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Five Guidelines for a Fulfilling Life

Listen for God’s word to you from Colossians 3:15-17…  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:1 marks the transition in this letter from theology to practical application. Paul follows this same pattern in each of his letters. First, he gives us theology, and then he fleshes out the practical application of that theology. In the verses we have read this morning, Paul gives us five guidelines for a fulfilling life.  PEACE   The first guideline is peace. Paul says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called...
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New You!

In one of the Peanuts comic strips, Lucy asks Linus, “Do you think people ever really change?”   “Sure,” replies Linus, “I feel I’ve changed a lot this past year.”  To which Lucy replies, “I meant for the better.”  I believe that people can and often do change for the better. Otherwise, I would not be in the business I am in.  In the passage of Scripture that we are going to read today, Paul lays out a plan for becoming a “new you”. Listen for God’s word to you from Colossians 3:1-14…  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Beca...
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No Additions Necessary

Listen for God’s word to you from Colossians 2:8-23… See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits   of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.  And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,  by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal dema...
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8 Marks of a Faithful Church

Listen for God’s word to you from Colossians 2:1-7… 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.  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, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 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.   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.   In this passage Paul talks about his g...
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