A Memorial A Memorial to to

Our SaviorOur Savior

Colossians 1:3-6Colossians 1:3-6

MemorialMemorial

• Serving to preserve remembranceServing to preserve remembrance• CommemorativeCommemorative• Of or relating to memoryOf or relating to memory

Merriam-WebsterMerriam-Webster

QuestionQuestion

What is the greatest What is the greatest memorial a Christian can give memorial a Christian can give

to His Savior?to His Savior?

Colossians 1:3-4Colossians 1:3-4

• We give thanks to God and the Father of We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, you,

• Since we heard of your faith in Christ Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the loveJesus, and of the love which ye have to which ye have to all the saints,all the saints,

Colossians 1:5-6Colossians 1:5-6

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

Vs. 3Vs. 3

A portion of Paul’s prayer time A portion of Paul’s prayer time was consumed with expressing was consumed with expressing

“thanksgiving”“thanksgiving”

What are you thankful for?What are you thankful for?

Possession vs. PeoplePossession vs. People

Prayers of ThanksgivingPrayers of Thanksgiving

TemporalTemporal– PropertyProperty– PossessionsPossessions– HealthHealth– Personal BlessingsPersonal Blessings

PermanentPermanent– GodGod– God’s Work God’s Work – God’s Work in PeopleGod’s Work in People– God’s PeopleGod’s People

Paul’s ConcentrationPaul’s Concentration

Is always on what God has done for Is always on what God has done for others followed by Paul’s continual others followed by Paul’s continual

thanksgiving for God’s grace.thanksgiving for God’s grace.

Paul’s Prayer LifePaul’s Prayer Life

• Several factors appear regarding Paul’s Several factors appear regarding Paul’s prayers:prayers:– They were continualThey were continual– The church was regularly in Paul’s mindThe church was regularly in Paul’s mind– They involved thanksgivingThey involved thanksgiving– They were intercessoryThey were intercessory

He Intercedes for MeHe Intercedes for Me

The least I can do is intercede for The least I can do is intercede for others.others.

Paul’s Prayer LifePaul’s Prayer Life

• praying always for praying always for youyou, Since we heard of , Since we heard of your your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the lovefaith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which which ye ye have to all the saints,have to all the saints,

How often do you pray for your church?

DetourDetour

Notice Paul’s description of God: Notice Paul’s description of God:

““The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”

Litmus TestLitmus Test

• If your God (i.e. “Allah”) has not made the If your God (i.e. “Allah”) has not made the man Jesus both Lord and Christ it isn’t the man Jesus both Lord and Christ it isn’t the same God.same God.

• TURNTURN to Acts 2:36 to Acts 2:36

Jesus asJesus as

Both Lord and Christ!Both Lord and Christ!

(person and work)(person and work)

Person WorkJesus Christ (Messiah)

• Lord • Prophet (Rabbi)• God • Priest (Savior)• Son of God • King (LORD)• 2nd Person of Godhead• God-Man

Colossians 1:4Colossians 1:4

• Since we heard of Since we heard of – your faith in Christ Jesus, and of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of – the love which ye have to all the saintsthe love which ye have to all the saints,,

Faith in ChristFaith in Christ

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

faith more than faith more than the presencethe presence of faith of faith

PracticePractice

• Colossians 1:6 Colossians 1:6 – Which is come unto you, as it is in all the Which is come unto you, as it is in all the

world; world; and bringeth forth fruitand bringeth forth fruit, as it , as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

The Faith in ChristThe Faith in Christ

• Affects Decisions and ActionsAffects Decisions and Actions• It Can Be Seen By OthersIt Can Be Seen By Others

What does Paul hear about?What does Paul hear about?

““A Group of Christians who A Group of Christians who Love for the Saints”Love for the Saints”

Is our loveIs our love

Conditional or Conditional or Unconditional?Unconditional?

FactFact

• James 3:2 James 3:2 – For in many things we offend all. For in many things we offend all.

– WE ALL GET OFFENDED and OFFEND ONE WE ALL GET OFFENDED and OFFEND ONE ANOTHER.ANOTHER.

BUT, do we forgive each other?BUT, do we forgive each other?

Is it optional?Is it optional?

An ImpossibilityAn Impossibility

• It is impossible to be a loving church if It is impossible to be a loving church if we don’t frequently fo___________ we don’t frequently fo___________ each other.each other.

• TURNTURN to COL 3:13 to COL 3:13

For ExampleFor Example

T.T.O.T.T.O.

TURN TOTURN TO

Eph. 4.32Eph. 4.32

FactFact

• We will never be known as a loving We will never be known as a loving church if we don’t frequentlychurch if we don’t frequently

F_____________& F______________.F_____________& F______________.

Why do we get offended?Why do we get offended?

Romans 12.3Romans 12.3

Romans 12:3Romans 12:3

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

QuestionQuestion

What is the greatest What is the greatest memorial a Christian can give memorial a Christian can give

to His Savior?to His Savior?

Our Memorial to HimOur Memorial to Him

• 2 Corinthians 5:18 2 Corinthians 5:18 – And all things are of God, who hath And all things are of God, who hath

reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, – and hath given to us the ministry of and hath given to us the ministry of

reconciliation;reconciliation;•

ApplicationApplicationWho do you need to forgive? Who do you need to forgive?

The Lord’s Supper is Tonight.The Lord’s Supper is Tonight.