Sermon Tone Analysis

*Sermon: MH:Shoreline May 21, 2006    Pleasing Jesus*

Sermon Text:  *Colossians 1:9-14*

Steve Tompkins

* *

*Colossians 1:9-14** (ESV) \\ */9//And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10//so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

11//May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12//giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

13//He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14//in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

/

 

*Theme*: Centrality and Supremacy of Jesus, and His Power to change our lives thru Gospel

*Intro:*

False teaching taking root, undermining the gospel.

– Paul takes notice!

He is claiming superior spiritual insight, knowledge and experience.

He is saying that the Gospel is a good starting point, but its Beginners Stuff, merely the ABC’s, and its time to move on to maturity.

There are other things you need to know and do in order to really go deep in things of the Spirit.

If you really want TRUE WISDOM.

TRULY MATURE

KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEEP THINGS

EXPERIENCE FULLNESS

VISIONS & DREAMS

DEEPER REVELATION

 

THIS RESULTS IN LEGALISM, ESSENTIALLY EMPTY RELIGION

 

PAUL says actually this will destroy your genuine Freedom and Joy that comes through the gospel.

It will not create deeper spirituality.

It will actually cut you off from our Head Jesus, and block the flow of his life – the transforming power of God through the gospel.

*In Colossians 1:9-14 Paul continues his introductory remarks* telling the Colossians that he is praying for them, and verbalizing the actual content of his prayers.

In this prayer we see the heart of the biblical gospel, and we gain vital clues as to how it is to be lived out in lives that are pleasing to Jesus our Savior and King.

*Colossians 1:9** (ESV) \\ */9//And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,/

 

I like the sound of that!

Key decisions . . .

CAREER, EDUCATION, MARRIAGE, JOB, MONEY

 

To know God’s will and to have the wisdom and understanding to apply it well and live it out.

Many Christians wrestle over knowing God’s will for their lives, and many of us have seen others get this wrong.

(Carol and praying at the morgue)  (Changing every 5-6 months)  (Vicki and leaving her husband and kids because GOD wanted her to be happy) (or Skye and Andrew to “live by faith” vs. work for a living)

 

* sound interpretation of scripture,

* wise advice

* internal leading of the Holy Spirit

must be discerned in the context of Christian community through

 

*As crucial as this is however, Paul is speaking primarily of the importance of knowing God’s will in the saving purposes and plan of God in Christ, and its implications for our daily lives and decisions.

Ie.

The GOSPEL*

 

--Knowing the gospel, Rooted in gospel,  Living in Gospel, Preaching Gospel to SELF

GOSPEL KEEPS US ON TRACK in PRACTICAL DAILY LIFE AND DECISIONS.

Read the passage RIGHTLY

*Colossians 1:10** (ESV) \\ */10//so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [BY FAITH ROM 1:17], fully pleasing to him [BY FAITH HEB 11:6], bearing fruit in every good work [ABIDING JN 15:5] and increasing in the knowledge of God [SURPASSING GREATNESS OF KNOWING JESUS  PHIL 3]./

 

AND EVERYTHING I DO, IS OUT OF HUMBLE, JOYFUL, THANKFUL, RESPONSE TO GOD WHO HAS ALREADY POURED OUT HIS GRACE TO ME IN JESUS.

BUT, here is what I actually do (without even realizing it):

I misread this whole passage! 

“Will of God” is something I must work hard to FIND and GET RIGHT

/Passage:/

*Colossians 1:10** (ESV) \\ */10//so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [WORTHY!

I CAN’T HAVE TOO MUCH SIN IN MY LIFE], fully pleasing to him [NOT PLEASING IF THERE IS TOO MUCH SIN IN MY LIFE—MY JOB DESCRIPTION BEGINS WITH *SIN MANAGER*], bearing fruit in every good work [WORK HARD, DRIVE SELF] and increasing in the knowledge of God [STUDY~/READING PROGRAM IN PLACE]./

SOON I NEED STRENGTH AND POWER!!!!

*Colossians 1:11** (ESV) \\ */11//May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,/

I’M TRYING TO KEEP 15 PLATES SPINNING IN THE AIR AT THE SAME TIME.

I’m running around like mad trying to manage sin, prevent disaster, and impress God, or at least people that I’m a great Christian, bearing much fruit.

And, my “reading” of the text almost works:  Except for one little word—JOY.

I have no joy at all!  I’m exhausted.

1.

plate spinning [CJ Mahany: The Cross Centered Life]

            Bible reading program

            Memorizing program

            Discipleship program

            Inductive Bible study program and weekly small group

            Weekly accountability group

            Intercessory prayer meeting

            Evangelism program

            Fasting regularly

All of it is GOOD, some of it VITAL

BUT, slowly a shift takes place, from responding to Grace (MEANS OF GRACE), to earning Grace (performance-based relationship~/~/~/ Acceptance vs. Condemnation

 

[*Years ago*—called to mnst, but plates crashing, not wanting to go to church at all, but . . .

]

 

North America:          

2.

we have turned xty into a *self-improvement plan*, as if our goal is to become *good and nice* people.

3. In evangelicalism we have boiled everything down to some sort of *Do-It-Yourself kit* approach to spirituality of *managing our sin--developing ourselves*:

6 ways to raise kids . . .

5 keys to overcoming . . .

8 spiritual dynamics to . . . .

4 spiritual laws . . .

7 power principles . . .

spirituality of checkboxes (*performance plans*) that leave us empty and unchanged

 

So often, Christians begin in GRACE BY FAITH, but quickly turn xty into "do do do do"

THE RESULT IS:

Instead, weariness, burn-out, condemnation, borderline depression, and joyless hypocrisy 

 

*Spurgeon* says there are two types of religion in the world: those that say "do this and do that" and Jesus, which says "done"

 

*Someone: *Religion is advice with little story mixed in.

Xty, Gospel is Story with little advice

Gospel is NEWS,  GOOD NEWS about what God had done in Jesus!!

* *

*Colossians 1:12-14** (ESV) \\ */12//giving thanks to the Father, who has *qualified* you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

13//He has *delivered* us from the domain of darkness and *transferred* us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14//in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins./

He has DONE it.

Qualified you

            Delivered you

            Transferred you – kingdom of Jesus – we are redeemed, forgiven (referring to the act of being freed from slavery (Israel under Pharoah) from Sin, Satan, Death

FORGIVEN – my sin not in part but the whole . .

.

THE GOSPEL (good news) I’m accepted by God in Jesus, therefore I obey Him: joyful response

RELIGION says, I obey (performance), therefore I am acceptable in God’s presence

 

 

*Transferred to a whole new Kingdom*—new reality—not just another “level” of the same thing

            Religion is RUN FASTER, JUMP HIGHER

                        NEVER ENDING TREADMILL OF PERFORMANCE

 

*Gym: Treadmill illustration*

                        Levels . . .

I never arrive but am very competitive (so I burn out and quit!)

            BUT, what if the complete health~/fitness~/tone~/flexibility of the FITTEST person in the gym could be FULLY IMPARTED to you???