Growing up, many of us played kickball on the playground. Whether organized or informal, it was always a popular activity … and it could be savage, not because of the athletic competition, but because of the social realities it exposed. Who got picked first? How about last? Who were left out entirely? Who excluded themselves from this big group event because they didn't like the sport or felt they were no good at it?

Quickly enough, a pecking order was established, with either beneficial or detrimental results. As adults, these social constructs get more complicated & nuanced, but most of us are still victims of it, to one degree or another.

But the way of Jesus is different - or it should be. For those who have chosen to follow Jesus, we are each all an indispensable part of a glorious new whole, none greater than another but all wildly unique & cherished. And this means we're called to a vibrant community that gives life and invites full participation from all.

#SecondToNone #Jesus #OurFaithInJesus #Identity #Colossians

“Who are you?” It’s one of the questions that we all get asked many times over in life. In one form or another, we’re asked to identify ourselves. Whether we answer it simply, like with our names, or by fleshing it out a bit with a few more details about what we do and where we come from, we’re trying to let someone else know about us and how they can relate to us.

But what if our identity was both much deeper and far more important than we typically think? And what if our identity is truly personal, yes, but also inextricably bound into our community and the purpose God has offered to us?

#SecondToNone #Jesus #OurFellowshipInJesus #Identity #Colossians

Growing up, many of us heard, “Sticks and stones can hurt your bones, but words can never hurt you.” Well-meaning adults would recite this adage to the young in an effort to comfort and encourage. But regardless of their intent, they were very wrong.

Sure, a mean word hurled at someone doesn't pierce flesh like a bullet, but it can inflict a different, even deeper wound. Proverbs 12.18a tells us: “Rash words are like sword thrusts.” No, that harsh word won't draw blood, but it can break the spirit. But the converse is true, as well: “But the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 12.18b) We can use our words to bring light into dark places and healing to hidden pains. God wants us to use our words (and our actions) to bring about good in this world.

#SecondToNone #Jesus #OurFruitInJesus #Prayer #Colossians

There’s no doubt that we live in a highly politicized world these days, especially in our western societal structure. And in America, that politicization ramps up in particular fashion every four years or so. Since this is our reality, this fall we’ll be taking a number of weeks to talk about stuff that the church often fails to address, or at least address directly or thoughtfully.

But where we find ourselves in this week’s message is a passage that tips over into at least some of those “spicy” areas. While the verses we’ll cover definitely tap into some of these topics, we’re going to talk a little bit more about the broader message of the verses we’re tackling - namely, power and responsibility.

#SecondToNone #Jesus #FamilyInJesus # Power # Responsibility #Colossians

The notion that “You’re not the boss of me!” may very well be the anthem of modern Western society. We really, really don’t like people telling us what to do, how to think, or really much of anything that we don’t already believe. But the reality is that we are actually all already under the thumb of whatever we worship - even if that’s ourselves. The freedom and peace that God offers us through Jesus must produce a willing, thankful response of allowing Him to “take the steering wheel” of our lives, trusting that He has what’s best at heart. In other words, if we’re willing to trust Jesus with our eternities, we need to be willing to trust Him with our todays.

#SecondToNone #Jesus #WhatJesusKills #Colossians

It’s easy for us to look at others and see patterns and choices they make that are detrimental to their well-being. We can see how their decisions are bringing ruin to themselves and those around them. We wonder, “Why are they so committed to living in pain and squalor, especially when there is help, hope, and healing right at their fingertips? Why are they unwilling to let go of what is killing them?” 

The hard truth is that many of us - perhaps most or even all of us - are equally committed to holding on to things and ways of living that are detrimental to ourselves and our world. It’s hard to see that we cling to the bad and convince ourselves that it’s good … or that we’re justified to hold on, even if others aren’t. But Jesus wants more for us - He wants freedom and life, not prison and death. 

