1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,460 All right, we are in a new year and we're starting a new sermon series in 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:09,640 Colossians and I'm excited about this because our focus this year is all-on 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:11,980 discipleship and 4 00:00:11,980 --> 00:00:15,760 Colossians does a great job of explaining what it actually means 5 00:00:16,260 --> 00:00:18,260 to be a disciple of Christ and 6 00:00:18,660 --> 00:00:25,600 How to help other brothers and sisters in Christ in their walk with Christ and it starts in a very interesting way 7 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:30,840 It starts by addressing a huge problem that we have in the church today 8 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:35,440 And it's what I like to call the problem of conveyor belt Christianity 9 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:37,320 When I think about the conveyor belt 10 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:41,400 I think of Henry Ford who he didn't invent the conveyor belt 11 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:47,120 But he kind of revolutionized it because he added it to the assembly lines in his automotive factories 12 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:52,560 And it really worked well for him because it sped everything up and it increased his output 13 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:57,000 And that was kind of the basic idea behind the conveyor belt. We speed up production 14 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:02,540 We increase output and it's a win-win for everybody and I will say this a conveyor belt 15 00:01:02,540 --> 00:01:06,440 It works great in an automotive factory 16 00:01:06,960 --> 00:01:08,960 You know where it doesn't work great 17 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:14,120 In a church right and when I look back over the 18 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:17,800 20th century in the church and into the 21st century 19 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,960 I see the church adapting this conveyor belt model 20 00:01:21,960 --> 00:01:26,760 Of Christianity. What did we do? We wanted to increase production and output 21 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:30,160 And so we created some ways to make that a reality 22 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:34,960 It started with creating what's known as the seeker friendly model of church 23 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,560 Basically our focus was no longer going to be solely on 24 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:45,200 Exalting Christ and making sure that we sing songs that are exalting to Christ and preach the word of God faithfully 25 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:49,600 Now we're just gonna make church all about what's gonna attract the most people 26 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:55,880 What's gonna get the most people in the door to the church rather than focusing on Christ? 27 00:01:55,880 --> 00:02:00,960 So so that was step one and then we added certain things to make this even more efficient 28 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:05,080 We added the center's prayer. We got rid of meaningful church membership 29 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:12,200 We eliminated membership interviews and baptism interviews and we basically failed to provide any sort of long-term 30 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,040 discipleship oversight 31 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:21,360 Basically what we did is we put people on a conveyor belt and we said the conveyor belt starts here come to church 32 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:27,040 We just have to get people in the doors and once they're in the doors the conveyor belt continues down the line 33 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:33,760 Now you walk down an aisle now you fill out a card now you pray the center's prayer now you get baptized 34 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:36,200 Now you join a church and you know what comes next 35 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:39,640 Nothing that's it 36 00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:44,520 That's where the conveyor belt ends for the majority of churches in America 37 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:50,120 It's all about getting people in the door and getting them on your membership role and then after that there's nothing and 38 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:55,400 That has failed the church for the past hundred years 39 00:02:56,080 --> 00:03:00,720 In other words, we became very focused on getting people into the church and creating converts 40 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:06,320 But we have neglected discipleship entirely and this is why we have people today 41 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,080 Who will claim that they have been a Christian for 10 years? 42 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:12,760 20 years 30 years and 43 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,080 They have not matured in their faith at all 44 00:03:16,640 --> 00:03:21,840 They look around at people who've been a Christian for only three or four years and they go what's happening? 45 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:26,240 But why is this person more spiritually mature than I am? 46 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:30,240 Why do they know more of their Bible than I do? Why are they more obedient than I am? 47 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:34,480 Why are they more committed to Christ? I've been a Christian for longer. I've been a Christian for decades 48 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:40,800 Why is this happening and the whole reason is happening is because Jesus didn't say go and make converts 49 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:43,480 He said go and make disciples 50 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,240 There's actually a pretty big difference 51 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:51,800 You see every disciple is a convert, but not every convert is a disciple a 52 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:58,680 Convert is someone who has accepted the gospel and has made an initial pronouncement of faith in Jesus 53 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:03,600 But a