Rooted in Christ Sunday School

Introduction

A couple years ago when I was still in high school I decided to pick up a new hobby. I decided my hobby was going to be gardening. It was the early summer, I was bored, and it was scorching hot outside. I had never been much into gardening, but I decided I wanted to learn how to be a MAN, I wanted to learn how to plant grass, so I went to this small concrete slab in my moms front yard and decided that’s the spot where I’m going to grow grass.

I went to Lowes and got a few bags of soil and a little bit of sand, as well as the grass seed and went home eager to learn this new skill and grow some grass! I got home and went to work on it, after a while of pouring soil and sand and raking it flat, I realized that I didn’t buy as much sand and soil as I was hoping for.

So basically, what you had was a concrete slab with half an inch tall of soil, with grass seed planted into it. I would go outside and I would water the grass every single day, multiple times per day for weeks. One morning I woke up, I went outside and I saw that the grass had sprouted!

I was pumped, I thought I was a natural lawn care legend.

Little did I know over the course of the next week, the grass would turn brown and ultimately outright die within weeks of sprouting.

See the issue wasn’t my watering of the plant, but rather the roots of the grass never being able to really establish themselves. That plant was set up for failure, It was never rooted in anything of substance, only concrete and sand.

In the life of the Christian, it is so important for us to know what we are rooted in. Often Christians are rooted in shallow soil. When the heat get’s turnt up and the challenges of life come at us we begin to wither.

What are you rooted in?

The church is to be rooted in scripture and active in mission.

N. T. Wright

We as Christians, who make up the church are to be rooted in scripture and active in mission. Today as we take a short dive into the book of Colossians, I want you to consider the words of the apostle Paul as we read. As you consider the words of the apostle I want to again ask you to consider:

What are you rooted in?

Body

The apostle Paul wrote the book of Colossians while in prison to help prevent false teaching in Colosse and within the Colossian church. In Colosse much of the false teaching was used as an attempt to show that Jesus alone was not enough for salvation.

Paul wrote this book, because in many ways the church in Colosse was struggling at knowing what it’s rooted in and this book and specific passage that we are about to read, Paul is going to eagerly remind these believers that the only thing that they should seek to be truly rooted in is Christ, because he alone is our salvation.

Colossians 2:1–10 CSB

1 For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person. 2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ. 3 In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. 5 For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ. 6 So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, 7 being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. 8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. 9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, 10 and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

What do you think Paul was trying to communicate through this passage?

We have to be watchful as Christians, culture is constantly pulling at us and trying to twist what we know as Christians as biblical truth.

We should be like Paul in this when we see fellow brothers or sisters struggling. When it says in verse one “I am struggling” It means Paul had anxiety and concern for the believers in Colosse. When we see other believers or even ourselves struggling with being rooted in Christ, we should feel concerned. We should strive for change and to be more like Christ.

What do you take away from verse 6 and 7?

Colossians 2:6–7 CSB

6 So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, 7 being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.

What are some ways we can stay rooted in Christ?

In the crazy world we live in, I want to give you a few core pieces of advice to keep you faithfully rooted in Christ.

#1 Be involved in Church

How do we get built up in Him?

Church is Christ-like community. A vital part of being built up in him is putting yourself around people who are going to build you up in Him.

When we are outside of the church, we are often surrounded by people with very different worldviews than our Christian worldview.

I’m not about to tell you to shut yourself off to the outside world.

We need to have those connections with people outside of the church so we can share the gospel with them right?

But, we also, need to have friendship with people who are Christians so they can build us up and spur us along in our faith.

When we put ourselves around believers who build us up, we begin to have stronger roots in Christ.

#2 Walk in Him

This passage makes it clear that we have to walk in Christ in order to be rooted in Christ.

How do we walk with Christ?

How many books do you remember reading in your lifetime?

We study his word, the bible is the Word of God, that teaches us to live like Christ. Often people say God is not speaking to them. God has spoken 66 books to us, to know him and his will for our lives. The question isn’t why is God not speaking to me, but rather will we take the initiative to read the words he has already spoken to us?

Pray, I believe Prayer is the pathway to a powerful relationship with God. In my own life, prayer has often been an overlooked by me. I haven’t had a great prayer life, however, Over the past two years I have driven nearly an hour and a half round trip to work most days of the week. This car time has been a wonderful opportunity to pray and get time with the Lord. When I spend time with God in prayer, I begin to be see the opportunities to reach people with His Good news.

When we walk with the Lord and begin to think more and more about him and the opportunities he has placed in our lives, we begin to have even stronger roots in Christ.

Draw on marker board a tree with some roots, ask students what are some things that make up healthy Christian roots? Draw a tree next to that tree and ask what are some things that make up unhealthy Christian roots?

Conclusion

and so as we conclude, I’ll ask you again. What are you rooted in?

Are we putting ourselves around a crowd that pushes us down and draws us further from God.

or

Are you putting yourself around those who will build you up and push you to glorify Jesus over everything.

Are you walking with the Lord today? Are you intentionally spending time in prayer and in God’s word?

What are you rooted in?

Maybe today, like the grass I tried to plant in high school, you aren’t rooted in a firm foundation.

Perhaps you’re rooted in things of this world, Culture, friendships, identity, fill in the blank. Here’s my hope for you, When you root yourself in the firm foundation that is Christ, you begin to feel eternal Joy that only Jesus can provide.

Being in Christ is a free gift from God, all you have to do is follow after Jesus. That’s something I would love to talk to you about, don’t hesitate to reach out. Having a foundation in Jesus is the most important decision you’ll ever make.

What are you rooted in?