Integrity

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:1-8 (day four)

We begin a new study this week…Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae.  Paul was an excellent letter writer and true to his form, he begins his letter with an introduction.  Colossians was possibly Paul’s first prison letter.  It was especially important for Paul to introduce himself to these believers in Colossae.  Paul did not found this church and had likely never visited it.  Since he was writing to both encourage the believers and offer warnings against false theology, Paul felt the need to establish his call and authority, so the church would give heed to his words.  His reputation likely preceded him since Philemon and Onesimus were from Colossae.

Paul’s reputation spoke of the integrity of his message.  His lifestyle matched the words of his preaching.  If you were to share Christ with someone, would your life give testimony to the truth of your words?  The Gospel must be lived out as well as spoken.

Momentous

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:1-8 (day three)

“We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have.”

We moderns tend to translate events into quantifiable data; therefore we might imagine Paul had heard that many had “prayed to receive Christ”. But the witness of the New Testament is that when this new movement generated news, the biggest story wasn’t that people were “walking the aisles”—celebration-worthy though that would be—but rather that forgiveness began to happen, patterns of living began to change, enemies got reconciled, the poor began to be noticed, resources got shared, family wounds began to heal, and people sacrificed their lives for others out of love for Christ. Living in such a way is all but unheard of in this world. When it happens, it is momentous news. Paul’s words give us hope that we can generate such tidings again.

A Note of Encouragement

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:1-8 (day two)

“We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;” vs. 3-4‬ 

When was the last time that you sent a letter of encouragement to someone? One that had no agenda other than to just offer thanks and praise for a job well done – or when was the last time you received one? How did it make you feel? We rarely see handwritten notes anymore, but texts and emails can also have a similar effect.

It is not lost on the Apostle Paul the impact of an encouraging word can have. Word of the faith of the believers at Colosse had reached him, and he was compelled to reach out and bless them. What a radical idea! Let’s bless those around us.

Perhaps I still have the summer series running through my ears and I hear the words of Jesus as he instructs us to love our neighbors as ourselves. I think Paul understood this. Take a minute, grab a piece of paper, a text, an email and edify someone today.

Monday Re:Verse Blog Post – 8/26/19

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:1-8 (day one)

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Colossians 1:18  in our New Fall Sermon Series: “Fullness of Christ” a study of Colossians.

Witness

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:18-20 (day seven)

At First Baptist San Antonio we are going to faithfully obey these last words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew as difficult as they may be because we have help.

We have the help of the creator of the universe: And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (Mt 28:18)

We have the help of the continued presence of the risen Christ and the Holy Spirit: and lo, I am with you [f]always, even to the end of the age.”(Mt. 28:20b)

By this promise of Jesus Christ we are capable of winning the world for the Kingdom of God.  May it be so!

 

Can’t Help It

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:18-20 (day six)

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20

John and Peter were picked up, jailed and beaten, and then commanded never to talk about Jesus again. They were living the Great Commission, even at great cost to themselves. What I find interesting is their response to their captors. They couldn’t help but speak of what they’ve seen and heard.

This begs a lot of questions for western Christians who clearly struggle with telling others the story of Jesus, for somehow we can help it, at least more often than not. Why exactly is that the case? Of course, our schedules are busy, and some feel ill equipped; many of us are just scared or it simply doesn’t cross our minds. But what if the most important reason is, we simply have seen and heard so little of Jesus in our own lives, he has become inconsequential? He’s an occasional thought, or a tiny blip on the radar of our lives, but not enough to shape the stories we tell; we literally have nothing to say.

That can change, you know? Jesus is speaking; he is at work, you only have to listen and watch.

Insecurity and Uncertainty

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:18-20 (day five)

We tend to complicate things with our insecurity and uncertainty.  We then wrestle with questions and doubt.

The disciples were still processing all that had recently happened- Jesus’ trial, death, burial, resurrection. I’m sure there remained a thousand questions in their hearts and minds. Yet, they trusted and obeyed Jesus when He told them to go to Galilee. And once there, Jesus gives them one final exhortation. And what they did, we must do (even in the midst of insecurity and uncertainty)- they believed Him- at several levels. 1) His words were true. (He did have the authority to send them) 2)They could do what He had challenged them to do. (They were to make a global impact with the gospel) 3) He could and would do what He promised. (be with them every step of the way)

We have everything we need to trust and obey the great commission: the Holy Spirit, the scriptures, and our testimony. It’s time to trust and obey.

Not an Option

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:18-20 (day four)

“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.”
― J. Hudson Taylor

This is my favorite quote by my favorite missionary. Reading Hudson Taylor’s Biography changed the course of my life and motivated me to listen to the call of God which beckoned me to China. No one is qualified to be a missionary. I certainly was not. It was the boldness of other hero-believers such as Taylor that gave me the courage to “Go into all the world.” Obedience comes before understanding. I listened to my Savior, but I did not know how I would fulfill the Great Commission. All I knew how to do was “Go.” How do I teach them everything you commanded, or baptize them, or make disciples when I do not know their language or culture? Jesus only demands that we are willing to submit to His supreme authority and trust that He will never leave us to do the work alone. Believer, young and old, don’t be afraid of where God the Father calls you or what Jesus the Son commands you to do; JUST GO and TRUST His Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. Whatever you do, please do not ignore this command and say it is for someone else. If you do you are disobeying direct orders. There is no other reason we are left on this earth. Jesus is coming back soon! Let us be counted among the good and faithful! Ready. Set. Go!

Byron Pitts
Director of Community Missions & Evangelism

With

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:18-20 (day three)

“I am with you always.”

If a person sets out to speak to his neighbor according to a pre-conceived series of talking points with a pre-determined goal, chances are life with that neighbor will not grow very dear. That’s because people aren’t pre-fab slabs of protoplasm that respond predictably to meticulously applied stimuli. Revealing Christ to people requires less flow chart and more flow. Difficult questions, surprising twists, painful honesty, personal weakness—these all must remain on full display if you are to speak to someone about your own faith. That’s not good salesmanship. But Jesus is not a product. He’s the teacher of an eternal kind of life. And that’s why he says you will rely not on a set of principles, but on him. He never left you his notes, because he never left you at all.

Authority

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:18-20 (day two) 

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” 18b

Jesus was clear the authority was not given to the disciples. We are not sent of our will or choosing. God has called us, and we are to go. This is actually a great comfort to me. There is nothing about my persona or character that is going to win someone to Christ. My responsibility is to teach what I know. Not with authority, but rather a conviction that I know this Jesus, and I believe that others can know him too. Our relationship with Jesus is the basis for our testimony which will, but the moving of the Holy Spirit, help others form a new and greater understanding of who he is as well. Jesus, in the authority of heaven and earth has commanded us to go and tell his story.