this, Paul makes known a principle that we should be aware of when dealing with the world. Our life is but a vapor and then its gone. Our sole purpose in life is to Glorify God. We will glorify God when we make the best use of our time. This should be done in all aspects of life, as well as our relationships with non- Christ Followers. This is important because obviously we don’t live alone here on earth. There are others with us. God has chosen us as tools to spread his message. The Good news….the GOSPEL. DO you think that we do realize our limited time as Christians? And if we do, why don’t we live like it? Why do you think Paul tells them of their limited time? Do you make the best use of your time?
II. Wise Walk
Walking wisely is vital when dealing with the world. We must be on our guard. We must also live intentionally or on purpose. There are so many obstacles that may derail us in our walk with Christ. And when a “derailing” occurs the world notices. Not only that, but we have been giving a privilege to share and be a witness of the Glories of God. A wise believer will walk with purpose, intentions, and with a focus. Wisdom is using the knowledge that we have gained from the Word. Its living out the word. Its putting legs on prayers. James talks about it….its faith being put into good works. Describe a situation where wisdom is needed in our dealing with the world? Why should we worry about having a wise walk?
III. Seasoned Speech
Many times our tongues can get us in a heap of steamy trouble! Especially when dealing with the world. We can get hurt or offended and we will then speak our minds! This is wrong. Paul urges us to have grace seasoned in our speech. This allows us to be more like Christ. When we depend upon our wisdom our speech becomes hurtful and malignant. When we disagree with the world and our feelings or pride is on the line we must exercise grace. It is said in the Bible to be quick to hear, and slow to anger. Give Grace to those who need it most. Has there ever been a time where you did not have grace in your speech? Why do you think that Paul mentions this in this text? How does it apply to you directly?
IV. The Outsider
Paul mentions the outsider and the person whom we answer in these texts. We must remember our job. Just as you and I need a savior, so does this world. When dealing with the world we need to stop and recognize that the only difference between us and them is the grace of God. Many of us are unwise with our dealings with the outsider. This can be hurtful to the non-believer. There are many legalistic men and women in this world who do not use these truths in their conduct with the world. When we fall into this trap, we become legalistic, and ignorant to the things of God. How are we to deal with this lost world? What can we do to be intentional in our relationships with those who are not believers? What do you see as the biggest problem in the way Christians deal with the world? Do you think that we can be to friendly with the world? And if so when does that happen?

recommended books

These are some books that I have been reading. I also highly recommend them. They are really challenging me spiritually.

this a great picture of Nate Garrett. He is watching tv in Jackson Hole Wyoming. He is warching sponge bob haha. Well turn off the tube and check out some of these books

here they are:

Finally Alive--- John Piper

THe Heart of the Gospel --Martin Lloyd Jones

Ashamed of the Gospel--John MacAurthor

THe Joyful Christian ---Cs Lewis

God is the Gospel--John Piper

Dont Waste Your Life -- John Piper

Here are some good web sites

http://www.swoutfitters.com/

http://sermonindex.net/

http://www.desiringgod.org/

http://www.woodlandbaptist.org/

http://t4g.org/

http://www.9marks.org/

Instructions on Prayer

Instructions in prayer
Colossians 4.2-4
Prayer should come natural for the believer. But we make it a chore. This privilege that we have been given through the gospel is taken for granted daily. We have opportunity to converse and share with the living God. The one who created the world, want us to come to him in prayer. Notice Paul’s instructions to the Colossians.
I. Intentional Prayer
Prayer for us is something that we do as a habit or good thing. But prayer is of vast importance. Notice how exact Paul’s instructions are. We are told to continue in prayer in a steadfast way. How is this? What do you think Paul is suggesting right here? This statement calls for commitment. Paul instructs us to be committed to a consistent prayer life. Our prayers should be focused. Paul tells us to be watchful. This all boils down to having a purpose in our prayers. How can our prayers be committed prayers? What does being watchful (vs2) mean? What is the importance of a committed prayer life? What are some steps we can take to develop an intentional prayer life?
a. Committed
b. Focused
c. Centered
II. Intercessory Prayer
Paul now turns his attention on some instructions in praying for others. Our prayers are usually like a list to Santa. We should petition God to bless those in our lives. Paul seeks out prayers for those in his party. Paul challenges these people to pray about the furthering of the Gospel. When was the last time we earnestly prayed about the furthering of the Gospel? Honestly are our prayers focused on the Christ and His message? Why do prayer for people who are physically sick, but not spiritually sick? Paul ends by asking for prayer for himself. He asks that he may be clear in his presentation of the Gospel. Paul here realizes his weakness and his need of strength when dealing with such intense things as the Gospel.
a. Others
b. Gospel Focused
c. Christ Centered

Arrows

Psa 127:1 A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Psa 127:2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Psa 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
Psa 127:4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.
Psa 127:5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

This text reminds me of my home and family. It is comforting to know that God is the builder and watcher of my life, my family and my home. I take in joy in understanding that we are in God's hands...yes he is that big!!! As Hebrews chapter one states, " he upholds the universe by the word of his power. " He holds it ALL together. He does all this by His WORD. That is awesome to know.

