Paul closes his letter to the Colossians with a list of greetings and people. It’s a section we might normally skim through, but it paints a picture of the life of the early church, particularly in its shared ministry. The Apostle Paul is not a Lone Ranger in ministry, rather he is part of a very necessary network of Christians who together further the kingdom of God. May we recognize and devote ourselves to our part in God’s ongoing work – both as individuals and as a congregation – as we celebrate The Power of Shared Ministry.
Paul ends the main body of his letter to the Colossians with instructions for Being a Gospel Presence in society among those who are not yet in the church (“outsiders”). His instructions focus on Prayer that is persistent, watchful, and grateful; Proclamation of the mystery of Christ that is clear and understandable; and Presence in the community that is full of grace, interacting with society with wisdom and winsomeness. May this be our guide for all our interactions, whether in-person or online, especially with those outside the church.
difference in how we live. This week, we will explore Paul’s words of letting Christ’s peace rule our hearts. When that happens, what comes out of us should be a reflection of the peace we have been called to. What is this peace? What should come out of us? Join us as we unpack these three rich verses from Paul.
In Colossians 3, the Apostle Paul gives instructions for relationships in the household. While these have been misused as a power grab by some, Paul is giving the Church a guide for following Jesus at home through love, service and mutual submission. May we take these instructions to heart as a guide for following Jesus in all our relationships in and out of the home.
In Colossians 2:19, Paul writes that those who delight in false humility have lost connection with the head, or Jesus. We can do all sorts of things to show everyone how spiritual we are, but if we are trying to live a spiritual life without Jesus as our Lord and Master, it doesn’t benefit anyone. If Christ is our Lord and we have died to our old selves, we need to live as if we are already with him in glory. That means that we are to put away behaviors that don’t reflect our connectedness with Jesus. This week, we will look at Colossians 3:1-14 and explore how a child of God should live his or her life to reflect the character of Jesus.