by Steve McCranie | Jan 23, 2019
As the Christmas season is winding down, it would be appropriate for us to look at the greatest gift we have ever received from the greatest Person we have ever known— our Lord, and to give Him praise for that wondrous gift. And for me, I find that gift revealed to me in Colossians.
Let’s look at this gift together.
No Longer Alienated and Enemies of the Lord
The Scriptures say that I, and all who are called by His name, are no longer “alienated and enemies” of the Lord. Look at this marvelous gift found in Colossians 1:21-22:
And you (your name), who once were (past tense) alienated (apallotrióō – to estrange, alienate entirely) and enemies (echthrós – hatred, hostility, enmity) in your mind by (what) wicked works, yet now (present tense) He (Christ’s actions) has reconciled (apokatallássō – the restoration of a relationship of peace which has been disturbed) in the body of His flesh (how) through death, (why) to present (paristánō – to cause to stand near or before) you (your name) holy (hágios – set apart, sanctified, consecrated, a saint), and blameless (ámōmos – unblameable, without spot or blemish) and above reproach (anégklētos –unreproveable, not merely unaccusable but unaccused, free from any legal charge) in His sight (presence, before His face).
But there is more. He keeps us from stumbling and presents us faultless before His glory. Amazing. Read it yourself in Jude 1:24.
Now to Him (Christ) who is able to keep you (your name) from stumbling (áptaistos – falling), and to present you (your name) faultless (where) before the presence of His glory (how) with exceeding joy (agallíasis – extreme exultation, exuberant joy),
And how do we respond to this incredible gift? Read the next verse.
To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
I pray you will begin the next year with the same praise and passion for your Lord that you ended the last one. And you can do that by realizing what a great God we serve and what a great gift He has given us in His Son. Will you join with me in exalting His Name? Then keep listening.
The following is a study on realizing our great blessings found in Colossians 1:21-22 and Jude 1:24-25.
To download the slides to this message, click – HERE
Download this episode (right click and save)
by Steve McCranie | Apr 24, 2016
In closing his letter to the church at Colossae, Paul said the following to one of his “fellow laborers” in the faith, a man named Archippus.
Colossians 4:17 – And say to (who) Archippus, “Take heed (or, consider, discern, to see with the eye, to watch carefully) to the ministry (or, service) which you have received (how) in the Lord, (why) that you may fulfill (or, to render full, to complete, to bring to effect) it.”
Archippus probably struggled, much like Timothy, with insecurity, timidity, and a lack of boldness. Paul reminded him that his ministry was from the Lord and his calling and purpose in life was to fulfill what God had created him to do. And nothing more.
Do you ever struggle with the same thing? Do you ever wonder why you have such a hard time getting beyond your past and present failures? Do you sometimes feel God had a plan for your life but now, because of your disobedience, He has passed on by never wanting to use you again? If it was possible to move beyond that crippling thought, would you be interested in finding out how?
If so, then keep listening.
The following is a study on Colossians 4:16-18.
To download the slides for this message, click – HERE
Download this episode (right click and save)
by Steve McCranie | Apr 11, 2016
In the closing verses of Colossians we are introduced to a list of names, a list of those beloved and commended by Paul. And in the midst of those names we find Mark, Luke, and a guy named Demas. We can basically summarize their lives this way:
Mark – started out weak but finished strong.
Luke – was always growing in his commitment to Christ and others.
Demas – started out strong and finished… horrible!
And if you have ears to hear, you can find your spiritual life embedded in the lives of these three men.
Are you interested? Maybe intrigued? Then keep listening.
The following is a study on Colossians 4:7-18 and 2 Timothy 4:9-11.
To download the slides for this message, click – HERE
Download this episode (right click and save)
by Steve McCranie | Apr 4, 2016
Twice in the Proverbs we find the following warning:
A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished – Proverbs 22:3.
And again,
A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished – Proverbs 27:12.
But what does this mean? And does this warning still apply to us today? Absolutely— and even more so than when it was written so many thousands of years ago. In fact, it’s a vital warning to the church today.
Want to know more? Then keep listening.
The following is a study on 2 Timothy 4:1-4.
To download the slides for this message, click – HERE
Download this episode (right click and save)
by Steve McCranie | Mar 27, 2016
There is a passage in the letter to Philemon that sums up the entire Easter, or Resurrection Day message. It tells the timeless story of Christ in a letter from Paul (representing Christ), sent to Philemon (representing God the Father) who was the one wronged, about Onesimus (representing you and me) the guilty, runaway slave, that Paul calls his son in the faith,”that is, my own heart” (Philemon 10).
If then you count me as a partner (or, companion, partaker, comrade, one who shares in everything), (then) receive him (how) as you would me. But if he has wronged you (or, hurt, damaged, injured, to act unjustly or wickedly, to sin against) or (what) owes anything, (then) put that (or, reckon) on my account – Philemon 17-18.
What a wonderful Resurrection story found in Philemon. Do you want to know more? Then keep listening.
The following is a study on Colossians 4:7-9 and the letter to Philemon.
To download the slides for this message, click – HERE
Download this episode (right click and save)
Page 1 of 612345...»Last »