#SecondToNone #Jesus #WhatJesusKills #Colossians

What's most important to us isn't always what we say is most important. What's really most important is what our lives demonstrate allegiance and deference towards - that is, what we actually do with our lives shows what's most important.

But how do we come to that place of what our actions show is of most value? God's Word and human experience point to what happens in our minds is the birthplace of our values and what we do in light of them. What we "set our minds on" becomes what we - in all effect - worship.

#SecondToNone #Jesus #RaisedInJesus #WhoDoYouFollow #Colossians

Every parent has undoubtedly been faced with their children challenging authority in their lives. Whether from their parents or school teachers or coaches or really anyone “in charge” in any sphere of their lives, kids force the question, “Who are you to tell me what to do?” And while it can be infuriating to hear this question on repeat, it is actually an essential question to human flourishing, and it’s one that we all honestly ask throughout our lives: who gets to tell me what to do, and how much do I really need to obey them?

The reality is that, while we honestly buck against authority as a natural human reaction, we also clearly act as if someone (or something) is in charge of our lives and dictating our actions, even if we think that authority is ourselves. (Spoiler - we’re not really in charge as much as we think we are!) All of us live under a series of rules and dictates, regardless of how formalized we are about them, and who (or what) we give authority to truly determines the course of our lives. If we want to live “our best lives” now, we need to discover what has authority over us and make sure that that authority aligns with truth.

#SecondToNone #Jesus #QualifiedInJesus #TrulyAlive #Colossians

One of the core tenets of Christianity is the notion of eternal life. It's the idea that God offers us a life with Him and without end. So often, our culture (both secular and religious) has pictured this as some sort of down-the-road, floating on the clouds existence. In fact, if we're honest, it's been pictured in a way that could be called ... well, boring, if we're really honest.

And while this is a very different picture of "heaven" than what the Bible portrays, what's worse is that it pictures this eternal life as something that will happen some day down the road. The Bible, however, indicates that this life that we're promised isn't something that we will only enjoy at some far off point, but rather it's something that we can and should enjoy and manifest right now.

#SecondToNone #Jesus #AliveInChrist #BeingTrulyAlive #Colossians

If Jesus really is who He claims to be, if He actually does what He promises to do, if He truly loves us the way the Bible describes, how should I respond? How should we all act in light of these truths? Too often, it seems, we attempt to “fit Jesus in” where we've got extra space. We seem to make margin for all the other important (and even not-so-important) things in our lives before considering where we might have room for Him.

But what if we reversed this? What if we prioritized Jesus in all His preeminence above and before everything else? What if we were so devoted to the One who so devoted Himself to us that all other priorities and decisions were positioned to honor Him as supreme? And all this done not to somehow earn His favor but rather done out of complete gratitude for His love towards us and in recognition of His divine Kingship? If we were to treat Jesus like King He is, what kind of lives would we live?

#SecondToNone #Jesus #WalkingWorthy #Colossians

What do we do with the reality of Jesus - His life, His teaching, His example, His resurrection, all of it? Well, the Apostle Paul has a lot more to tell us in lots of places, and we're gonna take April to dig into one of His most “Christocentric” writings: an ancient letter called Colossians, his impassioned plea to a fledgling church in the ancient world.

In this book, Paul drops serious truths on relatively new believers in Colossae, setting them straight on who Jesus really is - not just a great teacher or a good man, but the actual divine Son of God who created the entire universe! Paul goes hard against some false teachers who were mixing in weird philosophical ideas and rules about diet and rituals. His big idea is that Jesus is supreme over everything, so we shouldn't get distracted by human traditions and rules when you've got the real truth right in front of you. If we want to grow spiritually, the Apostle claims, we've got to stay rooted in Christ and let Him transform our lives from the inside out - instead of just trying to follow a bunch of dos and don'ts. At the end of the day, living for Christ means putting on qualities like compassion, kindness, and forgiveness - that is, we've got to become more like Jesus each day of our lives.

#SecondToNone #Jesus #Preeminence #Colossians