Colossians: The Plan...The Glory...Why Christians Should Be Exuberant about the Future

The world is hopeless and fearful... but God's plan in Christ is to make the Christian: hopeful, confident, and exuberant about the future and the present! This is Paul's message to the Colossians.

Ephesians 1:1-12,3:1-12
Colossians 1:15-27
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
Romans 8:18
Philippians 3:20-21

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why are people so hopeless today?
• What is poverty stricken about the prevailing worldview?
• Why is the Christian worldview so different?
• What is God's plan?
• How is Christ central to that plan?
• How are we included in that plan?
• Why is the future so bright for us?
• What impact should this all have on us?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Union with Christ

We have a choice. We can remain under the curse of Adam or we can have union with Christ. One choice will lead to separation and destruction and the other brings an eternity of oneness. Choose wisely...

John 17,15:1-6
1 Timothy 2:5
Colossians 1:19,2:9
1 Corinthians 6:17
Ephesians 5:22-33,4:11-16
Galatians 2:20

Chris Bowser
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: On Old Stumps and Stubborn Mules

Paul is telling the Colossians that Christians are to be grounded and steadfast to the end... no matter what... never quit! How do we get so deeply rooted?

Colossians 1:9-23,2:6-7
John 10:25-30
Romans 8:30,8:38-39
Philippians 1:6
Ephesians 1:13-14
Philippians 2:12-13
Matthew 10:22
Luke 8:13
1 John 2:19
1 Timothy 4:16
Luke 6:48
1 Corinthians 15:58

For faith is not like mere opinion, which is shaken by various movements, but has a firm steadfastness, able to withstand all the machinations of the hell. John Calvin The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What are the questions raised when the warning passages are read?
• What are some of the answers?
• What is Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility, and how do these realities fit into this discussion?
• What do old stumps and stubborn mules have to do with Colossians 1:23?
• How do we get this deep, persevering faith?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: All Things Through Him and For Him

Far from being the product of chaos, this world, the universe, and even the future and time all have their meaning and purpose in Jesus! This is Paul's powerful message to the Colossians.

Ephesians 1:1-2:7,6:11-12,3:8-12
Colossians 1:16-18
John 1:1-3
Hebrews 1:1-3

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why are we uncomfortable with Grace?
• How was Creation a group project?
• What was God's master plan?
• How does Jesus factor so centrally in that plan?
• What does this amazing plan reveal about God?
• What does it offer me?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: Watch and Pray

Concluding our discussion of the Gethsemane scene from Mark, Jesus commands the disciples to watch and pray... then He models it for them as a wonderful High Priest.

Mark 14:27-32,13:33-37,13:50
Romans 8:31-39
Hebrews 7:24-25
1 Corinthians 16:13
1 Thessalonians 5:6
1 Peter 5:8-9
Colossians 4:2
Psalm 103:8,103:14

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What did Jesus encourage His disciples to do in light of the coming trial they would face?
• How did He model this for them?
• What do we learn about Him as our High Priest?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: The Relentless Pursuit

Mark tells us of a woman who pursued Jesus with a determination that she could be healed with one touch of His cloak. There is much for us to learn from her and about Jesus who embodies in Himself even now all we need for salvation and life.

Leviticus 15:19-33
Mark 5:24-34,4:31
Romans 11:33

Faith brings an empty hand, receives everything, and can give nothing in return. No grace is so important to the Christian's own soul. By faith we begin. By faith we live. By faith we stand. We walk by faith and not by sight. By faith we overcome. By faith we have peace. By faith we enter into rest. No grace should be the subject of so much self-inquiry. We should often ask ourselves, Do I really believe? Is my faith true, genuine, and the gift of God? J.C. Ryle

There is a lesson here which all true Christians would do well to remember. We are not to be ashamed to confess Christ before men, and to let others know what He has done for our souls. If we have found peace through His blood, and been renewed by His Spirit, we must not shrink from avowing it, on every proper occasion. It is not necessary to blow a trumpet in the streets, and force our experience on everybody's notice. All that is required is a willingness to acknowledge Christ as our Master, without flinching from the ridicule or persecution which by so doing we may bring on ourselves. More than this is not required; but less than this ought not to content us. If we are ashamed of Jesus before men, He will one day be ashamed of us before His Father and the angels. J.C. Ryle

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What excuses could this woman have given to not get up and go to Jesus?
• When the Bible says that living faith acts/does things... how was this shone in her life?
• What does this passage teach us about Jesus... specifically, what does it mean that He embodies in Himself all we need for salvation and everlasting life?
• Why is faith easy in one sense, and how is that illustrated in this event?
• How is faith hard... and how is it illustrated?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: What Kind of Soil Are You?

A bunch of life-giving seed... four types of soils and incredibly high stakes. Through Mark, Jesus is earnestly warning... Listen up carefully and consider.. Which soil are you?

Mark 3:31-4:20,3:21,3:6-7
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
Matthew 11:25-30
Colossians 2:6-7

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What are the four types of soils?
• What is the seed?
• What happens when the seed falls on each of the soils?
• Which soil do you think you are?
• Do the others in your family agree with you?
• Why did Jesus think it was so important to hear these parables?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Appreciating Salvation: The Effects of Grace

We have been saved by Grace!!! As we appreciate our salvation, what effect should our experience of God's grace have on our relationship with God, with others, with ourselves, and as we look to the future? Answer: the effect should be deep and profound!!

Matthew 18:21-35
Ephesians 2:1-9
Nehemiah 9:17
1 John 4:10-11,4:7-8,3:10,4:20

... 'the marvelous grace of our loving Lord', who drew us from destruction's pit and raised us to heights of heavenly bliss, and did it all this at such a cost to Himself that He spared not His own Son, and in such a manner that not a single one of His attributes, not even His justice, was eclipsed. William Hendriksen New Testament Commentary: Exposition of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why does God expect Grace to affect us?
• What are the effects it should have on our:
1. Relationship with God...
2. With others...
3. With ourselves...
4. As we look to the future?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Hebrews: Who is Melchizedek?

Who is Melchizedek and why is he important to us? We will be studying in Hebrews this mysterious person and we will see how vitally important he is in helping us understand how significant Jesus is. Practical question: How scared will you be when you die and launch into eternity... how about when you appear before God? It will be intimidating won't it? But because of Melchizedek... and through understanding him... you will better realize just how amazing Jesus's role is, and you will gain immense comfort and faith for that great day.

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Hebrews 7:1-22

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Glory of Christ: His Humiliation

The Glory of Christ is seen in what theologians call His Humiliation. We see humiliation as a negative..."I have never been so humiliated in my life". But the willingness of so great a being as God the Word to lower Himself so much and to do it so willingly is presented in Scripture as a wonderful, mysterious, glorious thing that should affect how we live.

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Philippians 2
Luke 1:26-35,2:8-14
John 1:1-2
Psalm 50:10-12

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Lord's Prayer: The Mystery and Wonder of Prayer

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Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA