SF429 - I LOVE MY CHURCH (Colossians 1 24-2 5)

SF429

I LOVE MY CHURCH

Colossians 1:24-2:5

INTRODUCTION

            The Church Under Fire

                        The church ridiculed

                                                <.     There are those who make a joke of the church.

                                                <.     Many are her own members

                                    The church rejected

                                                <.     Today there are those who tell us that the church is outdated, old fashion, passe.

                                    The church replaced

                                                <.     Little league

                                                <.     Civic clubs

                                                <.     Bible studies...

1A.      BECAUSE CHRIST LOVES MY CHURCH

1B.       It Is His Body (1:24)

Ephesians 5:25  "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her"

2B        It Is His Building

Matthew 16:18  "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

1 Corinthians 3:9  "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

3B.       It Is His Bride

Revelation 19:7  "Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready."

2A.      BECAUSE MY CHURCH LOVES CHRIST

1B.       My Church Loves His Word (v.25-26)

2 Timothy 3:16  "All Scripture is God‑breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,"

2B        My Church Loves to Worship Him

John 4:23  "...the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, ..."

1C.      By practice (1:27)

Acts 2:42  "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

Þ       Baptism (1:27b)

Þ       Lord's Supper (1:27c)

2C.      By praising

Psalms 34:1  "... I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips."

3C.      By preaching (1:28)

Hebrews 10:25  "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

4C.      By praying (1:29-2:1)

Þ       Struggling is key!

Colossians 4:12  "Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured."

3B.       My Church Loves to Witness for Him

1C.      Christ's first command

Mark 1:17  ""Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men.""

2C.      Christ's last command

Acts 1:8  "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.""

3C.      Our primary concern

Þ       This is our purpose (2:2‑3)

Þ       This is our practice (2:4‑5)

"Orderly" = speaks to their confession ‑ they knew what they believed

"Firm" = speaks to their conviction

APPLICATION

Hebrews 10:24  "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."

Do you love the Christ of the church?

Do you love the church of Christ?

Have you told Him?

Will you show Him?