Grace Presbyterian Church

As we begin the book of Joshua, we recognize this as a transitional book in a transitional time for Israel. We will consider the death of the old man, the rising up of the new man (with an old plan), and how Joshua points forward to the greater Joshua to come ...

What can we learn from the fellowship of the ministers, whom Paul worked with for the Gospel? We learn there was a concern for encouragement, a concern for maturity, a concern to fulfill the ministry.

What does it mean to be a witness for Christ? Some may not like that term but it is a biblical concept. Paul speaks to it in Colossians 4.2-6 as he alludes to the way Daniel was a light to the nations when he interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream.

In this text, we will also consider the misinterpretations of texts such as Leviticus 25, in dealing with the topic of slavery, as well as address the true context of Paul's instructions and how they apply to us today.

This week we will consider how we put on Christ in the home, wives and husbands, parents and children and consider some of the misconceptions of what this means that are out there in the world.

What is the context of putting on Christ in this portion of Colossians? It is in the church and her worship, which flows out into day to day life. The gathering is essential for the Christian life. It should produce love, peace, unity, and gratefulness.

In an age of click baiting and rage baiting, what are the 'ear ticklers' teaching about what we are to do? Does it align with what Paul told the Colossians to do? Let us consider what it means to put on Christ in the church.

Why are we to put sin away? Why are we to reflect Christ in our lives? We must reflect on the gospel of Jesus Christ, who he is and what he has done for us, in order to answer these questions.

What are we living for? Where do we look when things get hard? The Colossians were facing the problem of false teaching and its effects on the church. Paul directs their minds upward.

There are two kinds of religion, self-made and God-revealed. The most common in the world is self-made religion and it is interesting how they're all very similar in practice.

What does Paul mean when he said that we have died to the 'elemental spirits of the world'? There are many layers of meaning to this phrase.

How do we grow spiritually? The false teachers were binding the Colossians to Old Covenant ceremonies and festivals and a form of mysticism as a way to grow and even to experience visions of heavenly worship. Pau says there is only one way and it is to hold fast to the Head, Jesus Christ.

The Old Covenant had laws, ceremonies and festivals that were meant to expire once the fulfillment arrived. This was what the false teachers missed in their teaching.

Where do we find our ultimate victory? It is only in one place won by One Victor. Paul explains here ...

Where does the Christian life come from? What is the basis or foundation of it? This is answered in Colossians 2.13-14.

Circumcision, Baptism, and Resurrection. What do these share in common? What do they all symbolize or anticipate? Throughout Redemptive History, they are all connected and signify the Person and work of Jesus Christ. So, what does this mean for the one who has faith in Jesus?

What does is it mean to be filled in him? What was Paul fighting against in the Colossian context? Human-generated spiritual experiences through works. But Paul wants us to resist this tendency and to be reminded of Christ.

We normally think of the Christian life as beginning with the gospel of Jesus Christ, NOW, tell me what to do, as if we can walk in Christ without grace. The Christian walk is all by grace through faith.

'All you need is love' is the cry of the culture. But how is the church to think of ministry expectations? Where is the place of conviction and truth?

What do we expect from a church's ministry? What is the end goal? Paul struggled so that the Colossians would be knit together ...

The minister struggles to encourage, to guard, and to rejoice.

The minister's toil is often not what people expect nor what people want. Many believe that they have 'graduated' from the message of the cross. But Paul said 'Him we proclaim ...' for the Christian life.

What is the minister's stewardship? Is it to proclaim the word of God? Yes. But how? And Who? ... All roads of Scripture lead to Christ and him crucified and the hope of glory to all nations.

What was the context of Paul's suffering? Did he rejoice in unjust suffering? Or did he rejoice in his Savior and how he was working in him and his ministry?

What does persevering or remaining in the faith mean? Perfection? Or is it a constant view of Christ and the cross?

Paul addresses the present condition of the believer as the believer is now, reconciled to God through what Jesus has done for him or her.

The Christian believer needs to be reminded of who we are in Christ. And to do that, sometimes, we need to be reminded of what we were without Christ.

What does it mean when Paul said that, 'in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell ...'? What is he alluding to? A common theme in this letter is that Christ is the New Covenant fulfillment of the Old Covenant temple system. Why is this important for us? It is the way that God provided for our redemption.

What does it mean when it says that Christ is the beginning in verse 18b? Is it chronological or is it speaking of his status over the church?

What does it mean when Paul says that Christ is the Head? He is the Source of her life. He unites us to himself and under himself. And he governs his body.

Jesus is who he is. What does that mean for God's people? It is reminiscent of the One who revealed himself in the burning bush to Moses (Ex. 3).

What does 'firstborn' mean in this text? Does it mean first to be 'born'? Let us consider it ...

What does it mean for Christ to be the Image of the invisible God? God of God, Light of Light, begotten, not made? Find out in the sermon ...

What is the Source of our hope and comfort? What is the foundation of our spiritual life and maturity? It is found in this 'Christ hymn of Colossae.'

Our union with Christ is mysterious, essential, and unbreakable. Let us be reminded as we consider our entire redemption in Christ.

Today we are considering the nature of our deliverance and the nature of our transfer into God's Kingdom.

What do we need in order to grow in spiritual maturity? We need a complete redemption. So, let us give thanks for the redemption we have in Christ!

There is a need for spiritual maturity in the Christian life. But how do we fulfill it? Paul answers that question for us.

Christianity is naturally doctrinal and creedal. It is one of the most intellectual religions in the world. The main subject of our knowledge is God himself. And it is not information that stays stored up in someone's mind, but it is to be put into practice.

Paul's major concern for the Colossians was their spiritual growth and maturity. So, it should be our concern for the people of God today.

If it is essential that the gospel must go out and increase, what are the means of that increase? It can be summarized in the need of gospel ministers who are devoted to the grace of God in the word of truth.

Following our Men's Leadership Conference, we are still discussing the need for the gospel to bear fruit and increase. We consider this text in its relation to Genesis 1.28, Isaiah 54.1-3, 55.11 and Matthew 28.18-19, in the Great Commission.

Rev. Richard Bout discusses how effective missions begins at home, in our families and in our local churches.

In our third session, Rev. Richard Bout discusses how God wants his servants to thrive, not just survive, in ministry. Ministry burnout is a real thing and God's servants must be spiritually prepared for the battle they will face in the ministry.

In our second session, Rev. Richard Bout discusses how hospitality is the key to reaching the nations, people of different backgrounds, as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission.

What is the content of our prayers? Would some of it be thanksgiving? What are we thankful for? Is it that the gospel is bearing fruit in our lives and in the world? Let us consider Paul's thanksgiving for the Colossians ...

In this introduction, we cover the background and occasion for Paul's letter to the Colossians. There were familiar false teachings spreading through the church and they needed correction. Like they say, 'there is nothing new under the sun.'

When will all things come to an end? When will Christ arrive with his kingdom? The rest of this chapter in Daniel is a reminder of the way the world is, the suffering that God's people will go through, but also, it is a call persevere.

God is the Author of history. In this text, there is a lot of history, but God's will for his people is underlying this entire section. Let us find out what that is ...

Many have been duped into believing that we wrestle against flesh and blood. We believe that a political victory is what Christians need to usher in the kingdom of God. That is a different picture than what the Scriptures paints for us.

As we consider a very difficult text, we need to stick to some basic rules of interpretation. 1) Consider the context. 2) Interpret Scripture with Scripture. 3) Stick to what is clear and not to speculation. Let us consider a hotly debated text in Daniel 9.20-27.