But I chose Psalm 127 today because of the blessing my wife and I will receive in a few months. Lord willing, we will be blessed with a new "arrow". Children are a blessing, gift, and an inheritance from the Lord.

I thank him for his grace and magnificant blessings!

Whatever you do....Colossians 3.18-25

There is no doubt that in the day in which we live we need some direction in the way we conduct ourselves with others. Paul gives us some details on how we can do this. He begins by talking of the home. He addresses wives, husbands, children, and fathers. These details are vital in the development of a family that Glorifies the Lord. Wives are told to submit to their husbands because it shows obedience to the Lord. Husbands are told to be tender to their wives, children are told to obey parents in order to please the Lord. Fathers are given advice on raising kids. And we even have some details given to slaves or workers. But all of these point top serving others, denying our wants and needs, and pleasing the Lord.
Today’s family does everything but glorify God. The fact of the matter is that when we lift up and serve others we are serving and glorifying God. This is God’s plan. We see the example in the Bible through the life of Jesus Christ. He came as a servant. He lead with his service. Oh the wonders he did….never for himself always for others, always to Glorify GOD. So it brings us to the closing statement in chapter 3 which will be our focus tonight. Notice verses 23-25.

We are given a clear picture of what a life that Glorifies God looks like. Notice how Paul generalizes this in verse 23 by using the phrase “whatever you do”
I. Whatever you do….
This covers everything. From relationships with family, friends, church members, coworkers, students, all people. This covers our dealings in our finances, and how we pay our bills, how raise our kids, how we treat our parents, how play sports, take tests, do chores, our job performance all these things ride on the statement “whatever you do”. How can we glorify God in everything we do? What must happen in an individuals life in order for him to glorify God? Do you think that pleasure and enjoyment are found in living a life that glorifies God? Why?
II. What you must do…
We must come to the realization of what we must do as people who follow Christ. We are to glorify God with our bodies. We are a sacrifice sealed to work for him. We are to give up our wants and do everything as if it were for God. Because it is for God. When we do a test at school you are doing for the Lord. When you mow the grass you are doing it for the Lord. When you wash the dishes you are doing it for the Lord. Every action you do it as hard as you can and do it for the Lord. Not to pleas people but to please God. All things that you and I doe are a reflection of what our relationship in God looks like. We need to live our lives as if they were worth dying for. How can we accomplish this task? What are some barriers to thinking this way? Why do most “Christians” not follow what Paul tells us to do here? What can we do to promote this type of thinking in our church?
III. Who You Are…
When we were bought by the blood of Jesus, we became his. We are no longer our own. We must depend upon his strength his integrity, his grace, his wisdom, and all of who Jesus is. We are now his servant. When we do anything in life it we are serving him. Oh how we need to embrace this type of thinking. Can you imagine what we would see in the lives of people if we all lived like servants. What is a servant? Do we have a right to mistreat some one if they have mistreated us? What are some ways a servant pleases his master? How can we be the servants that Christ wants us to be?

God's Desire for our minds

Freedom again is the theme of these verses.
Why God wants you to have a free mind
Colossians 2.13-15
God truly desires for you and I to have a free mind. Through these three elements, we can see why God wants our minds to be free.


I. Alive through Him (vs13)
Jesus through his death and resurrection, and our embracing of His atonement (sacrifice) we are made truly alive. You see Jesus did not come to this world to make unhappy people happy, or to make non-religious people religious. He came to make dead people live…..This only happens through Christ. We can’t jump start ourselves into new life, or depend on another to give us new life. This is why we should beware and escape the bondages that our minds can be caught in. We have new life we do not have to be caught up in the things of this world that can hold our minds captive. Yes we were once dead in our sins not experiencing true life now we can. What does it mean to be alive in Christ? Why are we “dead” without Him?
II. Legal Pardon (vs14)
Legally in God’s eyes we are condemned. Because of our sin and unrighteousness charges have been brought up against us. Praise God For Jesus. You see Jesus saw the charges, the crimes, and the punishment. He paid the debt which satisfied God’s demands, he accepted the punishment which satisfied God’s justice. Look what he did in our lives. He came and did all this so that we may be free. We will never experience true freedom unless we allow our minds to be free. This is why God wants our minds to be free…we have been pardoned from the legal demands of sin…we are free…no more guilt…It is all because of the cross!!!!!! Why would the Guilt of sin hold our lives captive? Do you think that some people let their Guilt hold them back for living for God? How has the Guilt of sin affected your life for Christ?
III. Supreme Authority (vs15)
God has set Jesus above all things including governments and authorities as well as satanic authorities. He is supreme because of who he is and what he has done. He disarmed Satan and the workers of iniquities. Satan no longer has a foothold on your mind. Christ has freed you from his grasps. He has openly put them to shame and destroyed his deceptions. This is why we should live with free minds. God wants you to have a free mind because off whom Christ defeated. Even in the Garden of Eden where it all began, Satan was in the middle of deceiving and imprisoning our minds. But thanks be to God for his son Jesus and his work. Through Satan’s defeat we can have free lives and minds. How did Satan deceive the minds of Adam and Eve? Why is important that this defeat happened? Do you think Satan wants our minds captive? Why?

God's Desire for our minds