Live Intentionally in Challenging Times

Hear Dan's Message of January 18th, 2009.

LIVE INTENTIONALLY IN CHALLENGING TIMES
Introduction to Colossians

Three purposes of Paul's letter represent three intentional essentials that must be in the "tool belt" in order to face the personal and corporate challenges you and I will face as followers of Christ. 

1.  The preeminence of Jesus in every aspect of your life (Colossians 1:18; 2:9)
2.  A unwavering commitment to spiritual maturity (Col 1:28; 2:6-7)
3. To be purposeful with your life in all circumstances (Col 4:2-8)

BIBLE STUDY METHOD (click here for more detailed explanation)

OBSERVATION:  When observing a passage of scripture, we delve into its pages asking who, what, when, where, why and how.  We notice repeated words.  We find common themes.

INTERPRETATION:  Once we have observed as much as we can about a passage of scripture, we move to interpretation-finding out what it means.  This may mean we define key phrases, cross reference other scriptures, and understand the context in which it was written.

APPLICATION:  This is the process of taking the timeless Word of God and asking, "How does this change me?  How should this impact my life?"  At this stage we ask ourselves, "Is there something I need to stop, avoid, claim, follow, obey, know, understand and/or pray about?"  Then we follow through on the answer to those questions.      

TAKE AWAY:  Challenging times can be opportunities to experience Christ intimately and live significantly. 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER
1.  When you encounter life's stresses what tends to hold you captive? 
2.  Are you willing to make a personal commitment to the Lord to intentionally yield yourself to the 3 purposes of this letter? 

Live Intentionally... By Lifestyle - Intentional Gratitude

Hear Danny's Message from January 25th, 2009. 

LIVE INTENTIONALLY IN CHALLENGING TIMES...
By Lifestyle
Intentional Gratitude (Colossians 1:3-8)

Reasons for a lifestyle of gratitude:
1. The Genuine Spirituality of Christ-Followers (1:4-5a)
a. Faith
b. Love
c. Hope

2. The Character and Power of the Gospel (1:5b-6)
The gospel...
a. is good news
b. truth
c. is universal
d. is alive and fruitful
e. is a message of grace
f. must be humanly communicated

3. Courageous Models of the Faith (1:7-8)
a. The Message of Epaphras
b. The Ministry of Epaphras
c. The Man Epaphras

TAKE AWAY:  Living each day mindful of God's provisions strengthens our resolve when we encounter life's challenges.

Questions for prayer and reflection:
1.  In what ways have you become more genuine as a Christ-follower?  In what ways do you still need to grow in the areas of faith, love and hope?
2. Who is a model of the faith for who you are thankful?  To whom are you striving to be a model?

Live Intentionally... By Lifestyle - Intentional Prayer

Hear Danny's Message from February 1st, 2009.

LIVE INTENTIONALLY IN CHALLENGING TIMES
By Lifestyle

A.  Intentional gratitude (Colossians 1:3-8) - last week

B.  Intentional Prayer (Colossians 1:9-14) - this week
The greatest danger facing Christ-followers according to 2 Peter 1:5-11 is the potential of becoming "ineffective and unproductive" (v.8). 

In which sphere would most of your prayers fall? 

 Strategic                                                 Tactical                                                    Logistical

The Pauline model of Intentional prayer in verses 9-14:
1. Our greatest need is to be filled "with the knowledge of His will..." (9a)

2. The means by which this need is met is to be filled via "all spiritual wisdom and understanding." (9b)

3. The results of being filled (10-12):

a. A lifestyle that is "worthy of the Lord." (10a)

b. A lifestyle that gives the Lord pleasure. (10b)

i. Measurable results, "bearing fruit in every good work"
ii. Intimacy with the Lord, "knowledge of God"
iii. Staying power, "strengthened with all power"
iv. Thankfulness, "joyfully giving thanks to the Father"

TAKE AWAY:  The emphasis of our prayers will be in direct proportion to our ability to successfully navigate through challenging times.

QUESTIONS FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION:

1. How has prayer changed you?  How would you like it to change you?

2.  Consider one challenge you are facing today.  Now apply Paul's model of praying to that issue that is on your heart. 

Live Intentionally - By Knowing What We Believe About Jesus

Hear Danny's Message from Feb. 22nd, 2009 

LIVE INTENTIONALLY IN CHALLENGING TIMES

By Knowing What We Believe About Jesus (Colossians 1:15-2:7)
As the Possessor of 7 Essentials ( Colossians 1:15-20)

Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"  Good question, who would the average Joe or Jill say that Jesus is? 

"Christ may be the only way for you, but how can you claim that He is the only way for everybody? 

Consider Christ's claims:

• Claimed to have power to forgive sins.
• Claimed to be sinless.
• Claimed to fulfill Old Testament messianic prophecies.
• Claimed that He would rise from the dead and raise all men.
• Claimed that He would come again and judge the world.
• Claimed to be the exclusive way to salvation.

What makes Jesus Preeminent?  This passage gives us 7 reasons:

1. He is the IMAGE of God (15)
   In John 14:9 Jesus said, " Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father." 
2. He is the FIRSTBORN over creation (15)
3. He is the CREATOR of the universe (16-17)
4. He is the HEAD of the church (18)
5. He is the firstborn of the DEAD (18)
6. He is the FULLNESS of God (19)
7. He is the RECONCILER (20)

TAKE AWAY:  Our lives should be becoming less about CONTROL and more about CONFIDENCE.

Galatians 6:8 is instructive for us on this issue:  "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER:

1. Which of the spiritual resources do you feel you are successfully "sowing to please the Spirit"?  Which need your attention?
   
2. Which do you have more difficulty with:  Confidence in Christ's supreme power?  Or yielding your life to His power?  How will you address these issues this week?

Live Intentionally... By Knowing What We Believe About Jesus - As the Ultimate Reconciler

Hear Danny's Message from March 1st, 2009 

LIVE INTENTIONALLY IN CHALLENGING TIMES

II. By Knowing What We Believe About Jesus...
As the Ultimate Reconciler (Colossians 1:21-23)

The condition of a person before being a Christ-follower (v.21):

• Alienation from God
• Enemies of God in one way or another because of our thinking 

The "how" and purpose of a Christ-follower's reconciliation (v.22):

• Through the offering of Christ's "physical body"
• For the purpose of being "holy in his sight" (1 Peter 1:13-16)

Understanding 3 Aspects of Sanctification

1.  Positional (Acts 20:32; Rom. 5:1-2)
2. Progressive (2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Thess. 3:12)
3. Complete (1 Thess. 5:23-24)
    

A word of warning and affirmation for the Christ-follower (v.23)

                                                Understanding the Coming Judgments

                Great White Throne                                                       Bema Seat

                Revelation 20:11-15                                               2 Corinthians 5:10
                                                                                                    Romans 14:10
                                                                                                    1 Corinthians 3:12-15

TAKE AWAY:  The mark of a reconciled life is an authentic holiness growing out of a steadfast confidence in Christ.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER:

1. When you think of personal holiness does it have a negative connotation ("Holier than thou") or a positive one?  How have your thoughts impacted your personal growth?
   
   
2. Is your confidence in Christ more about what he can do for you (circumstantially) or in you?  Which will move you in the direction of holiness and why? 

Live Intentionally... By Knowing What We Believe About Jesus - As Trustees of What He Has Revealed

Hear Danny's Message from March 15th, 2009

LIVE INTENTIONALLY IN CHALLENGING TIMES
By Knowing What We Believe About Jesus (Colossians 1:15-2:7)
As Trustees of What He Has Revealed To Us (Colossians 1:24-27)

2 Kings 7:3-9

As faithful trustees we must...

 I. Learn to rejoice in suffering for Jesus (v.24)

• It is a source of joy (1 Peter 4:12-16)
• It is for the sake of others
• Our sufferings are related to Christ's sufferings (Acts 9:4-5)

II. Live our mission and mandate (vv.25-27)

• Mission.  To extend the gospel message to as wide an audience as possible.
• Mandate.  To fulfill the ministry given to us according to our gifts, talents, etc.

TAKE AWAY:  As trustees our mission and mandate is not something we can "take or leave" but an appointment directly from God.

Questions for reflection and prayer:

1. What is the one thing that captivates and directs your life?
   
2. What one thing do you believe Christ would commend you for as his trustee?  What one thing would he condemn you for as his trustee?

Live Intentionally... By Knowing What We Believe About Jesus - So We Can Become Mature

Hear Danny's Message from March 22nd, 2009

LIVE INTENTIONALLY IN CHALLENGING TIMES
By Knowing What We Believe About Jesus (Colossians 1:15-2:7)
So We Can Become Mature In All Aspects (Colossians 1:28-2:7)

I.  Three responsibilities of mature leadership (v. 28a):

1. Proclamation
2. Admonishment (literally "counseling")
3. Teaching (literally "instruction or warning")

II.  The goals mature leadership should have for the church (vv. 1:28b-2:5):

1. To insure every church member is "perfect" or "mature" (28b)
• Spiritual babes:  1 Corinthians 3:1-2
• Spiritually mature:  Hebrews 5:11-14
  
2. To insure the church as a whole is strong in conviction and cohesive in its unity (2:1-3).
   
3. To insure the church is not vulnerable to deception (2:4-5)

III.  The pace mature leadership sets for the church (2:6-7):

1. A pace that stays on track with the gospel of grace
2. A pace that continually builds on that foundation

TAKE AWAY:  You can spot a mature follower of Christ by their strong moral convictions and winsome lifestyle. 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER:

1. Is Paul's stated purpose (1:28; 2:2) a reality in your life?
2. What "fine sounding arguments" hinder you from being fully committed to Christ?  How do these passages speak to your concerns?

