We are close enough to Christmas to feel its anticipation — but not yet close enough to celebrate its fulfillment.

We are living in the in-between.

• The gifts are wrapped. The plans are mostly made. The decorations are up.

And yet… there is still waiting.

Scripture is honest about this space — because the first Christmas was lived in it.

For centuries, God’s people lived between promise and fulfillment:

• Promises spoken to Abraham,
• Echoed through David,
• Repeated by the prophets,
• Longed for by generations who never lived to see the manger.

They believed God would act — they just didn’t know when or how.

And that’s where many of us are today.

Not just before Christmas — but in life.

• Waiting for answers.
• Waiting for healing.
• Waiting for clarity.
• Waiting for God to move.

This Sunday is not about rushing past the waiting — it’s about learning how to wait with faith, hope, and trust, knowing that God is always faithful to keep His word.

The Message

📖 LUKE 1:26–38 (NIV)

Theme: Faithful surrender between promise and fulfillment

---

SECTION 1 — God Enters the Ordinary

Luke 1:26–29 (NIV)

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

Cross Reference

• 1 Corinthians 1:27–28 – “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise… the lowly things of this world and the despised things… so that no one may boast before him.”

Why We Struggle

We often assume God works through importance, visibility, and influence. When life feels ordinary or unnoticed, we question whether God is truly at work.

Why Mary Did Not Struggle

Mary did not assume obscurity meant insignificance. Though surprised, she did not dismiss the possibility that God could work through her ordinary life.

Know This

God’s presence is not dependent on prominence. He often begins His greatest work in unnoticed places.

Response of the Believer

• Remain attentive to God in ordinary seasons.
• Trust that faithfulness matters more than visibility.

---

SECTION 2 — God’s Favor Includes Responsibility

Luke 1:30–33 (NIV)

30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High… 33 and his kingdom will never end.”

Cross Reference

• Isaiah 9:6–7 – “For to us a child is born… and the government will be on his shoulders… Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.”

Why We Struggle

We often equate God’s favor with comfort, ease, and affirmation. When obedience brings cost, confusion, or sacrifice, we question whether God is truly blessing us.

Why Mary Did Not Struggle

Mary did not confuse favor with comfort. She accepted that God’s favor could include misunderstanding, sacrifice, and risk.

Know This

God’s favor does not remove difficulty — it assigns divine purpose to it.

Response of the Believer

• Trust God’s purposes even when they disrupt comfort.
• Measure favor by faithfulness, not ease.

---

SECTION 3 — Faith Can Ask Honest Questions

Luke 1:34 (NIV)

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

Cross Reference

• Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

Why We Struggle

We fear that questions reveal weak faith. We either suppress honest concerns or allow them to become doubt and withdrawal.

Why Mary Did Not Struggle

Mary’s question was not rooted in disbelief but in submission. She was not asking if God could do it, but how He would do it.

Know This

God welcomes questions that seek understanding, not escape.

Response of the Believer

• Bring honest questions to God in humility.
• Let questions deepen trust rather than erode it.

---

SECTION 4 — God’s Power Transcends Human Limitation

Luke 1:35–37 (NIV)

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you… 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age… 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

Cross Reference

• Genesis 18:14 – “Is anything too hard for the LORD?”

The verse reminds us that God’s promises are not limited by human weakness, time, or biology. What seems impossible to people is entirely possible with God.

Why We Struggle

We measure God’s promises by logic, probability, and precedent. When outcomes seem impossible, our confidence falters.

Why Mary Did Not Struggle

Mary accepted God’s power without demanding proof. She trusted God’s Word more than her limitations.

Know This

Impossibility is not a barrier to God — it is often the setting for His glory.

Response of the Believer

• Trust God’s Word even when outcomes seem impossible.
• Recall past faithfulness as assurance for present trust.

---

SECTION 5 — Surrender Is the Proper Response to God’s Will

Luke 1:38 (NIV)

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Cross Reference

• Romans 12:1 – “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Why We Struggle

We want clarity before commitment and assurance before obedience. We delay surrender until conditions feel safe.

Why Mary Did Not Struggle

Mary surrendered without guarantees. She trusted God’s character more than she needed control of the outcome.

Know This

Faith is not understanding everything — it is trusting the God who does.

Response of the Believer

• Offer your will fully to God.
• Obey even when the future is unclear.
• Pray: “Lord, let Your word be fulfilled in me.”

---

THEOLOGICAL SUMMARY

Luke 1:26–38 reveals:

• God’s sovereign initiative in salvation
• The divine work of the Holy Spirit in the incarnation
• The fulfillment of ancient promises through humble obedience
• Surrender as the posture that receives God’s redemptive work

Mary stands as a model of faithful surrender in the in-between.

---

🔑 Pastoral Emphasis for the Congregation

Mary did not have more information than we do — she simply trusted God more than she trusted herself.

---

Three Reflections for the Week Before Christmas

1. Where do I need to trust God more than I need certainty?

Mary did not have all the answers—only a promise. This week, reflect on where you are waiting for clarity instead of choosing trust. Ask God for a heart that rests in His character, even when the outcome is unknown.

“May your word to me be fulfilled.” — Luke 1:38

---

2. What ordinary moment might God be inviting me to see as holy?

God entered the world through an ordinary young woman in an ordinary town. As you go about routines—shopping, working, caring for family—pause and ask where God might be present and at work in the everyday.

“The Lord is with you.” — Luke 1:28

---

3. How can I practice surrender instead of control this week?

The days before Christmas often feel rushed and demanding. Instead of trying to manage everything perfectly, practice surrender—through prayer, gratitude, and slowing your pace. Let your yes to God shape your response to people and pressures.

“I am the Lord’s servant.” — Luke 1:38

---

Closing Thought for the Week

Christmas does not begin with celebration—it begins with trust. This week, let faith shape your waiting.

This sermon, delivered during the Advent season, offers an in-depth analysis of Psalm 23 (KJV), presenting Jesus Christ as the ultimate, personal Savior—not merely a generic rescuer, but one who seeks a relationship with us. Using the shepherd-and-sheep metaphor, the speaker illustrates humanity’s need for guidance, protection, and restoration—needs that Christ fulfills. The message explores how God leads, restores, and protects believers through life’s darkest moments, symbolized by the “valley of the shadow of death,” and emphasizes that Christ’s presence turns trials into passages we can get “through” by the power of the cross. It concludes by highlighting the lavish, abundant, and eternal nature of God’s care, urging the congregation to use Advent for spiritual preparation and reflection on the full meaning of Christ’s coming—His birth, His life, and His promised return.