disciple is someone who is actively walking with Jesus 54 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:09,560 Who is learning from Jesus who's following Jesus and becoming more like Jesus every day 55 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:17,240 Basically a convert hops off the line at joining the church, but a disciple says I want to see what's next I 56 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:24,080 Want more I want to know more. I want to learn more. I want to walk more closely with the Lord 57 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:29,300 I want to feel the the presence of the Lord more and more in my life. I want to see 58 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:31,920 What the Lord has to offer me? 59 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:38,960 And it's interesting when Paul is talking to the Colossians here the whole idea that he's making in the first few verses 60 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:45,360 Here's that a disciples life is characterized by deepening roots and producing fruits 61 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:50,040 The disciples life is characterized by deepening roots in 62 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:52,680 producing fruits 63 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:54,680 This is what our lives should look like 64 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:58,880 We should have the roots of our faith ever deepening in our lives 65 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:05,880 And we should see more and more the spirit producing fruit in our lives and the question might be well 66 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:07,880 What does this look like practically? 67 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:12,520 It's one thing to say this, but what does it actually look like practically or you could say it like this? 68 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:15,360 What are the characteristics of a growing disciple? 69 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,640 What are the characteristics of a growing disciple? 70 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:27,480 So if you're here this morning and you're wondering am I a complacent convert or am I actually a growing disciple? 71 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:32,080 What are the things that you should be looking for in your life to determine? 72 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:34,520 Which one you are? 73 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:41,080 I want you to start with me in verses one through two notice what Paul says he says Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus 74 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:47,800 By the will of God and Timothy our brother to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae 75 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:52,440 Grace to you and peace from God our father now 76 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:57,200 We need to do a little bit of context here because this is a new book for us. We're jumping into it 77 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:01,320 Paul is writing this letter from prison 78 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,160 He is behind bars as he is sending this letter to the Colossians 79 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,680 So you might be wondering why didn't he go there himself? 80 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:11,720 Well, it's because he is in prison literally in chains as he's writing this 81 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:18,760 But it's interesting to note that Paul had never actually visited the Colossian church before you see Paul 82 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:25,080 Was actually a person who was training a man named Apaphrys and Apaphrys was a minister 83 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:32,480 Who had come to Paul and Paul had trained him and then basically sent him out so Apaphrys was Paul's pastoral intern 84 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,200 We got that. Yeah, I've got my interns 85 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:41,200 This was Paul's intern and so what he does he sent Apaphrys out to go plant some churches and one of the churches that Apaphrys helped plant 86 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:47,180 Was the church in Colossae and so he had been there training them teaching them working with them 87 00:06:47,180 --> 00:06:53,280 And now he's writing to Paul to give him an update about what's going on in Colossae and Paul is now 88 00:06:53,280 --> 00:06:59,360 Writing back to them to address a lot of what's going on and he's gonna correct some false teaching 89 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:04,160 But he's also gonna encourage them and I want you to notice that that's how he starts here in verse 3 90 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:10,920 He begins to encourage them. He says we always thank God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ when we pray for you 91 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:16,760 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints 92 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:22,720 Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven of this you have heard before in the word of the truth the gospel 93 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:27,520 Now I want you to notice the three gospel essentials that Paul mentions here 94 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:30,280 He mentions faith hope and love 95 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:38,240 The same three that he mentions in 1st Corinthians 1313 where he says so now faith hope and love abide these three 96 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:40,960 But the greatest of these is love 97 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:48,760 And at the time of Paul's writing these three were considered to be the essential marks of the Christian life 98 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:53,200 And it is because of these three things that Paul thanks God for the Colossians 99 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:54,720 Now I want you to know church 100 00:07:54,720 --> 00:08:01,520 These are the three things faith hope and love that you need to be looking for in your life to determine whether you are a 101 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:04,440 complacent convert or a growing disciple 102 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:11,000 And so let's start with this first one and consider what does Paul actually mean when he says faith here? 103 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:16,520 He talks about their faith in Christ Jesus, but what does he mean by faith? Well? I can tell you what he doesn't mean 104 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:22,680 Paul is not referring here to a mere affirmation of the facts of the gospel 105 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:27,560 Nor does he mean a one-time profession of faith that has become our 106 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:33,320 understanding of what faith is in our day people think that as long as they just 107 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:40,840 Acknowledge that there is a God and he exists and as long as they can quote the facts of the gospel and as long as they made a 108 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,600 One-time profession of faith at some point in their life 109 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:47,320 They are convinced that they are Christians now 110 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:53,680 It doesn't matter if they made that profession and then their life never did ever look anything like a Christian's life should look 111 00:08:53,680 --> 00:08:57,200 They look back and they said I made that profession of faith when I was 12 years old 112 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,840 Therefore I'm good. That is not what Paul is referring to here 113 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:08,560 I mean you think about how we even to go about evangelism today people go around and they ask a common question 114 00:09:08,560 --> 00:09:11,160 They say do you believe in Jesus? 115 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,400 Does that question actually tell us anything I? 116 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,660 Mean I tell you if someone's just an outright atheist 117 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:23,240 But but keep in mind we're in the south right we're in the Bible Belt 118 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:26,320 I mean we're on the buckle of the Bible Belt, okay? 119 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,960 It doesn't get much more Bible Belt than South Carolina 120 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:34,080 That's where we are if you ask anyone in the south that they believe in Jesus their answer is 121 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:36,320 Yeah, of course 122 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:40,880 I mean it's so frustrating because everybody does answer. Yes, it reminds me of that scene 123 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:46,600 From the the Sholshank Redemption if you've seen that movie when the prisoners are all eating at a table together 124 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:51,440 And the new inmate comes in and he's kind of bragging about what he did to get busted 125 00:09:51,680 --> 00:09:56,160 And he asked the main character. He's like and what about you? What'd you do? He said I had a bad lawyer 126 00:09:56,160 --> 00:10:00,040 Everyone's innocent in here. Don't you know that? 127 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:05,320 And that's what it feels like trying to talk to people about Jesus in the south you go up to anyone you go 128 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,480 Hey, do you believe in Jesus and their responses? Well, of course 129 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:12,320 Everyone around here believes in Jesus. Don't you know that? 130 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:17,120 We're all Christians if you're born in South Carolina, you're born a Christian basically 131 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:23,600 But I want you to understand this the Bible says in James chapter 2 verse 19 you believe that God is one 132 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,040 You do well 133 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,040 even the demons believe and 134 00:10:28,680 --> 00:10:30,680 shutter 135 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:37,840 See believe in God you believe in Jesus. That's great. So do the demons and they actually shutter because of their belief 136 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:43,360 You see church faith is not simply affirming the facts of the gospel true faith is 137 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:49,080 trusting in Jesus and then living in a way that proves that trust to be true and 138 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:54,040 Unfortunately today, there are many people in our world who have mistaken an intellectual 139 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:58,860 intellectual understanding of Jesus for a saving faith in Jesus 140 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,760 And I want you to notice the point Paul is making here 141 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:07,720 He's saying that disciples build their faith on the foundation of Jesus alone 142 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:15,120 So if you want to look for a characteristic in your life to determine if you are a growing disciple or a complacent convert 143 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:20,880 I would encourage you to start here because true disciples build their faith on the foundation of 144 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:27,800 Jesus alone at a conversation about foundations recently with my son Judah 145 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:33,840 We've been building a lot together with Legos because we got him a bunch of Legos for Christmas and 146 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:37,860 So we've been building a bunch of stuff and a couple Saturdays ago 147 00:11:37,860 --> 00:11:39,860 I was in his room on Saturday morning 148 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:43,720 We're in there building with Legos for a couple hours and at one point 149 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:50,760 He starts building this giant tower and he wanted to make it as tall as he possibly could because that's what five-year-old boys 150 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:56,280 Wants to do they want to just build a tower as tall as they can so he's building this tower and I look at it 151 00:11:56,280 --> 00:12:00,860 And I'm like buddy that tower is gonna fall over and he's like no it's not I'm building it right up 152 00:12:00,860 --> 00:12:03,960 I'm like I know you're building it right up that tower is gonna fall 153 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:09,620 He said why is it gonna fall? I said because you picked the smallest block in that entire case 154 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:11,880 To be your foundation 155 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:16,500 It was like literally the smallest block and his whole tower was built on this small little block 156 00:12:16,500 --> 00:12:21,320 And I said if the foundation is weak the tower will not stand you have to build it up 157 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:28,600 And I tell you that to tell you that in the same way one of my biggest concerns as a pastor and as a Christian today is 158 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:34,640 That too many Christians are building their entire faith on a weak foundation 159 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:37,880 Too many Christians today are 160 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:43,600 Building their faith on a weak foundation and if we don't get the foundation right then we're going to be building up a faith 161 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:48,520 That will ultimately collapse and if Jesus is not the foundation of your faith 162 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:55,640 Then your faith will not be able to withstand the final judgment of God because all of us are gonna have to stand before God one day 163 00:12:55,640 --> 00:13:02,440 And give an account and if your faith is not built on the foundation of Christ your faith will collapse in that moment 164 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:08,040 And so a good question to ask yourself this morning is what is my foundation? 165 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,880 What am I building my faith on a? 166 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:15,200 a good way to think about this is to think about 167 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:18,520 What gives you assurance? 168 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:25,640 If you're here this morning and you say I am sure that when I die I will get to be with the Lord forever 169 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,480 My question to you is 170 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:30,760 What is it that makes you so sure of that? 171 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:35,360 And how you answer that question will tell you what your foundation is 172 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:38,320 If you believe that you'll spend eternity with God 173 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:44,040 Why do you believe that is because you are trusting in a confession that you made when you were younger? 174 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:46,560 Again as a pastor I hear this all the time 175 00:13:46,560 --> 00:13:50,800 I'll have people come to my office and talk to me and they'll say pastor. I know I'm good 176 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,360 I'm living in sin, but I know I'm good because when I was 12 177 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:59,080 I went to a youth conference and they gave this awesome invitation and I went down front and I filled out a card 178 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,720 And I prayed a prayer and like that's great. Anybody can do that 179 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:08,200 It's what you do afterward that actually matters not what you do in the moment 180 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:12,320 Is it because you're trusting in the fact that you've been baptized? 181 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:19,880 This is the second most common thing I get as a pastor someone will say to me. I know I'm going to heaven. Why because I've been baptized pastor 182 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:22,240 Good 183 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:25,600 That's fantastic. I know people who've been baptized ten times 184 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,360 Anybody can go in there and get baptized 185 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:34,360 Your baptism does not save you do we understand that church? 186 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:42,000 It is not a way to be saved your baptism is a public declaration that I have repented of my sins 187 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:46,280 I have trusted in Christ and I am depending on him entirely, but it has no 188 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,040 salvific effects for you 189 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:53,800 For other people they're trusting in their church attendance and their religious activities 190 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:58,040 This is number three on my big list of things I get as a pastor. This is number three 191 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:02,320 Someone comes to the office. They say hey, I'm struggling, but I know I'm good. Why are you good? 192 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:04,880 Because I come to church 193 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:06,960 I've been a member here 194 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:08,960 Since it was formed in 1855 195 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,240 My well, that's fantastic 196 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,000 Anybody can go to church 197 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:21,720 It doesn't take a Christian to go to church and just by going to church that doesn't make you a Christian 198 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:27,960 They're gonna be people. I've told you this so many times before there will be people who spent every single Sunday in church 199 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:29,960 Who will spend an eternity in hell? 200 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:32,480 That's because your church attendance cannot save you 201 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,920 That is a weak foundation and it will fail you 202 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:41,720 Some people say well, I know a lot of Bible. That's also fantastic Satan can quote scripture too 203 