Blueprint #2 - The Holy Spirit

READ – Acts 2:1-21  | THE HOLY SPIRIT

As one scholar says, Acts can be read as “God’s call to remember and reflect on his design for the church and reconsider how our [church] fits – or fails to fit the blueprint.” (Dennis Johnson, The Message of Acts). Acts shows us Jesus’ building plans for the church. If Acts 1 shows us the plans for the foundation of church (the proof of the resurrection, the promise of God and prayer), then Acts 2 shows us the plans for the frame. The foundation is what you build everything on, the frame is what you build everything in.  In Acts chapter 2, we read the story of the very first church. In this story Luke shows us the frame. He tells us about three things that, if you don’t have (as the frame), you don’t have a church. The first of these is the Holy Spirit – the life-giving power and presence of God Himself (the other two are the gospel and life-together community - which we’ll look at in the following two studies). The Holy Sprit’s person and work is something that can be unclear and confusing for us. Acts 2:1-21 helps understand who the Holy Spirit is, what the He does, how He does it and who He does it through. 

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT… STARTS SOMETHING NEW (2:1-4)

Luke goes out of his way to tell us about the day the Holy Spirit was poured out on the praying church. It was the day of Pentecost. For the Jewish people, Pentecost was one of the three major festivals and holidays of the year (the others being Passover and Tabernacles). Pentecost was a day to celebrate the first fruits of the wheat harvest. God poured out the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost as a way of saying, “Today is the first fruits of a new harvest. Starting today the message of Jesus will go out to the ends of the earth (1:8)”.  

Peter explains the significance of the day by quoting from the prophet Joel, “it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people”. Pentecost was the start of a new time, a new age - the “last days”. The “last days” in the OT was the time to come when God would give people new hearts, make a new covenant and do a new thing in the world. Peter is saying that time has come.

God gave three powerful signs to confirm and reveal to the church what the Holy Spirit’s filling meant. The first was the “violent rushing wind” (CSB). The word Luke chooses for wind here is usually translated “breath”. It’s a word that connects to two other places in the OT. The first is Gen. 2:7 where God breathed into man the breath of life. The second is Ezekiel 37 where God says to a valley of dry bones, “I will make breath enter you and you will come to life… I will put my Spirit in you and you will live”. The Holy Spirit is the life-giving breath & power of God.

The second sign was the tongues/flames of fire. Throughout Scripture, fire is a sign of God’s holy presence. When fire burns and consumes something, it leaves behind something purified, something new. These two signs teach us much about who the Holy Spirit is and what He does. The Holy Spirit is the life-giving holy presence of God Himself. He breathes new life and sets afire that which needs refining.

What happens when you put wind and fire together? Something that cannot be managed, controlled, predicted or stopped. This is the Holy Spirit.

2. THE HOLY SPIRIT… SPEAKS A NEW LANGUAGE (2:5-12)

In addition to the signs of wind and fire, the strangest sign God gave at Pentecost was ability to speak in different tongues/languages. What was this all about? By listing all the nations represented (v.9-11) and highlighting the miracle of understanding, Acts is showing us that God is reversing the curse of Babel.

The sign of tongues was and is a sign that God is bringing unity, understanding and healing to a world divided by language, culture and race. This is good news for a world strained and still struggling with tensions due to race and culture. Pentecost teaches us three lessons the church needs to continually learn:

·         The Holy Spirit speaks all languages. Notice that the crowds didn’t hear Hebrew or Aramaic – they heard their own heart languages. It’s a sign that God doesn’t flatten out culture into one uniform culture. Instead, God will build the church from every nation, tribe and language. Our differences will enrich our eternal worship (see Rev. 7:9ff)

·         The Holy Spirit doesn’t only speak our language. The first church would struggle with the implications of Pentecost – that people do not have to become culturally Jewish to become Christians. We continue to struggle separating our cultural expressions of faith from gospel essentials. There are some things in every culture to challenge and change and some things in every culture to celebrate, affirm and learn from. We have to be vigilant and careful to make sure we never communication (in word or action) that to become a Christian means to convert to any particular culture.

·         We all need to learn a new language. What language does the Holy Spirit speak? He speaks about “the magnificent acts of God”. He speaks about the “greatness of God” (Acts 10:46). The gospel – God’s magnificent and great acts for broken sinners – is the language of the Spirit. His language is not the language of accusation, shame, guilt and condemnation. Healing, reconciliation and unity comes when people and churches are immersed and fluent in the Spirit’s tongue – the glory of God and His great love for us in Jesus.

3. THE HOLY SPIRIT… SENDS EVERYONE ON MISSION (2:14-21)

In Old Testament the Spirit’s filling and empowering was selective and temporary. At Pentecost, we see that the Holy Spirit not only sends the gospel to everyone regardless of race, language, gender; He also sends the gospel through everyone – regardless of age, gender or social status.

This is the main thrust of Peter’s reference to the prophet Joel – “all people”, “sons and daughters”, “young men and old men”, “servants, both men and women” will all be equipped to speak the language of the Spirit (i.e., prophesy). Though Peter took on a leadership role and the 12 apostles were witnesses in special way: the mission of the church was given to everyone (see 2:1 – they were all together. 2:3 Fire “rested on each one of them” and 2:4 “they were all filled”. Everyone is sent on mission.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.       What about the sermon most impacted you or left you with questions?

2.      As John Stott wrote, “As a body without breath is dead, so the church without the Spirit is dead. “The Holy Spirit is the power and force that starts something new in our churches and lives. How does this encourage you? What questions do you have about this?

Is there a part of your life or your faith that feels lifeless and cold? Where do you need the breath and the fire of God in your life right now?

3.       How is racial and cultural misunderstanding continuing to impact our world/your life? What difference might the lessons of Pentecost (above) make when they are lived out in the church?  

4.      Do you struggle with an “inner language of condemnation, guilt, shame and accusation”? How so? How do we know this isn’t the language of the gospel or the Holy Spirt? [for further help on this question - Joel’s prophecy is not the only prophecy that was (and is being fulfilled) with the coming of the Spirit on Pentecost. As a group, read Zephaniah 3:9-20. Zephaniah says God will teach the nations  a new speech. Using Zephaniah 3:9-20, how would you describe the language God is teaching the world?]

5.      How or where is the Spirt sending you on mission? (note – this most often means being “sent” to where we already are with fresh confidence in the Spirit’s power and work).

Blueprint #1 - The Foundation of the Church

READ – Acts 1:1-14  | THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH

The book of Acts covers 3o years of history that changed the world. It begins with a group of 120 people who believed Jesus rose from the dead and that this was the most significant event in history that changed everything. Acts shows us how this small group of people become a worldwide movement. It tells us the story of how the message of Jesus went viral across the ancient world. Churches began sprouting up everywhere. People from every background became followers of Jesus. How did this happen? Luke says it all happened as Jesus continued to act and to teach through the Spirit-empowered church (Acts 1:1). Acts is the story of how Jesus built the church; it’s the “original blueprint” of his design. Acts 1:1-14 shows the plans for the foundation of the church.

1. PROOF

The first foundation of the Christian faith and of the church is proof. The Christian faith is built on historical events that really happened. In Luke’s introduction to the book (1:1-4) he says, “After [Jesus] had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs”. The term here is term used often in Greek historiography when authors wanted to say “this really happened”. It’s the strongest term Luke could have used to communicate that, as hard as it is to believe, Jesus really and truly rose again from the dead.

The Christian faith (and therefore the church) is not about checking our brains at the door and abandoning reasoning, logic and the search for what is true and real. It is founded upon convincing proof, history, truth and things that really happened and are happening. The reason why Christianity should be believed and lived is not first because of its practical value, or its moral value or its emotional value but because it is true. Acts shows us this is the foundation of the foundation of the church. 

If Jesus is truly risen, alive and active, then building our lives and building a church is not all up to us.  He is at work in our present. He is acting and active in my life, in the church, in the world. This is first and most important truth which is the bedrock and basis for everything else in our faith, our lives and our church.

