Mara-Diana's blog

I wanted to pass along to everyone Mara-Diana Harden's blog. She is going on staff at Wofford college with Campus Outreach and is leading a room of girls at the Leadership Project. She just started her blog but has a few pictures from the summer up on her site. www.Maradiana.blogspot.com Check it out.

Colossians 1:28-29

“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”
This morning I studied Colossians 1:28-29 with Caleb, a student from Western at the LP this summer. It was a great time to connect with one another personally in the word and to share my vision for him next year as a senior at Western. It was a great time because I want this verse to embody who he is as well as our other student leaders at Western. Here Paul imparts his vision and motivation for ministry to the Colossian church. “Christ we proclaim, warning everyone, and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” There are three aspects to Paul’s ministry highlighted in this passage. Evangelism is proclaiming Christ. Warning is admonishing believers. Teaching is explaining to believers who God is and what the gospel is. These are the things Paul does in his ministry, but even more importantly is why he does these things. He proclaims, warns, and teaches so that he can present everyone mature in Christ. What does it mean to be mature in Christ? I think the essence of maturity for the believer is character. It is not just doing the right things, but it is doing what pleases and honors God because it gives the mature person joy to honor God. So the essence of maturity is not behavior modification but founded character. I think this is highlighted by Christ’s words “if you love me you will follow my commandments.”
I believe the evidence of maturity in a Christian is love. The more one grows in maturity the more they will move away from defensiveness and pride and embrace loving service to others. The mature person forsakes his life and moves into the lives of others to heal and encourage growth. This is a selfless and loving act that defines the mature believer. This is the motivation for ministry for Paul. He wants to produce people who are mature in Christ so that they can heal and develop others spiritually thus advancing the kingdom of Christ for his glory.
It is for this end that Paul toils. He labors. He works diligently to produce these results. But again it is not his strength that works in him, it is God’s strength. This passage is very challenging to me in my ministry. What is my motive in evangelism and discipleship? Where do I look for my strength to come in ministry?

Colossians 1:24-26

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.”


In these passages I really see a glimpse into Paul’s mindset in ministry. I love these three verses because they reveal so much to me about what perspective someone in Christian ministry should have about the responsibilities entrusted to him or her. Upon my initial read through the things that standout to me are the following. Paul, do your really rejoice in sufferings? How do your sufferings benefit others? What is the deal with Christ’s afflictions lacking? Are they insufficient? Immediately it is these questions that grab my attention here. The seemingly most problematic one is whether or not Christ’s sufferings are insufficient. It seems like such heresy to say that Christ is lacking in his afflictions. Was not the afflictions of the cross enough? Of course they were sufficient for salvation, instead the lacking is referring to the presentation of the afflictions. The people Paul shares with and teaches never saw Christ and the sufferings he endured at the hand of Pilate. But Paul, in his own body, suffers afflictions and these people see that, and it is a glimpse into the afflictions that Christ also endured for them. This is exactly why Paul says that he is able to rejoice in them “for your sake.” He rejoices because Christ is being made known to others through his own suffering. It seems to most that this is an odd reason for rejoicing, but it is here that I see Paul’s perspective on his life and ministry very clearly. He holds above his own life and comfort the spiritual growth and vitality of other people. This is the heart of the ministry of Christ because he too sacrificed himself for the spiritual vitality of the world. Paul is humble, putting others needs before his own comforts. I see him as passionately and responsibly fighting for the lives of others because Christ did the same for him. This is what makes him rejoice in his sufferings for others. This is very challenging to me. I ask myself, “Is my perspective anywhere near this?” “Do I value the spiritual growth of others as more worthy goal than my own comfort?”
As I look further into this passage this mindset of Paul seems to become more evident. In verse 25 he says about the church that he “became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word fully known.” He regards his ministry really as Christ’s ministry and himself as a steward of it. Further his perspective is that God gave him this responsibility. He did not chose it or ask for it. God gave it to him. This implies several things when it comes to my perspective on my ministry. If God gave it to me, and I did not chose it, then God believes in me. He believes that I can fulfill the responsibilities he gives me. This motivates me and encourages me to think that God thinks I can do it. It makes me want to embrace these responsibilities and fulfill my role of stewardship well.

