Jan 6, 2019 - Another look at Colossians 3:1-17, more about being a community

Last week on Sunday I preached over the verses found in Colossians 3:1-17, this week we went back and took yet another look at this passage. In the prior week the linchpin of the sermon was about the children... this week I considered us all.  We as Christians are called to be in community with one another, the very concept of the communion table and it's import for us as Christ followers should be sufficient to establish this facet of our faith.  I have referenced a number of scripture verses that speak to our needing to be in community, there are more verses that can be considered... many, many more.

One of the more conspicuous of these verses is to be found in: Proverbs 27:17 - "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another"  We literally need each other in order to remain... and more importantly to grow in our faith relationship with Christ.  Each of us brings a unique set of life experiences, observations, and yes bias to the scripture.  All of us have an innate tendency to view Christ in a different light.  In the sermon, I mention the influence that our dear late friend Evelyn Johnson has had on me.  I personally am inclined to view Christ as the Shepherd who walks with His sheep, going alongside each of us in this life's journey.  Evelyn, God bless her, reminded me (and continues to remind me) to keep Christ on His Throne... and I, in turn, reminded her to bring Christ down and walk with Him.  Literally, we needed each other in order to have a more full and meaningful experience with Christ.

All of us with our various views, ideas, experiences, and knowledge need to come together... as the body of Christ in order that all of us might have a fuller and more complete understanding of our Saving Lord.  We are the body of Christ, let us dwell in community...

Be a blessing to someone today! (bring them into the community)

In His Glory,
Roy

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Colossians 3:1-17 New Century Version (NCV)
Your New Life in Christ
3 Since you were raised from the dead with Christ, aim at what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Think only about the things in heaven, not the things on earth. 3 Your old sinful self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God. 4 Christ is your[a] life, and when he comes again, you will share in his glory.

5 So put all evil things out of your life: sexual sinning, doing evil, letting evil thoughts control you, wanting things that are evil, and greed. This is really serving a false god. 6 These things make God angry.[b] 7 In your past, evil life you also did these things.

8 But now also put these things out of your life: anger, bad temper, doing or saying things to hurt others, and using evil words when you talk. 9 Do not lie to each other. You have left your old sinful life and the things you did before. 10 You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you. This new life brings you the true knowledge of God. 11 In the new life there is no difference between Greeks and Jews, those who are circumcised and those who are not circumcised, or people who are foreigners, or Scythians.[c] There is no difference between slaves and free people. But Christ is in all believers, and Christ is all that is important.

12 God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So you should always clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Bear with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you. 14 Even more than all this, clothe yourself in love. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking, because you were all called together in one body[d] to have peace. Always be thankful. 16 Let the teaching of Christ live in you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and instruct each other by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.

Footnotes:
3:4 your Some Greek copies read “our.”
3:6 These . . . angry Some Greek copies continue, “against the people who do not obey God.”
3:11 Scythians The Scythians were known as very wild and cruel people.
3:15 body The spiritual body of Christ, meaning the church or his people.

Hebrews 10:24-25 English Standard Version (ESV)
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Galatians 6:2 English Standard Version (ESV)
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Acts 2:42 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Value of a Friend
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Romans 12:3-13 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6 We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7 ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8 the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.[a] 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

1 Corinthians 12:25-27 English Standard Version (ESV)
25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

1 John 1:7 English Standard Version (ESV)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Proverbs 17:17 New Century Version (NCV)
17 A friend loves you all the time,
    and a brother helps in time of trouble.

1 Corinthians 1:10 New Century Version (NCV)
Problems in the Church
10 I beg you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you agree with each other and not be split into groups. I beg that you be completely joined together by having the same kind of thinking and the same purpose.

1 Peter 4:8-11 English Standard Version (ESV)
8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 4:2-6 English Standard Version (ESV)
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Proverbs 27:17 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 Iron sharpens iron,
    and one man sharpens another

Galatians 6:10 English Standard Version (ESV)
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Mark 10:45 English Standard Version (ESV)
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”