1. A Memorial to Our Savior Colossians 1:3-6

2. Memorial Serving to preserve remembrance Serving to preserve remembrance Commemorative Commemorative Of or relating to memory Of or relating to memoryMerriam-Webster

3. Question What is the greatest memorial a Christian can give to His Savior?

4. Colossians 1:3-4 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

5. Colossians 1:5-6 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

6. Vs. 3 A portion of Paul’s prayer time was consumed with expressing “thanksgiving”

7. What are you thankful for? Possession vs. People

8. Prayers of Thanksgiving Temporal – Property – Possessions – Health – Personal Blessings Permanent – God – God’s Work – God’s Work in People – God’s People

9. Paul’s Concentration Is always on what God has done for others followed by Paul’s continual thanksgiving for God’s grace.

10. Paul’s Prayer Life Several factors appear regarding Paul’s prayers: Several factors appear regarding Paul’s prayers: – They were continual – The church was regularly in Paul’s mind – They involved thanksgiving – They were intercessory

11. He Intercedes for Me The least I can do is intercede for others.

12. Paul’s Prayer Life praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, How often do you pray for your church?

13. Detour Notice Paul’s description of God: “The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”

14. Litmus Test If your God (i.e. “Allah”) has not made the man Jesus both Lord and Christ it isn’t the same God. If your God (i.e. “Allah”) has not made the man Jesus both Lord and Christ it isn’t the same God. TURN to Acts 2:36 TURN to Acts 2:36

15. Jesus as Both Lord and Christ! (person and work)

16. PersonWork JesusChrist (Messiah) Lord Prophet (Rabbi) God Priest (Savior) Son of God King (LORD) 2 nd Person of Godhead God-Man

17. Colossians 1:4 Since we heard of Since we heard of – your faith in Christ Jesus, and of – the love which ye have to all the saints,

18. Faith in Christ Lightfoot says: “the preposition ‘in’ here denotes the sphere in which their ‘faith’ moves, rather than the object to which it is directed.” Lightfoot says: “the preposition ‘in’ here denotes the sphere in which their ‘faith’ moves, rather than the object to which it is directed.” – This construction stresses the practice of faith more than the presence of faith

19. Practice Colossians 1:6 Colossians 1:6 – Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

20. The Faith in Christ Affects Decisions and Actions Affects Decisions and Actions It Can Be Seen By Others It Can Be Seen By Others

21. What does Paul hear about? “A Group of Christians who Love for the Saints”

22. Is our love Conditional or Unconditional?

23. Fact James 3:2 James 3:2 – For in many things we offend all. – WE ALL GET OFFENDED and OFFEND ONE ANOTHER.

24. BUT, do we forgive each other? Is it optional?

25. An Impossibility It is impossible to be a loving church if we don’t frequently fo___________ each other. It is impossible to be a loving church if we don’t frequently fo___________ each other. TURN to COL 3:13 TURN to COL 3:13

26. For Example T.T.O.

27. TURN TO Eph. 4.32

28. Fact We will never be known as a loving church if we don’t frequently We will never be known as a loving church if we don’t frequently F_____________& F______________.

29. Why do we get offended? Romans 12.3

30. Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

31. Question What is the greatest memorial a Christian can give to His Savior?

32. Our Memorial to Him 2 Corinthians 5:18 2 Corinthians 5:18 – And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, – and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

33. Application Who do you need to forgive? The Lord’s Supper is Tonight.