Colossians 12 JulyThankfulness1: JulyThe person and work of Christ1: JulyWork as a servant1:24-2:5 2 AugFullness of life in Christ2: AugDying and living with Christ2:20-3:4 16 AugThe old life and the new3: AugPersonal relationships3:18-4:5 30 AugChristian encouragement4:7-18

Love with all your heart How this can go wrong Love has to be put into practice – Our love gives rise to good, loving habits Healthy: spiritual intent giving rise to a habit, the habit becomes a rule and the intent is what we set our hearts on. Beware: holding onto rules of thumb more than spiritual principles. Beware: thin end of the wedge arguments

Matthew 15 1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" 3 Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, 'Honour your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' 5 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' 6 he is not to 'honour his father' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 "'These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"

2:20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 2:22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 2:23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians: Dying & living with Christ Die with Christ to rules (which lead to death anyway) Set heart on things above Thank God for his written Word to us

Luke 7 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out-- the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. Die with Christ to rules (which lead to death anyway) Set heart on things above

Jesus said … Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt 6:21) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matt 22:37) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matt 5:8) Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (John 14:1) Die with Christ to rules (which lead to death anyway) Set heart on things above