Sermon Prep (Read Col 2:6-23)
SERMON PREP! (Colossians2:6-23)
I am a fan of music. I am not very good at singing music, but I love to listen to music. In my younger years, I had a very simple wardrobe: Jeans and a Kentucky wildcat T-shirt. My friends, however, loved to diversify their wardrobe with various band T-shirts. When I was in middle school, my friend wore a Metallica shirt. If you don’t know who Metallica is, don’t feel bad. Stick with the Statler Brothers. But my friend liked a Metallica song by Metallica and saw this shirt and bought it. In one of our classes, there was what we would refer to as a “Metal Head”. He loved Metallica and all things where people scream loudly into a microphone. When he saw my friend wearing a Metallica shirt, he said that he wasn’t really a true Metallica fan because he wasn’t a “Metal Head” person. In his mind, you could only truly like Metallica if you had long hair, wore torn up jeans (before they were stylish), and smelled like stale, dirty cigarettes. When my friend said that he did like Metallica, this “Metal Head” said, “prove it” and tried to get him to list all the songs on Metallica’s latest album. When my friend could not do so, it was determined that he was not a true Metallica fan and was a “Poser”.
I love Jesus. I once attended a community wide worship service and the host minister asked if I had spoken in tongues. When I told him that I did not, he then proceeded to tell me that he didn’t think that I was truly a born-again believer because I had not spoken in tongues. When I said that I loved Jesus, the impression I gave was that this was not enough. The evidence was in the tongues. Apparently, Jesus was not enough.
People are always trying to add to the Gospel. In this week’s passage, Paul is reminding the Colossians of the core of the Gospel message and then reminding them to be on the lookout for those who might be trying to add to the Gospel. For some, Jesus was not enough. You had to have a certain “spiritual experience” or adhere to their set of standards in order to have any claim of Jesus in your life. Paul is going to set them straight. As you read this passage, think about what is at the core of the Gospel message and the many ways we try to judge another person’s faith or level of commitment. As you do, don’t simply think of the ways others have sought to judge you but think of the ways you have judged others’ spirituality. In what ways can we get back to the simplicity of the Good News of Jesus Christ?
November Sermon Series
Jesus is Lord: A Study of Colossians
11/8 Religion-less Religion Colossians 2:6-23
11/15 Off with the Old and On with the New Colossians 3:1-14
11/22 How to Let the Peace of Christ Rule in Your Heart
Colossians 3:15-17
11/29 Lessons for Living Colossians 3:18-4:6
Updates, Thoughts and More
Thank you! I want to say again how grateful I am to be your pastor. October was such a great month and I am so appreciative of all the kind words and gifts you gave to me. Words cannot express how grateful I am for this church and for all that you have done for me and my family. I am truly blessed to be your pastor, and I thank God all the time that I get to serve Him here at Acton Methodist. This church is amazing!
Grief Group. Over the past few weeks, we have had so many people struggling with different events in their life that no one should have to go through alone. Talking with others, we have a huge need for a grief support group in our church. I have found someone to take the lead in the new year to head up this ministry. If you are interested in helping to get this ministry going in the new year, please let me know.
Football picks.
This Saturday, I will be in my chair glued to the TV. There are so many great games on this weekend. So let me give you the most important game first. Kentucky will defeat Tennessee and keep this magical season going. I still need to keep pinching myself to see if this season is really true. The other games to watch: Texas will defeat Missouri and as always, get up big early then hold off in the last few minutes to win. A&M will lose to South Carolina (Sorry, Aggie fans). Georgia will dismantle Ole Miss, and Florida will defeat Oklahoma. The other fun game to watch will be Alabama and LSU. I think Bama will win, but I would not be shocked if LSU does. This will be razor thin close. Also, Utah will give BYU their second loss, but since it is not the SEC…does it really matter. 😊
What’s Going On This Week
Sunday (11/8)
Worship Services 9 & 10:30 am
Annual Church Meeting After the 2nd service
Monday (11/9)
Alzheimer’s Support Group 10 am
Stitching Angels 1:30 pm
Tuesday (11/10)
Men’s Bible Study and Breakfast 7:30 am
Trish Bassett’s Bible Study 10 am
Wednesday (11/11) VETERAN’S DAY
Prayer Warriors 9am
Sip And Share 10am
Table Talk (C.S. Lewis Study “The Screwtape Letters”) 5 pm
JAM Youth 5 pm
Bell Choir 6 pm
Choir Practice 7 pm
Thursday (11/12)
Davelyn Hays Wisdom of Solomon 9 am
Saturday (11/14)
LORD’S ACRE 10 am
Important Upcoming Dates
11/14 — Lord’s Acre
Joke of the Week
A Sunday school teacher asked her children on the way to service, “Why is it necessary to be quiet in church?” One little girl replied, 'Because people are sleeping.'
Memory Verse of the Week
Colossians 2:13–15 (NIV84)
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Quote of the Week
Religion says, “Attain”; the gospel says, “Obtain.” Religion says, “Attempt”; the gospel says, “Accept.” Religion says, “Try”; the gospel says, “Trust.” Religion says, “Do this;” the gospel says, “It is done”