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:49,000 That doesn't save you folks all of these things the most common things people come me with these are weak 204 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:51,120 foundations and 205 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,000 They will fail you 206 00:15:53,000 --> 00:16:01,600 The only sure and true foundation is Jesus alone. It's saying I'm trusting in Christ alone 207 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:05,160 I'm trusting that the perfect obedient life he lived 208 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,520 Was sufficient to please the father on my behalf 209 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:17,720 And I am trusting that the sacrificial atoning death that he died was sufficient to appease the father's wrath towards my sin and pay 210 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:22,280 My penalty I'm trusting in the fact that because he was raised bodily from the dead 211 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,720 One day I too will be raised bodily from the dead 212 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:31,160 I'm trusting in the fact that he is ascended on high seated at the right hand of the father right now and that he is 213 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:37,520 Interceding for me this very day and every day I have been alive my hope my trust 214 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:41,040 Everything I have is in Christ alone 215 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:43,160 That's it 216 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:45,160 That is our foundation 217 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:52,200 Is the only one that is sure to stand and this is the kind of faith that Paul is talking about here and 218 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:58,040 Notice this he also says he gives thanks for the Colossians because he has heard of the love 219 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:02,920 They have for all the saints now if you're the type of person to write in your Bible. Here's what I want you to do 220 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:06,200 Either underline or circle that phrase 221 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:10,600 Love that you have for all the saints. I 222 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:14,880 Want you to notice Paul didn't just say I've heard of your love or 223 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:20,600 I've heard of your love for some of the saints or even I've heard of your love for most of the saints 224 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:24,560 He said I have heard of your love for all the saints 225 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:28,440 Now I want us to just take a second to appreciate 226 00:17:29,120 --> 00:17:32,040 How special and difficult this actually is 227 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:37,880 And maybe you don't realize how special it is so I'm gonna put it in terms that pretty much everybody can understand 228 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:42,160 But here's what I need you to do first. All right, you know, we're always open and honest here 229 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:46,800 We don't shy away from that. So can we all be honest with each other this morning? Yeah 230 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:54,080 Yes, yes pastor Alex. Oh, that sounds great guys. Happy new year to you too. Good to have you here 231 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:57,760 Let's make sure you're awake. Let's go. Come on. All right, so we're all honest with each other, right? 232 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:03,340 Yeah, that's what we're hoping for. All right, so can we just all be honest and admit 233 00:18:03,340 --> 00:18:07,680 That certain people in the church are easier to love than others 234 00:18:08,980 --> 00:18:14,220 Okay, good. You said you could be honest, right? Yeah, we're not hiding anything here. We're not playing church. We are who we are 235 00:18:14,940 --> 00:18:20,100 There are certain people in the church who are easier to love than others and I'm gonna list their night 236 00:18:20,620 --> 00:18:22,620 Can you imagine? 237 00:18:26,780 --> 00:18:28,780 Monday would have been fun then 238 00:18:28,780 --> 00:18:35,620 No, but you know the people right people respect them people look up to them they talk to everybody 239 00:18:35,900 --> 00:18:40,300 They serve they volunteer they help out. They're always there if you need them 240 00:18:40,300 --> 00:18:43,140 Like there are certain people who are just really easy to love 241 00:18:44,020 --> 00:18:49,420 And then there are other people and you know the ones I'm talking about right? 242 00:18:50,460 --> 00:18:54,180 Some of you are thinking of a name. I'm gonna encourage you not to say it, but you know the ones 243 00:18:54,580 --> 00:18:56,580 They're the ones who like to stir up trouble 244 00:18:56,580 --> 00:19:01,140 The ones who like to sow dissension and cause drama 245 00:19:01,540 --> 00:19:08,660 The ones who insist on their own ways the ones who always have something to say even when they don't need to say anything 246 00:19:10,340 --> 00:19:12,340 Those people they're hard to love 247 00:19:13,420 --> 00:19:17,740 And now the easy way out is just to say that we're gonna love the ones who are easy to love 248 00:19:17,740 --> 00:19:22,980 But as Christians God has called us to love the ones who are hard to love as well 249 00:19:22,980 --> 00:19:27,260 And we can get even more specific when Paul's talking about loving the saints here 250 00:19:27,260 --> 00:19:31,700 He's not just talking about loving them in a generic way, and he's not talking about 251 00:19:32,420 --> 00:19:39,500 Tolerating other people because you know that's our other cop out right a Christian will either say I love everybody and they don't mean it 252 00:19:39,540 --> 00:19:45,500 Or they'll say oh, yeah, I love everybody and what they really mean is I love some people and I just kind of tolerate the rest of them 253 00:19:46,100 --> 00:19:49,220 That's what we do and that's not what Paul is talking about here 254 00:19:49,220 --> 00:19:56,700 I want you to notice the point he's making he is saying true disciples don't pick and choose which members of the church they will love I 255 00:19:58,380 --> 00:20:03,460 Don't know which one of you needs to underline this point and put a star next to it for this new year, but 256 00:20:04,140 --> 00:20:10,100 This is a characteristic