The Church Calendar: God's Redeeming Time

2014.11.23 - Leshia Knopf - The Church Calendar

God’s Redeeming Time

Colossians 1

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

We’re spending a year doing WHAT?

That’s right! For the next year we will be following the “lectionary readings” of the church calendar.

The church calendar is a tool used by the church for something like… 1700 years! Christians around the world and throughout time have been on a common rhythmn, telling the story of scripture to one another, year after year. It’s amazing, uniting, powerful… and yet foreign to so many of us!

What is the church calendar? How is it useful? How was it developed? And WHY do we feel God is calling us to follow it for a year?

COLOSSIANS EPILOGUE: PHILEMON & THE TABLE

2014.01.05 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Kevin Makins

COLOSSIANS EPILOGUE: PHILEMON & THE TABLE

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Philemon, Colossians 1, Romans 14, 2 Corinthians 5

Paul sends a runaway slave back to his master, because there are some things more important than freedom.

When the slave returned he brought two letters; one we call Colossians, and one we call Philemon. One to the whole church, and one to just the slave’s master.

The text:

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus.

I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother. For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.

I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - RECONCILIATION REMIXED / ADVENT LOVE

2013.12.22 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Kevin Makins

RECONCILIATION REMIXED / ADVENT LOVE

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Colossians 4:7-18, Acts 13 & 14

Paul closes his epic letter with a long list of names that means nothing to us at first glance. Once you find out who these people are, it begins to come together!

The text:

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts; he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him. And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.”

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Targum written and read by Chrissy Hurn

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - SLAVERY REMIXED / ADVENT PEACE

2013.12.15 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Cindy Stover

EVANGELISM REMIXED / ADVENT JOY

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Colossians 4:2-4:6

Cindy talks about one of the most important, and potentially uncomfortable, aspects of the Christian faith: talking about it.

The text:

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Targum written and read by Katherine McLean

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - SLAVERY REMIXED / JOY

2013.12.08 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Kevin Makins

SLAVERY REMIXED / ADVENT JOY

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Colossians 3:22-4:1, Romans 8, 1 John 1

Now that we’ve tackled women and children’s submission we can move on to a simpler, more Christmas-like topic… slavery. …

Awkward…

Let’s be honest: lots of people want to put the bible on trial for what it does and does not say when it comes to slavery. But the same bible that was used to defend human slavery was also used to give hope to the enslaved!

What exactly was Paul saying to these slaves and slave owners in Colossae, and perhaps the more frightening question, what is the text saying to us two-thousand years later?

The text:

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Targum written and read by Aaron Craig

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - SUBMISSION REMIXED / ADVENT 1

2013.12.01 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Kevin Makins

SUBMISSION REMIXED / ADVENT HOPE

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Colossians 3: 18-21

Nothing says “the road to Christmas” like women submitting to their husbands and children doing what their fathers say. Well, ok, so it’s a bit of a weird text for for the first week of Advent. But what if the problem isn’t what the text is saying.

What if the problem is that we don’t have the same ears as the original recipients. What sounds like bad (or repressive) news to us was filled with hope to them.

And that hope is what the Kingdom of God is all about.

The text:

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Targum written and read by Scott Fairley

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - SING

2013.11.24 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Justine Lodder

SING

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Colossians 3: 15-17

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Targum written and read by Cath Craig

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - CHEAP SEX/BAD WORDS/NEW CLOTHES

2013.11.17 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Kevin Makins

CHEAP SEX/BAD WORDS/NEW CLOTHES

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Colossians 3: 5-14

That’s a good sermon title. Moving on in Colossians, Paul talks about what we have to take off, and what we need to put on, in order to live in the Kingdom of God.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Targum written and read by Ben Lootens

The wonderful and talented Joanna Aitcheson (bloggy blog!) also created this helpful photo for us, to remind us of what to wear:

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - ABOVE

2013.11.10 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Matt Willard

ABOVE

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Colossians 3:1-4

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Targum written and read by Justin Eisinga

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - DO NOT TOUCH

2013.11.03 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Kevin Makins

DO NOT TOUCH

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Colossians 2:16-23, Matthew 5

This text is so weird. The sermon also starts out a little weird, exploring what these words might have meant to the original hearers, but much like the text, the punch comes with the subversive good news hidden in all the strangeness: the good news that we are more than our “do’s”, and are not defined by all our “do not’s” - this good news is far bigger and better than our actions.  

The text:

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Targum written and read by Brett Klassen

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - DISARMING THE POWERS

2013.10.27 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Kevin Makins and Mark Scandrette

DISARMING THE POWERS

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Colossians 2:8-15

Our friend Mark Scandrette came to town for the weekend, and did an interview with us as a part of our Sunday gathering. This week’s podcast is made up of a short sermon by Kevin, followed by the interview with Mark, and concludes with a targum by Paige Louter, and a song lead by Aaron Craig.

Interview with Mark starts 24 minutes in.

The text:

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Targum written and read by Paige Louter

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - KEEP WALKING

2013.10.20 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Kevin Makins

KEEP WALKING

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Colossians 2:1-7

Sorry for the delay in posting this week. The audio recording is quite poor, but Jeff Wynands managed to make it somewhat audible! 

The text:

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Targum written and read by Terri Drumm

COLOSSIANS REXMIED - THE HOPE OF GLORY

2013.10.13 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Dave Witt

THE HOPE OF GLORY

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Colossians 1:24-29

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

Targum written and read by Alex Drumm

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - RECONCILIATION + RECEPTION

2013.10.06 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Stephen Edwards

RECONCILIATION + RECEPTION

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Colossians 1:21-23

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. 

This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Targum written and read by Sandy Reynolds

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - IMAGE

2013.09.29 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Kevin Makins

IMAGE

Click here to listen

Colossians 1:15-20

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Targum written and read by Jenn Forneri

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - DOMINION & KINGDOM

2013.09.22 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Kevin Makins

DOMINION & KINGDOM

Colossians 1:3-14

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,  being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption,the forgiveness of sins.

Targum written and read by Alex Drumm

COLOSSIANS REMIXED - REMIXED

2013.09.15 - COLOSSIANS REMIXED - Kevin Makins

REMIXED

Colossians 1:1-2

We begin our four month series on Colossians by getting some context on the time and place of the letter, and by exploring what it means to “remix scripture"… listening to some Daft Punk and Kanye West along the way.

Thanks to Brett Klassen for his hip-hop history lesson! Learn more about Brett and his music at clutchhiphop.bandcamp.com

Music led by Justine Lodder - starts 47 minutes in.

Bread & Wine 2011 - We Need Bigger Tables

2011.09.11 - Kevin Makins - Bread & Wine 2011: We Need Bigger Tables

Deuteronomy 16; Matthew 11; Luke 14; Galatians 3; Colossians 1; Revelation 7

We kick off year two of Eucharist Church by revisiting our first series: “Bread & Wine.”

If asked what the central image of the Christian story is, most of us would respond with “the cross.”

That would be a pretty good answer.

Certainly the cross is crucial, and absolutely key to the Christian story, but there is another image that is perhaps just as significant as the cross. That image in the table.

From beginning to end, the biblical story points to the table as the place where salvation and new life is found. And the table keeps getting bigger.

Music led by Joel Cumby and friends - starts 43 min in.

Kevin Makins - Setting the Table: Greetings.

Matthew 26-28, Colossians 1

The nineteenth sermon of our 23 week series “Setting the Table” - exploring the narrative of Scripture.

The final days of Jesus’ life are the climax of human history. In the cross sin does it’s worst, and God does His best. The entire story has been leading up to this point, and in it all things come together.