August 9, 2026
Where's The Hope? | Lost Connection
The believers in Colosse were struggling. We can’t avoid it; we bring religious baggage with us when we come to trust Jesus. In our day it’s more likely that people go to church and think God should be chill and adjust to their thinking and preferences. 2000 years ago it was the opposite; people brought rules and restrictions, believing that God (or the gods) needed to be placated with displays of earnestness. They basically guessed what God wanted. Paul wanted those believers to guess no more! Get back and stay with the core of Christianity, which is, I hope, obvious: Jesus!
Songs for this week: Spotify
Colossians 2:20-3:4
Questions:
- Did you ever go into serious training? Workouts, diets, long runs, or 2-a-days? Tell that story.
- Explain what it means to be ‘dead in your sin’ and also what it means to ‘die with Christ’.
- What church rules/requirements have you experienced or heard of? Can you figure out what was intended by imposing those rules?
- What does it mean to first ‘set your hearts on things above’ and then ‘set your minds on things above'? Why that order? Does your answer grow as you realize those commands are spoken in the plural?
- What does being ‘with Christ’ look like in your life this summer?
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Recent Sermons
Humans have a problem that we can’t save ourselves from—not through secular programs or religious systems. The good news of Jesus is that on the cross, Jesus dealt with it all. In him we are alive, forgiven, and free!
Colossians 2:8-12 - Paul warns the Colossian church not to trade the freedom found in Christ for religion or spiritual experiences. Jesus is more than enough.
Colossians 2:1-7-The way forward for the first Christians wasn't always easy. False teachers brought confusion and deception, prompting Paul to point believers back to the truth. Just as the best way to spot a counterfeit is to know the genuine article, the best way to recognize false teaching is to know Jesus.
Colossians 1:24-29-Suffering is one of life's hardest realities. We might expect that following Jesus would mean less pain, but Jesus himself suffered and made it clear that his followers would too. The good news is that our suffering is never lost on God and is never in vain.
Colossians 1:21-23 - Paul contrasts two powerful words—alienated and reconciled—to tell our story. Discover how Jesus did the work of reconciliation and why that is the heart of the Gospel.
Colossians 1:15-20 -Colossians centers on Jesus—the Creator of all things, the Sustainer of life, and the Redeemer who restores creation through love.
