Sermon Tone Analysis

CBC Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

What do you need to be complete?

Mature?

“lessons I have learned - material possessions, mean nothing compard to glance of lve from those who are dear to me”.

Slight satisfacionliesin Temporal honour, worldly grandeur”.

Good to take stock.

Book Aging with Grace wish Iwould have read that in my 40s.

Song, “Dear Younger Me.” Interesting question to ask anolder erpson - what were the best times, years?

CBC radio Q - interviewed podcast - how do you want ob eremembered 25 years from now?

Can be that we focus on just getting to point of being a Christian - prof of faith - then just get busy - outward activities, then just tryto fillthe church …certainly happened in the Lycus Valley - echoed forhfrom EPhesus - Epaphras had come … Even see it happening herea little, and heretoday.

Theme last year - how toshare our faith; Why we’re partnering with S F and Gurret, Jason Taff…

But listen, the same gospel that saved you, this hope that’s within you share with others, this deposit of truth commited by apostles of Jeuss to the Church handed downas church’sNational Treasure -thatyou would share, is the same means,thesametool, the smae gospelthat issupposedtomature and ripen,andbring forth spiritual fruit in yourlife and mine.!

They desperately need this truth in Colasse, relatively young in the faith - and false teaching floodingintothechurch - Gnostic movmemtn - heresy, Spirit world good, Matter is evil.

Son of God couldn’t have come in the flesh, really just a spiritual emenation, goal is to get Spirit fulness, leave this world behind.

A very partiuclar twisitng of the truth - said - new religious way to get fulness - regular gospel for nominal Christians - OKfor unelnlighenedones,but weofferyou tbecome a spiritual elite - give special knowedlge by deeper teaching, by spiritual rules - Itneresting combinatino of deep spiritual teaching, but also at timescompletedisregardfor this material world, for thebody, and serving the Lord in it wand withint in regularlife.

Like small groups movement, or seek-sensitive, or ecstatatic charismatic experiences- some truths and corrections but hold up a tool thatmay be helpful method- as the silver bullet, the lithmus testtotrueChristianity.

Didn’t bringmoreof ChristandHispowerintotheirlife,notdeperexperienitual knowldgeofJesus,nor a power to transformmoral life - nor stick-to-iveness power to endure suffering.

Well Epaphras comes to Paul while in prison asking what to do - more being shipwrecked - how are went only to save these congregations from heresy and shipwrecking faith -but more importantly - heart of these peoples’ live not just religious exercise and esoteric knowledge - but people transformed to be like Christ - living together as One Whole RENEWED humanity.

And we today can read what the Holy Spirit had to write these young Christians, 2000 years later, and the threat isn’t old gnosticism, but it can be shallower version of Christianity - might be sub-Xn - Moralistic Deistic Theism.

Worship just adrenalin rush make me feel good,.

Discipleship individual practices that work for me to be calm and whole , church about programs give therapy to me with Christ throwing.

Don’t really call you to know God in JESUS CHRIST better, nor to enter into the battle with sin and the devil and the spirit of the world, nor to commitment to actual people serving in the love of Christ!

And from outside of the church, certainly face the pull of false teaching -

there is no definite and real heaven, no world beyond what you cansee and feel and touch, Maybe inner spiritual life - everything is cool - but aht’snotthereal world - just live for here and now, what can you touch and experience now - if you have religion better be about the KINGDOM of me myself and I -

Well, if you were Paul, writing from imprisonmen in Rome to these young Christians, if you were me preaching to these young Christians - if you were speakig toany freindfamily members - pulled away from realgrowthin Christ - to philosphoy of the world, heretical phiolosphy in the church, what would you tell them?

Not rocket science, basically just says, Ok when you first received Christ - told about His person - reasonable -living God sent 2ndPerson of Trinity to fallen world, took on human flesh -offered his perfect life- in place of mine/yours, crucified showing he’s the sacrificial lamb for my sin, -you experienced something supernatural then didn’t you -

Like when really hurt someone didn’t just say sorry but acknowledged it, stood before them - waiting - don’t have to forgive, this relationship here doesn’t have to be patched up - every right to walkaway - Could’ve walk out the backdoor and throw away the key, never came back.