2. PROMISE

In addition to providing convincing proof to his disciples, Jesus also gave them instructions. “While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the father’s promise.” They were coming to grips with the truth that Jesus was really alive. They were wondering, “Now what? what do we do? What will You do?” And Jesus tells them to wait for the promise. Wait!?! Is there anything harder than being told to wait?

Jesus is teaching them a crucial two-fold lesson here at the foundation of the church: 1) God is a promise keeping God. 2) A promise always involves a waiting period. Jesus inserted 10 days of waiting here (between his Ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit) to teach them (and us) that in times of waiting we will need to return to a firm and solid foundation – the promise of God.

One of the main themes of Acts is that God is a promise making and promise fulfilling God. He has fulfilled his promises in and through Jesus, He is and will continue to fulfill them in the church and He will one day bring them all to completion. When the disciples ask Jesus, “Is it time…?” They are asking whether the time of waiting is over.

Jesus gives them a “yes and no” answer. The promised restoration has begun in Jesus and but has not yet fully come.  We are promised the presence of Jesus and power for witness but much of life will still be characterized by waiting. But waiting is not wasted time. Times of waiting are not times when nothing is happening. Waiting is when God does some of his most important work. Waiting is one of main ways of He teaches us to build our lives (and our churches) on the reliable foundation of His promise.

3. PRAYER

When Jesus ascended (v9), the disciples were stuck standing and looking up into heaven and wondering, “Now what?” They decided to do the only thing they could do– they prayed. Before their “acts” could begin, they needed God to act first. As Eugene Peterson wrote, “Waiting in prayer is a disciplined refusal to act before God acts.” They went back to Jerusalem and were “continually untied in prayer” (v14). This was not a 15-minute prayer session or something tacked on to the end of the real business of their meetings. This was the main business –10 days of waiting in prayer.

What were they praying? We aren’t told exactly but considering Jesus’ promise to them and his earlier teaching on prayer (see Luke 11:13), we can be certain that they were praying for the Holy Spirit. Acts shows us why the Holy Spirit is the best thing we can ask for and receive in prayer. Here’s how we can understand the work of the Holy Spirit:

#1 – The Holy Spirit takes the gospel (the reality/truth about Jesus) deeper into us – The Holy Spirt makes the objective truth about Jesus become subjectively real to us. The Spirit gives us tastes of the resurrection life to come. He assures us in the deepest parts of our soul that God is with us and for us because of Jesus.

#2 –The Holy Spirit takes the gospel (the reality/ truth about Jesus) out through us – The Holy Spirit empowers people who are afraid, reluctant and indifferent to the spiritual needs around them to be witnesses to the truth and power of the gospel.

Every significant gospel breakthrough in the book of Acts is preceded by prayer. Why might this be? When we feel powerless, helpless and unable to act, we are at the best place to for the gospel to go deeper in us and through us.  The gospel is that the saving power, the gracious help and the boundless ability of Jesus overflow and abound to those who bring their helplessness, powerlessness and inability to Him. Prayer is the simply our verbalized and expressed belief in our powerlessness, helplessness and inability. This is why prayer is the foundation on which Jesus builds a life and a church.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.       What about the sermon most impacted you or left you with questions?

2.      Why might it be important for us to read Acts not first as the “Acts of the Apostles” but as “The Acts of Jesus” (i.e., what he continued to do and to teach, 1:1)?

3.       Do you agree that “proof” or “truth” is the foundation of the foundation of everything else we should build our lives on? How do you handle your questions and doubts when it comes to the truth of Christianity? How does the resurrection help during these times?

4.      Waiting is probably harder than ever in our instant technological age. Here’s what George Macdonald wrote about how God uses waiting in our lives: “He may delay because it would not be safe to give us at once what we ask: we are not ready for it. To give ere we could truly receive, would be to destroy the very heart and hope of prayer, to cease to be our Father. The delay itself may work to bring us nearer to our help, to increase the desire, perfect the prayer, and ripen the receptive condition.”

Where do you feel like you are currently in a “waiting period”? How might God be at work in your waiting?

