Caleb Premanandam
Sunday Morning Services, April 25, 2010

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Pastor Bob Fox
Colossians 3:1-8

1. I will turn my mind from things that relate to earth—thoughts like:
• What things, pursuits, people, experiences will make me happy?
• How do I compare to others and how can I make my mark?
• How can I gain more of what I want?
• How can I eliminate pain and difficulty from my life?
2. I will turn my mind toward things that relate to heaven—thoughts like:
• What does God want to accomplish in and through me?
• How can I enhance God’s reputation?
• How can I accomplish more among those God loves?
• What thing of eternal significance can I achieve in the immediate moment?

I will seize for myself the attitudes and behaviors these questions shape.

3. I will strike decisive blows to behavior patterns in me that conform rather than transform me.
4. I will refuse to indulge the emotional sin that is normal in fallen humanity.

Listen to Bob.

Get Pastor Bob’s personal notes on Colossians.

A few excerpts from Pastor Bob’s personal notes on the third and fourth chapters of Colossians: Come back each week to get his updated personal notes for the next Sunday’s teaching.

3:1 “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”
It is instructive in understanding the writings of Paul to watch his switch from the indicative to the imperative. These two words refer to what grammar designates as the “mood” of a verb. “Mood” has to do with the relative reality of some action. The various moods can be represented along a line with reality on the far right and what has potential to be reality on the far left. The indicative mood represents the highest degree of reality.

3:10 “and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.”
…Because of this it is proper to view our new self as a work in progress. Paul’s words reflect that and describe it. This new self is being renewed. Paul is presenting this as ongoing, continuing action in which we are being acted upon. We can view this as reclamation, as one might take desert land and through sound agricultural practices make it produce crops. People who once were slaves to sin are being made into those who increasingly serve the purposes of God (Ephesians 2:1-3).

3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
Too often the Christian life becomes a series of things we do that occupy a slot in our schedule. It is almost like we keep them in a silo where we enter and practice them and then leave until our next scheduled time in the silo. There is little felt by us or seen by others outside that silo. It is not Christianity we are practicing as we do this. Christianity is life lived according to the moment by moment leadings and urgings of the Holy Spirit. To confine it to certain compartments of our lives smothers it. Our faith is meant to be absolutely invasive. And so Paul says “Whatever you do in word or deed.” He is saying that this faith is to shape us at all times. In all the various activities imposed on us or chosen by us there is to be this grander purpose that is fulfilled in them and we are to see to that.

Pastor Bob Fox
Matthew 6:25-33 + Colossians 3:1-4

Heart Stuff—What Jesus Taught (Matthew 6:25-33)

1. Substantive, practical change is God’s will for me.
2. Transformation is easily blocked by my normal life pursuits.
3. Transformation is ignited through a mindset in me.
• Trusting that His plan covers my need for necessity and beauty.
• Pursuing with my very best effort His kingdom interests in all I do.
• Trusting His goodness in the outcome.

Head Stuff—What Jesus taught through the apostles and how to read their letters for transformation (Colossians 3:1-4).

1. They begin with statements in the indicative—that indicate what is true of life, us, and the future because of Christ’s work.
2. They transition to statements in the imperative—Commands that define steps that are transformational, possible because of Christ’s work.

Conclusion: Christians are transformed as they embrace what’s true, and then take the practical steps of implementing the commands.

Listen to Bob.

Pastor Bob Fox
Matthew 5:3-12

Jesus rose from the dead. That fact redefines blessed. You’re blessed if:

1. The rebel/free spirit in you has been broken and subjected to Jesus Christ.
2. You’re disturbed by the wreckage, what life apart from God is doing to people.
3. You’re increasingly able to summon the emotion the moment calls for.
4. You’re consumed by what God wants done in life’s series of moments.
5. You rise to extend mercy to the guilty and marginalized.
6. You’re turning away from manipulation, deceit and all the self-centered games humans play.
7. You’re consistently able to be vulnerable and make the first move toward peace.
8. You’ve stood with Jesus and His people for what’s right and it cost you dearly.

Listen to Bob.

Pastor Carlyle Naylor
Mark 10:35-45

Communion, April 2, 2010

Listen to Carlyle.