Knowledge Points

1. Advent Season and the Savior
   • The term “Advent” comes from the Latin “Adventus,” meaning “coming” or “arrival.”
   • It is a season of preparation for two comings: the birth of Christ and His promised second coming at the end of time.
   • It is a time for spiritual preparation, reflection, and repentance—similar to the season before Easter—focusing on hope, peace, joy, and love. Defining Christ as Savior
   • Psalm 23 points to the coming of Christ as our Savior.
   • A savior is a rescuer who saves someone from harm, danger, or a condition they cannot escape on their own.
   • Christ is more than a generic savior (like a fireman or policeman) with whom one might have no personal relationship.
   • Christ is a true, personal Savior who desires a relationship with us.
2. Psalm 23: The Lord Our Shepherd Humanity’s Need for a Shepherd (Like Sheep)
   • The psalm uses the shepherd-and-sheep metaphor to describe Christ’s relationship with believers.
   • Sheep are prone to wandering, easily frightened, and cannot survive on their own; they cannot fight predators or easily find food.
   • Similarly, humans cannot save themselves and are prone to wandering and becoming spiritually lost when left on their own. Provision and Restoration (Verses 1–3)
   • “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul.”
   • The shepherd provides safety; sheep lie down only when secure. God calms our chaotic souls.
   • “Restoration” implies something broken. Sin breaks our relationship with God, but our Savior restores us and breathes new life into us. Guidance into Righteous Paths (Verse 3)
   • “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
   • God has plans to prosper us, not harm us, so we can trust His guidance.
   • We are led on righteous paths not because of our own righteousness, but because of God’s good and righteous nature—so others can see what God has done. Comfort in Darkness (Verse 4)
   • “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.”
   • The psalm shifts from talking about God to talking to God, highlighting a personal relationship.
   • The “valley of the shadow of death” represents life’s difficult, frightening times. Shepherds used a rod for protection against predators and a staff (crook) to rescue straying sheep.
   • Christ walked through death for us and conquered it, so we do not face it alone. The valley becomes a passage, not a prison. The Power of “Though” and “Through”
   • The speaker references Reverend Sweet’s sermon highlighting “though” and “through.”
   • “Though” we find ourselves in trouble, we will get “through” it.
   • The difference is the letter “R.” In sign language, “R” is formed by crossing fingers, symbolizing the cross.
   • It is the cross of Christ that gets us “through” tough times—not luck (like crossing fingers for good luck). Lavish Provision and Blessing (Verse 5)
   • “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over.”
   • A shepherd anoints a sheep’s head with oil to heal wounds and protect from insects.
   • In ancient times, anointing a guest’s head with oil signified blessing at a banquet; a host kept a guest’s cup full, and an empty cup signaled the end of the feast.
   • God provides a feast even amidst our enemies, and our cup “runneth over,” signifying lavish, abundant blessing and that God never tires of our presence. Eternal Faithfulness and Mercy (Verse 6)
   • “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
   • Unlike a one-time rescuer, a shepherd never leaves his sheep. Jesus promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
   • This promise extends beyond this life into the afterlife. Jesus promised His disciples He was going to prepare a place for them.
   • We are assured of an eternal home with God.
3. Attributes of a True Savior A Comprehensive Savior
   • Christ is provider, guide, restorer, healer, and protector.
   • He comforts, shows compassion, and does not abandon us. God’s Ultimate Control
   • The Book of Job and Jesus’ words to Peter show that Satan must ask God’s permission before afflicting believers.
   • This demonstrates that God is always in control; whatever happens, He is with us and will get us through it. Giver of Abundant Life
   • Jesus came not just to give life, but to give “abundant life.” He wants what is best for us. Involved and Eternal Savior
   • He is faithful, merciful, eternal, and actively involved in our lives—not distant.

Assignments

• During Advent, draw close to God through prayer and reflection on all that Christ has done.Spiritually prepare your heart, mind, and spirit for the celebration of Christ’s birth and for His promised second coming.
• Remember that Advent is about Christ’s birth, life, death, resurrection, and the promise of His return.

Introduction — “A Rhythm for the Restless Soul”

• We live in a world that is exhausted.
• People are anxious, weary, stretched thin, and pulled in a hundred directions at once.
• Our minds race, our hearts worry, and our days feel overloaded.
• And even believers—who know the promises of God—often feel unsettled inside.

That’s why Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 speak so powerfully to us today. They are short, simple, and direct… but they offer something we desperately need:

• A spiritual rhythm
• for a restless soul.

Three anchors. Three habits that stabilize the heart when everything around us feels unstable:

Rejoice always.Pray continually.Give thanks in all circumstances.

Paul is not offering quick fixes or religious clichés. He is giving us:

• a way to live,
• a way to stay spiritually grounded
• no matter what is happening in the world.

• In a culture running on stress, these verses teach us how to run on strength.
• In a world driven by worry, they show us how to live with worship.

And when life feels overwhelming, this passage gives us a clear path:

• Joy that isn’t based on circumstances,
• Prayer that becomes a lifestyle,
• Gratitude that stabilizes the soul.

This is God’s will for us — not to survive the days, but to walk through them with a heart anchored in Christ.

Note: The key word is “through”.  We are not “in” something, we are going “through” something.

Psalms 23:4 NIV Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Philippians 4:13 NIV I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

---

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NIV)

16Rejoice always,17pray continually,18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Paul gives three commands that form the daily posture of a Spirit-anchored life.

---

1 — “Rejoice Always” (v.16)

Verse (NIV)

Rejoice always.

Cross References

• Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
• Habakkuk 3:17–18 – “Though the fig tree does not bud… yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
• Psalm 16:11 – “You make known to me the path of life… in your presence there is fullness of joy.”

Theological Insight: Joy is the settled assurance that Christ reigns, Christ is with us, and Christ will finish His work.

Why We Struggle

We confuse joy with emotion, happiness, or circumstances. We wait to rejoice when life feels good rather than rejoicing because God is good.

Know This

Joy is not a reaction — it is a relationship. It flows from Christ in you, not conditions around you.

Response of the Believer

• Rejoice in the Lord, not in the moment.
• Start each day acknowledging God’s goodness.
• Declare joy by faith when feelings are absent.

---

2 — “Pray Continually” (v.17)

Verse (NIV)

Pray continually.

Cross References

• Luke 18:1 – “Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”
• Ephesians 6:18 – “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
• Psalm 34:15 – “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.”

Theological Insight:Prayer is the lifeline of the believer; continual prayer reflects continual dependence.

Why We Struggle

We limit prayer to moments instead of making it a mindset. Busyness competes, distractions dominate, and prayer becomes an event rather than fellowship.

Know This

Continual prayer is continual dependence. It is not constant talking — it is constant turning to God.

Response of the Believer

• Maintain an inner posture of conversation with God all day.
• Turn every worry into a whispered prayer.
• Make gratitude, confession, and reliance a rhythm.

---

3 — “Give Thanks in All Circumstances” (v.18)

Verse (NIV)

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Cross References

• Ephesians 5:20 – “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Psalm 34:1 – “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
• Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”

Theological Insight: Gratitude is not optional—it is the will of God because it reflects trust in God.

Why We Struggle

Thankfulness feels unnatural in difficulty. We interpret circumstances through emotions rather than through God’s sovereignty and faithfulness.

