Christ First in the Home and Church 
Colossians 3:16-21

1. If Christ is First, the Church will Make the Word of Christ the Centerpiece (3:16)
Psalms — Scriptural songs from the Old Testament 
Hymns — Worship and praise addressed to God
Spiritual Songs — Religious poetry describing the Christian experience 
2. If Christ is First, the Christian will Seek to Please Christ in Word and Deed (3:17)
3. If Christ is First, Wives Will Biblically Submit to Husbands (3:18)
4. If Christ is First, Husbands Will Sacrificially Love Their Wives (3:19)
5. If Christ is First, Children Will Respectfully Obey Their Parents (3:20)
6. If Christ is First, Fathers and Mothers Will Be Purposeful with Their Children (3:21)

Colossians Part 12 | Adult Bible Class

Part 1 - “Salvation — From Death to Destiny”

I. Our Hopeless Condition (What We Were) Ephesians 2:1–3

1. Dead to God
Ephesians 2:1; John 5:25
1 John 5:12; Romans 10:13
2. Directed by the World
Ephesians 2:2
John 8:34 & 36
3. Dominated by Disobedience
Ephesians 2:2; John 8:44
4. Driven by the Flesh
Ephesians 2:3; Mark 10:18
5. Destined for Wrath
Ephesians 2:3

II. Our Gracious Invitation (What We Are Now) Ephesians 2:4–10
Four Breathtaking Things God Did for Us:
1. Motivated by 
Mercy
Ephesians 2:4; Psalm 85:10
Three Sets Of Two Words That Change Everything:
“You were” — Ephesians 2:1
“But God” — Ephesians 2:4
“Through faith” — Ephesians 2:8
2. Moved by Love
Ephesians 2:4; Romans 5:8
3. Manifested by Grace
Ephesians 2:5
4. Made Available as a Gift
Ephesians 2:8–10
Three Phrases That Remove Confusion:
By grace
Romans 11:6
Through faith
Acts 16:31
Unto good works
v.10

III. Our Heavenly Commission (What We Shall Be) Ephesians 2:7

Rooted in the Past – Growing in the Present Part 1

Colossians 3:22-4:1

1. If Christ is first, employees will diligently serve their employers because they fear God (3:22-25)
2. If Christ is first, employers will justly compensate their employees because they will answer to a Master in Heaven (4:1)

Colossians Part 13 | Adult Bible Class

Part 2 – What the Bible Says About Baptism
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Romans 6:3–4
Colossians 2:12
Acts 2:38
1. Christ Explained in Baptism Acts 8:26-35
●	Christ explained through divine direction
Luke 19:10
Acts 8:26–27 
Acts 8:29
●	Christ explained from the Scriptures
Acts 8:30 
Acts 8:35
Romans 1:16
2. Christ Embraced in Baptism Acts 8:36,37
Acts 8:37
3. Christ Confessed in Baptism Acts 8:38
Matthew 10:32
Mark 1:9
Mark 1:10
John 3:23
4. Christ Displayed in Baptism Acts 8:38–39
Romans 6:5
Three Final Lessons from the Desert Road
1. The Spanning Scope of the Gospel
2. Swift Surrender and Obedience
Acts 8:27 
Acts 8:30
3. The Sequential Step of Believer’s Baptism
Acts 8:37
Matthew 28:19


Rooted in the Past – Growing in the Present Part 2

Effective Biblical Praying
Colossians 4:2-4

1. Continual Prayer (4:2)
2. Watchful Prayer (4:2)
3. Grateful Prayer (4:2)
4. Intercessory Prayer (4:3-4)

Colossians Part 14 | Adult Bible Class

Message #3 — The Ingredients of a Church on Fire for God

2 Thessalonians 2:15
Acts 2:3–4

The Four Foundational Realities That Sustain a Church on Fire for God
1. A Divine Combustion (Acts 2:1–13)
✔ Visualized Power — vv. 2–3
✔ Vocalized Power — v. 4
✔ Vitalized Power — v. 4
Acts 10:38

2. A Doctrinal Confession (Acts 2:14–36)
Jeremiah 23:29

3. A Decisive Conversion (Acts 2:37–41)
Notice the Progression:
✔ Convicted by the Lord
Vs. 37
✔ Converted to the Lord
Vs. 38; Acts 20:21
✔ Confession of the Lord
Vs 41

Ten Reasons Why People Do Not Become Members of a Local New Testament Church
1. Some have never been taught why membership matters.
2. Some have never been clearly challenged to join.
3. Some do not understand the process.
4. Some are not yet believers.
5. Some were hurt in another church.
6. Some have not connected relationally.
7. Some are wrestling with secret sin.
8. Some doubt they are needed.
9. Some fear accountability.
10. Some simply see no need.

