FOUR THINGS TO KEEP US ON TRACK
COLOSSIANS 1:29-2:1
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Breakfast-cereal giant Kellogg said
it will be voluntarily recalling 28
million boxes of cereal due to an
"uncharacteristic off-flavor and
smell coming from the liner in the
package.”T he cereal brands being
recalled include Apple Jacks, Corn
Pops, Froot Loops, and Honey
Smacks. The cereals being recalled
have the letters "KN" next to the
"Better if Used Before Data" are
included in the recall, Kellogg
said. Kellogg said there was low
potential for serious health
problems related to the
consumption of the cereal, but
eating it may result in temporary
nausea and diarrhea.
PAUL WRITING TO COLOSSAE TO INSTRUCT AND
ENCOURAGE THEM IN CHRIST
WRITING TO DEAL WITH THE GNOSTIC PROBLEM,
A “SMELLY” DISTORTION OF THE TRUTH
ESSENTIAL ELEMENT, THAT JESUS IS PREEMINENT,
NOT JUST PROMINENT.
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REMEMBER ABC’S “WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS”?
THE “THRILL OF VICTORY AND THE _________
OF DEFEAT?
“To this end I labor, struggling with all his
energy, which so powerfully works in me. I
want you to know how much I am struggling
for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all
who have not met me personally.” – 1:29-2:1
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TO “LABOR” IS TO
GROW WEARY, TO
EXPEND EFFORT TO
THE POINT OF
EXHAUSTION. IT IS
A TERM USED OF
ATHLETES IN
TRAINING. THUS, IT
IS VOLUNTARY
EFFORT TO
ACHIEVE A GOAL.
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STRUGGLING IS TO
“AGONIZE”, AND
MEANS TO
CONTEND IN
ATHLETIC GAMES.
PAUL SEES A
WRESTLING MATCH,
AND HE IS
ENGAGED TO WIN.
IN 2:1, HE RE-USES
THE WORD, HE IS
CONTENDING ON
BEHALF OF THOSE
HE HAS NEVER MET.
ENCOURAGEMENT
ENDEARMENT
ENRICHMENT
ENLIGHTENMENT

“My purpose is that
they may be
encouraged in heart
and united in love, so
that they may have
the full riches of
complete
understanding, in
order that they may
know the mystery of
God, namely, Christ,”
THE WORD ENCOURAGEMENT MEANS “CALLED ALONGSIDE”
Charles Durham, Temptation, “One Saturday afternoon I watched the
telecast of the world’s light-weight boxing championship match. The
boxers were a thirty-one-year-old Scotsman and a man from the United
States who was six years younger. The Scot was the reigning champion,
and the bout was being fought before a crowd of twenty thousand in
Glasgow, Scotland. The champion had said before the match that he
would rather die than be beaten before his own people; but the younger
contender had never before been beaten in a professional contest.
“Soon after the match began it became clear that the battle would be
close. As I sat watching, I heard something unlike anything I had ever
heard before. It was faint at first, but it seemed to be singing—singing
at a boxing match! Gradually, it became louder; hundreds and hundreds
of male voices singing a strange Scottish melody. I could hardly believe
it. They were singing encouragement for their champion. As he fought
for his crown, but even more for the respect of the Scottish people, they
sang to encourage him.
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Weight Watchers
Jean Nidetch, a 214 pound homemaker desperate to lose weight,
went to the New York City Department of Health, where she was
given a diet devised by Dr. Norman Jolliffe. Two months later,
discouraged about the 50 plus pounds still to go, she invited six
overweight friends home to share the diet and talk about how to
stay on it. Today, 28 years later, one million members attend
25,0000 Weight Watchers meetings in 24 countries every week. Why
was Nidetch able to help people take control of their lives?
To answer that, she tells a story. When she was a teen-ager, she
used to cross a park where she saw mothers gossiping while the
toddlers sat on their swings, with no one to push them. “I’d give
them a push,” says Nidetch. “And you know what happens when you
push a kid on a swing? Pretty soon he’s pumping, doing it himself.
That’s what my role in life is—I’m there to give others a push.”
Irene Sax in Newsday
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“My purpose is that they may be encouraged
in heart and united in love, so that they may
have the full riches of complete
understanding, in order that they may know
the mystery of God, namely, Christ,”
THE MATURE CHRISTIAN SEEKS TO BE A
PEACEMAKER, NOT A TROUBLE MAKER.
CONVERSELY, IMMATURE OR SELFISH PEOPLE
CAUSE DIVISION.
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“My purpose is that
they may be
encouraged in heart
and united in love, so
that they may have
the full riches of
complete
understanding, in
order that they may
know the mystery of
God, namely, Christ,”
THE STORY OF SHAY
“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in
love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding,
in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,”
THE GNOSTICS BOASTED OF HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF MYSTERIES
REQUIRING INITIATION INTO THEIR RANKS BEFORE ONE COULD OBTAIN
THEM.
PAUL SAYS ANYONE WHO KNOWS CHRIST KNOWS THE MYSTERY, FOR IT
IS A PERSON.
“For you did not receive a spirit that
makes you a slave again to fear, but you
received the Spirit of sonship. And by him
we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself
testifies with our spirit that we are God's
children. Now if we are children, then we
are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with
Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings
in order that we may also share in his
glory.”-Romans 8:15-17
THESE ARE THE THINGS
PAUL WAS WRESTLING
OVER ON BEHALF OF
THESE BELIEVERS.
WHAT WOULD YOU
ASK GOD FOR ON
BEHALF OF OTHERS?
HOW DO YOU PRAY?