"The Only Hope for the Church"
April 17, 2011
Senior Pastor Dr.
David Craig
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Date: April 17, 2011 - WEFC
Sermon Title: "The Only Hope for the Church" - Sermon 17 of Colossians Series
Text: Colossians 1 : 17 - 18
Sermon Notes for
"The Only Hope for the Church"
( Click here to download or open the Word
document file for these notes. )
The Only Hope for the Church
The Only Hope for the Church
Colossians 1:17-18 – April 17, 2011 – Palm Sunday –
Dr. David P. Craig
“And he is before all
things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of
the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” - Colossians
1:17-18
“And when he had entered
Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, ‘Who then is this man?
– Matthew 21:10
What Jesus Christ is to the Church:
1)
Jesus is the originator
of the Church, which is the expression of His re-creation.
·
“As in one body we have many
members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many,
are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” –
Romans 12:4-5 (see also 1 Corinthians 12:12-31)
·
“And I tell you, you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18
2)
Jesus is the sovereign,
ruling authority over his people, as well as the source for which
we, his body, derive all spiritual sustenance and power.
·
“And he put all things under his
feet and gave him as head over all things to the church which is his body,
the fullness of him who fills all in all.” – Ephesians 1:22-23
·
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches.
Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart
from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:4-5
3)
Jesus is the leader
of the Church with the purpose of bringing everything ultimately
within the scope of that rule.
·
“Without [Jesus], the Church
cannot think the truth, cannot act correctly,
and cannot decide its direction.” – William Barclay
·
“Christ and his people are viewed
together as a living entity: Christ is the head, supplying life
and exercising control and direction; his people
are his body, individually his limbs and organs, under his control, obeying
his direction, performing his work. And the life which animates
the whole is his risen life, which he shares with his people.” – F.F. Bruce
Guide For Discussion & Practical Application (Week
of April 17):
1)
Read John 15:1-11. What are the
results of NOT abiding in Christ? What are the results of abiding in Christ?
2)
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Think
of some tangible ways that physical body parts are more functional when they
function as a part of the entire body. On the same token, how is the body of
Christ more effective when all the parts/members work together – especially
with Christ as the center of it all?
3)
Talk about what it would be like
to really have the Head of Christ connected to your body – His thoughts,
knowledge, ears, eyes, mouth, desire to please God, etc. How different would
your life be if this were a reality?
4)
Is there any doubt in the way you
use your time, your money, and your talents that Jesus is the source and center
of it all?
5)
Is Jesus your treasure, or is he
[metaphorically] like the documents and deeds lying in a bank vault? What are
some practical ways you can treasure Christ more than you currently do?
6)
How visible is the supremacy of
Christ in the way you talk and relate to others and fulfill your
responsibilities at work and in the home?
( Click here to download or open the Word
document file for these notes. )
The Only Hope for the Church
Colossians 1:17-18 – April 17, 2011 – Palm Sunday – Dr. David P. Craig
“And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” - Colossians 1:17-18
“And when he had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, ‘Who then is this man? – Matthew 21:10
What Jesus Christ is to the Church:
1) Jesus is the originator of the Church, which is the expression of His re-creation.
· “As in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” – Romans 12:4-5 (see also 1 Corinthians 12:12-31)
· “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18
2) Jesus is the sovereign, ruling authority over his people, as well as the source for which we, his body, derive all spiritual sustenance and power.
· “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” – Ephesians 1:22-23
· “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:4-5
3) Jesus is the leader of the Church with the purpose of bringing everything ultimately within the scope of that rule.
· “Without [Jesus], the Church cannot think the truth, cannot act correctly, and cannot decide its direction.” – William Barclay
· “Christ and his people are viewed together as a living entity: Christ is the head, supplying life and exercising control and direction; his people are his body, individually his limbs and organs, under his control, obeying his direction, performing his work. And the life which animates the whole is his risen life, which he shares with his people.” – F.F. Bruce
Guide For Discussion & Practical Application (Week of April 17):
1) Read John 15:1-11. What are the results of NOT abiding in Christ? What are the results of abiding in Christ?
2) Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Think of some tangible ways that physical body parts are more functional when they function as a part of the entire body. On the same token, how is the body of Christ more effective when all the parts/members work together – especially with Christ as the center of it all?
3) Talk about what it would be like to really have the Head of Christ connected to your body – His thoughts, knowledge, ears, eyes, mouth, desire to please God, etc. How different would your life be if this were a reality?
4) Is there any doubt in the way you use your time, your money, and your talents that Jesus is the source and center of it all?
5) Is Jesus your treasure, or is he [metaphorically] like the documents and deeds lying in a bank vault? What are some practical ways you can treasure Christ more than you currently do?
6) How visible is the supremacy of Christ in the way you talk and relate to others and fulfill your responsibilities at work and in the home?
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Greenbank, Washington
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and 6 miles north of Freeland by MAP.