Know This

You are not called to give thanks for all circumstances, but to give thanks in all circumstances. Gratitude is an act of trust, not denial.

Response of the Believer

• Thank God for His presence, even when His plan isn’t clear.
• Identify one thing to be grateful for each day.
• Let gratitude shift your perspective from “why me?” to “with me.”

---

THEOLOGICAL SUMMARY

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 reveals God’s will not as a specific assignment but as a spiritual posture:

• Joy rooted in Christ,
• Prayer rooted in dependence,
• Thankfulness rooted in trust.

This is the lifestyle of a believer shaped by the Spirit rather than the world.

---

HEAD — What to Understand

• Joy is found in Christ’s presence.
• Prayer is the breath of the believer.
• Gratitude is the will of God for every situation.

---

HEART — What to Feel

• A steady, Christ-centered joy.
• A calm awareness of God’s nearness.
• A thankful spirit even when life is uncertain.

---

HAND — What to Do

• Practice daily rejoicing.
• Develop a conversational prayer life.
• Keep a gratitude list to train your heart toward thankfulness.

---

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Joy isn’t optional — it’s commanded because Christ is constant.
2. Prayer is not scheduled occasionally — it is the believer’s lifestyle.
3. Gratitude is the believer’s witness that God is trustworthy.
4. This is God’s will: a heart that rejoices, a life that prays, and a soul that gives thanks.

As we approach Thanksgiving, we must acknowledge something honest: gratitude does not happen automatically. The cares of this world—responsibilities, pressures, deadlines, family needs, financial concerns—will rob us of a grateful heart unless gratitude is intentionally guarded.

Paul writes these words from prison, yet his message is joy. This shows us that;

• gratitude is not shaped by circumstances
• but by where we place our focus.

We truly have so much to be thankful for—but we must guard our gratitude.

Deeper Look at Gratitude

• It’s a practice:Gratitude isn’t just a fleeting feeling, but a way of living that involves consistently recognizing and appreciating the good around you. 
• It’s about perspective:It helps you see the positive, even in difficult situations, by focusing on things like having food and shelter or the simple fact of waking up each day. 
• It involves a shift in mindset:A radical form of gratitude involves looking at life as a gift and approaching it with humility, respect, and vulnerability, regardless of what is happening. 

---

SERMON OUTLINE — Philippians 4:4–7

1. A Grateful Heart Rejoices (v. 4)

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Paul teaches that joy is rooted in theLord, not in life’s conditions. Thanksgiving begins by recognizing the unchanging goodness of God.

Supporting Scripture

Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Key Insight

If joy depends on circumstances, it will constantly change. If joy depends on God, it remains firm.

Know This:

Joy is a choice to focus on God’s character, not on life’s conditions. Gratitude grows where joy is planted.

Joy. A fruit of the Spirit. Comforting, content and full of peace. An enduring attitude of the heart and spirit, and a natural part of the Christian faith. It’s often connected with, but not limited to, following Jesus and pursuing a Christian life.

Galatians 5:22-23 NIVBut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

---

2. A Grateful Heart Responds with Gentleness (v. 5)

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

A grateful heart softens the spirit. An ungrateful heart hardens it.

When gratitude fades, people tend to become:

• Irritable
• Defensive
• Easily offended
• Overwhelmed

But Paul says that the believer’s disposition should reveal calmness because:

“The Lord is near.” His presence produces gentleness.

Supporting Scripture

Psalm 145:18 (NIV)“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Key Insight

Gratitude tempers our reactions because we remember God is with us (Proverbs 23).

Know This:

The nearness of God produces the gentleness of the believer. Gratitude keeps your heart soft.

---

3. A Grateful Heart Refuses Anxiety (v. 6a)

“Do not be anxious about anything…”

This is not a command to ignore reality—it is a command not to let reality consume us.

Anxiety pushes gratitude out, but gratitude pushes anxiety out.

Supporting Scripture

Matthew 6:25–26 (NIV)“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life… Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

Matthew 6:34 (NIV)“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”

Key Insight

Worry steals thanksgiving. Thanksgiving steals worry.

Know This:

You cannot hold anxiety and gratitude at the same time. One will always push the other out.

---

4. A Grateful Heart Redirects Its Focus to Prayer (v. 6b)

“…but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Prayer is not complete without thanksgiving.

Gratitude remembers:

• God’s faithfulness yesterday
• God’s presence today
• God’s power for tomorrow

Thanksgiving is the posture that opens the heart to God’s peace.

Supporting Scripture

Psalm 103:2 (NIV)“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

Key Insight

Thanksgiving is not the “add-on” to prayer—it is the atmosphere of prayer.

Know This:

Thanksgiving is how you talk to God when you trust Him. It anchors your prayers in confidence, not fear.

---

5. A Grateful Heart Receives God’s Peace (v. 7)

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

When gratitude is guarded, peace is granted. The word Paul uses—“guard”—paints the picture of a soldier standing watch over our hearts and minds.

This peace is not the absence of trouble. It is the presence of God in the midst of trouble.

Supporting Scripture

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Key Insight

Peace is not achieved; it is received.

Know This:

Gratitude clears the heart so God’s peace can settle in. Where gratitude lives, peace guards.

---

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

1. Practice Daily Thankfulness

Name three blessings every morning.

2. Guard Against Gratitude Thieves

Comparison, busyness, negativity, entitlement, people’s expectations, and overcommitment.

3. Turn Worry Into Prayer

Every time worry rises, say: “Lord, I give this to You—with thanksgiving.”

4. Slow Down to Notice God’s Faithfulness

Gratitude is always found in the details.

5. Speak Gratitude Out Loud

What you verbalize strengthens what you internalize.

---

Philippians 4:4-7 MSG

[4-5] Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! [6-7] Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

CONCLUSION

We have so much to be thankful for. But gratitude must be intentional. It must be guarded.

Paul’s pathway is clear:

Rejoice — Respond with gentleness — Resist anxiety — Pray with thanksgiving — Receive peace.

A grateful heart honors God and protects you.

This Thanksgiving, guard the gift God has given you:

A grateful heart anchored in Christ.

There’s a subtle kind of captivity that can creep into even the most sincere Christian life — the captivity of religion without relationship.

It doesn’t come through open rebellion or obvious sin; it comes quietly, when the heart shifts from grace to performance, from freedom to form.

Paul knew the danger. The Colossian believers were surrounded by voices telling them that faith in Christ wasn’t enough — that they needed special rituals, strict diets, religious observances, or mystical experiences to prove their spirituality.

But Paul cuts through the noise with one bold reminder:

“The reality is found in Christ.” (v.17)

Everything else — the rules, the rituals, the regulations — were only shadows pointing to Him. And when the Son has come, the shadows have no power.

📖 Colossians 2:16–23 (NIV)

---

Verses 16–17 – Freedom from Ritual Judgment

16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Cross References

• Romans 14:17 – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
• Galatians 4:9–10 – “But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!”
• Hebrews 10:1 – “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.”

Why We Struggle

We are drawn to visible religion — things we can measure and control. We often confuse activity with spirituality, forgetting that holiness begins in the heart, not in habits.

Know This

Religious rituals are only the shadow — Christ is the substance. Once the Light has come, the shadow no longer defines you.

---

Verses 18–19 – The Danger of False Spirituality

18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.19They have lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Cross References

• 1 Timothy 4:1 – “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
• Ephesians 4:15–16 – “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love.”

Why We Struggle

Many chase experiences rather than obedience — seeking visions, titles, or feelings instead of humble faithfulness. Pride often hides behind a mask of “deep spirituality.”

Know This

Any spirituality that draws attention to self or disconnects from Christ the Head is counterfeit. True growth is always relational — it comes from connection, not performance.

---

Verses 20–22 – Dead to the World’s Rules

20Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:21“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”?22These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.

Cross References

• Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
• Romans 6:14 – “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
• Isaiah 29:13 – “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”

Why We Struggle

We prefer rules to relationship because rules feel safer. They let us look holy without surrendering control. But control is not the same as obedience — and human systems cannot sanctify the soul.

Know This

Since you died with Christ, you no longer belong to the system of “do’s and don’ts.” Grace doesn’t need your performance — it invites your trust.

---

Verse 23 – The Appearance of Wisdom Without Power

23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Cross References

• 2 Timothy 3:5 – “Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
• Matthew 15:9 – “They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.”

Why We Struggle

We mistake discipline for devotion. Outward self-denial can look spiritual but often masks inward pride. Religion can restrain behavior for a while, but only Christ can transform the heart.

Know This

Self-made religion looks wise but leaves the soul empty. Holiness doesn’t come from harshness — it flows from Christ’s indwelling Spirit.

---

🧠 HEAD – What to Understand

• Christ has made you spiritually complete — nothing external can add to your standing before God.
• Legalism, asceticism, and self-righteous spirituality all disconnect you from the living Christ.
• Freedom in Christ is not rebellion; it is right relationship.

---

❤️ HEART – What to Feel

• Gratitude for grace that liberates.
• Peace that comes from knowing you’re already accepted.
• Discernment to recognize religion that looks holy but distracts from Christ.

---

✋ HAND – What to Do

• Live rooted in Christ, not regulated by others.
• Evaluate every teaching or tradition: Does this deepen my walk with Christ or distract from it?
• Serve and worship from love, not fear.
• Practice daily gratitude for your freedom in Christ.

---

🔑 Key Takeaways

1. Christ is the reality; rituals are only shadows.
2. True spirituality stays connected to the Head — Christ Himself.
3. Rules may control behavior, but only grace transforms character.
4. Freedom in Christ means living out obedience born of love, not obligation.

“Faithful Through Every Generation”(Text: Psalm 100:1–5

Thirty-three years ago, a few hearts gathered with a simple conviction — that God was worthy to be worshiped, and that if His people would trust Him, He would prove faithful. And He has.

Through every season — through growth and testing, through the mountain and the valley — God has shown that;

• His mercy doesn’t expire,
• His love doesn’t fade, and
• His promises never fail.

Psalm 100 calls us to lift our eyes and remember that kind of faithfulness. It’s not a quiet psalm — it’s a call to shout, to sing, to serve, and to celebrate.

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs!”

This isn’t about emotional hype — it’s about holy memory. It’s about recognizing that every breath, every answered prayer, every changed life, and every generation represented here today stands as living evidence that “the Lord is good and His faithfulness endures through all generations.”

---

Transition Thought

“While many new churches struggle to reach their fourth year, let alone enter their third decade, we are gathered today because of God’s faithfulness. Our small congregation may have remained modest in size, but we have endured. We have held to our place, cared for our property, remained open for the community, and stood firm in mission.

Statistics show that only about 68 % of new church plants are still active at the four-year mark and many far fewer reach three decades of service. Yet here we are — 33 years, under 50 members most seasons, and still pressing forward. Not because of our strength; because of His.

Let us give thanks to the One who has built, preserved, and empowered us — not to us, but to His name be the glory.”

---

God has not only sustained this ministry — He has shepherded it, just as verse 3 says:

“It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”

• We didn’t make ourselves.
• We didn’t keep ourselves.
• We have been kept by the same faithful hand that called us.

---

Sermon Introduction

For 33 years, we’ve gathered as a church family — through joys and sorrows, growth and challenge — and one truth has never changed: God has been faithful. Psalm 100 is the perfect song for such a moment. It calls all creation to lift up a joyful noise, not because life has always been easy, but because God has always been good.

This psalm captures the heartbeat of worship:

• joyful praise,
• grateful hearts,
• humble acknowledgment, and
• confident trust in God’s enduring faithfulness.

Psalm 100:1–5 (NIV)

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

---

Verse 1 – Shout for Joy to the Lord, All the Earth

Worship is not quiet resignation — it’s active declaration. This verse calls all creation to recognize the greatness of God. Our anniversary celebration is not just about longevity; it’s a witness to the world that God has been good to us.

Cross Reference:“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” — Psalm 150:6

Why We Struggle: We often reserve our passion for sports, success, or politics but grow silent when it comes to God. Joyful worship is the believer’s rightful expression of gratitude.

Know This: Your praise is not noise — it’s evidence that you remember what God has done.

---

Verse 2 – Worship the Lord with Gladness; Come Before Him with Joyful Songs

Worship is not just sound; it’s spirit and attitude. Gladness is the overflow of a grateful heart.

Cross Reference:“Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” — KJV

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

For 33 years, your congregation has served with gladness — in singing, giving, teaching, leading, and helping. That joy is your witness to a weary world.

Theological Insight: Worship is not merely emotional expression; it is the overflow of recognizing who God is. True joy arises when the heart sees God’s worth.

• Worship begins with gladness, not gloom.
• The phrase “all the earth” expands the call beyond Israel—anticipating a global chorus of worshipers.
• To “shout for joy” (Hebrew: ruaʿ) denotes triumphant, exuberant praise.

Know This: The truest measure of a mature church is not just service — but glad service.

---

Verse 3 – Know That the Lord Is God

This verse anchors worship in truth. Worship without truth becomes emotion; truth without worship becomes cold.

Cross Reference:“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 “It is he who made us, and we are his.”

In 33 years, programs, faces, and seasons have changed — but this truth has not: We are His. He made us. He keeps us.

Theological Insight: The basis of worship is not our mood but God’s identity. To know that “the Lord is God” anchors the believer in security, belonging, and purpose.

• The verb “know” implies acknowledgment and relationship, not mere information.
• God is both Creator and Covenant Lord.
• “We are his people” recalls the shepherd imagery—God’s tender ownership and care.

Know This: The church doesn’t belong to us — it belongs to the Lord who built it.

---

Verse 4 – Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving and His Courts with Praise

This is the pattern of worship: gratitude before glory. Thanksgiving opens the gates; praise leads us closer to His presence.

