Follow Along with the Message

What's Your Focus?

Pastor Tom Lundeen

What we're focused on impacts  about our lives personally, internally, spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. 

...this incredibly powerful letter is all about making sure that our focus is in the . 

1. Let's  About Colossae (note Colossians 1:1-2)

2,000 years ago Colossae was a relatively small city ( people) and not a dramatically important place in the Roman Empire compared to the 2^nd largest city in the world back then (, about 100 miles away...about 250,000 people).

Colossae was, along with cities of Hierapolis ( miles away) and Laodicea ( miles away) a triangle of cities probably evangelized during  effective ministry in Ephesus (note Acts 19:10).

Paul didn't start this church (...probably helped proclaim Jesus to this community, note Colossians 1:7; 4:12-13).

Paul was in  when he wrote this letter...(note Colossians 1:4; 2:1; 4:3, 10a, 18).

 appears to be an important leader in this church (note Colossians 4:17; Philemon 1b-2)...

...and the church met in the house of , who had a slave named Onesimus who ran away...and was converted under Paul's ministry (note Colossians 4:9a; Philemon 10).  

The last chapter of Colossians contains some of the most personal and powerful accounts of the power of  and restored relationships anywhere in the New Testament. 

2.  Did Paul Write This Letter?

This was a young church (about 5 years old) filled with brand new 

Jesus followers and they were being led astray by false teachers...

(Colossian Heresy):

A. Gnosticism (false , not Colossians 2:8)

B. Jewish ceremonialism (false , note Colossians 2:16-17)

C. Angel worship (false , not Colossians 2:18)

D. Asceticism (false , note Colossians 2:20-23)

Paul's answer = keep Jesus at the /in the right focus/focus up!

3. God's  for Us in Colossians

 person saying 'YES!' to Jesus as Lord (note 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 1:15-16; 2:3-4; Colossians 1:4-7a) - Nothing else matters in your life until you come into a life-transforming  relationship with Jesus.

Every Jesus follower be  on the mission and passion of Jesus (note Acts 1:8) - Salvation is not a gift to be  and kept to ourselves; it's to be  with others (note Colossians 1:6; 4:3-6).

Every Jesus follower will live a life with Jesus at the  of everything (note Colossians 1:10) - God wants us at the end of our life to be able to look back and say, My life expectations were so insignificant compared to God's expectations, and I'm so glad I didn't settle for my desires but  God's dream for my life instead. 

Am I focused UP?

• You can still say 'YES!' to Jesus as Lord.
• Are you all-in on Jesus'  (He was all-in for you and me)?
• Is Jesus at the center of  in your life? 

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