Rooted: Going Deeper, Growing Stronger

Rooted: Going Deeper, Growing Stronger Colossians 2:6-7 In order to stand firm in the faith, we must walk in Christ 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. Col 2:6-7 The trees in a forest care for each other, sometimes even going so far as to nourish the stump of a felled tree for centuries after it was cut down by feeding it sugars and other nutrients, and so keeping it alive ~Peter Wohlleben Walk : A life of discipleship where we know Christ, love Him, and seek to honor Him with our entire lives “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” ~Bonhoeffer To walk in Christ means: We are Rooted in Him 51% of American evangelicals believe that God accepts the worship of all religion, yet 91% of American evangelicals believe that people are justified by faith alone in Jesus Christ. www.thestateoftheology.com And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Mat 4:3-4 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Mat 4:6-7 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Mat 4:8-10 We are Built up in Him And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:32 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Heb 5:11-14 We are Established in the faith Establish : firm, durable, unshakeable, unwavering, sure, reliable, certain; and in the legal sphere, valid, confirmed We are Abounding in thanksgiving Next Steps: • Subscribe to “Love This Book” reading plan and read along • Ask others to join you in reading • Commit to putting into practice what God is teaching you through His Word each day Discussion Questions: • Read Colossians 1:24–2:7. Reflect on verses 2:6–7. • Colossians 2:6–7 is the conclusion of what Paul has said in 1:15–2:5. What does Paul ask us to do in Colossians 2:6? • In whom should we be “rooted” (2:7)? How can we be “built up”? What are some of the implications of being “rooted” and “built up”? • What are some practical ways you can open yourself up to letting God work in you? • How can we be “established in the faith” (2:7)? The idea here is not indoctrination, but following Christ with the support of other believers. • Do you “abound in thanksgiving” (2:7)? Being thankful is the cure to many of the problems that ail us. If you don’t believe this, try it. Say thanks every morning for the breath in your lungs. Throughout each day, look for things to be thankful for, and then thank God for them. Watch how your attitude will change. For what, and who, can you be thankful? Write down ten things you are thankful for, and then thank God for them in prayer.