1: 1-8 Thanks for their Faith and Love; 1: 9-12 Prayer for knowledge of God’s will; 1: Rescued; 1: Jesus the image of God 1: Jesus in us, the Hope of Glory;1: Purpose to encourage 1: 1-8 Thanks for their Faith and Love; 1: 9-12 Prayer for knowledge of God’s will; 1: Rescued; 1: Jesus the image of God 1: Jesus in us, the Hope of Glory;1: Purpose to encourage

Colossians 2 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine– sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. Danger of being deceived

Colossians 2 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine– sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. Need to stand firm Discipline: requires effort Danger of being deceived

What kind of deception?

2 sources - human traditions & other spirits Colossians 2 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. Danger of being deceived What kind of deception?

Colossians 2 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Danger of being deceived Condemnation What kind of deception?

Colossians 2 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Danger of being deceived Extra rules to please God Condemnation What kind of deception?

Colossians 2 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such people also go into great detail about what they have seen, and their unspiritual minds puff them up with idle notions. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. Danger of being deceived Spiritual experiences that exclude Extra rules to please God Condemnation What kind of deception?

Colossians 2 20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? Danger of being deceived Spiritual experiences that exclude Extra rules to please God Condemnation What kind of deception?

Colossians 2 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self– imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Danger of being deceived Spiritual experiences that exclude Extra rules to please God Condemnation What kind of deception?

Danger of being deceived Spiritual experiences that exclude Extra rules to please God Condemnation What kind of deception? Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others

Danger of being deceived Spiritual experiences that exclude Extra rules to please God Condemnation What kind of deception? Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others Singling out of a sin as worse than others

Danger of being deceived Spiritual experiences that exclude Extra rules to please God Condemnation What kind of deception? Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others Singling out of a sin as worse than others E.g. sexual

Danger of being deceived Spiritual experiences that exclude Extra rules to please God Condemnation What kind of deception? Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others Certain good practices become requirements

Danger of being deceived Spiritual experiences that exclude Extra rules to please God Condemnation What kind of deception? Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others Certain good practices become requirements E.g. teetotal, faith

Danger of being deceived Spiritual experiences that exclude Extra rules to please God Condemnation What kind of deception? Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others Certain spiritual gifts or encounters become essential

Danger of being deceived Spiritual experiences that exclude Extra rules to please God Condemnation What kind of deception? Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others Beware: Add-ons to following Jesus, that may be good for some but exclude and condemn others Certain spiritual gifts or encounters become essential E.g. tongues prophecy, healing

Colossians 2 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. Danger of being deceived So need to live our lives in Jesus

Colossians 2 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. Danger of being deceived So need to live our lives in Jesus Receive Jesus as Lord Boss to Guide us Owner to Care for us King to Protect us

Colossians 2 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. Danger of being deceived So need to live our lives in Jesus Receive Jesus as Lord Boss to Serve Owner to Belong to King to Obey “Christ is either Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all.” Hudson Taylor ( )

Colossians 2 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. Danger of being deceived So need to live our lives in Jesus Receive Jesus as Lord The desires of Jesus, become our agenda Whatever the cost

ALL RIGHT TEAM... LETS PAY ATTENTION NOW

WE HAVE A LONG HARD SEASON AHEAD OF US! I’M NOT OFFERING YOU AN EASY TASK! I’M GOING TO ASK YOU FOR SACRIFICE, HARD WORK AND DEDICATION

ALL YOU LEADERS ARE ALIKE!! YOU’RE ALWAYS TRYING TO STIR US UP! WHY DON’T YOU JUST LEAD US AND STOP BOTHERING US?

YES, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO, MAKE US NERVOUS

I’M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU DRIVE YOURSELVES TO THE VERY LIMITS OF ENDURANCE!

IT’S NOT FAIR FOR YOU TO ASK US TO SACRIFICE, WORK HARD AND BE DEDICATED

WE JUST WANT TO WIN GAMES.. WE DON’T WANT TO SUFFER

PLEASE?

Colossians 2 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Danger of being deceived Rooted in Jesus Everything comes from Jesus Ideas Strength Wisdom So need to live our lives in Jesus Receive Jesus as Lord Plans

Danger of being deceived Rooted in Jesus So need to live our lives in Jesus Receive Jesus as Lord Jesus said very clearly: I am the love to be loved I am the life to be lived I am the joy to be shared I am the truth to be told I am the light to be lit I am the peace to be given. Jesus is everything. Mother Teresa

Colossians 2 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Danger of being deceived Rooted in Jesus So need to live our lives in Jesus Receive Jesus as Lord By... Listening Seeking Studying Imitating

Colossians 2 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Danger of being deceived Built up in Jesus Self-esteem Jesus the source of our Abilities Strength Rooted in Jesus So need to live our lives in Jesus Receive Jesus as Lord

“Believe that God understands you, loves you and is completely for you and join God in becoming a better friend to yourself.” Brian McClaren

Colossians 2 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Danger of being deceived So need to live our lives in Jesus Conscious of Thankful Salvation Wisdom Empowerment Blessing Built up in Jesus Rooted in Jesus So need to live our lives in Jesus Receive Jesus as Lord

Colossians 2 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. Jesus is God Danger of being deceived So need to live our lives in Jesus Receive Jesus as Lord

Colossians 2 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. Jesus is God Head of everything Danger of being deceived So need to live our lives in Jesus Receive Jesus as Lord