Watch the video above for the full-length sermon (coming soon).

The secret to following Jesus is not to try hard to keep all the rules or expectations, but to live in deep connection with Jesus himself.

Key Points:

  1. Following Jesus is not about meeting the expectations of others. Colossians 2:16-19
  2. Following Jesus is not about keeping religious rules. Colossians 2:20-23
  3. Following Jesus is about cultivating a deep connection with God. Colossians 2:11-13

Featured Text:

Colossians 2:6-7 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.  Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

See Also: Legalism, Maturity

Downloads (English):
Handout (pdf)
Basic Slides (zip)
Manuscript Slides (zip)
DESCARGAS (Español):
Guía (pdf)
Diapositivas (zip)
Response Song:
pursuegodnetwork.org/thank-you-jesus/

SERMON RESOURCES

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Sermonlink Topic:

Keeping Christ in the Christian Life

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Small Group Questions
  1. What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Read Colossians 2:16-19. Identify the behavioral expectations the Colossian Christians were being condemned about. According to these verses, what is wrong with that approach?
  3. Make two lists. First, list some biblical expectations for the Christian life. Second, list some non-biblical expectations that are often associated with the Christian life. What do you learn from this comparison?
  4. Why do you think some religious people like to create behavioral expectations for others?
  5. Read Colossians 2:20-23. Why does keeping the rules seem like a wise approach to following Christ?  According to these verses, what is actually wrong with that approach?
  6. Read Colossians 2:6-7. What do you think it means to “let your roots grow down into Christ”? What would that look like in practice?
  7. Cultivating a deep connection with Christ involves certain intentional practices like prayer and Bible reading. How can we keep those practices from becoming a new set of expectations or religious rules?
  8. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.

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