5.      “Prayerlessness is a sign that we’ve forgotten the gospel. Prayerlessness is the practical expression of the belief that we have the power and ability to live life on our own and don’t need help.” Where do you most struggle with prayer? How might remembering the gospel convince us of our need for and the power of prayer?

6.      Where do you most need the gospel to go deeper in your life? Where do you sense God moving you outward? Share your responses with your group and pray that God would fill you, your group and our church with the Holy Spirit in a fresh and powerful way during our study of Acts 1-12.

F1RST #8 - The New You

READ – COLOSSIANS 3:1-11

We’re in a series called F1RST on Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Paul is writing to a community of new Christians. These new followers of Jesus were coming off the initial excitement of their conversion and were starting to ask, “What’s next?” They were still struggling, still dealing with character flaws, and questioning whether Jesus was enough for all of life.

Paul’s main point is that when we see and believe Jesus is sufficient for everything and when you follow Him as supreme over everything, the result will be a new you. Paul is writing to show us that a new you and a new me is possible. That change, not surface level change, but real, deep change is possible. He says that authentic change involves both a “putting off” (Colossians 3:5) and a “putting on” (3:10). 

1.    PUT OFF THE OLD

Real change involves “putting off” (3:5) the things that Paul lists as examples in Colossians 3:5-9. Paul is getting right up in our personal business. By implication, Paul wants us to understand that putting off the old is characterized by three things.

First, putting off is drastic. It’s nothing short of death. Jesus’ purpose for your life isn’t self-improvement, more religion, or sinning less. Putting off is death – it’s drastic, radical action. The application is: if following Jesus doesn't sometimes feel like dying, i.e. if it’s quick, painless, easy, something you can manage on your own, then it’s probably not what Paul has in mind by “putting off.” However, if what you’re going through is hard, impossible, feels like God is bringing a wrecking ball into your life, then it’s probably an indication that God is at work.

Second, putting off is deep. Jesus isn’t interested in the surface of our actions. Instead, He wants to get at the root, the source from where our actions spring. That’s why Paul in Colossians 3:5 moves from the surface (“sexual immorality”) to the source (“idolatry”). All our sin whether it’s greed, anger, lust, or lying comes from the same source. Sin springs from what we desire and worship. Idolatry is making anything your life that isn’t the God of the Bible. Good desires turned into demands become gods. This isn’t just Paul making a big deal out of personal peccadillos. The Bible makes a connection between personal sin and systems of injustice and oppression. For example, lust and greed shape our lives to treat people as objects, and anger and lying train us to treat people as obstacles. Our personal sin in these areas dehumanizes others and consequently creates systems of dehumanization in the broader culture if left unchecked. So Paul isn’t wagging his finger at us, he’s trying to rehumanize us.

Third, putting off is difficult. One of the most difficult things in life is after a season of changes and turning over a new leaf, we fall right back into the old patterns. Paul is giving us hope here that’s it is not up to us. Don’t be discouraged. God is at work. Yes, change will be hard, imperfect, slow. But take heart, there is great hope for change because God is in the business of creating new things. Paul knows that you can’t put on the new until you’ve put off the old. In fact, you won’t put off the old until you have a greater vision for the new.

2.    PUT ON THE NEW

In Colossians 3:10, Paul says that followers of Jesus have put on the new self. He’s providing us with the vision we need of the new to help motivate us to put off the old. Here Paul gives us three truths about the new that should inspire our hearts to do the work of real change.

First, the new is better. The new doesn’t often feel or seem better. Paul is asking us to die to what we perceive as rights – our right to sexual freedom, to material happiness, our right to be angry. Those often feel like the better option. But Paul’s claim is that the new is better. And really, there’s no rule or argument that will convince you of it – you just have to try it. It’s like thinking Olive Garden is fantastic, and then you try authentic, real Italian food. There’s no comparison and you can never go back (sorry, Olive Garden). Another test is considering the results of living completely free of any restrictions. If today we announced a “Free Sins Week” (sin any way you want as much as you want), two things would happen. First you’d be miserable and unsatisfied. Second you’d leave a wake of pain and hurt in other people’s lives. The new is better.

Second, the new is beautiful. The goal of Christianity isn’t morality, but beauty. Following Jesus isn’t repressive, it’s a call to reflect our Creator in all His goodness and beauty. It’s an invitation not to see people as objects, but to see them as God does – made in His image, valuable, unique. It’s an offer not to treat people as obstacles in your path, but people to learn from and love. What if you treated people this way? What if people treated you this way? What would it look like? It would look like Jesus. Paul isn’t actually talking about a new “self;” he’s talking about a new “man.” And that man is Jesus. Paul knows we won’t put off and kill the old, until we see that Jesus is better and more beautiful than the old. And Jesus is precisely better and more beautiful when we are at our worst and most ugly.

Third, the new is not a(B)out you. What do all the “new you” promises of the culture have in common? They’re all about YOU. They’re all about your happiness, comfort, health. Paul is saying that the new you isn’t about you at all. It’s about Christ. Christ is all and in all. As C.S. Lewis said, “Your real, new self (which is Christ’s and also yours, and yours just because it is His) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him.” 

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.    What about the sermon most impacted you or left you with questions?

2.    Christianity is uncomfortable. It involves death and killing our old selves. Be honest – does that rub you the wrong way? How? Is the Jesus you are following easy, comfortable, and painless?  

3.    What’s difficult about following Jesus for you right now? How are you doing? What resources does Christianity provide to help you in the difficulty? Pray for each other.        

4.    Paul talks in Colossians 3 about God’s wrath. Modern Westerners struggle with the idea of God’s wrath. Is this just an outdated way of talking and believing about God? Isn’t God a God of love?   

5.    Sin – the old self – leads us to treat people as objects and as obstacles. How is that true in your life? What does confession and repentance look like? In other words, what might it look like to treat others not as objects and obstacles, but as new selves in God’s sight?

6.    Putting on the new isn’t just putting on new habits or character traits, it’s putting on Jesus. What does that mean? Why is that better and more beautiful than just turning over a new leaf?

F1RST #7 - Jesus > Religion

READ – COLOSSIANS 2:8-23

We’re in a series called F1RST on Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Paul is writing to people who are new to Christianity and asking the questions – “What makes for a fulfilled, substantial, meaningful life?” His answer is: Jesus. In Jesus and with Jesus you have everything you’ll ever need.

Robert Bellah, a sociologist who taught at UC Berkeley, in his 1985 book Habits of the Heart talked about “Sheilaism.” In an interview with Bellah a young woman named Sheila Larsen said: “I believe in God. I’m not a religious fanatic. I can’t remember the last time I went to church. My faith has carried me a long way. It’s Sheilaism. Just my own little voice.” Bellah describes how Sheilaism is becoming the new norm for American spirituality – and opens us to the possibility of millions of different religions if everyone follows their “own little voice.” Robert Wuthnow in his book After Heaven describes how our culture has shifted away from a religion of “dwelling” to a spirituality of “seeking.” No longer is spiritual experience confined to old time religion and its institution – instead its sought through spiritual practices, gurus, private experience. Wuthnow comments that the new creed is “I’m spiritual, but I’m not religious.”

In Colossians 2, Paul is describing three approaches to a fulfilled life. In Paul’s context there were two primary alternatives: moralism and mysticism, what we might today call “religion” and “spirituality.” Paul contrasts both of these approaches with Jesus – in whom the fullness of God dwells (Col 2:9). So in Paul’s mind there is God revealed in Jesus and God-substitutes that are vying for allegiance in our hearts, lives, and communities.

1. WHY GOD-SUBSTITUTES ARE CAPTIVATING

Paul saw two approaches to a fulfilled life in his culture: moralism and mysticism. Moralism is a philosophy based in “human tradition” (Col 2:8) and “human commands” (Col. 2:22). In one sense, we might describe it as a traditional or conservative approach to the divine. Moralism says that if you follow the rules and abstain from the world, you will arrive at fulfillment. Another approach is mysticism, or what Paul calls a philosophy based on the “elements of the world” (Col. 2:8). Mysticism is perhaps a more progressive approach to the divine and fulfillment. We could talk about New Age practices or Eastern spirituality. But maybe closer to home is a mystical approach that says you don’t need to follow rules, you just need to follow your heart. A moralistic approach might say abstain from the world; but a mystical approach says abstain from rules.

