Again I have fell somewhat behind in posting sermons from Colossians. So, here you go...

In Colossians 2:6-8 we discuss living the "full" Christian life: Walk Like You Talk. It is really rather simple--"be a Christian and live like it". Living the "full" Christian life is found in living out what Christ has already accomplished.

Everyone is either a slave or they are free. In our sermon on Colossians 2:9-15, Slave or Free, we ask 4 Questions to Determine whether or not you are a slave or free. 1) Are you enslaved to deceit or are you made free? 2) Are you enslaved to depravity or has your sin nature been stripped 3) Are you enslaved to death or have you been given new life? 4) Are you enslaved to debt or has your debt been conquered?

Our sermon on Colossians 2:16-23 is controversial. Does that mean that it will get more hits? I hope not--honestly the sermon on Colossians 2:9-15 is better (at least in my opinion). In this sermon we try discover how to make gospel-permeated decisions on areas that are not crystal clear. We do this by discussing the issue of alcohol use: To Drink or Not to Drink.

Finally, the latest sermon was on Colossians 3:1-4: Battling Sin with a Superior Pleasure. The previous sermon helps us to learn how to determine what we should and should not be doing--but it does not give an answer to conquering sin. I am indebted to Sam Storms, Charles Spurgeon, and Thomas Chalmers for the idea behind this sermon. How do you fight sin most effectively? You conquer sin with a superior pleasure. We do this by looking at what Christ has done and what Christ is going to do.

In Mark 5 we read the story of the "bleeding" woman. Verse 26 reflects my own attempts at self-atonement: "[this woman] had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse". My "physicians" are not actual doctors but rather the numerous disciplines I place in my life to heal the disease of sin. Yet, these (at least when divorced from the Cross) cause me to be worse instead of better. In fact every time that I set up a discipline to "become more holy" it ends up either causing me despair or self-righteousness. The woman spent everything that she had trying to cure this disease but only became worse--I feel her plight.

Our only hope for curing the disease of sin is not spending all we have on expert physicians but rather "touching the hem of His garment". Our only hope is Christ--the Great Physician.

"And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him..."

Isn't it astonishing that a hole in the roof does not move Jesus to anger but rather compassion?

Seriously, imagine yourself in this situation. You have been on a business trip (or preaching tour) for weeks on end. Now you are finally at home. (By the way it's probably not Jesus' actual house--more than likely it is Simon Peter's). But the crowd wants more. You know what that feels like; being totally spent with nothing to give--but people still need more. Not only would the crowd be a little draining (and dare I say annoying) but add to all of this some guys climbing on your roof and tearing a whole through the ceiling. (Again, let's not lose the context--this would have been far more "fixable" in Jesus' day, but nonetheless still potentially annoying).
Would you have been annoyed by someone tearing a hole in your roof or would you have been moved with compassion? I would have probably been at least a little annoyed. But then again maybe not, with such an extreme case.

The point is this--being available (as believers should be) is not always convenient. However, if we are to be like Jesus then we cannot afford to be ticked off by large crowds or holes in our roof. The glory of God and the souls of people have to be more important and be our heart's greater affection, or else we will miss opportunities because of the inconvenience of availability.

"...the primary reason people are in bondage to sin is because people are bored with God."

This is not a political post, although it will touch ground in that realm. Honestly, I have very little care about politics (you can call me a bad Southern Baptist). My passion is the gospel, not legislation. On with the story.

This morning while purchasing my customary biscuits and gravy at Casey's (they are amazing by the way), I overheard the conversation of the man in front of me. Apparently because of the flood he has to get his mail in our town instead of his local post office. The Saverton community about 10 miles East has been hit pretty hard with the flood. They moved the post office to New London. So, this man was complaining about the $10 he has to spend on gas just to get his mail. He, half-jokingly, had asked the post office lady if they would pay him for the cost of gas. He was in line at Casey's belly-aching about the price of gas (which is quite ridiculous I might add) and his post office being moved, telling us how ridiculous our senators are for not stepping in and doing something.

Now take this man's complaint to Africa or another struggling third world country. Whine to them about having to pay for gas (luxury) to put in your car (luxury) to get the mail (luxury) that they no longer deliver to your home (luxury). Now, hand them a $20 bill (blessing) and get a $10 bill back (blessing) and walk (blessing) out the door to your wife (blessing) and children (blessing) griping about the cost of gas. What has happened is that we view the luxuries that this country offers us as absolute necessity and something that we are owed--when in fact it is all of grace.

I understand there is another side to this coin. I know that our government makes mistakes and I know that there are billionaires padding their pockets by gouging us poor folk at the gas pump. And I do know that the simple solution is not "don't drive anymore". Because of the location of jobs many either have to drive or lose their source of income. I understand; my $20,000 per year (blessing) no longer stretches quite like it used to. But I also know that my job, my house, my wife, my child, my car, my ability to walk, my ability to work, all of these are blessings from God. I also know that if every one of those ceased to be given to me that the Lord would be absolutely just in all of his actions. I would grieve. I would hurt. And I would probably even sin quicker than Job. But it does not change the truth that everything we have is a blessing and a benefit of grace.

All too often I am guilty of this same offense. It's a cloudy day and I wish it was sunny--so, I whine. I want to play baseball and it gets rained out--I whine. I have a headache--I whine. I feel like I am getting too busy--I whine. I too am a big cry-baby. Instead of viewing every moment as grace I falsely assume that I deserve better. Ughhh, the agony of not being fully redeemed (see, even that was whiny).

Here is my point, quit crying. If we are going to open our mouths we ought to do it to praise God for breath. Stop treating grace like it is owed to us and instead rejoice in God's benevolence.

Yesterday was my wife's birthday. I felt a little sick, but was determined to rough it so that we could spend the day together. After our morning prayer meeting I drove to Wal-Mart to buy presents. I called my wife to let her know what time I would be home, and for her to be ready because we were going out. I closed my cell phone. It immediately rings. It's my dad. He sounds shaken up. They had just taken my grandpa in the ambulance to the hospital. It seemed at first like he was dehydrated and once on IV's for a while he would be better. But, 24 hours later he is in eternity.

At this point we have no idea exactly what it was that he died from. Something with his intestines. Maybe his heart.

Tonight is youth group. I am excited to preach the gospel tonight. Yet, I am physically and emotionally exhausted. Grandpa was alive and seemed well at our family reunion Saturday. Now he's dead; a reminder of the grace of God in giving us 87 years and a reminder of the gravity of sin. I am not certain where my grandfather will spend eternity. I know I shared the gospel with him. I know that he seemed to understand. And I know that God is very merciful. But also know that sin is real and God is just. My grandfather...as with you, me, and anyone else...has only one hope--Jesus Christ. May He be glorified in this time.