COLOSSIANS 1:29-2:1FOUR THINGS TO KEEP US ON TRACK

Breakfast-cereal giant Kellogg said it will be voluntarily recalling 28 million boxes of cereal due to an "uncharacteristic off-flavor and smell coming from the liner in the package.”T he cereal brands being recalled include Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Froot Loops, and Honey Smacks. The cereals being recalled have the letters "KN" next to the "Better if Used Before Data" are included in the recall, Kellogg said. Kellogg said there was low potential for serious health problems related to the consumption of the cereal, but eating it may result in temporary nausea and diarrhea. 

KELLOGG’S RECALL

PAUL WRITING TO COLOSSAE TO INSTRUCT AND ENCOURAGE THEM IN CHRIST

WRITING TO DEAL WITH THE GNOSTIC PROBLEM, A “SMELLY” DISTORTION OF THE TRUTH

ESSENTIAL ELEMENT, THAT JESUS IS PREEMINENT, NOT JUST PROMINENT.

INTRODUCTION

REMEMBER ABC’S “WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS”?

THE “THRILL OF VICTORY AND THE _________ OF DEFEAT?

“To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.” – 1:29-2:1

THE AGONY

TO “LABOR” IS TO GROW WEARY, TO EXPEND EFFORT TO THE POINT OF EXHAUSTION. IT IS A TERM USED OF ATHLETES IN TRAINING. THUS, IT IS VOLUNTARY EFFORT TO ACHIEVE A GOAL.

THE AGONY

STRUGGLING IS TO “AGONIZE”, AND MEANS TO CONTEND IN ATHLETIC GAMES. PAUL SEES A WRESTLING MATCH, AND HE IS ENGAGED TO WIN. IN 2:1, HE RE-USES THE WORD, HE IS CONTENDING ON BEHALF OF THOSE HE HAS NEVER MET.

THE AGONY

ENCOURAGEMENTENDEARMENTENRICHMENTENLIGHTENMENT

FOUR THINGS THAT SHOW WE ARE ON TRACK

“My purpose 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,”

ENCOURAGEMENT

THE WORD ENCOURAGEMENT MEANS “CALLED ALONGSIDE”Charles Durham, Temptation, “One Saturday afternoon I watched the

telecast of the world’s light-weight boxing championship match. The boxers were a thirty-one-year-old Scotsman and a man from the United States who was six years younger. The Scot was the reigning champion, and the bout was being fought before a crowd of twenty thousand in Glasgow, Scotland. The champion had said before the match that he would rather die than be beaten before his own people; but the younger contender had never before been beaten in a professional contest.

“Soon after the match began it became clear that the battle would be close. As I sat watching, I heard something unlike anything I had ever heard before. It was faint at first, but it seemed to be singing—singing at a boxing match! Gradually, it became louder; hundreds and hundreds of male voices singing a strange Scottish melody. I could hardly believe it. They were singing encouragement for their champion. As he fought for his crown, but even more for the respect of the Scottish people, they sang to encourage him.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Weight WatchersJean Nidetch, a 214 pound homemaker desperate to lose weight, went to the New York City Department of Health, where she was given a diet devised by Dr. Norman Jolliffe. Two months later, discouraged about the 50 plus pounds still to go, she invited six overweight friends home to share the diet and talk about how to stay on it. Today, 28 years later, one million members attend 25,0000 Weight Watchers meetings in 24 countries every week. Why was Nidetch able to help people take control of their lives?To answer that, she tells a story. When she was a teen-ager, she used to cross a park where she saw mothers gossiping while the toddlers sat on their swings, with no one to push them. “I’d give them a push,” says Nidetch. “And you know what happens when you push a kid on a swing? Pretty soon he’s pumping, doing it himself. That’s what my role in life is—I’m there to give others a push.”Irene Sax in Newsday

ENDEARMENT “My purpose 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,”

THE MATURE CHRISTIAN SEEKS TO BE A PEACEMAKER, NOT A TROUBLE MAKER. CONVERSELY, IMMATURE OR SELFISH PEOPLE CAUSE DIVISION.

“My purpose 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,”

THE STORY OF SHAY

ENRICHMENT

“My purpose 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,”

THE GNOSTICS BOASTED OF HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF MYSTERIES REQUIRING INITIATION INTO THEIR RANKS BEFORE ONE COULD OBTAIN THEM.

PAUL SAYS ANYONE WHO KNOWS CHRIST KNOWS THE MYSTERY, FOR IT IS A PERSON.

ENLIGHTENMENT

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you

received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we

are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God

and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”-Romans

8:15-17

ENLIGHTENMENT

THESE ARE THE THINGS PAUL WAS

WRESTLING OVER ON BEHALF OF THESE

BELIEVERS.

HOW DO YOU PRAY?WHAT WOULD YOU ASK GOD FOR ON

BEHALF OF OTHERS?

CONCLUSION