Freedom and Slavery

Gary DeLashmutt

Galatians 5:13

The Bible tells us to consider ourselves as utterly free yet at the same time as slaves. Christ has purchased our freedom from slavery to: humans, the Law, and sin. However, this freedom is also for the purpose of become "slaves" to God, and our experience of this freedom increases through choosing to live as slaves according to God's design.

Adorning the Gospel in Your Community

John Cleary

Sherri Fojas

Galatians 5:13

God calls His followers to adorn the gospel with word and deed. To effectively participate in this, Christians need to be convinced and motivated by grace. It is also essential to serve those outside the church community because God's purpose and goal are to share His love with those who don't yet know Him. Being prepared with a short answer about why you serve as well as a short personal testimony will give you the ability to answer when people ask why you serve. Jesus is our ultimate example to follow and we need to be sure it is every member that participates in serving the community. Get involved where you are burdened and gifted and consider how to mobilize others to do the same.\r\n

Marriage and Family, God's Way

Scott Risley

Colossians 3:18-21

God has a specific design and way he desires us to live out our marriages and family life. Within marriage, God's emphasis is each partner playing their role within marriage. For the husband, that means to demonstrate sacrificial, loving leadership like Christ. For wives, this includes support and respecting the husband's leadership.

Putting On The New Self

Dennis McCallum

Colossians 3:9-17

The New Testament always reasons from what God made us to be into our experience of that. The new self is characterized by love toward others, thankfulness, and knowledge of the truth.

Slaves and Masters

Jim Leffel

Colossians 3:22-4:1

When Paul writes about slaves and masters, he is addressing the topic of justice in a fallen world. The Bible offers a fundamentally unique basis for this kind of justice, by speaking of human dignity and of Christian community as a new social order. Believers are to follow the example of Christ's serving love, even in the face of injustice.

Parents and Children

Jim Leffel

Ephesians 6:1-4

The ethics of the Bible are pertinent to the family. Children are called to obedience and honor towards their parents. Parents are to have the goal of cultivating lifelong followers and servants of Christ. Ultimately, Biblical parenting is immensely beneficial for both children and for parents.

The Path to Spiritual Maturity (Part 2)

Gary DeLashmutt

Colossians 3:5-17

Part two of a two-part series on the path to spiritual maturity. Paul encourages the Colossians to embrace a lifestyle consistent with what God has provided us through Christ. He urges them to ?put aside? a self-centered way of life and to ?put on? an other-centered, loving lifestyle. As we cultivate a mental focus on ?the things above? (part one) and replace a selfish lifestyle with a loving one (part two), God changes us from the inside out.

Paul's Servanthood Perspective

Dennis McCallum

Colossians 1:21-2:3

There is no alternative to authentic Christian servanthood in the church. The Bible says that Christians are appointed by God to be His servants, proclaiming His message in a balanced and complete way. Christian workers are called to encourage others to commit themselves to closeness with each other, learning about God, and pursuing a deeper relationship with Him.

A Life Filled With Meaning & Purpose

Conrad Hilario

1 Corinthians 9:16-17

Paul explains to the Colossians the costliness of their reconciliation: Christ's death on the cross. He expresses how salvation has impacted his life purpose such as being able to understand suffering, having a passion to share the gospel, and a deep commitment to instructing others. Paul's life showcases an example of a sanctified life that Christians today should aspire to.