Introduction

Good morning, dear family in Christ. What a joy it is to gather together in this sacred place, united in our love for the Lord and our desire to grow deeper in our understanding of His word. Today, we stand on the precipice of a profound truth, a truth that will guide us, shape us, and ultimately lead us towards a richer, fuller, more vibrant life in Christ. We have the privilege today to reflect upon the inspired words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians.

As we turn our hearts and minds towards this Scripture, let's remember these words from A.W. Tozer, who once wrote, "Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it." Indeed, the richness of gratitude is exactly what we want to discuss and strive for.

Let us now read from Colossians 2:6-7,

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

What does it mean to live our lives in Christ? What does it mean to be strengthened in faith? And how does thankfulness play a role in our spiritual growth? These are the questions we will engage with today.

But before we do, let us bow our heads in prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come before You today with humble hearts and open minds. We ask that You guide our understanding as we reflect upon Your Holy Word. May the richness of Your truth permeate our hearts and minds, and may we be strengthened in our faith and filled with a spirit of thankfulness. We ask this in the precious name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Understanding Maturity in Christ

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, invites us to live our lives in Christ. This invitation is not a mere suggestion, but a call to a deeper, more profound way of living. It's about being so intertwined with Christ that His life becomes our life, His desires become our desires, His purpose becomes our purpose. This is the essence of spiritual maturity.

What it means to be mature in Christ: It's not about age or how long we've been Christians. It's about the depth of our relationship with Christ, our understanding of His teachings, and our commitment to living out those teachings in our daily lives. It's about being transformed by the renewing of our minds, as Paul writes in Romans 12:2. It's about growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as Peter writes in 2 Peter 3:18.

Being transformed by the renewing of our minds: This is not a superficial change, but a deep, inner transformation that affects our thoughts, our attitudes, and our actions. It's about letting go of our old ways of thinking and embracing the mind of Christ. It's about seeing the world through His eyes, understanding His truths, and applying those truths to our lives. This transformation is not a one-time event, but a lifelong process of growth and change.

Growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord: Grace is God's unmerited favor, His love and mercy that He freely gives us, not because of anything we've done, but because of who He is. As we grow in our understanding of this amazing grace, we are drawn closer to Christ, and our love for Him deepens. Knowledge, on the other hand, is not just about accumulating facts about Christ, but about knowing Him personally, intimately. It's about experiencing His love, His power, His presence in our lives.

Living out Christ's teachings in our daily lives: It's not enough to just know about Christ, we need to live like Christ. This means loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves, as Jesus teaches in Mark 12:30-31. It means forgiving those who hurt us, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:14-15. It means serving others selflessly, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 20:26-28. It means living a life of integrity, honesty, and humility, as Jesus teaches throughout His ministry.

A deep, personal relationship with Christ: It's not about following a set of rules or rituals, but about having a genuine, heartfelt relationship with the living God. It's about spending time with Him in prayer, reading and meditating on His Word, worshipping Him with all our heart, and seeking to please Him in all we do. This relationship is not a one-way street, but a two-way communication, where we talk to God and listen to His voice.

The Role of Thankfulness in Spiritual Growth

Thankfulness, as we see in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Colossians, is not just an emotional response or a polite gesture ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO