Sunday, August 19, 2007 Sermon Text:
Colossians 1:9-14 (New International Version)
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Some of My Initial Thoughts on the Text
1. Paul continues with the theme of prayer for the Colossians in this passage. He prays for some things that all of us need as believers if we are to experience God's full and meaningful life. What are some of the themes for prayer that Paul touches on?
He prays that they will be filled with the "knowledge" of God’s will.
He prays that they will live a life filled with God’s "power."
2. Why is it essential to be filled with God’s will and power? How does this lead to God's abundant life? Could you use a fresh filling of the knowledge of God and His mighty power? I know I could!
3. What is the result of being filled with God’s will and power?
We live a life that pleases God.
We bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of the Lord.
We have "great endurance and patience."
We have joy which is expressed in thanksgiving to the Father for the salvation that the Son has provided.
4. Two times in this passage, Paul uses the word "knowledge." The Gnostic teachers believed that salvation came through a secret knowledge available only to the few. According to Paul, what is the nature of true knowledge? How would the fulfillment of this prayer enable us as believers to walk in the knowledge of the Lord?
5. According to verse 13, believers have been rescued "from the dominion of darkness and brought . . . into the kingdom of the Son." Has there ever been a time in your life when you were rescued from some difficult or even tragic situation? How did you feel when you were rescued? Relieved? Joyful? Thankful? How can focusing on what Christ has done for us increase our sense of gratitude and joy in our every day lives?
Your observations and insights into the text are welcomed and encouraged. I hope to hear from you this week!
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
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1 comment:
Bro. Joe I would like to tell you how much I have enjoyed your sermons (especially the last three). We have friends in Alabama who were raised Baptist, but are now members of a presbyterian church. They love it because the pastor is of the belief that Sunday Worship is for Christians (to challenge us, grow and stretch us, etc.) and then use what we've learned during the week. It's our job to minister and invite the lost to worship with us. Anyway, I feel that your last few sermons have done just that. We are ready to be stretched. Oh, and this Sunday, the Spirit of the Lord was awesome.
Thank You,
Tracey
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