of a growing disciple true disciples do not pick and choose which members of the church they will love 257 00:20:11,060 --> 00:20:17,860 And we do this not simply because we're called to but because this is how God has loved us in Christ 258 00:20:17,860 --> 00:20:22,580 I mean can you imagine if God just loved the people who were easy to love? 259 00:20:23,700 --> 00:20:26,020 He wouldn't have loved anybody if that were the case. I 260 00:20:26,580 --> 00:20:30,340 Mean even even some of the standouts in the Bible right you could think of any name 261 00:20:30,340 --> 00:20:35,380 And I can give you a reason why God should not have loved them you think Abraham was easy to love 262 00:20:35,860 --> 00:20:38,500 God takes him outside. He says hey look at the stars of the sky 263 00:20:38,660 --> 00:20:43,940 Your descendants are gonna be more numerous than the stars of the sky and Abraham said that's awesome 264 00:20:43,940 --> 00:20:45,940 And then he went and slept with his wife's maid 265 00:20:45,940 --> 00:20:49,940 What about Moses you think Moses was easy to love? 266 00:20:50,580 --> 00:20:55,220 From the very second God told him I'm gonna use you to deliver the people of Israel 267 00:20:55,820 --> 00:21:00,580 Moses started giving him every excuse why he could not do that and why he should find someone else 268 00:21:00,820 --> 00:21:06,900 And then he ultimately sinned against God and couldn't go into the promised land. What about David? You think David was easy to love? 269 00:21:07,660 --> 00:21:09,980 The Bible says he was a man after God's own heart 270 00:21:09,980 --> 00:21:17,260 The Bible says he was also a man after the flesh because he went and slept with another man's wife and then had that man murdered 271 00:21:17,740 --> 00:21:19,740 So that he wouldn't be found out 272 00:21:20,140 --> 00:21:22,540 What about our boy Peter you think Peter was easy to love? 273 00:21:23,500 --> 00:21:28,300 That's the easiest one right like I mean man bless Peter like he does so good 274 00:21:29,020 --> 00:21:33,340 Sometimes and initially but then you look at Peter and he's rebuking Jesus 275 00:21:33,340 --> 00:21:38,700 Or he's putting his foot in his mouth and he's doing something wrong like Peter was not an easy guy to love 276 00:21:39,900 --> 00:21:44,900 None of these people were the easy to kind of easy to love kind of people and yet God still loved them 277 00:21:45,660 --> 00:21:47,660 included them in his family 278 00:21:47,820 --> 00:21:49,820 Now if you want to make this personal 279 00:21:50,100 --> 00:21:53,500 My question to you is do you think that you're easy to love? 280 00:21:54,860 --> 00:21:59,620 If you answer that question, yes, I'd love to have a conversation with you after church today 281 00:21:59,620 --> 00:22:03,620 Um, I think it'd be enlightening, but I'll just be personally honest with you 282 00:22:03,940 --> 00:22:05,940 I know for a fact that I am not 283 00:22:06,500 --> 00:22:12,660 Easy to love to this day. I do not understand how my wife loves me let alone how God loves me 284 00:22:13,460 --> 00:22:17,220 I look back over my life and I see all the times I have failed God 285 00:22:18,020 --> 00:22:20,020 I see all the times I have sinned against God 286 00:22:20,740 --> 00:22:25,140 I've rebelled against him. I've turned away from him. I look at all the times. I have promised God 287 00:22:25,140 --> 00:22:29,700 I'm like God I will never do this again or God. I'm gonna do this and then I go back on my word 288 00:22:30,180 --> 00:22:34,740 Or God if you'll do this for me, here's what I'll do for you in exchange and then God comes through on that promise 289 00:22:34,740 --> 00:22:37,140 And I'm like, well, guess what I'm gonna still do what I want to do 290 00:22:38,420 --> 00:22:39,700 I know 291 00:22:39,700 --> 00:22:45,460 That I'm not an easy to love kind of person and yet this is what the bible says in romans 5 verses 6 through 8 292 00:22:45,940 --> 00:22:47,940 For while we were still weak 293 00:22:48,500 --> 00:22:51,060 At the right time christ died for the ungodly 294 00:22:51,060 --> 00:22:57,220 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die 295 00:22:58,420 --> 00:23:05,620 But God shows his love for us and that while we were still sinners christ died for us 296 00:23:08,020 --> 00:23:10,420 So while you were still in your sin 297 00:23:11,860 --> 00:23:18,660 While you were in glad rebellion against god while you were still in the midst of disobedience 298 00:23:18,660 --> 00:23:26,500 While you were still an enemy of god according to the bible the bible says that god showed his love for you 299 00:23:26,980 --> 00:23:30,660 In the fact that jesus died on the cross for you 300 00:23:32,500 --> 00:23:40,020 You see when we look to the cross of christ, we are personally witnessing god's great love for hard to love people 301 00:23:41,780 --> 00:23:43,780 And so this means for us as a church 302 00:23:43,780 --> 00:23:48,180 That we are called to love those who are hard to love which means you're called to love those 303 00:23:48,580 --> 00:23:52,100 Who aren't as mature in their faith as you think they should be 304 00:23:53,460 --> 00:23:57,380 You know how we get frustrated with them and we go man, why don't they get it? 305 00:23:58,020 --> 00:24:02,820 Why can't they mature? Why aren't they more committed to the church? Why aren't they reading their bibles? 306 00:24:02,820 --> 00:24:08,020 Why aren't they praying? Why are they so quick to anger? Why can't they just get on with it? 307 00:24:08,420 --> 00:24:11,220 Why do they still need milk when we want to serve a t-bone? 308 00:24:11,220 --> 00:24:15,780 Yeah, you're frustrated with them, but god says you're called to love that person if they're a brother or sister in christ 309 00:24:16,340 --> 00:24:18,340 You're called to love all the saints 310 00:24:18,980 --> 00:24:22,900 You're called to love even those who disagree with you on certain points of theology 311 00:24:23,700 --> 00:24:28,820 Because you know this is one of christians favorite things to do right like christians love to fight with each other 312 00:24:29,780 --> 00:24:31,780 about theology 313 00:24:31,780 --> 00:24:38,100 And we have this tendency to think that we're always right and the other person is always wrong. Yes? Yeah 314 00:24:38,100 --> 00:24:40,660 Of course i'm right. It's my point of view. I'm right. He's wrong 315 00:24:41,300 --> 00:24:46,100 And so we get frustrated with the people who disagree with us and we go well, how can you not get this? 316 00:24:46,660 --> 00:24:51,380 It's so clear in the bible. How could you disagree with this? Like why are you like this? 317 00:24:51,380 --> 00:24:53,540 And and so we have these fights about theology 318 00:24:54,260 --> 00:24:57,140 