Colossians: Realistic Expectations... or... How Not to Be Shocked

Rejoicing and suffering seem to not fit together: but Paul experienced both, as he emphatically expressed to the Colossians, as he took on the inevitable but glorious persecution all Christians must face.

John 15:18-25
Colossians 1:24-29,1:19-20,2:9-10
2 Timothy 3:12,2:8-10
Matthew 10:21-22,5:11-12
Acts 9:4-5
2 Corinthians 4:8-11,1:3-7
Philippians 3:10
1 Peter 4:12-14
Romans 8:16-18,12:21
1 Peter 3:13-14
Mark 8:36

As, therefore, Christ has suffered once in his own person, so he suffers daily in His members, and in this way there are filled up those sufferings which the Father hath appointed for his body by his decree. John Calvin John Calvin's Commentaries On St. Paul's Epistles To The Philippians

The oftener we are mowed down by you, the more in number we grow; the blood of Christians is seed. Tertullian Apology 50.13

God hath called you to Christ's side, and the wind is now in Christ's face in this land; and seeing ye are with him, ye cannot expect the lee-side or the sunny side of the brae. Samuel Rutherford The Letters of Samuel Rutherford 1600-1661

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot The Journals of Jim Elliot

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why is it assumed Christians will suffer persecution?
• What is Union with Christ and how does that fit into this topic?
• Why is it important to have realistic expectations about this suffering?
• How does rejoicing fit with suffering in this text?

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

Acts: A Shining Example

A confused and hurting world is increasingly today a divided and broken world. People get along less and less. Unity in the country, city, or even home seems almost impossible. It leaves people lonely and unconnected vitally in a community. Here is where the church is to shine like a city on a hill... by its unity and closeness. All people should know we are His disciples because of the love we have for one another. In our study of Acts we will explore the very first time the disciples were called Christians. And we will see the implications of that name for us today.

Acts 11

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Vine and the Branches

Jesus said He is the Vine, His Father is the Vinedresser, and we are the branches. What does this say about are relationship with Him? And what does it mean to be pruned?

John 15:1-17,1:1,14:23-24,14:15,14:30-31,13:10,13:35-36,11:25
Isaiah 5:1-7
1 John 1:1-4

Chris Bowser
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Death is Gain: Our Stake in Heaven

How can you know you are going to heaven? How can you be really confident? Well, all who trust in Jesus have a stake in heaven...in fact many. In the west they used to stake a claim, which gave them legal rights to heaven. Christian, you have a claim staked in heaven as well. This message will examine many of the stakes we have in heaven.

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Revelation 19:7-9,21:27
John 3:14-18,14:2-3,17:24
Luke 10:20
Hebrews 12:22-24,10:32-35,6:17-20
Philippians 4:2-3,3:17-21
1 Peter 1:3-4
2 Timothy 4:7-8
Ephesians 2:19,2:4-6

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA