1. Wisdom for Life in a Broken World: Our Treasure Hunt for Wisdom: Col. 2 Robert W. Kellemen, Th.M., Ph.D. http://biblicalcc.org

2. Where Do We Find Wisdom for Life in a Broken World?  “But what about other systems of change?”

3. Revisiting Ashely’s Story  More About Ashley…  The Question…  Your Response…

4. Revisiting Ashely’s Story  A Follow-Up Question…  My Premise… 1.We tend to use wisdom and logic to determine whether we should blend the world’s reason with God’s wisdom 2.We do this because we falsely assume that in NT times people never faced competing sources of wisdom for living

5. A Shepherd’s Concern for His Sheep  The issues the Colossians were facing…  Paul, his sheep, and the Great Shepherd…

6. Ancient Philosophy = Modern Psychology  Philosophy in Paul’s day focused on diagnosing and healing diseases of the soul produced by false beliefs and mishandled desires that were cured by expert talk based upon a systematic theory of human wellbeing.

7. Ancient Philosophy = Modern Psychology  Paul’s first century caution to beware of deceptive philosophy is also Paul’s twenty-first century caution for us to beware of deceptive psychology that depends on human reason and not on Christ’s all-sufficient wisdom.

8. Ancient Philosophy = Modern Psychology  These expert talkers of Paul’s day claimed they were elite thinkers who possessed superior insight necessary for overcoming suffering and sin. They said that without their advanced teaching, progressive wisdom, and special knowledge, no one could handle life maturely (F.F. Bruce).

9. Beware!: Colossians 2:4, 8  Fine-Sounding: Appealing sales pitch; appalling product  Beware!: Don’t Be Caught Off Guard  Don’t Be Taken Captive  Hollow/Deceptive: Empty Enticement

10. Beware!: Colossians 2:4, 8  Human Tradition/Basic Principles  Summary: “Don’t be duped by the enemy or your allegiance will be stolen by sin-distorted human reasoning used to try to cure souls.”  Summary: “Don’t even think of following people who are separated from the life of God because they can only teach you how to live life separated from God!”

11. The Supremacy of Christ and the Sufficiency of Christ’s Gospel of Grace  The wisest person who ever lived…  Truly Purpose-Driven Church: Community of believers on a search and discovery mission— treasure hunt—to find/know the greatest treasure ever—Christ Who Is Wisdom

12. Colossians 2:1-9  “Strangely, we seem prepared to learn how to live from almost anyone but Christ!”

13. Jesus Knows People!  John 2:23-25: Textual Marker…Neon Sign  John 3-4

14. Biblical Wisdom  Hocmah/Sophia: Wisdom and folly relate to the whole person living a godly or ungodly life in every area of relating, thinking, choosing, doing, and feeling—not “Sunday living” but godliness 24/7

15. “Spiritual Matters?”  What is “spiritual?”  What does Christ have supremacy over?  Paul’s application in Colossians…

16. Spoiling Egyptians/ Impacting Babylonians  Spoiling the Egyptians  Impacting the Babylonians: Colossians 4:3-6  PDQ…

17. Don’t Take a Back Seat to Anyone!  The Church and the Bowen Center  The Colossians and Competing Communities  Colossians 3:15-16 in Light of 3:8-10 and 3:18-21…Paul sends suffering and sinning people to…the Church!

18. The Résumé of the People of God  Shallow definitions of our calling in the personal ministry of the Word lead to a hug/pray/refer mentality…  Christ’s grand plan for His Church is for every member to be a disciple- maker by speaking and living gospel truth to one another in love.

19. Prompting Discussion Questions

20. Wisdom for Life in a Broken World: Our Treasure Hunt for Wisdom: Col. 2 Robert W. Kellemen, Th.M., Ph.D. http://biblicalcc.org