Colossians 1:24-2:5
Excellence in Ministry SCRIPTURE: Colossians 1:24-2:5 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: Excellence has been one of the buzz words of corporate America over the past decade. Tom Peters wrote several bestselling books, including In Search of Excellence and A Passion for Excellence, which focused on the need for excellence in business, in industry, in education, and in government. I would like to speak today to the need for excellence in ministry, and I’m not talking just about professional ministry, though our text for today speaks volumes…
Colossians 2:6-10
Lordship Living SCRIPTURE: Colossians 2:6-10 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: In 1988 Dr. John MacArthur, evangelical pastor of a mega-church in southern California, wrote a book entitled The Gospel According to Jesus. In this extremely provocative treatise MacArthur argues that many fundamentalists and evangelicals have twisted the Good News of salvation by faith into an easy-believism. They have taken salvation too lightly by ignoring the warnings of Jesus that the cost of discipleship is high, the way is narrow so that few find it, and…
Colossians 2:9-15
What Do You Have If You Have Jesus? SCRIPTURE: Colossians 2:9-15 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: If I had my choice to listen to any preacher anywhere, I wouldn’t choose Billy Graham, Chuck Swindoll, Charles Stanley, or even Stewart Briscoe, as great as those communicators are—I’d take Dr. E. V. Hill. Dr. Hill is from Los Angeles, the pastor of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a preacher’s preacher, combining the best of black revivalism with good sound theology and…
Colossians 2:16-23
Religious Answers that Don’t Work SCRIPTURE: Colossians 2:16-23 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: Few would deny that preoccupation with the world, its values, its priorities, and its possessions is a major hindrance to the growth of many Christians today. What we don’t always realize is that there are two diametrically opposed ways in which this preoccupation manifests itself. Christians may become preoccupied with this world by indulging in its activities and priorities, which destroy spiritual insight and growth. But Christians may also become…
Colossians 3:1-11
The Well-dressed Christian, Part 1: Cleaning out the Closet SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:1-11 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: Almost nobody doesn’t like new clothes. When you talk about a new wardrobe some people veritably salivate, and indications are this is not just a twentieth century phenomenon. Two thousand years ago the Apostle Paul appealed to the Colossians’ interest in clothes when he wrote the passage before us this morning. It seems to me that he is in essence saying that to be a well-dressed Christian, the…
Colossians 3:12-17
The Well-Dressed Christian, Part 2: Choosing an Appropriate Outfit SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:12-17 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: Last Wednesday I took three bags of clothes down to the World Impact Thrift Store—a start at spring cleaning. It was hard to part with some of those things, but I felt good as I drove away because those clothes weren’t doing us any good—just taking up space. I also gave some attention this week to getting rid of some garments that were cluttering up my spiritual closet. That…
Colossians 3:18-21
Renewing Our Passion for Family SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:18-21 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: Our brief but profound text for today is found in Colossians 3:18-21: Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. Bible scholar Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones has stated, “The failure to understand and implement…
Colossians 3:22-4:1; Ephesians 6:5-9; I Peter 2:13-23
“Work” Is Not a Four-Letter Word SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:22-4:1; Ephesians 6:5-9; I Peter 2:13-23 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: I have often heard it said that there are two God-ordained institutions in the pages of Scripture—the church and the home. Then last week I read an article that stated, “God has established three basic institutions: the home, the church, and government.” I believe both views are wrong. As I read the Bible, there are actually four God-ordained institutions. And what is the fourth? Not Bible Study Fellowship or the Republican Party or…
Colossians 4:2-6
Right Angle Christianity SCRIPTURE: Colossians 4:2-6 SPEAKER: Brad Harper Introduction: In their admonitions concerning how believers should live, many biblical writers are fond of using what might be called a “right angle” image. They emphasize a balance between a vertical relationship (with God), and a horizontal relationship (with the world in which we live). Several general patterns emerge from this image. For example, a relationship with God is the necessary foundation for right relationships with people. Or, the other side of…
Colossians 4:7-18
The Friendship Factor SCRIPTURE: Colossians 4:7-18 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: We have been involved for the past three months in a study of the NT book of Colossians. I entitled the series, “Christ is the Answer,” because no book in the Bible focuses as much attention on the person and work of Jesus Christ as this book. To review briefly, it tells us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the first-born over all creation. By Him all things were created…
Matthew 1:1-17
Son of Man, Son of God (Or, Termites in the Family Tree Introduction: We are launching a new series of sermons this morning from the Book of Matthew, the first book in the NT and one of four that are called “Gospels.” Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all share a common theme–the good news of salvation through the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth. They all have much in common, but they are also very different, for each of these disciples…
Matthew 1:18-25
The Forgotten Father: Joseph’s Journey of Faith Introduction: I want to thank you for the many cards and expressions of kindness and love we have received over the past ten days since my father died. The funeral service was a bitter/sweet experience–so many tears and so much joy. He was a remarkable man and we will miss him dearly. I want to publicly thank three of my colleagues–Tom Kluge, Wink Nolte, and Phil Thengvall–for making the long drive to Arkansas to attend the funeral. And…