Beginning & Continuing
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Maturing in Christ
Colossians 1:24-2:7 (ESV)
24 Now 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, 25 of 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, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To 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. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Sermon Outline
The way to a truly fruitful life is to mature in the grace of Christ.
1. Beginning
2:6 “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord”
2:2-3 “all the riches… which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures…”
2:7 “abounding in thanksgiving”
2. Continuing
2:6 “so walk in him”
2:7 “rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught”
Prayer of Confession
Our loving Father, you have been so good to us. Your kindness and generosity should stir us to grateful stewardship of all you have entrusted to us; yet we take so much for granted. We don’t abound with thanksgiving. We are marked instead by grumbling, envy, and all the characteristics that evidence we need your forgiveness. We are guilty of complacency. We have done much wrong. There is much we have failed to do. With honesty and humility, we admit our failings and appeal to you for mercy. We turn to you, in Christ, whom you have given to us and through whom you give us all things. As we renew our commitment to walk in him, lead us in maturing in him in this next season. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
How does the Christian life begin?
Why is it important to recognize that God gives and we receive? What is your understanding of grace and how it works?
What riches and treasures do you recognize in Christ? What in his character, in what he teaches, in what he has done, or in what he gives is of great value? How can you grow in discerning and taking hold of even greater things in Christ?
When do you give thanks? Do you have any routine or habits of pausing to take stock of what you have and celebrating whatever is good? How can thanksgiving be a more regular part of your daily life?
Does maturity automatically happen? How does one mature spiritually? Are there ways to tell if you are growing?
What can you expect to experience in the process of maintaining a simple faith in Christ while engaging an increasingly complex world? Does Christianity equip you for all of life?
Have you been neglecting any of the areas of the five practices of Acts 2: Fellowship, the Word, Prayer, Sacraments, Mission (FWPSM)? How can these practices be a “means of grace”, habits that nourish and sustain you?
What could be next for Emmanuel? How can our church grow, improve, deepen, become more fruitful?