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.
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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.
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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.
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by Steve McCranie | Mar 22, 2016
In our church culture the mantra is bigger is better. Bigger churches, bigger congregations, bigger likes on Facebook, bigger budgets, bigger, bigger, bigger. But there are some in the Kingdom of God who are faithful with small, but vital things. These are the saints that labor behind the limelight, in the shadows, as unsung heroes, doing what a faithful servant does..
And one of those great saints is a man named Tychicus.
We find his name mentioned in only five places in the New Testament. But oh, what we can learn from this great man of God.
The following is a study on Colossians 4:7-9.
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by Steve McCranie | Mar 15, 2016
One of the most convicting statements about prayer is found in the last chapter of Colossians. Here the Lord, in Colossians 4:2, says:
Continue (or, to persevere and not faint, to endure, to wait or tarry, to be in constant readiness) earnestly (or, to adhere to one, to be devoted to one, to be steadfastly attentive) in prayer, (how) being vigilant (or, to arise, arouse, to watch, to refrain from sleep, to remain fully awake) in it (in prayer) with thanksgiving (or, thankfulness, gratefulness, profound gratitude).
Which raises a few questions:
How is your prayer life? Do you continue earnestly in prayer? Are you devoted to prayer? Vigilant in prayer? Does your prayer life show you are “redeeming the time” given you by the Lord? Or does it show just the opposite? And, if so, what are you prepared to do about it?
Want to know more? Then keep listening.
The following is a study on Colossians 4:2-6.
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by Steve McCranie | Mar 6, 2016
In Colossians 3 we find the hands-on practical teaching of Paul that hits us right where it hurts: in our job, our profession, and in our sense of value and self-worth. No area of our life is more open to hurt and confusion for a man that what he does for a living. In fact, most men identify themselves by their jobs and not by their families or heritage or faith.
Colossians 3:22 reads:
Bondservants (doulos – a slave, one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, his will being altogether consumed in the will of the other), obey (or, to listen, to be obedient, to submit, to conform) in (what) all things (who) your masters (defined as) according to the flesh, (in what way) not with eyeservice (or, service performed only under the master’s eyes, for appearance sake), as men-pleasers, but in sincerity (or, singleness, faithfulness, purity) of heart, fearing (or, being terrified or frightened) God.
Intrigued? Want to find out more? Then keep listening.
The following is a study on Colossians 3:22-4:1.
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