Faith That Heals the World

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Scriptures: Colossians 1:24-2:23

• Sermon Summary

  Summary: In the second sermon of our series, Cosmic Thoughts for Daily Life, Jeremy examines Paul’s words in Colossians chapter 1 & 2.

  Yeah, But…: Jeremy begins by addressing the theological tension between Paul’s words in chapter 1—about the reconciliation of all things, and his words in chapter 3—regarding God’s wrath. Jeremy shares how divine wrath is not an opposition to people, but to all that harms and fractures God’s creation.

  What is Lacking: Jeremy examines Paul’s enigmatic claim in chapter 1:24. Here, Jeremy helps us understand Paul’s words, as any suffering experienced in this life is alignment to Christ’s way, a way to live for him—as the one who suffered for us.

  Mystical Union: Jeremy shares three possible understandings of Paul’s words regarding his involvement in Christ’s work in the world. On the other hand, Jeremy points out how a reference to the ‘Suffering Servant’ in Isaiah has been used to understand Jesus. Jesus’ way of suffering is a paradigm for life that we participate in—even in the littlest of ways, whenever we do God’s will.

  Driving It Home: Jeremy looks at chapter 2 where Paul brings these big ideas down-to-Earth. Paul’s hope is that his ‘brightest thoughts‘ have a meaningful effect on his relationships with the people to whom he’s writing and serving. He reminds his readers that just following the rules isn’t going ‘fix you.’ It’s only by trusting in the inevitable love of God, that our daily choices will begin to bring about a reconciled world in Christ.

• Discussion Guide

  Community is shaped by the conversations we share. These questions and reflections are a tool to help you meaningfully engage with the themes of this week's teaching.

  Summer Discussion Guide 2025

  If your group is meeting this summer and wants to talk about the sermons, here are a few questions that you could use to engage with our teaching.

  • What specific part of the message resonated with you the most? Why do you think that particular part, or idea, or story caught your attention?

  • Did the sermon speak into a particular struggle or question in your life or your faith journey right now?

  • What did the message challenge or encourage you personally? And what do you think the application could be for our church community? Was there anything that could strengthen or stretch us as a church?

  How did the exposition of the scriptures used in the sermon provide you with a new perspective of deeper understanding?

  It is good to remember that the conversation experience in the group is shaped by the personal stories of those who participate in it and how willing the people are to be open and vulnerable in the group.
  
  So if you’re leading the discussion, feel free to model and encourage person-centred and story-centred sharing by reflecting on how some parts of the sermon resonate with you personally.

  Additionally, what contributes to a more authentic group discussion is when people can share not about the abstract and theoretical applications, but one or two practical things they are taking away from either the sermon or the discussion.

  So, you can end your time together with this question:

  • What is one thing you are taking away from either the sermon or the discussion we’ve just had?

• Service Songs & Prayers

  CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 57

  MUSIC Curated by Kevin Borst
  John Mark McMillan - Ancient Love
  Brooke Ligertwood - A Thousand Hallelujahs
  Kristian Stanfill - In Christ Alone
  City Alight - Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
  
  PRAYER FOR PENTECOST
  Written by Bobbi Salkeld

  Today is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost is a feast day in the church calendar that marks the end of Eastertide and the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

  And Pentecost is a great story. 

  After Jesus’ ascension, the first followers gather and wait. For what, they’re not sure. We’re told that they joined together constantly in prayer. 

  And then, all of a sudden, those gathered are surrounded by a great noise. The howl of wind fills the room. Spirit is present to them in a way that they can see, in a way that they can hear. Even though they aren’t from the same place, they understand each other perfectly. 

  Can you imagine it? Telling your story with your own words and being completely understood. Hearing the story of someone so different from you and understanding them.

  I invite you to welcome the Spirit of Pentecost as we pray. I’ll begin; you read the words marked “ALL.” They’ll appear three times. 

  Let us pray. 

  The Spirit of God 
  opens us to our own stories. 
  In our time, in our place,

  giving us the wisdom to sense the presence of the Creator

  in challenges, in celebrations, and even in the unremarkable every day. 

  ALL:
  Come Holy Spirit
  draw us into love
  and near to friends and strangers 

  The Spirit of God
  breaks down walls that trap us in fear. 
  In our poverty, in our wealth,
  giving us the wisdom to sense the presence of the Savior

  in differences, in similarities, and even in the tensions that call us to action.

  ALL:
  Come Holy Spirit 
  draw us into love
  and near to friends and strangers

  The Spirit of God
  fills up the spaces that are lacking.
  In our scarcity, and in our plenty,

  giving us the wisdom to sense the presence of Spirit

  in emptiness, in fullness, and even in long stretches of numbness.

  ALL:
  Come Holy Spirit   
  draw us into love
  and near to friends and strangers  
  AMEN
  
  SERIES BUMPER
  Cosmic Thoughts for Daily Life