Colossians 1:21-23

Alienation…Reconciliation.
This passage reminds me of how I was alienated from God. My thoughts were hateful to him and my actions were evil because of my inherent rejection of him in my thoughts and deeds. Therefore I and all people were alienated from God. This brings to my mind the passage…there is no one who is good, no one who seeks God, no one who understands, none.(Rom3:10) Further I picture the Bridge diagram and how my sinfulness has alienated me from God. Here there is no hope…only alienation…isolation…fear of death because life holds no hope. But in the midst of my alienation from God, Jesus did the most incredible thing ever. He suffered in his body and died with the purpose of presenting me before God as holy and blameless without accusation. Jesus deserves the glory for this act. This is why the crucifixion was such a tremendous event. It allowed me and all believers to be made holy in God’s eyes.
The Purpose of Reconciliation is Presentation
Since we were alienated from God we could never be before him in his presence. But the result of the reconciliation was a presentation of all believers into the presence of God as holy and blameless children without accusation. Since God is holy (sin cannot exist in his presence without being destroyed by his wrath) we had to be made holy in order to come before him in prayer and to know him personally. The cross required this. Romans 3:22-26. So now I have been presented fully before God in his presence holy.
Who will be presented before God holy?
v. 23 Those who hold to the faith they profess and do not become choked out by the weeds of the world. There are many who profess Christ for a season, but in the end forsake him…this reveals they were never presented holy before him because they were never in Christ. This is hard to understand and makes me marvel at God that he is God. It makes me grateful for my salvation and it humbles me because I do not want to leave Christ for the world. I want to hold onto my faith and the hope I have in the gospel.

pictures from the LP

Here are two pictures. One is Kevin with Josh and John two students from Western at the LP. Both of these pictures were taken after our sunday night prayer and praise meeting. In the other picture Cat is resting on Brittany, a student from Western.

Colossians 1:19-20

“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether in earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

The “for” in the beginning of verse 19 connects back to verse 18 and continues the argument for Christ’s preeminence. Christ is preeminent, for in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. Christ is superior because he is fully God. Many people belittle the deity of Christ or even nullify it to the point where Christ is merely a great moral teacher that shaped the religion of the world. Here I think of C.S. Lewis’ argument on the deity of Christ, that he is either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. Christ said he was God, so if he is not he is a liar, if he knew he wasn’t fully God. He was a lunatic if he thought he was God and was not. And he is the Lord of all creation if he was who he said he was, fully God. I love the word “pleased.” The fullness of God was pleased to dwell in Christ. It pleased the Trinitarian God to have all of his deity dwell in Christ, who was a man.
It pleased God to have his deity rest on Christ because it was through Christ that all creation was reconciled to himself. There is potential for the “all things in heaven and earth” to be misinterpreted here in this verse or just to be problematic. It doesn’t fit with the rest of scripture to interpret this to mean all things, literally every single thing is reconciled to God. How are the unregenerate reconciled to God? That would be an unjust thing for a just God. I believe the all things, “ten panten” in the greek refers not to every single thing and person, but is an all inclusive word referring to all parts of creation. The fall of man not only wrecked humanity but affected all of creation by causing disorder in all of creation. Then Christ’s death made reconciliation possible. Notice in verse 20 that “to reconcile” is an infinitive meaning that it is a statement of purpose. The purpose Christ came to earth and the reason it pleased God to have his deity rest in him was to reconcile all things to himself. It is a statement of purpose not action. In verse 22 he uses reconciled as an action when he says you have now been reconciled in Christ. Notice also that it is the blood of the cross that enables peace to be restored to all creation. Hebrews 9:22 says without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Blood was required and not just any blood, God’s blood. In biology we learn that the blood in our bodies is carried by the chromosomes in the semen of our fathers. The bloodline is literally paternal. But Christ had no earthly father. God the Holy Spirit conceived Christ in Mary. So literally the blood that was spilt on the cross was God’s blood and it made peace with creation.

Colossians 1:17

“And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

My friends Charlie and Jenn Brooks have this verse engraved in their wedding bands. I love the thought of how this applies to marriage. Christ is before our marriage and in him alone our marriage will hold together. But not just our marriage or the Brooks’ marriage, but all things are held together in Christ. What does this mean? I think the answer again goes back to verse 15 where Paul tells us that Christ is the heir over everything. He is he the ruler over nature and even spiritual realms. Since he is the heir who oversees all creation then it is easy to induce that all things are held together by his authority and good will. What is the application from this passage to my life? Again, it must be for me to draw into Christ’s presence and meditate on his Lordship of my life, personally, as well as all of creation. The passage invites me to submit to his rule. The passage invites us to submit our marriage and ourselves to his will because he alone will hold it together.

Colossians 1:16

This verse is a continuation of the thought pattern introduced in verse 15. Verse 16 begins with “For” which means the next phrase will be an argument to support the previous claim in verse 15 that Christ is the first born of creation or the heir of all creation. The argument to support that claim is Christ is God because; “all things were created by him…, all things were created through him, and [all things were created] for him.” This passage is about the supremacy of Christ in all things. It is about all things exist for his glory because he is supreme in all things, even more nothing would exist if it were not for Christ and everything exists for Christ because he is the King of the all creation, who deserves all because he subjected himself to death for the ungodly.
This passage parallels Romans 11:36 well. There it is said, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.” In these two passages in Colossians and Romans, there is a glimpse into Christ’s greatness. Often it is easy for me to just associate Christ with his atoning death on the cross and therefore think of him mostly as savior. But he is Savior and Lord. He is the sovereign heir over all things, all life, all existence, and over me. My being was created by him and is for him and his praise. Wow. This is an encouraging realization that Christ created me and therefore he deserves to be my Lord. He further deserves to be my Lord because he suffered on the cross for those who trust in him for their redemption. This challenges me to think of my life as less my own and more as his. This challenges me to submit my decisions, actions, thoughts, and desires for my life to his Lordship. Why? Because he created me and he created me with a purpose. This passage makes me want to continually evaluate my life in light of Christ’s lordship letting him be equally Lord and Savior.

I took this picture this morning and wanted to pass it along to everyone. The guy on the left is Shane Fast, who is on Staff with us at Wofford College, he is praying with Josh, one of our students from Western, before Josh has to go to work at Zaxby's.

Colossians 1:15

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

What does it mean that Christ is the image of the invisible God? Before Christ was incarnated, God himself had no image. God was beyond form but then with the incarnation Christ left his father’s throne above to take the form of man. (Phlippians 2:5-8) God had no form. The only mention of someone seeing the form of God in the Bible, other than in visions and dreams, was when Moses saw the form of God passing in the wilderness like a great cloud. Why? Because God is beyond form, but then Christ becomes man.
In this passage Paul, begins describing Christ’s deity. The reason Paul wrote a letter to the Colossians is that there was a theological debate over Gnosticism, which he wanted to refute. Gnosticism believed salvation came not just from Christ but a deeper spiritual knowledge. So here, Paul begins a discourse on Christ’s supremacy and preeminence to later set up that he alone is the one who reconciles us to God (verse 21). So the reason Paul writes that “he is the image of the invisible of God,” is to remind the Colossians that Christ is God.
I believe there could be a serious misinterpretation of this verse if one interprets it that Christ was begotten, or created by God before the world. This takes away from Christ’s deity to believe that he was born and seems out of context with verses 16-20, which describe his preeminence in creation. The greek word translated firstborn in this verse is “prototokos.” When I looked up its definition in the Greek-English lexicon, I found that it is used as a metaphor in this verse. So it is not to be taken literally, but as a metaphor to help us understand a principle. The principle to be understood here is that Christ is supreme and preeminent. That he is the one who holds all of creation together, verse 17. So the metaphor is that Christ was born before Creation, so then he is the heir of all creation. He holds the keys to the estate and oversees it, maintaining it. He is Lord and Sovereign. This is the principle that we are to withdraw from this passage. This makes me want to meditate today and the next few days as I study these passages on the Supremacy of Christ in all things. I want to meditate on his deity, Lordship, and sovereignty.

A glimpse into a typical week

We have now been at the LP in Myrtle Beach for two weeks. It has been a busy two weeks filled with meetings, becoming acquainted with new people, and building new relationships. Catherine and I wanted to give you a glimpse into our lives here and what we and our students do everyday. On Sundays we go to churches in the area. Today, we just retruned from Faith Presbyterian and it was a great service where the Pastor taught from the scripture about what our spiritual act of worship is as Christians. Sunday afternoons are free time, which Catherine and I capitalize on to connect personally with students, think for them and plan for conversations we need to have with students that will encourage them to grown in their faith. Sunday nights we have a prayer and praise time for all of our staff and students. This time is usually very relaxed, intimate, and worshipful. Monday we (the staff) attend a meeting from 9-1 about logistics of the project, planning for meetings and learning how to help students. Monday night we have a meeting with our students that is fun and focused on teaching from the Bible about our theme, which is "Present." Tuesday's we have staff training from 9-1, which feels very much like a class that we have to prepare for and be ready to discuss principles that we are trying to integrate into our ministry and our lives. Tuesday night we have discipleship groups with our students. In this time we evaluate what we are learning, discuss the book we are reading, discuss Colossians, ask questions, we hold one another accountable with sin, and pray together. Wednesday's our staff team is off, and this is our date day. Its one of our favorite days. Thursday's we have more staff training and in the evenings we teach Bible Study Training. I (Kevin) will be teaching Bible Study Training this Thursday, so much of this week will be spent in preparation. Friday mornings we have our staff discipleship groups where Catherine meets with three other women on staff and Kevin meets with three other men on staff to discuss how we are doing personally and pray for one another. Then Friday nights we have social's for our students. This is a planned event that is meant to foster relationships and connectivity among our students that we believe leads to deeper growth spiritually for them as they open themselves up to the influence of other believers in their life. Saturday morning is another off time for Catherine and I that we try to use to connect with one another before going to Evangelism training in the afternoon. In Evangelism training we teach our students tools to use when sharing their faith and then go with them to help them grow in confidence in boldness when sharing their faith. Following this time for evangelism we give our students saturday night off, which most students use this as a time to play and go out on group dates. This is our week in a nutshell, and all the other times are filled in with meeting with students one-on-one, personally helping them to learn how to study the bible, talking through personal issues, and planning. All in all, we have a very busy time during the summer here. I (Kevin) actually made it to the Beach to read for awhile on Friday afternoon, it was the first time I had been to the beach even though we live a block from it and have been here for two weeks...go figure. Please be in prayer for the student Catherine and I are personally mentoring/discipling this summer; Stu, Jeff, Dietch, Emily O, Emily P, and Anna. We hope to give you some more stories soon and continue to encourage you with our thoughts from Colossians chapter 1. May God be gracious to you all.

Colossians 1:11-12

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

This verse is a continuation of Paul’s prayer for the Colossian church. It is full of stuff. “May you be strengthened with all power.” What does this mean? Later in the verse it says “for all endurance and patience.” Paul desires that they endure with patience in their faith full of joy. This is something that requires the power of God working in someone’s life. Much of what following Christ is about requires patience and endurance. It is hard to commit my life everyday to saying no to my own sinful desires and welcoming Christ’s will for my life. Welcoming Christ’s will for my life sometimes requires me to embrace difficulties, give up dreams I once had, or in the words of Robert Frost “chose the path less taken.” The apostle Paul, said this “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I county everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” –Philippians 3:7-8
Christ himself is our joy, my joy. He is the joy that we have in enduring difficulties with patience. He is my joy in the times I must fight my against my own sinful desires that do not long to glory in him. He is my joy when I give up my dreams to submit to his will. Why? Because he is worthy. Christ is worthy giving up our lives to his Lordship, that is why I find joy in submission to his will. He is worth my life and more. But the strength to say no to all that tempts me from not submitting to his Lordship must come from God. Only the Christian who has been sealed with the Holy Spirit can submit himself to God. In Romans chapter 8, Paul says, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law, indeed, it cannot.”
This joy that comes to us is why verse 12 says, “giving thanks to the Father.” There is thanking to be given to God because he gave the strength to endure which results in our joy. This in turn makes me thankful to God. I thank God for the strength to overcome temptation because it fills me with joy. Furthermore, the best reason to give thanks to the Father is that he has given us himself by qualifying us to share in the inheritance of all the saints. This is the greatest gift of the gospel…God. He is our greatest gift, the gift that gives joy, quenches the parched soul, brings purpose, peace, and assurance. We could never have any of these in fullness because we were alienated from God because of our sin, but God has now reconciled us to himself. This is the greatest reason to give thanks to God. This is also the greatest reason why he is worthy of our submission to his Lordship.

Colossians 1:9-10

It seems like Paul and Timothy are picking up their train of thought where they left off in verse 1, when they wrote, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since the day we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints.” Now in verse 9, it continues again about what they pray for the Colossian Church. There are four observations to be made about their prayers for the Colossians Church.
The first is that they pray continually, “We have not ceased to pray for you.” Immediately this example from their lives convicts me. How many things do I pray for everyday and I am committed to praying for everyday. This reminds me of the men in Sig Ep and KA that I am praying for everyday. O’God, would you move in Kiser, Flo, Helwig, JK, and Yetti’s life in such a way that they would take you seriously as a God not to be trifled with and who is worthy of following. I pray that they would trust you with their lives enough to give up their lifestyle of sex, beer, and parties to enjoy you and glory in you. God, only you can change a man’s heart, please draw them near to you.
The second observation is that they pray for the Colossians to understand God’s will. Why? There is a connection in verse 10, “so as to…”, that points to the answer. “So as to walk in a manner worthy to the Lord…bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” So Paul and Timothy pray that they would understand God’s will so that they would walk in holiness because Christ is Holy. They pray they would know God’s will because that will result in bearing spiritual fruit. They pray they would know God’s will because that will lend to a deeper knowledge of God personally.
What does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him? God is a holy God. All throughout the Old Testament, we see the Holy one of Israel, or holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts. Then in 1 Peter 1:16 we are told to be Holy as he is Holy. Therefore to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord is to pursue holiness. What areas of my life do I need to pursue more holiness. Remember that it is God’s will that I be sanctified, made more holy. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
I have come to experience when I am bearing fruit spiritually is when I clearly see God’s will and am following it. This verse confirms the connection to us bearing fruit when following God’s will. I have seen this in knowing that it was God’s will for us to go work at Western with Campus Outreach and following through with his purpose for us he allowed us to bear fruit. The fruit was providing the house, deepening in our marriage, growing in boldness and courage to share the gospel, and seeing God work in the lives of students at Western

Colossians 1:5b-8

There are a couple of points in this passage that stuck out to me when studying it. The first is that the gospel is growing and bearing fruit throughout the world (verse 6). It was true then that the gospel was not just growing among the Colossians but the whole world and it is true today as well. The gospel is still growing and bearing fruit. Everyday hundreds of people become Christians in China. This is also the case in Iran, which has one of the fastest growing Christians populations. I tend to think of the gospel and how it is relating to my life, my geographical region, my campus at Western. But the gospel is so much bigger and throughout the world God is bringing people to himself daily. God is a global God who has a global mission and this was being evidenced both then and today.
The second point that is important in this passage and can be applied to us today is also in verse 6. “Since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.” There is a distinction between hearing and understanding. A Christian is one who has not just heard the gospel, but who understands it and the understanding changes the Christians’ life. This principal is highlighted in verse 7 when Paul and Timothy say, “just as you learned from Epaphras.” The Colossians had to be taught the gospel from Epaphras. Teaching is explaining until people understand the subject or until it is grasped by one’s mind.
The last point I studied in this passage is what it means to be a faithful minister of Christ. In verse 7 Paul and Timothy refer to Epaphras as a faithful minister of Christ. What are the characteristics of a faithful minister of Christ and who is a faithful minister of Christ? Is a minister of Christ pastors, teachers in the church, deacons, and missionaries or are lay people also ministers of Christ? God is a mission minded God, who invites us to participate in his mission and purposes of redeeming the world. Therefore, one who is a minister of Christ is anyone who associates with him because to know him as your Savior is to receive an invitation to minister alongside him in completing his work of salvation. But what does it mean to be a faithful minister of Christ? It is one who understands God’s purpose for his or her own life. It is one who places the responsibility of fulfilling the mission above his or her own life. This reminds me of Jim Elliot and Nate Saint, how they where faithful ministers of Christ. A faithful minister is a Servant Leader, following Christ’s example of servant hood, (Philippians 2). It requires love. It requires a passionate love for God to endure sufferings and pain. It requires an unselfish love for others that allows one to sacrifice his or her own time and agenda for the maturing of others in Christ. It requires diligence, patience, faith, trust, study, and grace.

Colossians 1:3-5a

The fact that Paul and Timothy have never been to Colossae and did not plant the church there but still hear of their faith and love is a testimony to how living out our lives in Christ is a witness to others. I want this to apply to me. I want people who have never met me to have heard about my faith in Christ and my love for people. Furthermore, I want students at Western to know the leaders in our ministry have a deep faith in Christ and love for others. I want the churches that I am involved in to be such a beacon for God that people who have never been inside will still have heard of the church’s deep faith in Christ and love for other people. O’ God if we as a ministry, a church, and I as an individual could be characterized and known for my faith and love in you like this.
The word here for love in Greek is “agape.” This is a self-sacrificing love. It is a love that is used to describe God’s love for us and it is set apart from brotherly love, and romantic love. Do I love others enough to sacrifice my time and my agenda to serve them? What does this require? It requires loving others more than me. It requires seeking opportunities to serve and help others before pushing my agenda.
This type of love and faith is rooted in a hope for heaven. I believe for their faith and love to be heard by Paul it had to be very distinguishable from that displayed by the lives of other people. The Colossians had their hope set in heaven. They longed for it. Why? Not many people long for heaven today, what made them long for it and hope in it? It must be a deep longing and love for Christ. This is the gift of heaven, in it we have an intimate unhindered relationship with God that will thrill us. But to those who do not love or trust in Christ this is no gift. This is boring, dull, this is no heaven. Heaven is full of fun things to do, all the best food, health, peace, beauty. But really, these things would be no heaven at all if Christ was not participating in them. So then there is the view of heaven rooted in humanism (happiness of humanity is the goal) and the view of heaven rooted in Christ (glory of God is the goal). The Colossians’ view of heaven was rooted in Christ and it changed the way they trusted him and loved others. It was refreshingly different and Paul knew it. Paul was grateful for God because of it.
J.C. Ryle preached a sermon from Colossians 3:11 titled “Christ Is All.” In it he spoke of how Christ is the supreme pleasure of heaven and lamented about many people’s misunderstanding of heaven. This quote from that sermon reminds me of this passage.
“But alas, how little fit for heaven are many who talk of ‘going to heaven’ when they die, while they manifestly have no saving faith, and no real acquaintance with Christ. You give Christ no honor here. You have no communion with Him. You do not love Him. Alas! What could you do in heaven? It would be no place for you. Its joys would be no joys for you. Its happiness would be a happiness into which you could not enter. Its employments would be a weariness and burden to your heart.”

The Colossians hoped in heaven because they loved Christ and had a real communion with him on earth. They longed and hoped for the deeper communion they would have with Christ in heaven. What is our view of Heaven? Do we treasure Christ as the Colossians? Trusting him and loving others?
John Piper in his book “God is the Gospel” asks this question of us,
“The critical question for our generation…is this: If you could have heaven , with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and not human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?” pg.15

Colossians 1:1-2

Colossians 1:1-2
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”