Cross Reference:“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving.” — Psalm 50:14

For 33 years, you have entered His courts — sometimes weary, sometimes burdened — but always welcomed by His grace.

Theological Insight: Gratitude is not the result of worship—it is the doorway to it. In Christ, the “gates” are open through His sacrifice (Hebrews 10:19–22).

• The temple imagery points to access into God’s presence.
• Worship involves movement—entering, not standing at a distance.
• Thanksgiving is the believer’s passcode into God’s presence.

Know This: Gratitude is not just an emotion — it’s the password into His presence.

---

Verse 5 – For the Lord Is Good and His Love Endures Forever

Here’s the reason behind it all: God’s goodness and enduring love.

Cross Reference:“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” — Psalm 136:1

Through 33 years — in every answered prayer, every new member, every trial overcome, every soul restored — God has proven His faithfulness.

Theological Insight: Worship that lasts must be grounded not in circumstance but in God’s unchanging character.

• Three attributes summarize God’s nature:
  1. Goodness – His intentions toward His people are always for their good.
  2. Love (ḥesed) – His loyal, covenantal love never ends.
  3. Faithfulness (ʾemunah) – His reliability is unbroken across generations.

Know This: Time changes everything except the nature of God.

---

Head, Heart, Hand Application

HEAD – What to Believe

• God’s goodness is constant, not conditional.
• Worship is both a command and a privilege.
• Gratitude invites His presence.

HEART – What to Feel

• Deep joy for God’s steadfast love.
• Confidence that His faithfulness continues.
• Humility, knowing we are His people, His sheep.

HAND – What to Do

• Live with a rhythm of gratitude — daily thanksgiving.
• Serve God joyfully, not grudgingly.
• Pass the story of His faithfulness to the next generation.

---

Key Takeaways

1. Joyful praise should mark every believer’s life.
2. Worship rooted in truth leads to lasting gladness.
3. Gratitude is the gateway to God’s presence.
4. God’s love and faithfulness never expire — they endure through every generation.

---

Closing Reflection: “The Church That Remembers”

As we celebrate today, we do more than look back — we look up and forward.

Because the same God who carried us through the last 33 years is still the same God who will carry us through the next 33. He hasn’t changed His nature, His mercy, or His mission.

• When the world trembles, He remains our firm foundation.
• When culture shifts, His truth still stands.
• When we grow weary, His strength renews us.
• When generations come and go, His faithfulness endures.

So today, we enter His gates with thanksgiving — not just for what He’s done, but for who He’s been: Faithful in the beginning. Faithful through the storms. Faithful still today.

“For the Lord is good, and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” — Psalm 100:5

Sermon Introduction

As believers, it’s easy to start strong in faith — full of zeal, joy, and gratitude when we first receive Christ. But as life unfolds, pressures mount, culture shifts, and philosophies evolve, our faith can subtly drift from a relationship with Christ to a routine about Christ.

That’s why Paul writes to the Colossians — and to us — not as new converts, but as people who need reminding:

“Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him.”

---

Transitional Bridge

Paul’s heart in the first five verses of this chapter beats like that of a pastor

• burdened,
• prayerful, and
• deeply invested in the spiritual stability of his people.

He’s been contending for them in prayer, longing for their hearts to be encouraged, their relationships united in love, and their minds rooted in the knowledge of Christ.

But beginning in verse six, Paul turns from pastoral concern to personal responsibility. He moves from saying “I’m fighting for your faith” to “Now you must walk in it.”

It’s as if Paul is saying:

“I’ve told you what I’m praying for—now I’m telling you how to live it out.”

Because if Christ truly is our foundation, our fullness, and our victory, then our response must be to walk in Him daily, stay rooted in Him firmly, and live out the freedom He already won for us.

---

Paul is saying, Don’t move away from what you started in.

• You began by trusting in Christ’s finished work — stay there.
• You were made complete in Him — stop looking for something more.
• You were buried and raised with Him — so live as one who is already free.

In a world that tells us we need more to be enough, Paul reminds us that everything we need for life and godliness is already found in Jesus.

So how should the believer respond to this truth?

• By remaining rooted — unshaken by new voices or modern philosophies that sound wise but weaken faith.
• By living thankfully — because gratitude is proof that you remember who your Source is.
• By walking freely — not under guilt, ritual, or performance, but in the finished work of Christ who canceled our debt.
• By living victoriously — because the powers of darkness have already been disarmed at the cross.

This isn’t just a theology lesson — it’s an invitation to walk in the reality you already have.

---

“The Christian life isn’t about chasing something new — it’s about growing deeper in what’s already true. Christ is not just the start of our faith — He is the whole foundation. And when you’re rooted in Him, you’re not just surviving the shaking… you’re standing in victory.”

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles (doubt and fear). And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing oureyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

---

Colossians 2:6–15  Rooted, Built Up, and Made Alive in Christ

Theme: Paul urges believers to remain rooted in Christ, warns against deceptive substitutes, and celebrates the victory and freedom found in Him.

Big Idea: Because believers are complete in Christ, they must walk in Him, not be swayed by worldly philosophies, and live out the freedom purchased at the cross.

---

I. Continue in the Same Christ You Received

Colossians 2:6–7 (NIV)

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Cross References (NIV, written out):

• John 15:4 – “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:11 – “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Why We Struggle: Many begin well in faith but lose focus when life becomes complex. We often want to “add something” to Christ to feel secure or spiritual.

Theological Summary: The same faith that saves is the faith that sustains. Rootedness in Christ brings both stability and growth. Gratitude keeps the heart soft and steady.

Know This: The Christian life begins and continues by staying anchored in the same Christ we first received.

---

II. Beware of Spiritual Substitutes

Colossians 2:8 (NIV)

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

Cross References:

• 2 Corinthians 10:5 – “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God…”
• Galatians 1:6–7 – “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel…”

---

Illustration: The Counterfeit Bill

If you talk to federal agents who work in the Treasury Department or Secret Service, they’ll tell you something interesting about how they’re trained to recognize counterfeit money. They don’t spend their days studying fake bills. They spend hours — sometimes years — handling the real ones.

They learn every texture, every thread, every watermark, every shade of ink, every detail of authentic currency — until the genuine becomes second nature.

So when a counterfeit shows up, they can spot it instantly — not because they know every form of deception, but because they know the truth so well that the false just feels off.

---

Connection to Colossians 2:8

That’s what Paul is teaching. He’s saying, “Don’t let anyone take you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy.” You don’t have to master every false teaching, every new idea, or every cultural trend that passes itself off as wisdom. You just need to know Christ so well that when something isn’t from Him — your spirit recognizes the difference immediately.

---

Modern Application

• You can’t stop false ideas from circulating.
• You can’t stop culture from dressing up lies to look enlightened.
• But you can root yourself so deeply in truth that nothing hollow can take you captive.

The best defense against deception is deep familiarity with the truth.

---

Why We Struggle: The world packages deception in appealing, intellectual, or “spiritual” language. It sounds wise but subtly dethrones Christ as central.

