Colossians 1:15-28 The Fullness of Christ (McLarty)
In case you didn't know it, this is Rule Number One of the Reformed Faith: "Christ alone is head of the Church." All of the members of the body take their direction from him.
Colossians 1:15-20 Things Are Not What They Seem (Gerhardy)
In a popular story, a king dresses as a peasant and lives with peasants in the local village. But Jesus doesn't just dress to be like us. He is one of us. He takes on our human nature and lives among ordinary people especially sinners and outcasts. What happened to him could hardly be regarded as being kingly.
Colossians 1:1-14 By What Authority? (McLarty)
Before saying a word to the Colossians about what he's heard of their problems, Paul goes to great pains to make it clear: He does not speak of his own authority, he speaks as an apostle by the will of God with Timothy at his side. This leads to the question of the day: By what authority do you speak and act and live out your life?
Colossians 1:1-14 Standing Strong in Jesus (Stevenson)
The idea that Jesus is the only way of salvation is at odds with a society that cannot understand how we can disagree with other religions and still respect them. The Christians in Colossae faced a similar situation. Their faith in Jesus Christ was at odds with their society. So Paul wrote the letter of Colossians to help them to stand firm.
Philippians 1:3-11 Encouragement (Kegel)
Some years ago a man committed suicide at his place of employment. He left a note to his boss. It read: "I have worked for you for more than thirty years, and in all those years, you never once told me anything I did good. You only told me what I did wrong."
Philippians 1:1-11 Thank God for You All (Donovan)
"I thank my God whenever I remember you." When I was considering this first sermon at this church, that verse came to my mind. "I thank my God whenever I remember you." It described how Paul felt about the Philippians, and it describes how I feel about you.
Ephesians 6:10-20 The Armor of God (Donovan)
Paul was writing to prepare us to face great powers of evil. He envisioned a spiritual warfare between Christians and very personal forces of evil. Christians being crucified and thrown to the lions. But those days are over. Is there a message in this book for us? Do we face the same quality of evil in our day?
Ephesians 6:10-20 There Ain’t No Rear to This Battle (Donovan)
There are plenty of forces that threaten to pull us off the track. Young people have it the hardest. Teenagers have an almost desperate need to be accepted. So when someone says, "Hey, come on man," it isn't easy to resist. It isn't easy to "Just Say No." And it doesn't get easy. It isn't easy for adults either.
Ephesians 6:10-20 Dressing For Success (Molin)
It's one thing to stay in here, and be the church where hymns are sung, and hugs are given, and hope is proclaimed. But what about out there? What about where living is dangerous, or when the values of our faith collide with the values of the world? How then shall we live?
Ephesians 5:20 Happy Thanksgiving (Sellery)
Perched between a cruel sea and a hostile shore, the Pilgrims paused in their struggle to survive to set aside a special day of thanks. In these uncertain times, let's follow that example of sustaining faith. Let's make a special effort to acknowledge God's gifts, great and small --giving thanks for his blessings and placing our confidence in his goodness.