1. COLOSSIANS 1:1-14 “A long time ago on the other side of the world lived a businessman with his family in the town of Colossae…”

2. Three parts 1. Who Was Paul and What Was His Message? 1:1-2, 12-14 2. Why Was There Reason To Be Thankful? 1:3-8 3. How Do You Live a Life Worthy of The Lord? 1:9-12

3. 1. Who was Paul and what was his message? (1:1-2) “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace and peace to your from God our Father.”

4. Anne of Green Gables

5. 1. Who was Paul and what was his message? (1:12b-14) “….(God) has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

6. Oliver Twist

7. 2. Why was there reason to be thankful? 1:3 – We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … 1:12 –…giving thanks to the Father… 2:7 – …overflowing with thankfulness. 3:15 – And be thankful 4: 2 – …being watchful and thankful

8. Romans 1:21 “…they neither glorified Him(God) as God nor gave thanks to Him…”

9. Training for Life & Ministry- foundation module Introduction to the Bible: Seeing God’s Big Picture Starts Monday 12 th March 7pm 10 sessions $50 (students), $85 (full-time workers)

10. 2. Why was there reason to be thankful? (1:3-6a) “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints – the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you.”

11. 2. Why was there reason to be thankful? (1:6b) “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.”

12. 3. How do you live a life worthy of the Lord? (1:9-10a) “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way…”

13. 3. How do you live a life worthy of the Lord? (1:10-12) And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

14. How Do You Live a Life Worthy Of The Lord? The four tests: Are you bearing fruit in every good work? Are you growing in the knowledge of God? Are you being strengthened by God so that you are increasing in endurance and patience in times of trials and hardship? Do you joyfully give thanks to the Father daily?