Practical Christian Living: Foundation

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Practical Christian Living Foundation
Topic

• Text Colossians 31-4
• Rev Colin Wong

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I. Introduction

• The path to spirituality is not through secret
  revelations or self-punishing disciplines
  (Colossians 216-23).
• Spiritual maturity comes as a result of trials of
  life (James 13 1 Peter 16, 7).
• Christianity is a practical religion (James 217).

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II. To Strive for the Things Above

• Paul often appealed to the saints for higher
  spirituality and service (Romans 121, 2).
• Paul appealed to them to preoccupy themselves
  with heavenly things (Colossians 31 1 John
  215-17).

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II. To Strive for the Things Above

• The writers of the New Testament are full of
  exhortations (Matthew 633 Philippians 320
  Hebrews 1113, 14 Romans 122).
• What are those things which are above? (2 Peter
  15-7 James 317 Colossians 312-14 2 Peter
  18-10)

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II. To Strive for the Things Above

• Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Psalm
  1101 Luke 2269 Acts 233 531 755 Romans
  834 Ephesians 120 Hebrews 13, 13 81
  1012 122 1 Peter 322).

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III. To Set your Mind on the Things Above

• Paul exhorted the Colossian Christians to give
  themselves to thinking heavenly things
  (Colossians 32).
• What are these earthly things Paul had in mind?
  (Colossians 35, 8, 9 James 315 1 John 215,
  16)

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IV. The Motivations for Seeking and Setting the
Mind on the Things Above

• The reason why living in the heavenlies is to be
  the pattern for every Christian (Colossians 33
  Romans 611-13).
• You and I have died with Christ (Galatians 220
  2 Corinthians 517).
• You and I are hidden with Christ in God (Jn
  1028, 29 Rom 8 35-39).

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IV. The Motivations for Seeking and Setting the
Mind on the Things Above

• The blessed hope of the Christian (Colossians
  34 1 Thessalonians 413-18 1 Corinthians
  1551, 52 1 John 32).
• Christ is our Source of life (John 14 11 25
  146 1010 Galatians 220 John 151-5).

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V. Conclusion

• One of the Christian foundations you and I ought
  to know is that we have been raised with Christ
  together to a new life and given full security in
  Christ. Therefore, our focus in life now is to
  preoccupy ourselves with heavenly things, not
  earthly things.

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V. Conclusion

• May God give us this holy desire to seek Him and
  His kingdom first, for this is pleasing to the
  Lord! Amen.