These two verses are the greeting from Paul to the church at Colossae. According to the Matthew Henry Commentary, this epistle was probably written in A.D. 62 around the same time as Philippians and Ephesians, while Paul was a prisoner in Rome. Paul had actually never met the believers in Colossae because the church was started there by Epaphroditus, but he was deeply concerned for them because their faith was an example to the other churches in Eurasia.
Notice in the greeting Paul identifies himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. Paul would never have chose to become an apostle, but Christ met him on the road to Damascus and changed his life forever. It was Christ’s will that Paul would become his apostle. Now Paul’s identity is one of an apostle of Jesus Christ. He was an apostle in 2 senses. The broader sense that we Christians are also apostles, someone who believes strongly in Christ and seeks to share him with others. Paul also was an apostle in an more specific sense, as one given authority personally by Christ to establish his church. The second sense of the word is specific to him and the other apostles. The first sense, however, is an identity that we too share with Paul.
It is this sense of an apostle of Christ that I want to apply to my life and my identity. What is my identity in Christ? Is it correctly governed by his will for my life?
Do I see myself as an apostle in the broader sense of the definition? What are characteristics of an apostolic lifestyle:
Vision
A desire to serve others…a servant leader
A willingness to suffer or sacrifice (Phil 3:1-10)
A desire to share Christ with others, verbally and through my lifestyle
A student of scripture
Rejoicing and exulting in Christ above all
Initiator
Moving forward, not being stagnant
Taking risks.
Trusting in God
Boldness
Courage

As you and I think for our lives do we possess these qualities of an apostolic leader?
Sinclair Furgeson, describe apostolic leaders as people who are: “missional…visionary…entrepreneurial…work in teams…culturally relevant.” He goes on to say that this is the type of leader that the church today needs the most. Let’s pray for our own lives to be characterized by this type of leadership.

The Deal Family

Please pray for our friends and members of our support team (The Deal Family) who are traveling to Sudan in the month of June on a Medical Missions trip.

The Aquarius

This is a picture of the Aquarius. It's the hotel in Mytrle Beach where the LP is being held this summer. This hotel is the home to our staff and 40 of our students all summer. Our students arrived on Wednesday, June 7, and they begin their first day of work on Monday, June 12. We have already had several meetings with the students and our first day of evangelism training was on Saturday. There will be many more stories to come and Catherine and I are excited about telling them to you.

Bible Study for the Summer

Catherine and I wanted to give you the verses we will be studying during most of June and some of July from Colossians. We would love it for you to study along with us and all of our students at the Leadership Project this summer. You can study/memorize/pray and read through the verse each day and we will post our thoughts from the passage on this site. This will allow you to get a glimpse deeper into our lives here and what we are learning from the word. We are very excited about this because we can grow together by studying the bible together. If you would like to join us in studying the scriptures, here is our study schedule for the first 3 weeks of the summer.

June 12th Colossians 1:1-2,
June 13th v.3-5a,
14th v.5b-8,
15th v.3-8,
16th v.9-10,
17th* v.11-12,
18th review day,
19th v.13-14,
20th v.15,
21st v.16,
22nd v.17,
23rd v.18,
24th* v.19,20,
25th review day,
26th v.21-23,
27th v.24,
28th v.25-26,
29th v.27,
30th* v.28-29,
July 1st review day,
July 2nd chapter summary.

At the bottom of every posting we make, you can add your own thoughts and comments by clicking on the blue "comments" link. This would be a great place click on the "comments" link when we post our thoughts from the verses, so you can also give your input for us to read on the passages. Or you can email us your thoughts and questions from those verses. We hope you are all doing well and you all are in our thoughts and prayers.

1 Day Before We Leave

In one day we leave for the LP at Myrtle Beach for the rest of June, July, and the first week of August. We are excited about the summer but we know that it will be a challenging summer. We wanted to take a day off and enjoy time with one another before we left so yesterday we went on a short hike and swim in the mountains. Devin, a student at Western, is the guy to ask for advice on where to hike or swim in the mountains. His suggestion was Turtle Back Falls and Rainbow Falls in Sapphire, NC. The picture to the left is Kevin standing in the river on top of Turtle Back Falls. You can actually sit down and slide off the falls into the pool below. Once in the pool below you can swim under the falling water and sit or stand on an underwater ledge. You can see Kevin pictured under the falls sitting on the ledge in the picture above.