Live Intentionally... By Knowing How to Defend What We Believe About Jesus - Jesus is All

Hear Danny's Message from March 29nd, 2009

LIVE INTENTIONALLY IN CHALLENGING TIMES
By Knowing How to Defend What We Believe About Jesus (Colossians 2:8-23)
Jesus Is All-and All We Need (Colossians 2:8-10)

"Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord so continue to live (or "walk") in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6-7)

Two things this passage implies and teaches: 

1.  Man's nature always returns to "human traditions". 

     Mark 7:1-8    

2. Grace is the answer to "human traditions". 

Colossians 2:8-10

TAKE AWAY:  Though we are all unique in personalities and gifts in the end the thing that is most powerful is the reality of Christ in you. 

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER:

1.  How can you apply Paul's real source of change and growth this week?

Live Intentionally... By Knowing How to Defend What We Believe About Jesus - Legalism is Wrong

Hear Danny's message given on April 26th, 2009.

LIVE INTENTIONALLY IN CHALLENGING TIMES
A Study in Colossians - Part 3:
By Knowing How to Defend What We Believe About Jesus (Colossians 2:8-23)

Legalism is Wrong:  Genuine Faith includes Grace and Truth (Colossians 2:11-23)

John 1:1, 14:  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God..."The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the father, full of grace and truth."

Colossians 1:6, "understood God's grace in all its truth."

Colossians 2:11-23

Four Pictures of our identification with Christ:

1. Circumcision - Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4

2. Baptism - Romans 6:3; 6-7

3. Cancellation of the written code

4. A triumphant procession - 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

The Benefits of Truth:

1. It frees our conscience - Psalm 32:1-7

2. It changes us for the better - John 17:17

The Benefits of Grace:

1. No longer in bondage to our sin nature - Romans 6:15-18

2. No longer in bondage to legalistic religion - Romans 14:1-7; 13-15; 22-23

TAKE AWAY: We are a reflection of Jesus only when we are wholly committed to grace and truth.

Questions for reflection and prayer:

1. Do you find you struggle with the imbalance of truth to the disregard of grace or grace to the disregard of truth?  What have been the results?

2. What do you need to do in order to move forward with a balance of grace and truth?

Live Intentionally... By Developing Our Inner Lives in Jesus - Practicing Spiritual Values Daily

Hear Danny's message from May 3rd, 2009.

LIVE INTENTIONALLY IN CHALLENGING TIMES
A Study in Colossians
Part 4:  By Developing Our inner Lives In Jesus (Colossians 3:1-17)

Today's Message: Practicing Spiritual Values Daily (Colossians 3:1-4)

1.  In our past we were raised with Christ (v.1)

2.   In the present we are hidden with Christ (v.3)

3.  In our future revealed with Christ (v.4)

TAKE AWAY:  Our complete connection with Christ in our past, present and future should give us security in challenging times. 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER:

1.  As you look back and evaluate the past week was your perspective more "earthly" minded or "heavenly" minded?  If more "earthly", what is it that causes you to be more concerned with the "earthly", people pleasing, fear of circumstances, selfishness, etc.? 

2.  Confess to the Lord where you have been "earthly" minded, surrender those to Him, and thank Him for His power to change you. 

Live Intentionally... By Developing Our Inner Lives in Jesus - Shedding Our Old Identity

  Hear Danny's message from May 10th, 2009.

LIVE INTENTIONALLY IN CHALLENGING TIMES
Part 4:  Developing Our Inner Lives in Jesus (Colossians 3:1-17)

Shedding Our Old Identity (Colossians 3:5-11)

Two "Species" of sin:

1. Idolatry (vv. 5-6)
2. Anger (v. 8)

Two reasons sin flourishes:

1. Availability
2. Acceptability

How our enemies (flesh, world system and Satan) work against us:  Proverbs 6:10, "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-and poverty will come on you like a bandit..."

"And thus we deceive ourselves by the smallness of our surrenders."
-Derek Kidner

Two reasons we must "buy-in" to holiness (1:22):

1. Because of what it does to and for us
2. Because anything else is incompatible with our new identity in Christ (v. 9)

What do we do when we blow it and what resources are available to us? 

1. Romans 7:14-8:4; 1 John 1:9
2. Hebrews 3:12-13; 10:23-25

TAKE AWAY:  Putting on our identity in Christ changes us because we cannot consistently act in a way that is contrary to how we see ourselves.  

QUESTIONS FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION:

1. What is your mental picture of God in relationship to you, clucking tongue and shaking head or smiling face and open arms?  Why is this?
   
2. Are you taking advantage of God's resources as seen in Hebrews?  If so, how have those resources been beneficial to your walk with Christ?  If not, what keeps you from taking that next step?