Sun, 11 November 2018
It won’t be long till Christmas! One tradition of this season is the sending and receiving of greetings. One site estimated that 1.6 billion greeting cards will be sent and that those cards will have a value of some two billion dollars.
It is important to greet one another.
The tradition of greeting one another has strong roots in the Christian faith. Over 90 times the word “greet” or some form of it appears in the New Testament. At least four times the command to “greet one another” appears and often that was to be done “with a holy kiss.”
Warm, heartfelt greetings go hand-in-hand with the gospel.
This morning we’re going to open some “gospel greeting” cards. They’re an intimate window into the kind of relationships that we, God’s people, are to have with one another, especially as we together labor to take the good news of the incarnate, crucified, risen, ascended, and returning Christ to a needy world.
Colossians 4:7-18 include a stack of these “gospel greetings.” Let your heart be touched by the love and camaraderie they reveal as we open them this Sunday morning
Jesus Reigns “Gospel Greetings” Colossians 4:7-18
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Sun, 4 November 2018
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Sun, 28 October 2018
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Sun, 21 October 2018
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Sun, 14 October 2018
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Sun, 30 September 2018
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Sun, 23 September 2018
People love a good mystery. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave us Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick, Dr. Watson. Agatha Christie delighted her audiences with the exploits of Hercule Poirot. My generation grew up with the adventures of the Hardy Boys. The companion series especially for girls was Nancy Drew. Even current TV shows likeStranger Things, 24, and NCIS have elements of the mystery genre.
The most famous type of mystery is probably the “Whodunit.” The plot twists and turns and the reader is left to figure out who is guilty of the crime. Often the writer leads the readers down rabbit trails with the hope of totally surprising them with an unexpected conclusion.
History’s greatest mystery is this: “How can sinful humanity be made right with a loving, yet holy God.” We are sinners. That much is plain. God does love us. In his love He would forgive our sins, but, His holiness requires that sin and wrong be punished. Will He love us and forgive us? Or, will He do what is just and punish our sins? How is this mystery solved? Whodunit?
The Bible was not written to lead us down rabbit trails. Instead, it is written to clearly reveal “whodunit.” This Sunday we will see in crystal-clear terms how God solved history’s greatest mystery.
Jesus Reigns “History’s Greatest Mystery” Colossians 1:24-29
24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known(1:24-25).
26The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory(1:26-27).
28Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me(1:28-29).
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Sun, 16 September 2018
We are in the thick of the college football season. Week 3 is upon us. One of the most fun elements of the season is the college football rankings. Everyone wants to know who’s number one.
But there is a perennial power that is always number one! And, no, I’m not talking about Alabama. I’m not even talking about football per se. I’m talking about the one who reigns above principality and power. No need to wait with baited breath to see the weekly rankings. He never slips from the top spot. He is the Lord Jesus! Of His kingdom there shall be no end!
Colossians clearly presents the truth that Jesus reigns above all. This Sunday we will continue unpacking this truth and how it should impact every arena of our lives. Join us at Istrouma!
Jesus Reigns Part 2 Colossians 1:15-23
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Sun, 9 September 2018
The world has seen its share of great empires and rulers.
But there is an empire that is eternal and a King who is supreme and without peer or rival.
At His birth the angel declared, “. . . you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. . . . and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:31b-33).
Perhaps no book of the Bible better presents this King and His Kingdom to us than does Colossians. We will make this brief book our home for the next 10 weeks or so. We will proclaim loudly and clearly that “Jesus Reigns.”
His reign is beneficent. Let’s bow our knees and wills before Him for His glory and our own good.
Jesus Reigns Colossians 1:1-14
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