"Rooted and Built up in Christ

1. 2015
Year of Breakthrough
WHOLESOME
LIVING
SUNGAI WAY-SUBANG METHODIST CHURCH
ROOTED & BUILT UP
IN CHRIST Rev Dr Ng Swee Ming
5 July 2015

6. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS

7. Colossians
I. Chp 1 : DOCTRINE
CHRIST'S SUPREMACY & SUFFICIENCY DECLARED
1. 1:1-8 Lessons in Discipleship 1
1st : FAITH in Christ
2nd : LOVE for the brethren
3rd : HOPE in heaven
2. 1:9-14 Lessons in Discipleship II
Importance of Prayer
 Building Deep in Christ
 Sub-Structure
 Structure
 Superstructure

8. sermon series on Colossians
3. Col 1:15-23
The SUPREMACY & SUFFICIENCY of CHRIST
v15-17 The Supremacy of Christ in CREATION
v18-20 The Sufficiency of Christ in Re-CREATION
Conclusion :
 v21 Our Past Alienation
 v22 Our Present Reconciliation
 v23 Our Future Glorification

9. Blueprint for Discipleship
Col 1:24-29
Know WHY … the mystery …
‘Christ in you, the Hope of Glory’
Know HOW … in loving communities…
Know WHAT … cost to consider …
Know WHO … as a servant …
Conclusion :
Making Disciple
Loving COMMUNITY.

10. General Outline of Colossians
I. Chp 1 : DOCTRINE
Christ's Supremacy & Sufficiency DECLARED
II. Chp 2 : DANGER
Christ's Supremacy & Sufficiency DEFENDED
III. Chps 3-4 : DUTY
Christ's Supremacy & Sufficiency DISPLAYED

12. Col 2:1-7
1 I want you to know how much I am
struggling for you and for those at Laodicea,
and for all who have not met me personally.
2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged
in heart and united in love, so that they may
have the full riches of complete
understanding, in order that they may know
the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge.

13. Col 2:1-7 cont.
4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive
you by fine-sounding arguments.
5 For though I am absent from you in body, I
am present with you in spirit and delight to
see how orderly you are and how firm your
faith in Christ is.
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as
Lord, continue to live in him,
7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in
the faith as you were taught, and
overflowing with thankfulness.

14. Chp 2 : DANGER –
Christ's Supremacy & Sufficiency DEFENDED
Epaphras :
 ‘Founder ?’ Colossian Church…
1,500km journey to Rome…
Consult Paul about ‘false teachings’ -
‘Gnosticism’
Paul’s response – his letters

15. Chp 2 : DANGER – Christ's Supremacy & Sufficiency DEFENDED
Gnosticism / Gnostics :
 ‘Gnosis’ – Gk knowledge
 Generally : ‘spirit / soul’ is good & eternal…
‘flesh’ is bad/evil & temporal…
 Understanding of ‘Jesus’…
 Terms used :
 the Mystery / Secret …
 special Knowledge …

16. Chp 2 : DANGER – Christ's Supremacy
& Sufficiency DEFENDED
Paul’s response ….
The ‘Mystery’ is ….
Christ in you, the hope of glory
Knowledge, Understanding, Wisdom …
Knowledge – Facts & Information…
Understanding – Meaning, Principles
& Reason…
Wisdom – Application & Action
Supremacy &
Sufficiency of Christ…

17. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
Blueprint for Discipleship Col 1:28-29
28 We proclaim HIM, admonishing and
teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that
we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
29 To this end I labor, struggling with all HIS
energy, which so powerfully works in me….

18. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
Col 2:1-2
1 I want you to know how much I am
struggling for you and for those at Laodicea,
and for all who have not met me personally.
2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged
in heart and united in love, so that they may
have the full riches of complete
understanding, in order that they may know
the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

19. Col 2:1 I want you to know how much I am
struggling (agonizing) for you and for those at
Laodicea, and for all who have not met me
personally….
Q: How ?
A: thru PRAYER …. Chp 1 v3, 9, 10
Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ

20. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
Col 2:2a “My purpose is that they may be
encouraged in heart …”
1. Looking Within : ENCOURAGED IN HEART
Our physical heart is important…
But “heart’ here …
‘spiritual heart’, the ‘inner person’ …
the mind, emotion, feelings, conscience ….
where faith arise / resides …
Biblically - can be pure, upright, righteous …
or wicked/evil, deceitful, scheming…

21. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
Col 2:2a “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart …”
1. Looking Within : Encouraged in Heart
Our HEART …
where salvation starts …
Rom 10:10 For it is with your heart that you
believe and are justified, and it is with your
mouth that you confess and are saved. ….
where evil ‘originates’ …
Mark 7:21 For from within, out of men's hearts,
come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft,
murder, adultery,

22. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
Col 2:2a “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart …”
1. Looking Within : Encouraged in Heart
Our HEART needs to be ENCOURAGED …
Gk : parakaleo – ‘come alongside of’, ‘comfort’
Eg 2 Cor 1:4 who comforts us in all our
troubles, so that we can comfort those in any
trouble with the comfort we ourselves have
received from God.
Gk: parakletos – Comforter
John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name, will
teach you all things

23. Col 2:2a “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart …”
1. Looking Within : Encouraged in Heart
Our HEART needs to be ENCOURAGED …
Q: How or By Whom ?
A : By God thru the Holy Spirit…
ref 2 Thess 2:16-17 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself
and God our Father… encourage your hearts and
strengthen you in every good deed and word.
A: Thru fellow Believers & Community …
ref 1 Thess 3:2 We sent Timothy … to strengthen and
encourage you in your faith, …
We all need ENCOURAGEMENT…
We all need ‘one-another’ …

24. V2a My purpose is that they may be
encouraged in heart and united in love,
2. Looking Around : UNITED in LOVE
‘knit together’
Can only happen in a community…
‘AGAPE love’ is the key …
Jn 13:34 A New Commandment… by this …
1 Pet 4:8 Love covers over a multitude of sins
Unity, Oneness, Togetherness …
Col 3:14 put on love, which binds them all together
in perfect unity.
Eph 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the
Spirit through the bond of peace.

25. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
2. Looking Around :
UNITED IN LOVE
Remember the Giant
Sequoia trees…
Tall stately giants ….
Relatively shallow roots…
Strength in COMMUNITY

26. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
2. Looking Around : UNITED IN LOVE
Q: What is the man doing ?
Q: What does he use ?
Quote :
‘If each of us are in
tune with Christ
we will be in tune with
one another.’

27. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
Col 2:2b-5
2b so that they may have the full riches of complete
understanding, in order that they may know the
mystery of God, namely, Christ,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge.
4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by
fine-sounding arguments.
5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am
present with you in spirit and delight to see how
orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
3. Looking Above : FAITH in CHRIST

28. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
3. Looking Above : FAITH in CHRIST
Q: What’s FAITH ?
A: Heb 11:1
‘Now faith is being sure of what
we hope for and certain of what
we do not see…. ‘
 Believe ….
 Trust ….

29. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
3. Looking Above : FAITH in CHRIST
Q: FAITH in Who & What ?
A: Heb 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God,
because anyone who comes to him must believe
that he exists and that he rewards those who
earnestly seek him.
Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith … it is the gift of God
FAITH in GOD …
FAITH in CHRIST …

30. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
3. Looking Above : FAITH in CHRIST
Phil 3:9b “…the righteousness that comes from God
and is by faith.”
Rom 10:17
“… faith comes from hearing the message,
and the message is heard …
through the word of Christ.”
FAITH in CHRIST = WORD of CHRIST
= The BIBLE (God’s WORD)
* with few exceptions…

31. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
3. Looking Above : FAITH in CHRIST
2 Tim 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
QUOTES :
KNOW the WORD ….
And be KNOWN By the WORD

34. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
3. Looking Above : Faith in Christ
The Queen James Bible
Published 2012
Editors :
‘Anonymous’
Scholars :
‘Unidentified’

35. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
King James Bible
Lev 18:22: “Thou shalt
not lie with mankind, as
with womankind: it is
abomination”
Lev 20:13: “If a man also
lie with mankind, as he
lieth with a woman, both
of them have committed
an abomination; they
shall surely be put to
death; their blood shall
be upon them”
Queen James Bible
Lev 18:22: “Thou shalt not lie
with mankind as with
womankind in the temple of
Molech; it is an
abomination”
Lev 20:13: “If a man also lie
with mankind in the temple
of Molech, as he lieth with a
woman, both of them have
committed an abomination:
they shall surely be put to
death; their blood shall be
upon them”

36. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
King James Bible
Rom 1:26–27 “For this cause
God gave them up unto vile
affections: for even their
women did change the natural
use into that which is against
nature: And likewise also the
men, leaving the natural use of
the woman, burned in their lust
one toward another; men with
men working that which is
unseemly, and receiving in
themselves that recompense of
their error which was meet”
Queen James Bible
Rom 1:26–27 “Their women
did change their natural use
into that which is against
nature: And likewise also the
men, left of the natural use of
the woman, burned
in ritual lust, one toward
another; Men with men
working that which is pagan
and unseemly. For this cause
God gave the idolators up unto
vile affections, receiving in
themselves that recompense
of their error which was meet”

37. Quotes:
Isaiah 7.9
If you do not stand
firm in your faith,
you will not stand at
all .
The less you spend
time with TRUTH,
The easier it is to
believe LIES
- Lecrae
D.L. Moody:
The Bible will keep you from sin
or sin will keep you from the Bible

38. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
Col 2:6-7
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,
continue to live in him,
7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the
faith as you were taught, and overflowing with
thankfulness.
4. Looking Below :
ROOTED & BUILT UP IN
CHRIST

39. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
4. Looking Below : Rooted & Built Up in Christ
Roots
Hidden, Not seen…
very important to a plant
Nourishment
Stability
No roots =
no growth

40. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
4. Looking Below : Rooted & Built Up in Christ
Parable of the Sower (Matt 13)…
Sower – Seed – Soil …
Is all about ‘ROOTEDNESS’ …
30, 60, 100 X
NONE
SHALLOW
TANGLED DEEP

41. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
4. Looking Below : Rooted & Built Up in Christ
Q: What are the plants below ?
Q: Do you know how they grow bonsai ?
Q: Are you a ‘bonsai Christian’ ?
Nice to look at …
BUT ….

42. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
4. Looking Below : Rooted & Built Up in Christ
continue to live (abide) in Him
rooted in Him
built up in Him,
strengthened in Him
thankful to Him

43. Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ
Summary :
1. Looking Within :
ENCOURAGED IN HEART
2. Looking Around :
UNITED IN LOVE
3. Looking Above :
FAITH IN CHRIST
4. Looking Below :
ROOTED & BUILT UP IN CHRIST

47. Sequoia tree bark is rich
in ‘tannins’ a strong
natural defense against
wildfire, decomposition
& insects infestation
eg termites.

48. Sequoia Cones
Unripe Ripe
sequoia tree –
burned by fire…
Sequoia seeds… ripe sequoia cone
with seeds…

50. Conclusion:
The Colossians had their challenges…
External persecution…
Internal “false teachings”…
Today we have more challenges ….
We are nearer to Christ’s return …
‘Shaking’ is happening …
Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ - APPLICATION
DISASTERS
RELIGIOUS
ECONOMICS
POLITICAL
Sociological

51. Conclusion:
Q: Are you ready ?
Q: Are you prepared ?
Q: Are You ROOTED & BUILT UP IN CHRIST ?
Look in…
Look around…
Look up…
Look down …
Col 2:1-7 Rooted & Built Up In Christ - APPLICATION