And let me tell you something if if your view of theology 319 00:24:57,860 --> 00:25:02,900 And your personal perspective on whatever the theological category is if that leads you 320 00:25:03,620 --> 00:25:05,620 to stop loving 321 00:25:05,620 --> 00:25:11,540 a brother or sister in christ then you have elevated theology over the command of a christian 322 00:25:12,260 --> 00:25:16,260 You've elevated theology over the basic command to love your brother or sister 323 00:25:16,740 --> 00:25:18,740 in christ 324 00:25:18,740 --> 00:25:24,260 It is possible to disagree with someone and still love them. I was looking for my father-in-law. He must have stepped out 325 00:25:25,220 --> 00:25:31,540 Because he's my example for this. I love my father-in-law. I think that god bless me with the best in-laws you could possibly have 326 00:25:31,540 --> 00:25:37,460 I'm not just saying that because they're here. I truly mean that I love my father-in-law. He has been a great father to me 327 00:25:37,860 --> 00:25:40,500 Since I've been married to anna, but I'll tell you this 328 00:25:42,100 --> 00:25:44,100 Jean and I 329 00:25:44,100 --> 00:25:47,940 We don't agree. I'm pretty much anything related to theology 330 00:25:48,740 --> 00:25:54,500 I mean you could go through the categories and I guarantee you gene and I are going to disagree on pretty much every single 331 00:25:55,060 --> 00:25:57,060 aspect of theology and yet 332 00:25:57,060 --> 00:25:59,060 I still love my father-in-law 333 00:25:59,060 --> 00:26:04,980 Because we know at the end of the day we both trust in jesus christ and we know that jesus died for our sins and we know 334 00:26:04,980 --> 00:26:10,500 That when we die we will get to be with jesus forever and that is the common core that holds us together 335 00:26:10,500 --> 00:26:13,860 It is the fact that we have salvation in christ 336 00:26:14,980 --> 00:26:16,980 And so we are called to love 337 00:26:17,220 --> 00:26:19,220 all the saints 338 00:26:19,540 --> 00:26:21,540 Not just some of the saints 339 00:26:21,940 --> 00:26:26,740 It means that we should be as devoted to the hard to love people as we are to the easy to love people 340 00:26:26,740 --> 00:26:31,140 It means that each member of the church is entitled to the same amount of devotion 341 00:26:31,780 --> 00:26:34,500 attention care and help as everyone else 342 00:26:35,780 --> 00:26:42,660 I want you to see what paul says here. He says that this hope or that this love and this faith that's grounded in hope look at verse 5 343 00:26:43,940 --> 00:26:48,900 He says that the colossian christians have this faith and love because of the hope that's laid up for them 344 00:26:49,780 --> 00:26:53,060 In heaven which means that our hope is not in our 345 00:26:53,060 --> 00:26:56,100 Circumstances or in any other worldly thing 346 00:26:56,740 --> 00:27:01,860 Paul is saying here that our hope is in jesus and all the promises of god that he has 347 00:27:02,500 --> 00:27:06,100 Stored up for us in heaven and is guarding until the day of the lord 348 00:27:07,140 --> 00:27:09,140 The promises of eternal life 349 00:27:09,700 --> 00:27:11,700 The promises of the bodily resurrection 350 00:27:12,660 --> 00:27:18,580 Of glorification of getting to be with god and enjoy him forever. This is our hope 351 00:27:18,580 --> 00:27:21,620 However, if you look at verses 5 and 6 you'll notice that 352 00:27:22,260 --> 00:27:29,220 Arguably the most encouraging thing paul says about the Colossians here is that he has heard that the gospel that they heard and believed 353 00:27:30,020 --> 00:27:32,980 Is bearing fruit among them and increasing 354 00:27:33,860 --> 00:27:38,580 And this is one of the truest if not the truest evidences of a disciple 355 00:27:38,820 --> 00:27:43,060 Is that the gospel bears fruit in their lives and increases always 356 00:27:43,060 --> 00:27:48,260 Jesus says this throughout the gospel. He says a tree is known by its what church? 357 00:27:48,980 --> 00:27:54,500 By its fruit a tree is known by its fruit. And so if I planted a bunch of fruit trees 358 00:27:55,060 --> 00:27:57,060 And they never bore any fruit 359 00:27:57,060 --> 00:27:59,060 You wouldn't actually know what kind of tree they were 360 00:27:59,540 --> 00:28:03,540 In fact, if they never bore any fruit, you'd say it's probably a pretty useless fruit tree 361 00:28:03,540 --> 00:28:05,540 You should probably just pluck it up and get rid of it, right? 362 00:28:06,340 --> 00:28:08,340 And the same way 363 00:28:08,340 --> 00:28:10,340 The tree is known by its fruit 364 00:28:10,340 --> 00:28:13,940 And the same way we are known by our fruit 365 00:28:13,940 --> 00:28:16,500 I want you to see this final point of discipleship here 366 00:28:16,500 --> 00:28:22,260 He says that the fruit in our lives bears witness to the roots in our hearts. That's the point he's making here 367 00:28:22,820 --> 00:28:24,820 The fruit in our lives 368 00:28:26,260 --> 00:28:28,260 bears witness 369 00:28:28,260 --> 00:28:30,260 To the roots in our heart 370 00:28:31,620 --> 00:28:34,260 So let me ask you this question if I planted a tree 371 00:28:34,820 --> 00:28:37,780 And I put a sign out in front of that tree that said 372 00:28:37,780 --> 00:28:41,780 This is an apple tree. Does that make it true? 373 00:28:43,780 --> 00:28:45,780 No 374 00:28:45,780 --> 00:28:49,780 Exactly. Okay. Thank you. You're like, oh the pastor went and lied to us. Yeah, but in this hypothetical 375 00:28:49,780 --> 00:28:54,980 I might lie to you. So yeah, just because I put a sign in front of it that says this is an apple tree 376 00:28:55,460 --> 00:28:59,780 That doesn't actually make it true. That doesn't make the tree an apple and I want to just tell you this morning 377 00:29:00,420 --> 00:29:02,980 Just because you've got a sign out in front of your life 378 00:29:02,980 --> 00:29:08,980 Just because you go around telling people you're a Christian just because you wear a cross necklace everywhere you go 379 00:29:09,940 --> 00:29:13,380 Just because you've got a Jesus tattoo or a bible tattoo 380 00:29:14,100 --> 00:29:19,380 Just because you come to church on a Sunday morning. That doesn't actually make you a Christian 381 00:29:20,820 --> 00:29:22,820 Anybody can do those things 382 00:29:23,460 --> 00:29:26,580 Instead you have to look at your life and see what kind of fruit 383 00:29:27,220 --> 00:29:30,180 There is in your life and that will tell you according to Galatians 384 00:29:30,180 --> 00:29:33,220 It says if the fruit in your life is sexual immorality 385 00:29:34,020 --> 00:29:35,220 impurity 386 00:29:35,220 --> 00:29:37,860 Sensuality idolatry sorcery 387 00:29:37,860 --> 00:29:40,340 enmity strive jealousy fits of anger 388 00:29:40,980 --> 00:29:41,940 