 What’s fascinating is that Paul sees both moralism and mysticism as two sides of the same coin. How so? First, both moralism and mysticism (old traditional religion and new spirituality) are distinct from Jesus. Paul warns not to be captivated by these ways of life “rather than Christ” (Col. 2:8). Moralism and mysticism are the same in that they are both, conservative or progressive, opposed to Jesus. Second, both approaches equally try to substitute ourselves for God. A traditional moralist believes “If I abstain, obey, perform, and associate with good people, good doctrine, the right political party, then I’ll be fulfilled and OK.” But for Paul that’s the equivalent of saying that you don’t need God to experience fulfillment. In fact, it also minimizes sin and the need for God. At least part of what Paul may be addressing in Colossians 2 were religious moralists who were saying that the ancient, ritual practice of circumcision was necessary for full access and fullness in the religious life and community. Paul saw physical circumcision as a way to minimize a person’s need to be completely transformed by God. That’s why he encourages these followers of Jesus with the reality that they’ve received a “circumcision made without hands,” that is, a supernatural, transformative, unilateral divine work of God in their hearts. So moralism is saying the distance between myself and God is not that great and I can bridge it myself. On the other hand, a spiritual mystic says, “If I abstain from rules, follow my own inner voice (a la Sheilaism), and pursue my own dreams, then I’ll be fulfilled.” If moralism says, I will be my own Savior, then mysticism says, I will be my own Lord. For Paul this is a disconnection from “the Head of every rule and authority” (Col. 2:10, 19). The spiritualist says, “I don’t need a Head and I don’t want a Head, I’ll be my own ruler and authority.”

So both moralism and mysticism seek to substitute ourselves for God. Old Religion substitutes ourselves for God as savior; New Spirituality substitutes ourselves for God as lord. At their core both approaches are the same thing. They look different on the surface, but both are fundamental ways of substituting ourselves for God while questioning God’s sufficiency, competency, ability, and sovereignty. Paul warns us not to be captive by these things because they will not only control and run our lives, they’ll end up ruining our lives.

2. WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF GOD-SUBSTITUTES

There’s at least three areas of our lives that both moralism and mysticism will have destructive effects on if we are held captive to them. They’re harmful to our relationship to God, others, and the self.

God-substitutes are destructive to our relationship with God. For a moralist, obedience and performance is for the purpose of controlling God, not cherishing God. Religion is always for the purposes of using God for what He can give you, not enjoying God for who He is. Both moralism and mysticism also seek to try God, rather than trust God. We often see God as a supplement to a better self, better job, better family, rather than God being the Source of all we are, entrusting our lives, relationships, and work to Him. Mysticism ignores God, rather than thanks God. Colossians is a letter of thankfulness (as we saw last week). But the spiritual stream that says “follow your heart,” actually is a way we overlook and snub God who is the source of everything we are and have. Without saying thank you by giving Him our life, we are guilty of the worst kind of cosmic plagiarism – taking credit for all that God has done.

God-substitutes are destructive to our relationship with others. Look at the language Paul is using to describe the attitude and actions of both moralism and mysticism. He warns us not to be “taken captive” (v. 8), not to be judged (v. 16), not to be disqualified (v. 18), and not to be oppressed by regulations (v. 21). That’s why moralism and mysticism are so damaging to human relationships – they set up standards to determine who is in and who is out. Ask yourself – is this me? Here’s a good test: do I scoff at other’s opinions? Do I show contempt for people who believe and behave different than me? Do I intentionally or subconsciously judge and disqualify other people because they don’t look like me, vote like me, worship like me, parent their kids like me? The answer to that question might indicate whether our hearts have been captive by God-substitutes.