Theological Summary: False teaching is spiritual captivity disguised as enlightenment. The believer must guard against anything that replaces or adds to Christ.

Know This: Anything that sounds spiritual but makes Christ smaller is deception in disguise.

---

III. Christ’s Fullness Is Our Sufficiency

Colossians 2:9–10 (NIV)

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Note: We can go straight to the top

Cross References:

• John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son…”
• Ephesians 1:22–23 – “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

Why We Struggle: We live in a culture obsessed with “more” — more knowledge, more experience, more self-expression. But believers often forget that in Christ, they already have everything they need.

Theological Summary: Christ is not partly divine; He is fully God. Believers share in that completeness. There is no spiritual lack in those who are in Christ.

Know This: You don’t need to chase spiritual fullness — you already have it in Christ.

---

IV. Marked by Spiritual Circumcision

Colossians 2:11–12 (NIV)

In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Cross References:

• Romans 2:29 – “A person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit…”
• Romans 6:4 – “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too may live a new life.”

Why We Struggle: We confuse outward rituals with inward transformation. It’s easier to perform acts of religion than to surrender the heart to Christ.

Theological Summary:The true mark of belonging to God is inward — a transformed heart through Christ’s death and resurrection. Baptism symbolizes what the Spirit has done within.

Know This:Salvation is not about ceremony — it’s about a changed heart made alive in Christ.

---

V. Made Alive and Set Free

Colossians 2:13–15 (NIV)

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Cross References:

• Ephesians 2:4–5 – “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions…”
• Romans 8:1 – “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
• John 19:30 – “It is finished.”

Why We Struggle: Many believers still live under guilt, condemnation, or spiritual defeat — as if the record of sin wasn’t truly canceled.

Theological Summary: Through the cross, Christ forgave, canceled the debt, and conquered the powers of darkness. The cross was not defeat — it was divine triumph.

Know This: Your sin was nailed to the cross, and your victory is already secured.

---

Pivot to the Armor  followed by:

Closing Observation

---

Observation: Spiritual Foundations in Shifting Times

We live in a time when many things once viewed as stable—institutions, moral norms, even personal identity—feel uncertain and shifting. People are losing trust, anxiety is rising, and many are searching for something to stand on.

In this backdrop, the message of Christ’s full victory (Colossians 2:15), and the injunction to be rooted and built up in Him (Colossians 2:6–7), is exactly what believers need. Not as a cultural fix, but as a spiritual anchor.

• Because Christ has already disarmed the powers, believers can face change, confusion, crisis — not with fear, but with steadiness.
• Because believers are called to be rooted in love (Colossians 2:2), the church can be a place of safe belongingamid a world of division.
• Because we are warned not to be taken captive by deceptive philosophies (Col. 2:8), we can navigate cultural noise withdiscernment, not mere reaction.
• Because our foundation is Christ, not ideology, not system, our faith neither depends on nor collapses with shifting social trends.

---

APPLICATION

HEAD (What to Believe):

• Christ is fully God and fully sufficient.
• Salvation is inward transformation, not external ritual.
• The cross canceled sin’s debt and disarmed the enemy.

HEART (What to Feel):

• Grateful that Christ’s work is complete.
• Secure in your identity in Him.
• Confident, not condemned.

HAND (What to Do):

• Stay rooted in Christ through daily relationship and community.
• Reject philosophies or teachings that add to the gospel.
• Live in the freedom of a forgiven, resurrected life.

---

Remember:

When the ground under your feet trembles, don’t fix your gaze only on the shaking — fix it on the Christ who stands unmoved.

Sermon Introduction — Colossians 2:1–5

There’s a difference between attending a church and being fought for spiritually. In this passage, Paul lets the believers know, “I am contending for you.” He hasn’t met most of them. He isn’t in their building. But he is wrestling in prayer, carrying them in his heart like a shepherd does with his flock.

Why? Because Paul knows something every modern believer must understand:

A strong faith doesn’t happen by accident. A united church doesn’t happen naturally. A safe spiritual community doesn’t happen automatically.

Today, believers sit in pews across the nation — some encouraged, some guarded, some tired, some quietly battling private struggles — and Paul speaks straight to them:

• We need encouragement in heart.
• We need to be united in love — safe love, covering love, not surface friendliness.
• We need to be rooted in Christ so that slick arguments, new trends, opinions, and emotional voices don’t pull you away.

This isn’t just a word for pastors or leaders. This is a word for the believer in the pews…

• the person who loves Jesus but feels tired…
• the one who wants to grow but doesn’t always feel safe to open up…
• the one who’s wondering if Christ is really enough for what they’re facing.

---

Consider

We can sit in church and still be spiritually isolated. We can hear truth but not be rooted in it. We can love Jesus and still struggle to trust people. Paul writes this passage to say: You don’t have to do faith alone — But you do need to be rooted in Christ and united in love.”

---

The Message

Colossians 2:1–5 – The Struggle for a Rooted and United Church

Theme: Paul reveals his deep concern and spiritual labor for believers to remain anchored in Christ and united in love against deceptive teaching. Big Idea:Faithful shepherding fights for believers to stay rooted in Christ, united in love, and secure against deception.

---

I. Paul’s Pastoral Struggle for the Church

Colossians 2:1 (NIV)

I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.

Cross References (NIV, written out):

• Galatians 4:19 – My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…
• 2 Corinthians 11:28 – Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

Why We Struggle: We assume spiritual leadership is mostly public preaching, but much of true ministry happens in unseen spiritual struggle, prayer, and concern.

Theological Summary: Paul reveals pastoral ministry as spiritual wrestling, even for people he has never met face-to-face. Love for Christ produces love for His body, even from a distance.

Know This: Real ministry is often done where no one sees and no one applauds.

---

II. United in Love and Anchored in Truth

Colossians 2:2 (NIV)

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ…

Reflection

In Philippians 3:10, when Paul says, “I want to know Christ…”, the Greek word he uses for “know” is:

γινώσκω (ginōskō)

Pronounced:gih-NOCE-ko

---

Meaning of Ginosko

• It means to know by experience, not just intellectual awareness.
• It’s relational knowledge, like how someone knows a close friend or spouse — through personal encounter, not theory.
• It carries the idea of deep, intimate, progressive knowledge — knowledge that grows as relationship deepens.

This is not “I want to know about Christ.” This is “I want to personally experience Christ.”

---

Biblical Use Insight

• Same word used in John 10:14 — “I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” (relational knowing)
• Same structure used to describe Adam “knowing” Eve in Genesis, signifying intimacy and personal union.
• It speaks of connection, not just information.

Paul wanted the Colossian believers to know that even though he had not met many of them in person, he was deeply contending for them in prayer and spiritual struggle. His desire was that they would be:

• Encouraged in heart — strengthened inwardly, not discouraged by trials or outside voices.
• United in love — bound together in a safe, Christlike community that protects against division and deception.
• Anchored in Christ-centered understanding — gaining true spiritual insight that comes from knowing Christ, not chasing alternative teachings or spiritual trends.
• Protected from deception — able to stand firm and not be swayed by “fine-sounding arguments” that appear spiritual but shift focus away from Jesus.
• Disciplined and stable in faith — firm, ordered, and rooted — not easily shaken.

Cross References:

• Ephesians 4:15–16 – …speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
• John 13:35 – By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Why We Struggle: Many want deep understanding, but we underestimate the role of unity and love in spiritual clarity. Isolation breeds confusion; unity strengthens faith.

Theological Summary: Paul ties encouragement, unity, and understanding together. Knowledge is not just intellectual — it flourishes in a loving community rooted in Christ.

Know This:

• Spiritual understanding grows best in a safe, loving community, not in isolation or division.
• As a nation, we must remember that a divided church will always be a deceived church.

---

III. All Wisdom Found in Christ Alone

Colossians 2:3 (NIV)

…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Cross References:

• 1 Corinthians 1:30 – It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God…
• John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life…”

Why We Struggle: We chase “new” teachings, spiritual trends, or external sources of wisdom—forgetting that everything needed for life and truth is found in Christ.

Theological Summary: Paul confronts early traces of Gnostic-style thinking — that spiritual fullness came through “secret knowledge.” He declares all fullness is found openly and fully in Christ, not in hidden systems or spiritual elitism.

Know This:

• Paul wanted them grounded in Christ alone—not chasing spiritual trends, hidden knowledge, or additions to the gospel.
• You don’t need something new—you need more of Christ.

---

IV. Stand Firm Against Deception

Colossians 2:4–5 (NIV)

I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

Cross References:

• Ephesians 4:14 – Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching…
• Jude 3 – …contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.

Why We Struggle: Not all deception looks dangerous—some of it sounds intelligent, spiritual, or even compassionate. Without a firm foundation in Christ, we become vulnerable to subtle error.

Theological Summary: Paul rejoices at their current firmness but warns that spiritual stability must be guarded. Truth and love together keep the church anchored.

Know This: A firm faith today still needs guarding tomorrow.

---

One-Line Summary You Can Use in Preaching

Paul wasn’t just concerned that they believed in Christ — he contended that they be encouraged, united, anchored, protected, and firmly established in Christ.

Closing Remember The Power of Love (1 Corinthians 13:13

---

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

---

✅ Breakdown of the Three Words

1. Faith — Confidence in Who Christ Is

✅ Practical Expression:“I rely on Christ.”

---

2. Hope — Confidence in What Christ Will Do

✅ Practical Expression:“I rest in Christ’s promises.”

---

3. Love — Christ Lived Out Through Us

✅ Practical Expression:“I reveal Christ through how I treat others.”

---

Love is the only part of Christian life that doesn’t expire in eternity. We won’t need faith when we stand in His presence. We won’t need hope when all things are complete. But love — love is forever.

Sermon Closing Thought

So when we look around at our nation and the world, it feels like the foundations are shaking — morally, socially, spiritually. People are anxious, identity is shifting, truth is being redefined, and fear has become the background noise of our generation.

But through every chapter of history — through empires rising and falling, through wars, pandemics, persecutions, economic collapses, and cultural divides — one thing has never changed:

Christ has remained the same.The gospel has not weakened.The church of Jesus may be pressed, but it has never been crushed.And God has always been — and still is — a sure foundation.

• Psalm 46:1 — “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
• Hebrews 13:8 — “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
• Isaiah 33:6 — “He will be the sure foundation for your times…”

So yes — the world may shake. Culture may shift. News feeds may stir panic. But Christ is not shaken. His truth is not uncertain. His love has not changed.

And if your life is rooted in Him, you do not have to fear the shaking. When Christ is your foundation, you don’t just survive the shaking — You stand firm through it.

APPLICATION

HEAD (What to Believe):

Christ alone is the treasure of wisdom, and His church must stay rooted in Him.

HEART (What to Feel):

A burden for unity, a desire to grow in Christ-centered wisdom, and vigilance against deception.

HAND (What to Do):

• Pray for one another’s spiritual strength and unity.
• Stay connected to the body—growth happens in community.
• Resist teachings or influences that pull attention away from Christ.

---

Key Takeaways:

1. True ministry involves unseen spiritual struggle.
2. Unity in love strengthens understanding and protects from deception.
3. All wisdom and knowledge are found fully in Christ—not outside Him.
4. A firm faith must still be guarded against subtle deception.

Sermon Introduction

When Paul turns his attention to Jesus in Colossians 1, he doesn’t begin with what Christ does for us—he begins with who Christ is. These verses are among the clearest declarations in all of Scripture about the supremacy of Christ.

Paul describes Him as the visible image (icon) of the invisible God,

• the Creator and sustainer of all things,
• the head of the church, and
• the reconciler through the cross.

In just a few verses, Paul sweeps from eternity past to the present moment, from creation to redemption, from cosmic authority to personal reconciliation.

This passage forces us to lift our eyes and see Jesus not as a small addition to our lives, but as the One who holds our lives—and the universe itself—together.

---

Sermon Hook

“Who is really in control?” That’s the question of our age.

• Politicians promise control.
• Technology offers control.
• We try to control our calendars, our careers, and our futures.

But Paul reminds us: there is only One who truly holds all things together—Christ. And when you see Him for who He really is, everything else in life finds its rightful place.

---

Colossians 1:15–23 – The Supremacy of Christ

Theme: Paul exalts Christ as the image of God, Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Reconciler. Big Idea:Christ is supreme over creation and the church, and through Him God reconciles us to Himself.

---

I. Christ the Image of God and Creator

Colossians 1:15–17 (NIV)

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Cross References:

• John 1:3 – Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
• Hebrews 1:3 – The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

Why We Struggle: We often reduce Jesus to a teacher, helper, or friend—forgetting He is the eternal Creator and sustainer of all things.

Theological Summary: Christ is not created—He is Creator. “Firstborn” signifies rank and authority, not origin / birth order. He is supreme over creation and holds it together.

Know This: Christ is not one option among many—He is the center of creation and the glue of the universe.

---

II. Christ the Head of the Church and the Firstborn from the Dead

Colossians 1:18 (NIV)

18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

Cross References:

• Ephesians 1:22–23 – And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body.
• Revelation 1:5 – Jesus Christ… the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

Why We Struggle: We sometimes treat the church as ours to control, forgetting it belongs to Christ.

Theological Summary: As head of the church, Christ gives life, direction, and authority. His resurrection inaugurates new creation, guaranteeing His supremacy over life and death.

Know This: Christ is not just the founder of the church—He is its living Head.

---

III. Christ the Fullness of God and the Reconciler

Colossians 1:19–20 (NIV)

19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Cross References:

• John 14:9 – Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.
• Ephesians 2:13–14 – But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace.

Why We Struggle: We underestimate the seriousness of sin and think peace with God comes by effort or morality.

Theological Summary: Christ embodies the fullness of God. Through the cross, He brings cosmic reconciliation—restoring peace between God, creation, and humanity.