rivalries 389 00:29:41,940 --> 00:29:44,580 dissensions envy drunkenness and things like these 390 00:29:45,300 --> 00:29:48,100 It means the gospel is not rooted in your heart 391 00:29:48,980 --> 00:29:52,180 It means that the flesh is still rooted in your heart 392 00:29:52,900 --> 00:29:57,060 And it's controlling you because the fruit that's coming forth in your life is saying hey 393 00:29:57,060 --> 00:30:00,100 What's actually rooted in my heart is the flesh not the gospel 394 00:30:01,540 --> 00:30:04,660 But Galatians also says that the fruit in your life is love 395 00:30:05,220 --> 00:30:10,820 Joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self control 396 00:30:11,780 --> 00:30:14,100 Then it means the gospel has taken root in your heart 397 00:30:14,980 --> 00:30:20,420 It means that the spirit is working in your life and he is producing the fruit of the spirit in your life 398 00:30:20,420 --> 00:30:22,980 And this is what the Lord Jesus calls us to 399 00:30:23,620 --> 00:30:25,620 He calls us to the spirit of the spirit 400 00:30:25,620 --> 00:30:31,620 He calls us to he calls us to have a growing faith that is bearing fruit and increasing all the time 401 00:30:32,340 --> 00:30:40,100 In other words church, we are not called simply to have a faith of facts. We are called to have a faith that acts 402 00:30:41,380 --> 00:30:46,900 You can't just have a bunch of head knowledge and call yourself a Christian your life has to bear witness to what you're actually saying 403 00:30:47,700 --> 00:30:52,020 And so I want to just give you some questions if you want to know if you're a growing disciple 404 00:30:52,020 --> 00:30:55,860 I'm going to ask you some questions and I want you to see how you would answer these 405 00:30:57,380 --> 00:30:59,380 Am I closer to God now? 406 00:30:59,940 --> 00:31:01,940 than I was at this point last year 407 00:31:04,100 --> 00:31:08,660 Am I walking more in step with the Lord now than I was at this point last year 408 00:31:09,940 --> 00:31:15,460 Am I turning away from sin and unrighteousness now than I was at this point last year? 409 00:31:16,340 --> 00:31:20,180 Am I trusting in Jesus even more now than I was when I made my initial 410 00:31:20,180 --> 00:31:25,940 Professional faith and here's the kicker if I never told anyone else that I was a Christian 411 00:31:27,140 --> 00:31:30,660 Would it be evident that I was by the way I live out the faith? 412 00:31:31,860 --> 00:31:33,860 Because anybody can talk the talk 413 00:31:34,980 --> 00:31:39,780 But it takes a work of God to actually walk in a way that backs up what you're saying 414 00:31:40,500 --> 00:31:44,580 And if your answer to those questions is no then it means that your faith has stagnated 415 00:31:45,460 --> 00:31:49,140 It means that you're no longer a growing disciple and you might say well, what do I do pastor? 416 00:31:49,140 --> 00:31:52,820 Well, if you want the answer to those questions to be yes 417 00:31:52,820 --> 00:31:57,620 Then you need to get off the church conveyor belt and start taking discipleship seriously 418 00:31:58,100 --> 00:32:03,700 And one of the best ways you can do that is by taking advantage of all the different discipleship opportunities we have 419 00:32:04,180 --> 00:32:05,620 at this church 420 00:32:05,620 --> 00:32:10,020 If you want to grow in your faith, you want those answers to be yes join a Sunday school class 421 00:32:10,740 --> 00:32:12,740 You'll begin to grow in your faith 422 00:32:12,900 --> 00:32:18,660 Join the women of the word bible study join heartstrings start coming on wednesday nights here. Here's one 423 00:32:18,660 --> 00:32:20,660 And I say it all the time 424 00:32:20,740 --> 00:32:26,580 Join a gospel group that is one of the best things you could possibly do and I want you to just understand 425 00:32:26,740 --> 00:32:32,740 That is for your benefit. I'm not saying that and pushing gospel groups. Look, we don't take up an offering in gospel groups 426 00:32:32,740 --> 00:32:38,260 Okay, I don't know what you think goes on back there, but we're not getting paid for that like we don't take up an offering 427 00:32:38,260 --> 00:32:41,220 We're not counting numbers like none of that matters. We are literally 428 00:32:41,700 --> 00:32:45,060 Doing that for you so that you will grow in your faith 429 00:32:45,060 --> 00:32:48,580 It is one of the best ways for you to start growing in your faith 430 00:32:48,820 --> 00:32:54,580 And here we are at the beginning of a new year and what I'm going to ask you to do is I'm going to ask you to commit to 431 00:32:54,660 --> 00:32:57,620 one of these discipleship opportunities for one year 432 00:32:58,260 --> 00:33:03,940 And if you will do that if you will commit to one of these discipleship opportunities and stay committed for a year 433 00:33:04,100 --> 00:33:06,100 I guarantee you 434 00:33:06,180 --> 00:33:10,660 By the end of this year the answer to all those questions. I just asked you will be yes 435 00:33:10,660 --> 00:33:16,580 I'm closer to God now. I'm walking more in step with the Lord. I'm turning away from sin more 436 00:33:16,980 --> 00:33:21,460 I'm growing in my faith the answer will be yes, and if the answer is not yes, then 437 00:33:22,740 --> 00:33:27,620 I don't know. I'll give you a free copy of my book this year or something like that, but something okay 438 00:33:28,180 --> 00:33:33,540 Whatever it is, but I guarantee the answer will be yes. If you do this, that's the challenge 439 00:33:33,620 --> 00:33:35,300 I want you to take up 440 00:33:35,300 --> 00:33:37,300 This is what God wants for our church 441 00:33:37,300 --> 00:33:40,740 This is what I want for our church. I want us to be a group of growing 442 00:33:41,700 --> 00:33:43,940 Disciples not a bunch of complacent converts 443 00:33:44,580 --> 00:33:48,900 And I've said it to you for years now. I'll say it to the day I die 444 00:33:49,620 --> 00:33:51,780 God wants more for you 445 00:33:52,820 --> 00:33:56,180 God wants more for you than casual Christianity 446 00:33:56,740 --> 00:33:58,740 And the church conveyor belt 447 00:33:58,820 --> 00:34:02,500 He wants you to build your faith on the foundation of christ 448 00:34:02,500 --> 00:34:07,780 He wants you to have a true love for all the saints. He wants your hopes set on the things above 449 00:34:08,020 --> 00:34:12,900 And he wants the gospel to be bearing fruit and increasing in your life 450 00:34:12,980 --> 00:34:14,980 This is what he wants for his people 451 00:34:15,460 --> 00:34:18,820 And so this morning at the start of a new year, let's commit ourselves 452 00:34:18,820 --> 00:34:34,260 To taking discipleship seriously so that we can have deepening roots and more and more producing fruits in our lives amen. Let's pray