Deeper Spiritual Issues in Our Culture
✔ Consumer Christianity
✔ Commitment phobia
✔ Institutional distrust
✔ Spiritual autonomy

John 13:35

You Cannot Practice the Following Without Identifiable Belonging 
Church discipline (Matthew 18)
Pastoral accountability (Hebrews 13:17)
Mutual care (1 Corinthians 12)
Shared responsibility

4. A Devoted Continuance (Acts 2:42–47)
Blueprint of an On-Fire Church:
Doctrination — v. 42
Edification — v. 42
Galatians 6:2
Adoration — v. 42
Participation — v. 44
Propagation — v. 47
Acts 4:4

Rooted in the Past – Growing in the Present Part 3

Lesson 15

Word From The Wise
Colossians 4:5-6

Speak to Unbelievers with Your Walk 
Speak to Unbelievers with Urgency 
Speak to Unbelievers with Grace
Speak to Unbelievers with Persuasion 
Speak to Unbelievers with Answers

Colossians Part 15 | Adult Bible Class

Part four: Doing the Work of an Evangelist. 

1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10. 

Seven Clear Marks that Help Us do the Work of an Evangelist:
1.	A converted people (Vss. 1-5)
Three Marks of True Conversion 
1)	Proclaimed Truth
Romans 10:14; Psalm 81:10; Isaiah 58:1; Psalm 116:10; Acts 4:20; Mark 6:15; 2 Timothy 4:5
2)	Powerful Spirit
1 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Corinthians 9:22; Acts 1:8; Zachariah 4:6
3)	Personal Assurance. 
1 Thessalonians 1:5

2.	A compassionate labor
Verse 3 

3.	A contagious testimony. 
Verse 6-8

4.	A conversational approach. 
Verse 8

5.	A communicated gospel, 
Verse 9 
6.	A connected cyber witness. 
• Post Sermons
• Share Scripture
• Give Godly Reviews
• Recommend Christian Content (Books, Songs, YouTube Channels, Podcasts)
• Send Testimonies
• Dm People
• Private Encouragement 
• Content Creator 
7.	A common motivation. 
Verse 10


Rooted in the Past – Growing in the Present Part 4

Colossians - Lesson 16

A Circle of Faithful Friends (Part 1)
Colossians 4:7-10
Tychicus—Faithful and Trusted (4:7-8)
Onesimus — Transformed and Restored (4:9) 
Aristarchus — Loyal and Courageous (4:10)

Colossians Part 16 | Adult Bible Class

Lesson #5 – Why We Believe the Bible
John 17:17
Isaiah 40:8 
The Fourfold Power of Scripture
1. The Scriptures Are Inspired
2 Timothy 3:16
inspiration comes from the Greek word meaning:
Theopneustos = God-breathed
●	Psalm 119:89
●	Matthew 4:4
2. The Scriptures Are Instructive
2 Timothy 3:16
Four Wonderful Areas Of Instruction:
• Doctrine – What Is Right
• Reproof – What Is Wrong
• Correction – How To Get Right
• Instruction – How To Stay Right
John 4:14
3. The Scriptures Are Instrumental
2 Timothy 3:17
The Bible works in three great ways:
A. For Salvation
2 Timothy 3:15
 “Which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.”
●	Romans 10:17
●	1 Corinthians 5:3–4
B. For Sanctification
2 Timothy 3:17
John 17:17
C. For Service
2 Timothy 3:17
4. The Scriptures Are Irrefutable
Hebrews 11:1 “the evidence of things not seen.”
A. Historical Evidence
Examples where archaeology confirmed the Bible:
• Belshazzar
 Confirmed by the Nabonidus Cylinders found in Iraq.
• The Hittites
 Thousands of tablets discovered at Boghazköy.
• Pontius Pilate – confirmed by a limestone inscription reading
 “Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea.”
• Pool of Bethesda – excavated near the Church of St. Anne, showing the five colonnades exactly as described in Scripture.
B. Scientific Evidence
Ancient Egyptian medicine included things like:
●	lizard blood
●	donkey dung poultices
●	rotten meat applications
●	human and animal excrement as medicine
✔ Quarantine for infectious disease
 (Leviticus 13–14)
✔ Washing after contact with sickness
 (Leviticus 15)
✔ Proper disposal of human waste outside the camp
 (Deuteronomy 23)
✔ Isolation of diseased individuals
 (Numbers 5)
C. Preservation Evidence
Psalm 12:6–7
The Bible has been printed in millions of copies and over 3,500 languages.
●	Voltaire, who predicted Christianity would vanish (his home later housed the Geneva Bible Society).
●	Diocletian’s edict in A.D. 303 ordering Scriptures burned.
●	Nazi book burnings
●	Communist censorship
●	Modern attempts to remove the Bible from public life.
Mark 13:31
D. Prophetic Evidence
Over 300 prophecies about Jesus Christ were written centuries before His birth.
• Born in Bethlehem
• Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver
• Hands and feet pierced
• Buried with the rich
Psalm 34:8
How to Get Into the Bible
1.	Read it daily
2.	Study it carefully
3.	Meditate on it slowly
4.	Share it freely
5.	Apply it immediately

Rooted in the Past – Growing in the Present Part 4

The Home Church of Lodi

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