by Phil Auxier
Happy Labor Day Weekend.
We enjoyed a great Lord’s Day this morning. The church gathered together and we sang songs exalting the Lordship of Jesus. The AM sermon, Christ: Lord of Relationships, from Colossians 3:18-4:1 is now online. The theme of the sermon was all the spheres of society in which Jesus’ Lordship is seen: marriage, family and society.
We cancel activities in the evening so people can spend time with family and friends.
Hope you had a blessed Lord’s Day as well.
by Phil Auxier
Today’s sermon, In the Name, from Colossians 3:17 is now online. It was an amazing Lord’s Day morning as we wrapped up memorizing Psalm 1 and jumped into Hebrews 13:5-6. Also, singing all those wonderful songs we have in our repertoire on Jesus’ name were a huge blessing. It seemed God was work among us as we saw the call from God’s Word to live for something bigger than ourselves. Specifically, we saw God’s Word call us to live completely, for Christ’s name, with gratitude.
Tonight, we hope to continue a wonderful Lord’s day with a time of corporate prayer. In case you can’t make it, some big items to join the Elders in praying for are:
– Long Term Wisdom in Expansion/Remodeling
– 2011 Budget
– 2011 International Missions Trip
– 2010 Praises
– Those suffering from chronic health challenges in our church
– Launch of Wed Evening Activities this week (September 1)
I hope your enjoyment of God this Lord’s day is full and continual.
by Phil Auxier
Today’s sermon, Richly Indwelt, from Colossians 3:16 is now online. I thought we had a great morning digging into God’s Word and seeing how the indwelling Word overflows out of our lives in teaching, admonishing and singing.
We also got the pleasure of sending Elrond and Sheree Wedel off for an exciting ministry opportunity in Arizona. They will be going to serve the needs of a Christian school out there. They will finish packing up this week and leave later. Continue to pray for God’s prospering of them.
Tonight we also had a great time studying Thabiti’s book, What is a Healthy Church Member, chapter 2, – Biblical Theologian. My small group enjoyed some profitable discussion and striving to know God through His Word and had sweet prayer for one another. So, I’m really full tonight with blessings from the Lord. Hope you have a great week.
by Phil Auxier
Another Lord’s Day has come and gone. Seemed like the theme of reconciliation or peace with God was in the atmosphere here today.
In the AM, we looked at Colossians 3:15 (sermon: Rule of Peace) and the call to let peace rule in our lives. We can put this on with confidence because of all that Jesus has done to make us right with God.
In the PM, we looked at Exodus 25:8-22 and how Jesus is seen in the tabernacle (sermon: Tabernacle). This sermon showed how God came near to us in Christ and even removed the separation spoken of in the tabernacle through Jesus’ work on the cross.
It was a great Lord’s Day. What stood out to anyone out there?
by Phil Auxier
Yesterday’s sermon, New Humanity Love, from Colossians 3:12-14 is now online. The sermon came on the heels of the preceding sermons in the context, showing that for those who are being renewed and made to look like Christ and for whom Christ is all and in all, those people are to be putting on virtues and actions which lead to harmony with others.
Too often, our expressions of love are really selfish. We love to get. Paul calls on these believers to love because of who they are in Christ. And there is a huge difference.
by Phil Auxier
Today was another great Lord’s Day as we gathered to celebrate at the Lord’s table together. Today’s sermon was entitled Christ: All from Colossians 3:11. The basic idea in the sermon was that as people who have put on the new man and are being renewed in knowledge in conformity to Christ, we shouldn’t be governed by earthly distinctions. All that matters is Christ and He indwells all.
This has profound implications for how we posture ourselves toward one another in the body of Christ. If earthly distinctions like religious (Jew/Greek, circumcised/uncircumcised), cultural (barbarian, Scythian), and social (slave/free) separation are done away with, what does it say for the capricious ways we exalt ourselves toward each other. Christ should be all that matter. He indwells us all and that should affect us all.
Hope you had a good Lord’s Day and enjoy small groups tonight.
by Phil Auxier
Well, another Sunday has come and gone, by God’s grace.
In the AM, we looked at Colossians 3:8-10 in a sermon entitled Put Away Sin. We saw three truths, specifically, in seeking to deal with sin:
1) We must deal with it urgently
2) Sin makes us look life how we were before Christ
3) Our new self is being renewed by God and conformed to Christ
As we seek to practice this, there is much reason to hope, because of passages like Titus 2:11-14 and the work that God is accomplishing in His children to renew them.
In the PM, springing out of Exodus 20:1-20, we saw how the 10 Commandments really point to Jesus (the sermon’s title was Jesus and the Ten Commandments). Jesus perfectly embodied what God wanted to accomplish in the Law, establishing a people that live for Him. We can’t keep the Law, but in the new covenant, we are changed to be enabled to obey. To put it simply, the 10 Commandments drive us to find our hope in Jesus and the Gospel.
I hope you had a great Lord’s Day. Let’s live out the truth of what we’ve seen.
by Phil Auxier
Today’s sermon, Kill Sin, from Colossians 3:5-7 is online. I felt refreshed in the pulpit with much liberty and thought we had a great morning. We sang songs that boasted in what God has done to save us. We looked into God’s Word and found that our hope must be in nothing other than Jesus. Our position in Him enables us to kill sin.
The applications for believers were:
1) Remember your position – we can’t fight sin apart from who we are in Christ
2) Remember your calling – we are called to kill sin, not delay its execution
3) Get help – We have both the Holy Spirit and the local church to help us in killing the sin in our lives. Let’s avail ourselves to them.
by Phil Auxier
Had a good Lord’s Day, even though it was kind of dreary with the rain, rain, rain. The sermon, Put on Christ, from Colossians 3:5-17 is now online. The sermon really highlighted how we need to put off the things of earth and put on characteristics associated with Christ.
It was nice to be back in the pulpit after vacation. And it was good to reflect on God’s kindness to those of us who live in America, realizing the freedoms we have been given. My heart was drawn to think of the other nations who need to hear of the freedom we have in Christ. All in all, it was an edifying day. Here’s how Platt put it:
Let’s live for the gospel to spread to all nations more than we long to be safe, secure, & satisfied in our own nation.
As Christ died to make men holy, let us live to make men free, while God is marching on…
by Phil Auxier
Yesterday’s sermon, Appear, from Colossians 3:3-4 is now online. Coupled with Colossians 3:1-2, these verses form the foundation for all the practical exhortations found in chapters 3 and 4. It was a full and glorious Lord’s day.
I really sensed, in my own heart, that I am much to wrapped up in the here and now and not focused and devoted to the lasting, permanent realities found in Christ. I must cling to Him.
