The Cosmic Christ of Colossians Day 20!

With this post we end our time in Colossians!  I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have.  I hadn't spent a lot of time in Colossians before except to quote a few verses here and there, and I was delighted to find so much passion and love there from Paul to a congregation he had never even visited!  He didn't even start it and yet he loved them as his own - a granddaughter church as we talked about early on.

In the closing verses Paul greets people as was customary in these letters in Paul's day.  And now we can see who they are and understand Paul's love for them!

With this we take a break for a couple weeks until Lent begins.  You'll receive a Prayer Journal before Ash Wednesday to guide us through the Season of Lent.

And again, if you have Amazon Prime, check out Paul:  Apostle of Christ for a great 90 minute movie about Paul's last days in prison.  I think you'll enjoy it!

If you want to go back to the Ephesians study and look through those, here's a link to Day 1 of Ephesians:  https://zionephesians.blogspot.com/2020/10/ephesians-study-day-1-today-we-begin.html

THANKS so much for joining on this journey through Colossians.  I look forward to our next time together.  And with that, here's the video:

It seems appropriate to end this time together with Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone!  It's a great version by Pentatonix - so sing along!

The Cosmic Christ of Colossians Day 19!

Today we are on our second to the last day of the Cosmic Christ of Colossians!  We're dealing with just a couple verses:  4:7-9:

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.  I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts; he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.  They will tell you about everything here.

How wondeful!  Paul is concerned not about his own well being but about others before himself.  He gets even more passionate about giving others credit in our final sessions for tomorrow as we conclude our time in Colossians!

So what's next?  Lent - and a focus on Powerful Prayers of the Bible, which will be our sermon series for Lent.  As a part of that emphasis you'll be receiving a Prayer Journal in the mail before Ash Wednesday, which is February 17.  It will be a daily prayer journal for the whole of Lent.  One is being mailed to each household - if you'd like two, just email me and we'll send you a second one.  OR if you're not on our mailing list, email me and we'll make sure you get one.

Also, our Health Ministry Team asked if I would send out the information about vaccines which are now available for those over the age of 75.  This is the latest information:

 

The vaccine is available by appointment only. Please bring proof of your age to the appointment.

Appointments can be scheduled online by visiting www.stcharleshealthcare.org.

Visit www.stcharleshealthcare.org
Select "Sign up!" under COVID-19 Vaccination Information
Select Oregon Residents 75+
Complete registration

And here's the video for Day 19!

And here's a wonderful song with beautiful scenery entitled, I Will.  Enjoy!

The Cosmic Christ of Colossians Day 18!

Today we're looking at just 4 wonderful words of closing encouragement: 4:2-6:

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should. Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.

Wonderful words!  Listen in to some thoughts on this as we begin to close out our time on Colossians!

Here's a great and spirited version of How Great Thou Art by the Celtic Worship team.  Enjoy!

 The Cosmic Christ of Colossians Day 17!

Well, I couldn't wait until Wednesday to look at Paul's letter to Philemon, especially after the admonition to treat slaves fairly and justly yesterday.  Find Philemon in your Bible - it's just one page, 25 verses, and it's right before Hebrews.

Paul is writing to Philemon, a wealthy Christian business man in Colossae.  Onesimus, one of Philemon's slaves, had somehow escaped from Philemon and traveled to Rome, where he met Paul, and Paul ministered to him as a brother in Christ, and Onesimus became a Christian and ministered to Paul in his imprisonment.  Paul would have loved to have kept Onesimus there in Rome, but instead, chose to do the right thing and sent Onesimus back to Colossae to reconcile with Philemon as a brother in Christ.

SO - this little letter is one of encouragement from Paul to Philemon, to take Onesimus back as a brother and not just as a slave.  It's a wonderful testament to the power of the Gospel to change lives!

I'll read the letter to Philemon in the study, so just have your Bible handy and listen in!

And a couple months ago I posted this song, No Longer Slaves, but I think it ties in here, so listen in and sing along!

 The Cosmic Christ of Colossians Day 16!

Today we have just one verse, chapter 4 verse 1:  "Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you now that you also have a Master in heaven."

Looking at this verse is challenging, though I think if we look at it contextually in terms of what was happening in Paul's day, and think of it in terms of the fragile situation of the struggling small church in Colossae, we can find some respect and fairness and justice there.  Paul says in other places that there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free because we are all one in Christ Jesus.  

So I think if it's seen in the proper context it's easier to understand.  See what you think!

And here's a familiar song, Be Thou My Vision with beautiful scenery and words so you can sing along!

 The Cosmic Christ of Colossians Day 15!

Today we end chapter 3 with Paul's admonition to treat others with love and respect!  Husbands, wives, children, slaves/servants - all should be renewed by putting off falsehood, anger, bitterness, or slander.  Do not make room for those things in your heart, rather, live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called.

No blog for tomorrow - Saturday - and Sunday will be our worship service, and then we'll resume on Monday with chapter 4!  

Here's the link to the video:

Here's a nice song of encouragement called "I Will."  Enjoy!

The Cosmic Christ of Colossians Day 14!

Today let's spend another time on those wonderful verses we looked at yesterday, Colossians 3:12-17. I just think they were such an important admonition to "live as Christ" from Paul to the divisive city of Colossae, and they're equally important for us today.

Paul wants the Colossian Christians to let an unbelieving world to see Jesus in them - in the way they live and relate and witness to an unbelieving culture. How applicable for us today! Think of how you are representing Christ in all you day, day by day. Even by the way in which we live our lives and relate to others, we are witnessing to what we believe about Jesus. Think today about how you are doing with that. It's a real challenge for us, just like it was during Paul's time.

Keep reading these words from Colossians 3:12-17. Maybe even memorize them! But certainly, all of us should try to live by them!

Here's a wonderful way to sing "Down by the River to Pray." Enjoy!