God-substitutes are destructive to our own self. Substituting ourselves for God for both a moralist and a mystic won’t work. If fulfillment comes through following our desires, then what do we do when our desires contradict each other? How do we determine whether to pursue a career or a love relationship if both are not mutually compatible? Following rules won’t work either because Paul says they won’t curb our self-indulgence (v. 23). Our hearts were made to desire, to be filled, and until we deal with our hearts’ loves we will continue to try and fill and indulge ourselves.

3. WHAT’S THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY

If the essence of sin is that we substitute ourselves for God, then what Paul is describing in Colossians 2 is the essence of Christianity – God has substituted Himself for us. How so?

First, God has come bodily in Jesus. God is housed in Jesus of Nazareth. That means that any spiritual paradigm or program that seeks to work its way to God or merit God’s favor is fundamentally flawed because God has already sought us out in Jesus.

Second, God has come to liberate us. In Jesus and particularly at Jesus’ crucifixion, the powers of evil did their worst and were exhausted. There’s an appeal to being our own Head and Ruler, but when we are faced with the uncontrollable powers of nature, school shootings, cultural violence, structural evil, a doctor’s diagnosis, the prospect of losing a spouse to divorce or death, we can’t help but be fearful. Paul’s claim is that Jesus didn’t just endure the power of evil, He disarmed and destroyed it.

Third, God has substituted Himself for you, taking on your record of debt and nailing it to Himself. Moralism says that God owes you your life because of your obedience. Mysticism says you own your own life. Christianity says, God gives His life for yours.

Christianity is true. Because it’s true, our relationship with God, others, and our own self is radically changed. God is no longer seen as a Demander, but a Rescuer and Liberator. He is not Someone who is arbitrarily obligating us to demands, but a Savior who loves us. If God cancelled the infinite debt that we accrued by substituting ourselves for Him, then our relationships must not be defined by us demanding that others live up to our obligations and demands. Other people are no longer seen as people to be judged, disqualified, and condemned, but appreciated, valued, and loved. Finally, do you see how much you’re loved? Our hearts were made to love and they will always follow our own pursuits and selfish desires until were melted by God’s love for us in Jesus. 

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.    What about the sermon most impacted you or left you with questions?

2.    “I’m spiritual, just not religious.” What do you make of that statement? How might you enter into a conversation with someone who described themselves that way?     

3.    Paul is counteracting moralism and mysticism in Colossians 2. Where do you see these two approaches play out in your own life? In our community?    

4.    Moralism and mysticism are two sides of the same coin. Explain. Do you agree? Why or why not?   

5.    If the essence of sin is substituting ourselves for God, then the essence of Christianity is God substituting Himself for us. How does that truth change you? How might it make a difference in your life this week?

F1RST #6 - Overflowing Gratitude

READ – Colossians 2:6-7 (see also, Colossians 1:3, 11-14; 3:15-17; 4:2)

We’re in a series called F1RST on Paul’s letter to the Colossians. The key verse is Colossians 1:18 “that in everything He might be preeminent,” that is, that Jesus might have first place in all things.  Jesus brought a new arithmetic into existence: Jesus + Everything = Nothing; Jesus + Nothing = Everything. That’s the large theme of this little letter.

But there are several smaller themes woven into Colossians. Two stand out as you read the letter in its entirety: fullness and gratitude. Those two themes come together in one phrase that Paul uses in Colossians 2:7 – “overflowing with gratitude.” It’s what Paul believes is a sure sign of true Christianity. If you get the gospel, your life will overflow with gratitude. So this week we’re zooming in on the concept of gratitude and thankfulness.

1. THE POWER OF GRATITUDE

First we should recognize the magnitude of gratitude for our lives. Thankfulness is not just a matter of being polite, as if saying “Thank you” a lot is what’s at stake. Instead, gratitude is powerful. It has the ability to transform every aspect of our lives. In Colossians, gratitude is interrelated to prayer and our relationships to others (1:3); it’s connected to joy (1:12); it works in reducing conflict in relationships (3:15); it helps God’s Word move from the conceptual to the experiential (3:16); it’s linked to how the presence and power of Jesus becomes a part of our everyday, ordinary experience (3:17); and gratitude is how we develop a healthy, consistent prayer life (4:2). A number of recent psychological studies help confirm Paul’s point about gratitude. Thankfulness can help reduce stress, give better sleep, help us work through our past, and lead to improved relationships, work environments, and productivity.

