Paul begins his letter to Colasse by introducing himself and who he is writing to. He calls the Colassians faithful, implying marks of spirituality worth considering: a reliable foundation, a revolution within, and a visible difference within people. These marks are internally-based, not dependent on our conforming to people around us.

Paul describes the Good News that the Colossians know as grace, which has the power to change lives. He lists characteristics of this grace in the believers' lives as faith, love, and hope. Faith is our reality, love is our call, and hope is our future. These things attract others to Christ and make faith real.

Paul assures the Colossians that he and Timothy have not stopped praying for them. These prayers include knowing God's will, pleasing God, producing good fruit, knowing God better through pursuing Him, and gaining stamina for the long haul. Paul prays that the Colossians would also be full of joy and prayer that stem from gratitude.

Paul makes the argument that Christ has the authority and is sufficient to forgive sins. Christ's death on the cross gives the grace that humans cannot earn on their own. Christ is worthy of people's lives, and he is adequate to meet their needs. He is ultimately trustworthy and the only way to be made right with God.

Paul's wish is for the Colossians to have "complete confidence" in God's plan. Despite the limited understanding people have, they can have experiences, witness miracles, and receive revelations that validate God's trustworthiness. Specifically, prophetic revelations in the Old Testament and layered throughout the Bible point to historical events predicted long before their time, including the death of the Messiah.

Colossians explains the mystery of Christ that is hidden throughout Old Testament times. In this mystery, a messiah or savior was predicted to come to redeem the people of Israel. Therefore, the people expected a powerful, governmental ruler who would free them from their adversaries. However, there is another character described throughout the Old Testament: the suffering servant. At first glance, it seems that these are two different persons. However, the mystery is that they are both the same person, Jesus Christ. Why was this hidden as a secret during Old Testament times? So that God's plan would be fulfilled by the cross.

Christian community is comprised of individuals who are stewards of God's truth. Christ has accomplished our greatest need, but we now have a mission to carry out in building His kingdom on earth. Serving God involves a process of transformation of ourselves and others, freedom from the power of sin, and a focus on grace given to us by God through Christ.

We have been given so much in Christ: forgiveness, purpose, and future hope. Yet often we feel like we need so much more, and we seek after experiences or follow rules in order to try and gain more, which never produces what we want. In reality, when we turn to God and recognize what He has given us, it is more than enough! \r\n

In Christian living, our focus is of the utmost importance. Rather than listening to outside voices, or our own feelings and insecurities, we can stand firm in Christ and on the Word of God. \r\n

We are transformed when we enter into a relationship with Christ, but we are still susceptible to being drawn back into a way of living that represents our old or "earthly" nature. We should strive to identify these dangers, agree with God, and move forward towards what He has for us!\r\n\r\n

In true, vibrant Christian community God is displayed to the watching world. A community like this is focused on His grace, giving out sacrificially, and providing tangible evidence of His love through the way they love each other and those around them.

What is a family? According to the book of Colossians, the family is an inclusive community that includes the nuclear family and the family of God. The focus of the family is the relationships within the groups. There are two principles that make up healthy relationships; they include: reciprocal relationships and purposeful relationships. This is part 1 of a 5 part series.\r\n

What is a family? What does the Bible have to say about the role of wives in a family? The Bible calls for radical subordination, not only in a marriage, but also in our lives to God, what does that look like? How can we understand the idea that a wife should submit to her husband? Take a look at what it means, and what it does not mean. This is part 2 of a 5 part series.\r\n

What is a family? What does it mean for a husband to love his wife? What is masculinity, what is the role of a husband, and how do those line up with God's command to love. Take a look at what it looks like to lead in a God-centered marriage, and how that includes being subject to Christ. This is part 3 of a 5 part series. Also includes clips from The Andy Griffith Show, The Simpsons, and Two and a Half Men.

What is a family? What does it look like to be a single person living a life for God? Marriage or re-marriage is a choice, and more and more people are single trying to live a life for God. What should that look like? Jim argues you don't have to be married to be whole, and to live a life dedicated to serving God and His people. Take a look at what he says about getting a vision for the single life; including, being single, how to participate in families, and cultivating contentment. This is part 4 of a 5 part series. Also includes testimonies from Katy and Marco.\r\n

What is a family? What does the Bible say about parenting? Take a look at what the Bible says in this first part of three series on parenting. This part takes a look at how God has loved us, and how we can then impart that and express that to our children. Jim also compares what our culture is focused on in parenting and what the Bible says our focus should be; including, our strengths and weaknesses, and what happens when failure comes? This is part 5 of a 7 part series on family.

God values family life, and parenting is a spiritual journey. We grow as we learn to give God's love and grow in it ourselves. Godly parenting involves having vision for your children, seeking to understand their weaknesses and their strengths, and learning how to deal with their failures. As we choose our battles carefully, we should focus on grace and place our trust in God!\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This passage raises some valid questions for modern hearers, such as, "Is the bible okay with slavery?" and "Does the bible address social injustice?" Slavery in the Old Testament was quite different than slavery in the recent past, and we can interpret passages such as these by remembering who we serve and why.

Prayer is a crucial part of our spiritual lives. When we are devoted to prayer we see that it transforms us, making us more alert to God's Will, and turns our focus outward instead of inward. As we pray, with gratitude and devotion, God speaks and we see incredible things happen. \r\n\r\n

Paul urges his audience to live wisely in order to display and communicate God's love clearly to those around them. This involves learning to communicate effectively, to identify with people, and to move towards those who are different just as Jesus did. As we demonstrate God's love through action and speech, we can share the message of the gospel with humility and excitement!\r\n