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Coney Hill Baptist Church

Demonstrating God’s Love Together

6th July 2008

 

Being a Jesus Church:

What it’s all About …

Colossians 1:15-23 

Intro:

Some Christians in America, people like Tony Campolo and Jim Wallis, have recently announced that they’re not too happy anymore to be labeled as ‘evangelicals’.  They prefer the term, ‘red-letter’ Christians!.  Focusing on the words of Jesus (printed in red in some versions of the Bible)  and interpreting everything else through them.

In this letter, the criticisms came that the Colossian’s new found faith was either too simplistic (requiring more Gnostic complexity), or too trivial (needing more Jewish regulation and seriousness).  The idea that believing in, trusting in, living like Jesus was all that was necessary was as controversial then as it is now.  Being a Jesus person, a Jesus Church, is as radical and exciting calling as it has ever been. 

 

All of God (15a, 19)

Because God affirms that everything significant about Him is present in Christ.  To the seeker after the divine, Jesus is the answer.

 

All of Creation (15b-17)

Because Christ is engaged in all of the world around us, and has been from then beginning. To those concerned about our planet and the future of the world, Jesus is the answer.

 

All of the Church (18)

Because Christ’s passion is to lead a group of people into all that life has to offer.  To those who want to know how to live together, in family and community, Jesus is the answer.

 

All of Human Need (20-22)

Because the work of Christ was all about healing, forgiveness, restoration and renewal.  To those who struggle with themselves, with difficult circumstances and all the guilt that surrounds it, Jesus is the answer.

 

Conc:

At the heart of the Roman empire a young Christian, called Tele Maccus, from what we would now call Turkey, made a stand.  On 4th January 404, in the coliseum, Rome, during the gladiatorial games he stood up and cried, ‘In the name of Jesus, Stop!’.  He was ignored, then ridiculed, then shouted down, then killed… before the crowds filed quietly out.  Within days the Emperor had banned all such games.

The power of Jesus to make a difference, through those who dare to trust him, remains undimmed.

Office Address:

Coney Hill Road 

West Wickham 

Kent 

BR4 9BU