Why? Why is gratitude so powerful? The Bible suggests that gratitude is powerful because it gives a big clue to two basic, fundamental truths about life. First, we were made to live with overflowing gratitude – thankfulness was to be our default setting; an essential part of what it meant to be fully alive. Second, gratitude points to the transcendent – to a Giver of the gifts that we often can’t help but be thankful for. In our greatest moments of wonder and accomplishment we can’t stop overflowing with gratitude.

2. THE DIFFICULTY OF GRATITUDE

If gratitude was supposed to come naturally and rises up in us (sometimes) instinctually – why is it often so difficult? We have moments of gratitude, but are often overflowing with discontent, anxiety, and irritability. You can see the difficulty of gratitude in the modern cultural phenomenon of Black Friday encroaching on America’s national holiday for gratitude – Thanksgiving. Paul explains this tension between the power of gratitude and its difficulty in another letter in the New Testament, Romans. In Romans 1:18-21. Essentially, Paul argues that there are two voices inside of us. One voice instinctively recognizes the gift of a Giver and wants to say “thank you.” But another voice wants to suppress the reality of the Giver. Why would we want to suppress the Giver? Because if everything that we have and are is a gift than we aren’t entitled to any of it. Further, if it’s all a gift than we can’t earn anything. That spells the end of our ego and sense of personal pride.

Gratitude is so difficult because our entitlement and ego stand in the way. Thankfulness is a call to let go all our entitlement and ego and reflect on all God has done for us – not all He owes us.

3. THE OVERFLOW OF GRATITUDE

So why can’t we just end it there and encourage ourselves to have an “attitude of gratitude” this week? Gratitude is clearly powerful and has the ability to affect our lives for good. Paul says that our lives won’t just be touched by gratitude, but that it will overflow in our lives. The truth is that we won’t overflow with gratitude if all we’re after is the benefits and blessings for ourselves. We will only overflow with gratitude when our gratitude takes us beyond ourselves and beyond the gifts to the value and love of the Giver of the gifts.

In Colossians, the center of gratitude is a relationship. Paul’s emphasis is on giving thanks to, not giving thanks for.  Gifts are meant to build and strengthen a relationship not function as replacements. Often our lives are marked either by an overvaluing of God’s gifts (idolatry) or an undervaluing of His gifts (discontent). Scripture invites us to see that every gift we receive reveals something about God, His love, care, and character. We’re called to enjoy the gifts and receive them, but more importantly savor the Giver.

Gratitude as a command doesn’t really work. Gratitude hits us when we see how much it cost the Giver, how much I don’t deserve the gift, and how I could never earn it. We need to be moved and melted by overflowing generosity and grace in order to be truly grateful. The gospel is the power that melts us. The gospel exposes the depths of our entitlement and ego, and yet provides the gift all the same. The gospel says you deserve nothing, and you’re entitled to nothing, and Jesus who was entitled to everything let go of everything so that you could gain all you will ever need and more. The gospel says we can earn nothing. All our efforts and morality doesn’t earn an ounce of God’s love and acceptance, but because of Jesus we receive all the love and approval our hearts long for. Jesus has earned what you could never earn yourself, what you weren’t entitled to, and He gives it as a free, unconditional gift. That’s overflowing grace that will lead a life of overflowing gratitude.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.    What about the sermon most impacted you or left you with questions?

2.    Besides the gospel J what’s the best gift you’ve ever been given? How did it make you feel?

3.    Have you experience the power of gratitude in your life? Give an example.      

4.    How do you think we can intentionally practice gratitude in our life?  

5.    Entitlement and our ego make gratitude difficult. What are the ways you have been suppressing the Giver in your heart and life this week? What might change look like?  

6.    As parents know, commanding thankfulness won’t work. What’s the answer then to how to cultivate a life that overflows with gratitude?

7.    What’s one thing you are thankful for right now? Share with the group. Thank God for the gift.