New Hope Church Messages

Are you a Christian who wants to be used by God when it comes to leading outsiders into the Kingdom of Heaven? In this message we take a look at how Paul instructed the believers in Colossae to engage with those outside the church. The instructions are timeless. Every believer today would do well to take Paul's words to heart. 

Most Christians are not called by God to travel to distant lands to bring the gospel to people who have yet to hear it. But that doesn't mean they aren't called to bring the gospel to people. Because they are! You don't need to hop on a plane to go and share the Good News about Jesus with someone. You can find people in your own backyard who need to hear the message that can save their lives. 

In the opening of his letter to the Colossians Paul shared with them how he had been praying for them. Now, as the letter begins drawing to a close, Paul asks them to return the favor - he asks his brothers and sister in the church at Colossae if they would pray for him. Specifically, he asks them to pray for God's intervention in Paul's evangelistic efforts.

Prayer is one of the most important spiritual disciplines in a Christian's life. And yet so many of us go through seasons where we neglect praying. As the Apostle Paul nears the end of his letter to the church in Colossae, he calls them to prioritize this all-important practice. He calls them (and us!) to give ourselves to prayer. 

In his letter to the believers at Colossae, the apostle Paul addressed the various relationships that existed in the home. He spoke to husbands and wives. He spoke to fathers and children. And then he spoke to masters and slaves. When we read Paul's words to masters and slaves he doesn't seem to take issue with the institution of slavery that was widespread across the Roman empire in his day. Was Paul pro-slavery? Was he against it? Was he indifferent to it? We unpack those questions and more in this message. 

The Apostle Paul continues his letter to the Colossians by addressing the relationships in families. Paul calls the believing fathers and children to live in God's design for the family, a design that reflects how we relate to God and sees the family as a gospel picture.

The Apostle Paul now turns his attention to the foundational relationships in a believer's life - the relationships we experience in the home. And he starts by addressing those who are married. He gives one sentence to wives and one to husbands. Just a few short words, but they will produce a life changing impact upon any marriage if husbands and wives take them to heart.

We used to be clothed with certain attitudes in our old life. But now that we are Christians, we are to put on a brand new way to live... we are to put on Christ. And every one in the church is supposed to be wearing the same thing.

We've been saved by Jesus from out of our old, dead life. And He's saved us into a brand new life with Him. That means that we have to leave our old ways behind us and we begin to learn how to live as His people now. In this message we will look at some of the old practices in our life that have to go if we are now children of God. 

On the first Easter weekend 2000 years ago, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion. The implications of His resurrection are intended to shape the way Christians live their lives today. 

When someone places their faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ - they die. Jesus' death becomes their death. And that death they experience should impact the way they live. 

Occult spiritual practices are nothing new. False teachers attempted to sway the church at Colossae into believing that if a person didn't have these kinds of spiritual experiences then that person didn't truly know God. Paul makes quick work of this false teaching by showing the Colossians that the only spirituality that matters is the one that is connected to Jesus. 

False teachers were telling the Christians at Colossae they had to obey commands in the Old Testament Law in order to be saved. Paul tells the Colossians they have no obligation to uphold the Old Testament Law now that they are in Christ. Why did Paul say that? Because the Law was the shadow that pointed ahead to Jesus. 

The Apostle Paul warns the Colossians not to be taken captive by the empty deceit and philosophies peddled by false teachers. He reminds the Colossians of the work Jesus did on the cross and the new life that is found in Christ. We were buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God. Jesus is the fullness of God and we have His fullness filling us.

Gratitude is one of the best defenses against false teaching. In this message we learn about the ingredients that make gratitude such a powerful weapon in the Christian life. 

The Apostle Paul is aware of the false teaching that is trying to infiltrate the church at Colossae. But instead of getting the Colossians to fixate on the false teaching, Paul calls them to focus on moving forward, continuing to grow their faith in Jesus. Because the stronger one’s faith in Christ is, the harder it will be for false teaching to draw them away from following their Lord.

The Church at Colossae was spiritually healthy. They were doing well. But that didn’t stop the apostle Paul from writing to them about Jesus. Because everybody needs Jesus – both the spiritually sick, and the spiritually healthy.

Every Christian today has Christ living in them – an incalculable treasure of understanding, knowledge, and wisdom. But not every Christian accesses that treasure within them on a regular basis. In this message we will learn that courageous and unified hearts are the key to opening those riches in Christ. 

Your Heavenly Father is a good dad. And just like any other parent would, God wants His kids to grow up into maturity.

Although the specific details of each Christian's life will vary from one person to another, the main components of every Christian's life are the same: We all started out alienated from God, Jesus saved us, and then we go on to build the rest of our life upon Him. This is what Paul shares with the Christians at Colossae in the three verses we are looking at in this message.