But God in this Jesus Christ, went out looking for you, receiving Him, you experienced God not only forgive you , but redeem you back to a relationship even stronger and better and more secure than the way he created it!

Knew in your bones, God made, me though I offended and failed and got derailed, God loved Me, saved me, redeemed in Christ.

Well, Paul is basically saying, the key to Christian maturity is think back to that time, that experience of receiving Christ, whether gradual or sudden - And liveday and dayout in that reality with Jesus Christ from heaven!

Look at the theme verses of the whole book that I want you to recive today and memorize:

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.

You knew there was a supernatural world, reality , supernatural WORD of Christ came to you, created a supernatural life - Well having received that all from Jesus Christ, now daily start to walk - only one way to walk!

Take one step then the next, one a time,

What suffering, what confusion - walk in Him.

That is what this letter is about, coming to spiritual maturity by WalkinginHIm, find out that means - when you adhere to this gospel these Words of God’s Son - he day by day outfits you with all the spiritual blessing and power you will need!

Paul is saying there is a fullness of assurance of certainty we’r to grow towards, a fulness of knowledge of God and Christ and His Word, there is to be an INCREASE and abounding of fruit, a harvest - have in the middle of confusion, pressures, temptation, trials.

You don’t need a silver bullet - need to see the PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST - super abundance of graces in Jesus - Imagine Widows Oil

Christ in your daily life!

FOUNTAIN - anyone here have unlimited DATA?

Anyone have unlimited bank account?

In Christ a whole ocean fullness for your spiritual life, for our church life, for your fruitfulness in evangelism, in service in the world!

View of maturity … a classmate of mine Asked what does it mean Christian Maturity?

Many discipleship books written - all seem to have individula focus

Listen to how he describes the goal not only of his letter but of the gospel ministry shared in with Christ’s church:

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.

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

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.

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

View of maturity … a classmate of mine Asked what does it mean Christian Maturity?

Many discipleship books written - all seem to have individual focus .

I read, I meditate, I solidarity .. problem I I I I - But Christ is not only the goal of Christian maturity - he is the source.

It is Christ in You.

Sure your striving and commitment and seeking after and doing - but look how Paul descries it even in his own life:

What we are celebrating today - by faith recieved Christ, take yourself to HIm and all his benefits.

At the table - reality of your life is pictured - commit to living in communion with Jesus like that - participation in his body - his blood - all that it means!

Jesus Christ, not only Son of God who made all things, and in whom all things whold together, He is also the fullness of God in our humanity, he is taking all your humanity, all your human problems struggles weakness and opportunities - and what is he doing?

reconciling that to the Father.

Think of this mystery:

Paul’s prayer comes in two main chunks thanksgiving and intercession for them.

We can only look at thanksgiving and the firts par tof that prayer.

Later examine the second part of the prayer (the foundation of who Christ is that makes our discipleship possible).

But three features of striving with the power of Christ in You for fullness and maturity, found in the thanksgiving and first part of the prayer!

Ingredients for Christian maturity: 1. FAITH in Christ!

Huge theme, included at very outset, IN CHRIST - who are these people who are you?

To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

- saints - really struggle with that - Martin Luther - same time Saints and Sinner - how possible - calls whole church, even troubled borken church with errors and moral failures .. here one plagued with doubt and confusion - ; A saint isn’t made by human effort, by imperfect moral effort, made by God, not our rightesouness but Christ’s ipmuted to us.

A saint isn’t basedo n our merit and deserving at end of life, but created in Christ Jesus - lifeo f God in thesoul of man, in being born again, then saint empowered to live out what God has worked in.

But places them on same turf, as Paul him self, apostle not self-proclaimed but OF CHRIST< IN CHRIST>.. they are on the same team.

… faithful brethren - a brotherhood, sister hood

But places them on same turf, as Paul him self, apostle not self-proclaimed but OF CHRIST< IN CHRIST>.. they are on the same team.

