Encouraging One Another Through the Holiday Season

Last updated on: December 1, 2018 at 10:41 pm By Jim Erwin

Encouraging One Another Through the Holiday Season Colossians 4:7-18 During the Christmas holidays, people will send various greeting cards to many people. The purpose of the greeting card is to encourage other people during the holidays. Here, we see that Paul is writing in this section one large greeting card addressed to different people. How would you use your greeting card to encourage others during this holiday season? You know that you don’t have to stop with just greeting cards.... Read more

How to LAST and Survive the Holidays

Last updated on: November 30, 2018 at 9:48 pm By Jim Erwin

How to LAST and Survive the Holidays Colossians 4:2-6 The day before Thanksgiving an elderly man in Phoenix called his son in New York and said to him, “I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are getting a divorce; 45 years of misery is enough. We’re sick of each other, and so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her.” Frantic, the son called his sister, who exploded on... Read more

How to Build the Best Relationships for Christ

Last updated on: November 29, 2018 at 9:52 pm By Jim Erwin

How to Build the Best Relationships for Christ Colossians 3:17-4:1 Christ is my master, therefore I serve Him and others. Whatever I do, I do for the name of Jesus. Every relationship matters because I belong to Jesus. “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17, CSB) No matter what time of relationship I have to other people, I still... Read more

How to Change (and Be Civil) as a Christian

Last updated on: November 28, 2018 at 11:21 pm By Jim Erwin

How to Change (and Be Civil) as a Christian Colossians 3:8-16 Change is difficult for people. As humans, we like routine. We like to do the same things in repetition. The rhythm of life is easier for us when we know what the next note will be. When we are told to change something, we immediately reflexively resist. We don’t want to change the notes in the music. We don’t want to make the effort because change makes us have... Read more

Be Completely Changed

Last updated on: November 27, 2018 at 10:03 pm By Jim Erwin

Be Completely Changed Colossians 3:1-7 How do you know that you are a Christian? How do you know if someone else is a Christian? You know if someone is a Christian by the way they are changed. There is a change in believing because your belonging has changed. When you belong, you are willing to believe. Belonging is a form of devotion. In Paul’s letters, he will normally divide the letter into two parts: Who we are and what we... Read more

Jesus + Me = Purpose in Life

Last updated on: November 20, 2018 at 11:19 pm By Jim Erwin

Jesus + Me = Purpose in Life Colossians 2:6-23 You’ve probably heard or seen that math equation going around. 6 / 2 (1+2) = 6/2 (3) = 3(3) = 9 People would be giving an answer of 1 or 9. 9 is the correct answer because of something called the order of operation. PEMDAS. The order is important. Let me give you a very simple equation: Jesus + Me = Purpose in Life. Jesus gave us this equation. He said... Read more

Love Expressed by Tristan Sherwin

Last updated on: November 13, 2018 at 5:39 pm By Jim Erwin

Love Expressed by Tristan Sherwin The theme of Tristan Sherwin’s book, Love Expressed, is love – specifically Christian love. Sherwin cites the Great Commandment as the basis for how the Christian should behave. In the introduction that sets the tone for the book, Sherwin compares Clark Kent to Jesus Christ. Clark Kent is a “critique of humanity” as Superman’s alter-ego. In the same way, humanity is critiqued, not by God (who is compared to the abilities of Superman) but by... Read more

The Ministry of Suffering

Last updated on: November 6, 2018 at 10:39 am By Jim Erwin

The Ministry of Suffering Colossians 1:24-2:5 Suffering is a part of life. We always want a thing to be great and happy. But sometimes, things are not so great and happy in life. How is a Christian supposed to react to the pain and suffering of this world? Paul teaches us here in his letter to the Colossian church a lesson that we all need to learn. The act of suffering can be a ministry. It is something that God... Read more

How Faith Helps Me Overcome My Fears

Last updated on: October 18, 2018 at 11:10 am By Jim Erwin

How Faith Helps Me Overcome My Fears Mark 4:35-41 In 1951 comedian Red Skelton and a party of friends flew to Europe, where Skelton was to appear at the London Palladium. As they were flying over the Swiss Alps, three of the airplane’s engines failed. The situation looked very grave and the passengers began to pray. Skelton went into one of his best comic routines to distract them from the emergency as the plane lost height, coming closer and closer... Read more

How to Pray With Purpose

Last updated on: October 16, 2018 at 10:41 am By Jim Erwin

How to Pray with Purpose Colossians 1:3-14 Have you ever written a “thank you” note to someone? On The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon every Friday, he has a segment where he writes his “thank you” notes. These are notes of humor he introduces at the beginning of the show. Here, Paul introduces his letter with a special “thank you” note. I want you to take a “thank you” note and as you listen to the sermon, think of someone... Read more