when Christ comes, a crown of boasting

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

gold-crown-ring 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13.  Satan had hindered Paul from personally visiting the Thessalonians by means of some affliction (2:18; 3:3, 7). So, Paul sent another member of his team – Timothy – to find out if the gospel was taking root there. Timothy’s report comforted Paul, because through it he found that not only was the church thriving, but they were also longing for another visit from Paul.  He described the Thessalonians as his glory and joy. He pictured them as a crown of boasting that he would be able to present to the Lord when he comes.

LORD, may we invest our lives in those who need you, preparing crowns of boasting before you when you return.

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when Christ comes through sharing the gospel

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12679 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16.  When Christ comes into the lives of people in a community he comes through sharing the gospel.

  1. Believers who are called to spread the gospel are willing to suffer whatever it takes to share the truth of God’s message because they are like nursing mothers whose affection for their children lead them to put the needs of their children before their own needs and wants (1-8).
  2. Believers who share the gospel do so consistently and with integrity like godly fathers to their children (9-12).
  3. Believers who share the gospel are not surprised when new converts are persecuted, but are thankful that the word is accepted because it is God’s word, not their own (13-16).

LORD, give us a passion to share the message so that Christ comes to new places in our community and around the world.

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when Christ comes: faith , love, and hope

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12677 1 Thessalonians 1.  Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is a celebration of what happens when the Lord Jesus Christ comes. When he first comes into the lives of people in a community…

  1. they become people of faith – repenting of their idolatry and choosing to serve the living and true God (9). They experience the power of the Holy spirit which brings conviction and joy (5-6).
  2. they become people of love for the lost. Although sometimes persecuted for their faith, they proclaim the gospel with the joy of the Holy Spirit (6). Propelled by love for the lost, their faith goes forth everywhere (8).
  3. they become people of hope. Not satisfied with the transformed life they now have, the await Christ’s second coming, and the complete deliverance from God’s wrath to come (10).

LORD, come into our hearts fully, and manifest the faith, love and hope so that those who still seek you can find you in us. Change us into people of faith, who love the lost enough to labor in the midst of affliction, and whose hope is firmly set upon your return.

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Christ, our Lord

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12674 Colossians 3:18-4:18.  Paul concludes his letter to the Colossians by reminding them how the lordship of Christ should affect them.

  1. Since Christ is Lord of every relationship, an attitude of submission and consideration is called for (3:18-22; 4:1, 5-6).
  2. Since Christ is Lord of all, everything that is done must be done for him and his kingdom (3:23-25; 4:11).
  3. Since Christ is Lord of time, his servants must spend time in prayer, struggling for open doors for ministry, and struggling for the spiritual growth of the believers they minister to (4:2-4,12).
  4. Since Christ is Lord of his mission, appreciation and support is due to those who work to spread the gospel, and establish his kingdom among us (4:7-18).

LORD, we acknowledge you as our master. May we be faithful servants for you and your kingdom.

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Christ, our life

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12671 Colossians 3:1-17.  The words “if then” which begin this section signify that there are logical consequences to being a Christian. We who have been raised with Christ demonstrate it by…

  1. … setting our minds on the ascended Christ who is coming again in glory (1-4),
  2. …  putting to death the passions of our old lives, and allowing our new selves to dominate – renewed lives that are under God’s control and ignore differences of the flesh (5-11),
  3. … manifesting the nature of the ascended Christ in our relationships with others by forgiving love and harmonious living (12-14),
  4. …  allowing the gospel and and the commands of Christ to fill our thoughts, and be the reason for our actions (15-17).

LORD, you are our life. help us to live like Christians.

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Christ, our substance

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12663 Colossians 2:6-23.  Christ is our substance, we do not need to grasp at the shadows that others seek.

  1. Christ is the reality that has set us free from dependence upon the philosophies of earth and false allegiances of the heavenly realms . He is more than godly, his body possesses the fullness of deity. Our faith in him fills us with the godliness we seek. We need not add anything to that (6-10,14).
  2. We need not submit to the code and traditions of Judaism to please God. Christ’s death and resurrection secures the putting away of sins by forgiveness, and by our baptism we identify with his atonement. We thus participate in the circumcision made without hands (11-13).
  3. Religious rituals and ceremonies can actually distract us from the substance and grace of Christ’s substitutionary atonement. Christians are free to dismiss these things because they foster pride (16-19).
  4. Religious taboos are from the world, and do  not preserve godliness. Christ has set us free from the penalty of sin, and his Holy Spirit can help us to overcome sin. Throw away your lists, and cling to God’s grace! (20-23).

LORD, we accept your free gift of salvation, and refuse to go back to religion as a means of pleasing you.

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Christ, our hope

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12661 Colossians 1:21-2:5.  Paul wanted the Colossians to understand that (providing their faith was real) what Christ has done for them had changed their status before God, and changed them from the inside out. He expected them to show maturity for today and a new destiny for tomorrow.

  1. He expected stability of character and steadfastness of faith (1:21-23).
  2. He was willing to suffer whatever was necessary in order to fulfill the stewardship of the gospel given to him for the Gentiles (1:24-29).
  3. He wanted his words to encourage believers to persevere in their pursuit of their destiny by loving one another and by learning more about him – rejecting false teaching (2:1-5).

LORD, may we stay true to our hope, and allow that hope to manifest in us by making us more Christ-like.

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Christ, our head

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12657 Colossians 1:1-20.  There is always a danger for the church of Christ to lose sight of Christ himself — to get carried away with mere human traditions and leaders. Paul wrote Colossians to help the churches of Colossae zero in on who Christ is — to stay completely devoted to him. In this section, Paul reminds them that Christ is their head.

  1. He commends Epaphras for his role in planting the churches, but reminds them that he is a faithful minister of the head, not the head himself (1-8).
  2. He reminds them that they are saved not because of their own works, but the Father’s grace. He has both delivered them from the kingdom of darkness, and transferred them to the kingdom in which the Son is the head (9-14).
  3. He reminds them that Christ’s authority is supreme. He is the firstborn of all creation, in that he was there creating in the beginning, and is there holding all things together now. He is firstborn from the dead, in that his death and resurrection has secured reconciliation between heaven and earth.

LORD, no matter how great the leaders who brought us to Christ, may we never lose sight of the fact that he is their head, and ours.

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joy from peace

Posted on May 8, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12634 Philippians 4:2-23.  Paul’s final words to the Philippians warn them of the things that can rob them of the peace with God which is theirs in Christ. 

  1. Personal conflicts (like the disagreement that had developed among two prominent women in ministry) can obscure the peace of fellowship and the joy that comes with it (2-3).
  2. Anxiety not checked by prayer can lead to depression which can open our minds to temptations to be unreasonable (4-7).
  3. Dwelling on the wrong things or ideas and refusal to practice godly living can also strip us of our awareness of the presence of the God of peace (8-9).
  4. Concern about unfulfilled needs can crowd out the awareness of the strength God gives us, leading to worry and doubt. Contentment and trust restore peace and foster joy (10-19).

LORD, restore to us the joy that we have in you — the peace that is ours which surpasses all understanding and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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joy from the Lord

Posted on May 7, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12630Philippians 3:1-4:1.  Our joy is in the Lord, and for that reason our confidence cannot be in our ancestry or our accomplishments.

  1. Because our joy is in the Lord, anything we might count in our favor is actually counted as loss compared to knowing Christ (3:1-7).
  2. Because our joy is in the Lord, anything we might suffer — like losing friends, belongings, our freedom, being imprisoned — is counted as rubbish in order that we might gain Christ and his resurrection through faith (3:8-11).
  3. Because our joy is in the Lord, we do not rest on our present relationship with him, but press on toward what God has called us to, while holding true to what we have attained (3:12-16).
  4. Because our joy is in the Lord,we keep our eyes on those who walk as his enemies. We wait for our savior to come from heaven, and stand firm in him (3:17-4:1).

LORD, our joy is in you. Our confidence is in you. Our objective is you. Our hope is you.

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