… faithful brethren - a brotherhood, sister hood

Council meeting - attack on church in culture - comrades, those in WWII fought together, closer than blood brothers - Paul says become that not by just showing up at same building on Sundays, but, these people, and you and me we are brethren in Christ - and as such are not only counted as saints and believers.

But Paul is highlighting that they routinely - live by a dynamic where in Christ they pursue holiness, and in Christ they live by faith!

Two themes ongonig faith in Christ and ongoing pursuit of holiness.

This is why the first thing Paul gives thanks to God for them is their FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS (v.4a)

Why

Not mere faith in anything,reincarnation, God is Good, Fatherhood of God, brotherhood of man.

belief is important, but Faith in Christ Jesus is a real leaning into Christ, - know Christ, be found in Him (Phil ).

As those who live by faith in Jesus reconciled to God, they know God as Father - not Paul or his teaching that’s supremely important but this grace and peace comes from knowing God as Father in Christ - Takes Gentile common greeting hail (grace/greeting to you) - by faith May you be a great taker.

May you have the disposition, the dependency, the humility which makes you a ready receptor of God's grace."

KNow by faith in Christ Shalom!

Paul does not start the letter with a do this, believe that, but with a soft and warm encouragement, recalling you have the gospel, you have Christ by faith - Never lose sight of this great gift of being In Christ, and him in you.

This is the one thing that is different from other letters in giving thanks -

This emphasis on God as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul could have just said we give thanks to God - but just as he already emphasiszed we are brothers and sisters siblings in Christ, now he emphasizes for encouragement - Not only do we know God as our Father, and not only do we now have a new family of believers, but now by faith - a new character is mentioned - he too is a sibling - a brother of ours, but a brother like no other - This Lord Jesus Christ has God as Father in very special way - and when we know Jesus as God’s special Son, a a new way is open to us -to recieve the benefits of Chrsit as the Son of God - into our relationship as adopted sons and daughters -

In other words, Paul is encouraging us in this prayer - we have faith, so we are in Christ, and Christ is God’s very special Son and Christian maturity is going to have everything to do with living in a new relationship with the Son who has it all!

Every time you come to this table, - primary purpose to look back t the work of Christ remember - redemption forgiveness of sins in Christ, how as v.12 and v.13 put it - by faith in Him - now

If your Christian-living is all about I I I I, disicplines are about self-centred - never grow in your Christian faith.

You have a real big brother like no other - in HIm - have what is really premininent in the whole univrese, not just God’s own Son, but HIs Son, incrantie in human flesh, won the vicotry - touched us in the lowest spot, endure gretest suffering, took hold of us, and raised us from death failure, death, destruction, and alienation, and lifted us up - sits at pinnacle of the universe, receivee akingdom.

If your Christian-living is all about I I I I, disicplines are about self-centred - never grow in your Christian faith.

You have a real big brother like no other - in HIm - have what is really premininent in the whole univrese, not just God’s own Son, but HIs Son, incrantie in human flesh, won the vicotry - touched us in the lowest spot, endure gretest suffering, took hold of us, and raised us from death failure, death, destruction, and alienation, and lifted us up - sits at pinnacle of the universe, receivee akingdom.

Your faith is in this King Jesus .

THis Jesus who is alive and is our brother, is also now our LORD, and faith necessary for salvation is the faith also necessary for Chrstian maturity - and it is to find our all in all in Christ our Brother and Lord, new relationships with God, with each other, Blessings pon Blessing, Reward of Spirit, Gifts for Service, Calling and MIssion in this world, recnilation - all by faith in the SOn!

In v. 9b we that this is what Paul is praying for those that are already Christians:

Being filled with knowledge, wisdom understanding what the Gnostic heresy was all about - but a secret spiritual knoweldge, secret exercises to get into the fulness.

Paul Keeps on saying, here in the gospel that every Xn has access too - here in the Wor dof Truth - fulness to be sought in these Words of Good news in Jesus!

Christian maturity is not jus comig to faiht, but it is to know the Christ in whom you put your pfaiht more and more and more.

LIsten to how Jesus himself put it:

And later John records And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.