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Minority groups, small in number, but large in getting their agenda Homosexuals, and ethnic groups are a small percentage of the population, but their wants, desires, beliefs, and demands are ever present. Why do you think they are so vocal and get their way? Because they have something we professional Christians don't have - a passion for their belief. They are dedicated to their cause. They will endure hardship and sacrifice, slander and seclusion. However, we are convenient and complacent in our Christianity. If there is nothing else better to do, we might make time for God. As Jesus said in Revelation to the church of Ephesus, you have lost your first love. We are not bold for Christ. Homosexuals are proud to come out of the closet, yet Christians find their Christianity shoved into the closet - safely hidden until perhaps Sunday mornings. I have and I imagine most of us have said what can I do? I am only one person. I can't make up others minds for them. But each one of us can make a difference, beginning with ourselves. We can make decisions and changes in our life and accept responsibility for them. Think back over this past week - Did we pray to God? Were we at church Sunday morning, evening, and Wednesday. After all, the God of Sunday morning is back here at church Sunday night and Wednesday. Were we? [Read Hebrews 10:25] Did we bring our Bible to church today? Does our Bible feel our touch on Sunday morning just before church only? Did we read our Bible daily this week? Have we talked to someone about Jesus? [Matt. 10:32-33] Do people know we are Christians? Many things consume our time & attention; however, this lesson instructs us on what to seek, what to focus on, what to set our sights on. Read Colossians 3:1-3 v.1 what are the things "which are above" Praising God-Worshipping God Since we are the bride of Christ, shouldn't we be in close fellowship with our bridegroom? IF - the 2 letter word which is so big. "If" - here could be translated "assuming that" our initial conversion is real. v.3 - and if our conversion is real, it can never be taken from us because "your life is hidden with Christ in God." "What to Stop" Colossians 3:5-11 - Paul uses the word mortify or put to death for sins of what was our old life. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul stresses this point again. The author writes this question, "Why do Christians need to keep putting their sins to death?" We will have trials that God uses to refine us to make us stronger. [Zechariah 13:9] Many of these sins Paul lists as sexual sins. Two sins that are probably more of a temptation to us are lying (v.9) and talking about others. [James 3:6 and 4:11-12] If we disagree with someone we are to take that up with that person - not with everyone else that will listen to us run the other person down. It is really hard for me to not want to 2nd guess people and say he/she should have done this or should be doing that. However, it is not Biblical for me to tear my brother/sister in Christ down. Matthew 18:15 says, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you." It doesn't add your wife, husband, friend and co-worker! v.11 shows that we are all equal in Christ because, as believers, Christ is in all of us. If Jesus Christ is in us and we run down our Christian siblings, are we not essentially running down Jesus? v.11 idealistically is summed up as "God's plan ultimately is to have a fellowship in which all human barriers and hostilities have been removed." With these barriers removed and with Christ in us, verses 12-17 tell us "What to Start" Colossians 3:12-17 How can we claim to be Christians, giving God our soul, but not 10% of our time & money. |
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