Leading Against Opposition

Ryan Lowery

Nehemiah 2:19-4:23

Any effort toward a worthwhile endeavor will draw opposition, which is why anyone who wants to be used by God needs to learn to handle opposition in a way that is in line with God's values. Being a spiritual leader requires personal sacrifices and also draws naysayers who try to demotivate, mockers that level personal attacks, and even those who will make threats. Nehemiah deals with all of this opposition by turning to God and refusing to become discouraged.\r\n\r\n

Keeping your Spiritual Edge

John Cleary

Nehemiah 2:19-4:23

Keeping your spiritual edge in the spiritual war includes understanding three things: 1) the reality of the war; 2) the description of who the war is with; 3) having a personal Combat Field Manual to fight with. God's word is our weapon and it is essential to read it daily. There are many approaches in developing a personal Combat Field Manual but the important thing is to do it. To stand firm and fight this battle we need to have a mind to engage in the war.\r\n

Prayer and Evangelism

Jeanne Arter

Nehemiah 2:19-4:23

Prayer is the means of communicating with a God who loves unconditionally, but Christians often avoid or neglect it. Praying is a heavy and taxing work. Still, there are ways to commit to prayer and to persevere in it. This is necessary for successful evangelism, and it involves God in reaching people.

Prayer

Ryan Lowery

Colossians 4:2-4

God wants to change the world through us, so He must teach us how to communicate with Him: through prayer. The apostle Paul writes that devoting ourselves to the difficult task of strategic prayer plays a key role in our lives and the lives of others. He records three main ways we can pray: with thanksgiving, for other people, and petitioning.

Playing Our Part in Advancing God's Purposes

Conrad Hilario

2 Timothy 1:7-8

Paul ends his letter to the Colossians and focuses on the role of prayer in evangelism. God uses prayer powerfully to provide opportunities to share the gospel as well as to combat His adversary who does not want others to know Christ. Quotes from Ole Hallesby's book on prayer further these points. Evangelism is not only impacted by prayer but also our speech and actions towards others.

The Good News vs. The Elemental Principles of the World

Dennis McCallum

Colossians 2:14-23

The good news of Christ is extremely counter-intuitive to the way that many think about God. All humans naturally have a certain religious way of thinking that have surprisingly negative implications towards God. Ultimately, the cross renders man-made religious principles useless and reveals the true nature of God.

Avoiding Capture

Scott Risley

Colossians 2:8-23

There are three common wrong turns Christians make when it comes to growing with God: 1) formalism, 2) mysticism, and 3) legalism. When we relate to God with a list of rules, emphasize spiritual experiences or outward service, we are prone to miss growing with God.

Avoiding Capture

Ryan Lowery

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Paul is warning and encouraging the Christians in Colossae of the ideas competing for their faith and how to avoid being captured. Four ways to avoid being captured by false ideologies: 1) come to Christ; 2) assess your own vulnerabilities; 3) walk by grace in faith; 4) stay rooted in the Word and community. The love of God changes and motivates our hearts. Evaluate what motivates you to follow God and His ways. Be moved by what His love has done. His love is a safeguard to legalism and worship of self.\r\n

The Cross: God's Radical Provision

Gary DeLashmutt

Colossians 2:8-15

False teachers were trying to influence young Christians in Colossae away from Christ and toward religious practices so they would become enlightened. Paul wrote this letter to refute the false teachers, to instruct the Colossians about the deity of Christ and to explain how His death on the cross is God's radical provision for us. It is a provision for us in three ways: 1) it has canceled our certificate of debt; 2) it has given us a spiritual ?circumcision?; 3) it has disarmed the demonic forces that oppose us. God has given us all the resources we need to mature in Him.