Gathering to hear the good news of Jesus and scattering to share it
If you were a slave sitting in a church in Paul’s day, what would you expect to hear from the Apostle as he addressed Christian slaves and masters? The injustice of slavery, perhaps? Maybe a call for the freedom of slaves?
But in his letter to the Colossian church, his words are directed to something deeper than the slaves’ social condition.
Continue reading “Thoughts on Colossians – Part 9”We often think of childhood as preparation for adulthood. Children must learn, grow, become responsible, and eventually make their own way in the world. But Colossians 3:20–21 gives us a much bigger vision. Even the ordinary obedience of a child can magnify the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ.
Continue reading “Thoughts on Colossians – Part 8”It is relatively easy to preach and sing about the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ. It is another thing entirely to live under Christ’s lordship when two sinners share a home, a bed, a bank account, disagreements and expectations.
Continue reading “Thoughts on Colossians – Part 7”Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt that you didn’t belong? Perhaps everyone seemed more educated, wealthier, or culturally different from you. We naturally notice the things that divide us.
Yet Colossians 3:11–17 gives us a remarkable picture of a community where those divisions no longer have the final word.
Continue reading “Thoughts on Colossians – Part 6”How does lasting change happen? We all know how to change behaviour temporarily. We can make resolutions, use positive affirmations, or try various techniques to break unwanted habits. But the harder question is this: How does a person change the desires, loves and identity underneath the behaviour?
Continue reading “Thoughts on Colossians – Part 5”Every journey begins with a single step. Sadly, a journey in the wrong direction begins exactly the same way. That is the danger Paul addresses in Colossians 2:16–23.
The Colossian believers were being bombarded by voices insisting that Christ alone was not enough.
Continue reading “Thoughts on Colossians – Part 4”Have you ever given up something valuable because you believed a promise that turned out to be empty?
Perhaps you invested money in something that failed, moved for a job that never materialised, or bought something online only to discover that you had been deceived. It hurts to lose something precious because you trusted a promise that was not true.
This is the concern behind Paul’s words in Colossians 2.
Continue reading “Thoughts on Colossians – Part 3”If Christ has reconciled us to God, what happens now? The Christian life is not simply about the moment we first believe. There is a journey ahead.
Paul speaks about continuing “in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel”. This is serious. There are people who seem to begin well but do not finish. There are people who once professed faith but later abandon Christ. There are people who turn away from the Gospel and embrace another hope.
So how do we know that someone truly belongs to Christ?
Continue reading “Thoughts on Colossians – Part 2”Is Christ truly enough?
This is a question that lies beneath much of the Christian life.
We may never put the question into words, but we answer it by the way we live. When life becomes difficult, what do we look to for security? When we feel spiritually weak, where do we turn? When the world offers us a hundred competing voices, how do we know which one to listen to? When we look at the church and see imperfect people, how do we remain committed to one another? And when we think about eternity, what gives us confidence that we will actually make it to the end?
Continue reading “Thoughts on Colossians – Part 1”
Have you ever obeyed God sincerely, only to wonder whether it made any difference at all?
Many Christians know that feeling. We step out in faith, serve where we can, pray faithfully, share the gospel, or labour through difficult circumstances—only to look at the results and feel discouraged. Our efforts seem small. The impact appears insignificant. We begin to wonder whether it is worth continuing.
Continue reading “Haggai (Part 2): When your obedience feels small – the reassuring presence of God”