Jesus + Nothing = Everything (week 1)

Transcription

1 Jesus + Nothing = Everything (week 1) How Big Is Your Jesus? If you missed the sermon, you'll find the podcast at Bottom line - The victorious Christian life centers around one reality: Jesus is enough Scriptures - Colossians 1:1-14 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. 9And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the

2 knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1: And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Paul s Ministry to the Church 24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. Icebreaker What is something in your life that you never seem to have enough of? Who is someone you know who walks in humility? How have you seen them exhibit humility in their life?

3 Questions: 1. Pastor David talked about some of the heresies originating in the early church that were a mixture of Greek philosophy and jewish legalism. Two of the most common were the beliefs that either Jesus was something but not everything, and that Jesus was necessary but but enough. In what ways are these 2 heresies of the early church still visible and prominent in today s culture? 2. In Colossians 1:9-14, Paul s primary goal was to launch an offensive on the false teachings that had infiltrated the church. What are some of the ways he encouraged the church at Colossae to focus on Jesus as the center of their faith? 3. Read Colossians 1: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you

4 holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Here we find Paul making his case for Jesus as the sole source of sufficiency for salvation. What is some of the evidence he presents to the saints at Collosae to this end? According to Paul, what do these verses say about God? What do these verses say about us? 4. Re-read verses What is Paul saying about what Jesus has done that was contrary to legalistic teachings in that day? 5. In what ways does a small view of Jesus impact how we live our lives? How have you personally experienced the effects of a too small view of Jesus? 6. What are some of the things you personally try to add to Jesus in order to complete you or your salvation?

5 7. Pastor David talked about understanding the equations: Jesus Me Jesus > ME. JESUS >. In what ways are you tempted to think that Jesus alone isn t enough? What is something in your life that you need the faith to start seeing Jesus as bigger than? (Have everyone in the group answer this question. Leader, write these answers down.) CLOSER: Prayer Time Idea - As members of the group share what they need help seeing Jesus as bigger than in their lives, as someone else in the group to pray for that person. This could be done in a large group or in splitting up into smaller groups with 2 couples, separate men and women or a few members per group. Close the group in prayer, thanking God for the finished work and complete sufficiency of Jesus. Ask God for his grace to begin to give everyone in the group a deep understanding and revelation of the sufficiency and Lordship of Jesus in their lives. When the group meets again next week, start with a time of asking members how the last week went with focusing on how much Jesus was greater than (whatever they shared last week).

6 FOR THE LEADER: Sermon outline Introduction I m changing my conviction Read Colossians 1:1-14, Walk back through on plasma Author: Paul (1:1) Bible 66; 39/27; Paul 13; Col -1 Known as Saul prior to his ministry, Paul was born of Hebrew parents about A.D. 5, or a few years earlier, in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia. He later became a Roman citizen and also became fluent in speaking and writing in the Greek language. He was brought up in boyhood in Jerusalem, where he was taught by Gamaliel. Before he became a Christian missionary, he was a Pharisee. His trade was tentmaking. After his miraculous conversion in A.D. 37, he participated in missionary expeditions. On the first journey (A.D ), Barnabas was his partner. On the second journey (A.D ), Silas (or Silvanus) was his partner. For part of the third journey (A.D ), Luke was his partner. Paul was imprisoned in

7 Prison epistles Recipients: The Church At Colossae (2-7) Illus Map Showing Colossae (SCREEN) Problem: Heretical teachings infiltrating the church (7-8). What were some of the heresies? It was a weird mix of Greek philosophy (Gnosticism) and Jewish legalism. The end result of which are very similar to some of the same things the Church and Christians deal with today: - Ceremonialism - Asceticism - Worship of angels - Secret knowledge (holy men) - Human wisdom and philosophy - Denial of the Jesus of the Bible His humanity and His full deity. 1. Jesus is something, but not everything. 2. Jesus is necessary, but not enough. (Jesus starts salvation, but you must finish it.) Purpose: A pre-emptive strike on these heretical teachings (9-14). Paul was writing to refute the idea that Jesus wasn t enough for salvation. Paul argues that Jesus is ALL YOU NEED for salvation (15-23) won t read). Theme: The complete and total superiority of Christ (18). Paul challenges their view of Christ. The heretical teachers view of Jesus is too small.

8 How big is your Jesus? Illus. Canas Majoris (16-18) A small Jesus needs your help. THE Real Jesus doesn t need anything. Never our beneficiary. He allows us to join Him. Our view of Jesus is often times a reflection of our view of ourselves we have too big a view of ourselves. Bigger than Jesus You got to get lower than Jesus to be saved To live in the fullness and victory that He provides. Illus. Inflatable Man A key marker how you love and treat people. THINK ABOUT THIS WAY Jesus Me Jesus > ME. JESUS >. Problems, fears, pain, past, failures you fill in the blank The Take Away: The Victorious Christian Life Centers Around One Reality: Jesus Is Enough. Illus Cutting your grass