• Hebrews 11:3 NIV By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Know This: The peace you long for comes only through the blood of Christ.

---

IV. Christ the Reconciler of Believers

Colossians 1:21–23 (NIV)

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Cross References:

• Romans 5:10 – For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
• 2 Corinthians 5:18–19 – All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ… that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.

Why We Struggle: We forget how far from God we once were and take reconciliation for granted.

Theological Summary: Christ’s death reconciles believers, transforming enemies into holy people. Perseverance in faith is evidence of true reconciliation.

Know This: Reconciliation is a gift from Christ—cling to the hope of the gospel and don’t drift away.

Note Regarding Verse 23

• Paul’s “if” is not about losing salvation but about continuing in the faith that proves salvation is real.
• True reconciliation produces endurance — the believer is “established and firm.”
• The verse calls for stability, not insecurity.

Christ Reveals the Heart of God the Father: See Note

---

APPLICATION

HEAD (What to Believe):

Christ is supreme over creation, the church, and redemption. He alone reconciles us to God.

HEART (What to Feel):

Awe at Christ’s supremacy, gratitude for reconciliation, and confidence in His sufficiency.

HAND (What to Do):

• Worship Christ as Creator and Redeemer.
• Submit to Him as Head of the church.
• Persevere in the faith, clinging to the hope of the gospel.

---

Key Takeaways:

1. Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
2. He is Creator, Sustainer, and Head of the church.
3. Through His cross, God reconciles all things to Himself.
4. Believers are transformed from enemies into holy, blameless children of God.

Sermon Introduction

When Paul writes to the Colossians, he begins not with correction but with thanksgiving. He thanks God for;

• their faith in Christ,
• their love for one another, and
• their hope in heaven.

And then he prays—not for their comfort, but for their growth: that they would;

• know God’s will,
• bear fruit,
• endure with strength, and
• live in gratitude for the redemption found in Christ.

This passage reminds us that the Christian life is not static.

• Faith is meant to grow deeper,
• hope is meant to grow stronger, and
• love is meant to grow wider.

Paul’s prayer gives us a picture of what it means to live a life “worthy of the Lord.”

The Audience:

Colossians 1:1-2 NIV Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

---

Sermon Hook

“What do you pray for most often?” If we’re honest, our prayers usually focus on circumstances—health, jobs, needs, relief. But Paul shows us something greater: a prayer that reaches higher. He prays for wisdom, fruitfulness, endurance, and gratitude. In other words, he prays not just for a change in circumstances, but for a change in us.

The Message: Strengthen by Grace, Secure in Christ

---

Colossians 1:3–14 – A Prayer for Growth and Strength

Theme: Paul’s prayer for the Colossian church highlights gratitude, faith, love, hope, knowledge, and endurance.

Big Idea:Faith in Christ flourishes through prayer, producing knowledge, fruitfulness, and strength to endure.

---

I. Thanksgiving for Faith, Love, and Hope

Colossians 1:3–6 (NIV)

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.

Cross References:

• 1 Thessalonians 1:3 – We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Romans 5:5 – And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Why We Struggle: We often measure success by earthly standards, not by faith, love, and hope. Gratitude for gospel fruit can get overshadowed by complaints or discouragement.

Theological Summary: Faith in Christ, love for God’s people, and hope in heaven are the core marks of Christian maturity. The gospel is alive and expanding—it is never static.

Know This: Faith, love, and hope are not optional—they are the fruit of the true gospel at work.

---

II. The Gospel’s Impact Through Faithful Service

Colossians 1:7–8 (NIV)

7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Cross References:

• 1 Corinthians 3:6 – I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
• Romans 10:14–15 – How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? … And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?

Note:

• The gospel is dynamic and universal—always expanding, always bearing fruit.
• Epaphras (v.7) is credited with bringing the gospel to Colossae, showing the importance of faithful ministry.

Why We Struggle: We often undervalue the role of ordinary servants of God, forgetting that the gospel spreads through faithful witness, not celebrity or platform.

Theological Summary: God uses faithful servants like Epaphras to spread the gospel. True love for others is evidence of the Spirit’s work.

Know This: The Spirit works through faithful servants to grow gospel fruit.

---

III. A Prayer for Knowledge, Fruitfulness, and Strength

Colossians 1:9–12 (NIV)

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and 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, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

Cross References:

• Ephesians 1:17–18 – I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
• John 15:5 – I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Note:

Paul’s prayer includes:

1. Knowledge of God’s will (spiritual discernment).
2. Worthy conduct (living lives pleasing to Him).
3. Fruitfulness (every good work).
4. Strength (endurance and patience).
5. Joyful thanksgiving (gratitude for God’s salvation).

Why We Struggle: We tend to pray for circumstances to change rather than for wisdom, endurance, or spiritual fruit.

Theological Summary: Paul prays not for comfort but for growth—that believers would live worthy lives, strengthened by God’s might, marked by gratitude and endurance.

Know This: Spiritual growth comes through Spirit-given wisdom, fruitful living, and joyful endurance.

---

IV. The Rescue and Redemption in Christ

Colossians 1:13–14 (NIV)

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.

Cross References:

• John 8:36 – So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
• Ephesians 1:7 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

Note:

• God has acted decisively in Christ:
  • Rescue – Deliverance from darkness (Satan’s dominion).
  • Transfer – Brought into Christ’s kingdom.
  • Redemption – Release from bondage.
  • Forgiveness – Sins canceled through Christ’s blood.

Why We Struggle: We forget the depth of our rescue—living as though we still belong to darkness instead of walking in the freedom of Christ’s kingdom.

Theological Summary: Christ’s redeeming work is the foundation of the Christian life. Every prayer for growth is grounded in the reality of forgiveness and deliverance.

Know This: You don’t belong to darkness anymore—you are redeemed and forgiven in Christ.

Doctrinal Themes in Colossians 1:3–14

1. Soteriology – Salvation: Believers are rescued, redeemed, and forgiven.
2. Ecclesiology – Community Life: Faith in Christ expresses itself in love for others.
3. Eschatology – Hope: The future inheritance fuels present endurance.
4. Sanctification – Growth: Knowledge of God leads to holiness, fruitfulness, and perseverance.

---

APPLICATION

HEAD (What to Believe):

The gospel bears fruit, grows believers in knowledge, and secures our redemption in Christ.

HEART (What to Feel):

Grateful for God’s work, hopeful in His promises, and confident in His rescue.

HAND (What to Do):

• Give thanks regularly for faith, love, and hope in others.
• Pray for wisdom and endurance, not just relief from hardship.
• Live as one rescued—walking in the light of Christ’s kingdom.

---

Key Takeaways:

1. Faith, love, and hope are the fruit of the gospel at work.
2. God uses faithful servants like Epaphras to spread His truth.
3. Spiritual growth requires Spirit-given wisdom, endurance, and gratitude.
4. Believers live in freedom, rescued from darkness and redeemed by Christ.