Colossians 3:1-17 Get your mind out of the gutter! This is a phrase you have probably heard many times and potentially even used yourself. Today's passage challenges us not just to get our mind out of the gutter but to get it all the way to heaven. We are to think upon things of God, things which are eternally meaningful and significant. This idea of dwelling upon eternal things may simply seem li...

Colossians 2:8-23 Would you like a warranty on that? Would you like to supersize your drink or make that a meal? Wherever we go we are bombarded by attempts to sell us a newer, bigger, and better version of what we already have. This is not only true of material things, but Colossians 2 tells us there is a similar spiritual temptation to think that Jesus is not enough.Paul tells the church that Ch...

Colossians 1:18-2:7 Have you ever been asked an absurd question like: if you were a tree, what type of tree would you be? Or, if you were an animal, which one would you be? Obviously, the right answer is: who knows?!?!? I am not a tree and I am not an animal; I am a human made in the image of God. Yet Scripture often uses the imagery of plants and animals to help us understand who we are. Read Col...

Colossians 1:1-17 One of the most beautiful and succinct descriptions of Jesus is Colossians 1:15-20. This is a helpful passage for us to reflect on as we consider the identity of Jesus. Paul begins by stating that Jesus is truly God and has revealed God in a way that had never occurred previously. No one could see God, but when Jesus took on flesh, he revealed the invisible. Then, as God, Jesus i...

Philippians 4:1-23 The world we live in is a constantly changing environment. The values of the world are always in flux; what is considered moral is up for grabs, and truth changes on a whim. Amid this, we are called to “stand firm.” We are not to be moved; instead stand upon God’s truth.In Philippians 4, Paul explains the characteristics of a firm foundation. We are to walk in unity and love for...

Philippians 3:4-21 I took an accounting class in college. One of the challenging aspects of accounting was figuring out whether something was an asset or a liability, whether it was a credit or debit. If you had to list everything in life on an accounting ledger, what would go on which side? You might initially think that things like relationships, jobs, material assets, and a myriad of other thin...

Philippians 2:19-3:3 Are you an Epaphroditus or a Timothy? Are you someone that God sends out to make disciples and help others to grow and mature in their walk with God? If called to do so, would you know how do this?Timothy’s leadership was marked by "genuine concern" for others, and he proved himself with a track record of service. We cannot lead people if we do not love them. If we do not care...

Philippians 1:27-2:18 WWJD bracelets were a passing fad in America. The heart behind the movement was to get people to consider in each situation in life how Jesus would respond, and by extension, what we should do as well. Though the bracelet may have been a passing cultural phenomenon, the wisdom of asking how Jesus would act in any given situation and how we can act like him should always be on...

Philippians 1:1-26 One question that may arise while reading Philippians is, "What is the source of joy, especially when facing difficult circumstances as those Paul experienced?" Paul found joy in a multitude of places. He found joy when people placed their faith in Christ and used their lives to serve him. He rejoiced in the fact that God will be faithful to finish the work he has begun in each ...

Ephesians 6:1-24 At Sunday schools around the world, kids learn about the armor of God. They put on plastic Roman armor and learn about the necessity of fighting a spiritual battle. This teaching is critical for kids and for adults as well. Are you aware of the war you are wrestling? We have a ruthless enemy, Satan, and rulers, powers, and spiritual forces, who are seeking to devour and destroy us...

Ephesians 5:1-33 Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. This modern proverb speaks to the fact that we imitate and follow what we value and appreciate. Therefore, it is important for us to consider what we are imitating.Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 that we are to imitate God above all else. His character is to become our character, and his life is to be reflected in ours. The two clearest wa...

Ephesians 4:17-32 Every morning we wake up, we take off our pajamas and put on clothes that are appropriate for the day’s activities. In the same way when we come to faith in Christ, we are to discard our old clothes and put on a new outfit which is in line with our new identity. So, the question we want to explore today is how well our wardrobe matches our identity in Christ.Outside of Christ, Pa...

Ephesians 4:1-16 Would you listen to the advice of someone who is in prison? Do you think that the incarcerated have something to offer you? We typically judge people by the outcome of their lives and then consider whether we should imitate them. Yet Paul is writing Ephesians from a prison cell and calling us to live in a way that reflects his life. He calls all believers to “live a life worthy of...

Ephesians 3:1-21 Are you into mysteries? Do you like a good whodunit where the culprit is only revealed at the end? Do you enjoy being held in suspense wondering what is going to happen? Paul reveals in Ephesians 3 that through Christ a great mystery has been revealed.Paul proclaims the mystery to be the unification of all ethnicities under Christ. There is no division between Jews and Gentiles; r...

Ephesians 2:1-22 Everyone loves a good transformation story. The nerdy girl who becomes prom queen, the pauper who becomes a prince, and the underdog who becomes champions. All of these are ultimately a shadow of the greatest transformation story of our time, the story of us.Ephesians 2 describes the radical story of how God has transformed us. Before faith in Christ, we were dead in our transgres...

Ephesians 1:1-23 What is the most memorable Christmas gift you received as a child? Was it a doll, a car, a piece of technology, or maybe a trip? For most of us it was probably something we had wished and waited for that we finally received. Paul wants us to understand at the start of Ephesians that the greatest gifts we will ever receive have come from God.Ephesians 1 is a staggering list of how ...

Galatians 6:1-18 We are to run from sin but what about people in our lives who are caught up in sin? Paul’s answer is clearly no! Instead, we are to “restore [them] gently.”Restoration is hard work. Whether it is restoring a car, a kitchen, or a priceless work of art is painful, tedious work. But it is worth it! The same is true with people, who having been made in the image of God, are worth more...

Galatians 5:13-26 “Are you going to make it?” In a stupid, rash decision my spouse and I decided to run up a down escalator in a local store. We both started out on a run, but midway we slowed to a walk, and a few steps from the top we were panting and straining to make that next step before the escalator reversed our progress. Oh, to be young again!Paul spends much of Galatians describing the Chr...

Galatians 5:1-12 The Christian life is often compared to a race. The longest race I have ever run is 4 miles and it was exhausting. Yet even a marathon is nothing next to the lifelong journey of following Christ. There are daily distractions, obstacles, and temptations that creep in to slow us down. So, the question we want to consider today is how are we running?The keys to running well according...

Galatians 3:23-4:31 Everyone loves a good transformation story. The underdog becoming a champion, an outcast becoming the prom king, or the poor person becoming wealthy all make for powerful tales. Yet this transformation story is not only found in movies or books, but is true of us as well. It is the powerful message of Galatians 4. The truth that we have been transformed.Our autobiography is we ...