Another question for you to get us thinking! >
What is one important thing you were taught as a child?
Today Paul talks about continuing to be strengthened in the faith you were taught… I wonder what that was for you??
We’ve talked about important things, what about important faith things…
Might have Lutheran understanding of the faith, tradition and teachings passed down through generations. Maybe other traditions, denominations, other faiths even. Maybe not much of that, not a lot of background in the areas of spirituality or faith.
For me > with a Lutheran pastor for a Dad I was brought up in the faith, he was studying to be a pastor when I was a young kid so he definitely brought home what he was learning in class to share with us kids around the dinner table – he would often pull out the catechism after tea, this little book summarising key teachings of the bible and – importantly – what it means for us. That was always the key part I remember in those chats around the table, what does this mean for us? I think he even quizzed us a bit on what that was!! Thankfully it wasn’t a pass or fail test but it was about learning what this all really means… Maybe that’s why I’m someone who asks questions, I’m interested in what things really mean because that’s how I was brought up.
To be here today, to be part of this community > at some point in our journeys there has been some teaching on the faith, what it means to believe in Jesus. Who he is, what he’s done for us, how to understand what’s going on in the bible… Whatever stage we’re at with all that, it’s ok! That’s what this community is for, doing life together as God’s people, whatever stage of the journey we might be on.
Paul wants to reinforce those teachings for the Colossians here > remember they were living in a ‘haven of exotic spiritual pursuits’ as we heard in week 1 of this series, so he wanted them to have solid gospel truth to lean on in the midst of that, so they would be equipped with the power of God’s word as they interacted with the environment they found themselves in.
EXACTLY what we’re doing here at church, same thing! Get equipped with God’s word, know it but also know what it means for us, how it works, what we can depend on when we’re out in a world of all sorts of information and content and distraction as well. This is a safe-space to hear and reflect on God’s word, build up our understanding and then be prepared for service in God’s kingdom. Really good to talk about with each other too, that’s why I’m asking questions to get us talking about what we’re hearing, sharing about our own journeys in this safe-space of church community.
So Paul talks about being strengthened in faith through what we’ve been taught. Later in this passage Paul talks about keeping the head connected to the body, which ‘grows as God causes it to grow.’
That’s what this means for us, to be equipped with teaching on the faith means our head and our body stay connected, it means Jesus as the head of the church – head over every power and authority as Paul says – is acknowledged as exactly that, within the body of Christ. Zooming in and zooming out there.
Also important to consider the things we may NOT have been taught about faith, the things we may not have had in our upbringing, the areas we might have some gaps and need some more teaching on. We all have gaps, whatever age or stage of life we’re in > something to be aware of, to accept, something we can ask God’s help with in prayer and get support within the context of Christian community. I can tell you as someone who’s done a silly amount of tertiary study – I have a lot of gaps! We all do, even with qualifications and experience we still have more to learn > and this is a good thing, an exciting and surprising journey to go on! You might have heard Einstein’s famous quote: ‘The more I learn the more I realise how much I don’t know’ > profound statement on the lifelong learning journey we all go on.
But Paul isn’t trying to tell us everything > he’s not overloading the Colossians with information, making sure they know everything they need to know. He keeps it simple, he focusses in on the most important stuff, which if you think about it IS actually everything we really need to know…
Things like:
We’ve received Christ, and we are built up in him. That’s a good thing to know!
To know Christ on this personal, intimate, deep level is where we get our strength in faith, and we end up ‘overflowing with thankfulness.’ When have you felt like that, overflowing with thankfulness… Beautiful image
Not only do we have Christ but we also have his FULLNESS, Jesus has cast aside our earthly nature, we were dead and buried but now we are raised back to life. In Christ we are brought to fullness, not only bits and pieces, snapshots or fleeting moments. FULLNESS, COMPLETION, MADE PERFECT & COMPLETE by his grace. From ‘dead in sin’ – the WORST place you can be – to ‘alive in Christ’ – the absolute BEST place anyone can ever be!
And God has cancelled the charges against us > what were those charges? Guilty, separated from God, condemned, also ‘alienated enemies’ as we heard about last week, hopeless, failure, alone, sub-in your own word, experience there.
All that was not charged against us, but NAILED TO THE CROSS. That’s where it went, that’s how Jesus dealt with it. The cross is Christ’s TRIUMPH over powers and authorities of this world, the only way we go from ‘dead in sin’ to ‘alive in Christ.’ Something to be ‘overflowing with thankfulness’ about for sure.
A lot of good stuff in there! Probably too much to think about in one sitting but good stuff to hear, we can let all of God’s goodness wash over us, dwell in us as we dwell in him, take hold of our hearts and minds. A few R words here > we are restored and reconciled to be his rescued and redeemed people.
I want to close out now just touching on what we’ve heard in our first reading today, and finish with Psalm 138 > a beautiful expression of praise for our good and gracious God.
With a bit of a sense of humour, God reveals his love for his people – those who call on him, those who are prayed for by others, as Abraham cheekily does today.
God’s going to destroy the city of Sodom, but Abraham asks can you save 50? What about 40? 30? 20? What about 10? He bargains with God doesn’t he! But it’s not really about God being talked down to a better deal, it’s about how God listens to his people.
He hears our prayers, we can go to him with what need, what we want to see in the world, whatever is on our hearts and he will hear us.
And we can see Abraham’s prayer lines up with exactly what God really wants to do > Abraham knows God, and so he can line up his heart to what’s on God’s heart. Good tip there!
And what’s on God’s heart? God is merciful, God made and loves his creation, he doesn’t want it to be destroyed! He wants to redeem it, and – as we know – that’s exactly what he does as he sends his one and only Son into the world.
So as a response to God giving us his FULLNESS, cancelling our charge and taking us from dead in sin to alive in Christ, let’s pray a psalm of praise coming out of Psalm 138:
We will praise you, Lord, with all our hearts;
We will praise your name, for your unfailing love and your faithfulness.
For you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
When we called, you answered us; you have strength for our souls.
May all the rulers of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear the words of your mouth.
May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.
Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.
Though we walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve our lives.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of our enemies; with your right hand you save us.
The Lord will fulfil his purpose for us; Your love, Lord, endures forever – do not abandon the works of your hands //
Tom Kitson 