RECAP: FULL & FREE based on Colossians 2:6-15
Last Sunday, we explored what was worth fighting for in the faith. Unfortunately, many in our world today do not even fully know what Christ has done for us. We have such a comfortable form of Christianity, Jesus is no longer special, but common. We use Jesus’ name so frequently in curses that we do not even grasp what Jesus did; for if our society knew the depth of Jesus’ love, we would not be in the shape we are in as a society today!
Paul wanted the Colossian church to never forget the freedom that Christ brought them. How has Christ set us free? What do we need to hold on to?
- He put to death the sinful nature. Our default mode, ever since Adam and Eve, is our sinful nature. If we do not strive to live for God and live naturally, we are driven by desires and impulses, to do what feels good at all times, reaching for the forbidden fruit without any care of the cost. But Christ set us free from default mode, giving us an opportunity to choose a different path!
- Made us alive in Christ. The world says living for Jesus is not any fun; that we are not truly living if we are being sticks in the mud! But the way that seems right to a person leads to death (Prov 16:25). There is no one righteous, not even one (Rom 3:8), and the wages of our sin is death (Rom 6:23). But because of Christ, for those who are in Christ they are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). We are not destined anymore for death, but life! We don’t have to strive for the world, because in Christ we truly can live.
- Forgave our sins. Without the shedding of blood, there can be no forgiveness of sins (Heb 9:22). Living for sin is like credit card debt; it is fun at the moment, purchasing all of these things that we cannot afford now. But the baggage the debt can leave us with at times can be insurmountable, leaving us in financial slavery for years. So too sin seems fun at the moment, but its payload is far worse than its appeal at the moment. It is like the wolf that senses blood on a knife and will eventually kill itself on the knife as he licks his own blood to death (Native American “blood knife trap”, as recalled from my childhood as told by the Iroquois nation). We can find ourselves so deep in the consequence of our sin. But Christ forgave the debt of our sin, canceling the penalty and bringing us back to a debt-free state. We no longer have to live in slavery to sin!
- Canceled the written code. We don’t have to live in legalism, following rules in order to find salvation. We don’t have to live by the code of indentured servitude, which states that if you fail to uphold your contract exactly as specified, then you would add years to your contract. Rather, if we are striving to live for Christ, we are shown grace. We also don’t have to live for the world’s written code. Even in its push for individuality they still expect everyone to follow the same guidelines! We can live for Christ without fear!
- Disarmed the powers and authorities. No weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isa 54:17). We are more than conquerors through Christ (Rom 8:37). Nothing will separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:38-39). At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow (Phil 2:10), even the enemy of our soul! Jesus is LORD, and we can live free!
How do we walk in the fullness of that freedom?
- Live in him. Everything we do should be for Jesus!
- Be rooted and built up in him. The deeper our roots in Jesus, the stronger and more anchored we will become. No enemy will be able to uproot one planted in Christ!
- Strengthen your faith. Walk out in your faith and put it in practice. The more you take steps of faith, the more opportunities you give God to prove himself faithful!
- Overflow with thankfulness. The more we live in gratitude, the more we see God at work. The more we seek God at work, the more grateful we are!
- Keep away from worldly philosophy. The ways of the world are hollow and deceptive; they look appealing, like the forbidden fruit, but there is nothing of substance–only consequence. Rather, surround yourself with people of faith who can hold you up when times are rough.
Don’t lose sight of what God has done and what he will still do!
Questions for Reflection
1) Can you articulate the gospel message?
2) Do you sense the presence of God daily in your life?
3) Is Christ your highest aim? Or are there other things that you desire to pursue that are greater than God?
4) What popular theology do you know that sounds good, but is contrary to the Bible? How can you test it?
5) How are you doing on foundation building? Investing in spiritual disciplines and counsel?
Upcoming Service
This Sunday, Pastor Ryan will continue the series in the book of Colossians with the sermon titled, “Rules? What Rules?,” based on Colossians 2:16-23. If Christ has set us free, why do we need rules? How can they help us in our faith? Come or tune in Sunday to find out!
Daily Bible Readings for October 11 – 17
October 11: Galatians 5:16-26 What does a free life look like?
October 12: Galatians 6:1-10 How do we know we live in freedom? What is bondage?
October 13: 1 Corinthians 8 What is the limit of freedom?
October 14: 1 Corinthians 9 What is the limit of freedom?
October 15: 1 Corinthians 10 What is freedom? What is giving into temptation?
October 16: Matthew 5:1-16 What is the practice of faithful living?
October 17: Matthew 5:17-48 What are the practices of faithful living?
This Week’s Events:
Sunday, October 17–Chasing the Lions Bible Study at Lynne’s house (240 Ashby St, Dayton), 4 pm
Monday, October 18–Pastoral Epistles Bible Study @ 7 pm
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, October 19–Outreach Team @ 7 pm
Thursday, October 20–Leadership Team @ 7 pm
Saturday, October 22–Men’s Fellowship Chicken BBQ
Sunday, October 23–Chili/Soup Cook-Off & Council Meeting
Saturday, October 29–Fall Festival Outreach from 10 am to 1 pm
November 4 – 5–Beaver Creek Cares weekend
November 13–Crestmen leading worship service
Announcements:
BIRTHDAYS NEEDED!
If you are a newer attendee at Beaver Creek, please call the office or leave in the offering plate your birth date so we do not miss anyone!
Beaver Creek Cares
For Beaver Creek Cares, we once again will be taking a collection for Strength in Peers. The list of items is attached to this email. We also will be this year putting together treat boxes for our college students. More information will be coming on Sunday!
Bible Study Opportunities!
The Chasing the Lion Bible Study will continue on Sunday, October 16 @ 4 pm @ Lynne’s house (240 Ashby St, Dayton). This study meets every Sunday at 4 pm.
Pastor Ryan will also continue the study on the books of 1 and 2 Timothy. Paul shared his heart with Timothy and gave him instructions for himself and the church after he was gone. Most of these letters are reflected even today. How can we live our faith? I encourage you to dig deeper into these two short books! We will meet on Mondays in the church library from 7 pm – 8 pm.
Take advantage of one of these two Bible studies today! If you would like to participate in the Timothy Bible study, please email Pastor Ryan or call the office.
Call for Worship Leaders and Children’s Story
We are still in need of both worship leaders and children’s storytellers. If you would like to serve, contact Alice Over (worship leading) or Tammy Stine (children’s story).
Council Meeting & Chili Cook-Off
Our next council meeting is Sunday, October 23 after the chili cook-off right after service. The packets for the council meeting are available in the narthex.
For the cook-off, we will have three categories this year. We will have the Chili category, the Soup category, and the Sweets category. We will award medals to the first three in each category at the end of the council meeting. Come for great food, friendly competition, and vote on next year’s budget and the slate of church leaders!
Fall Festival & Beaver Creek Cares–Candy Request
Our outreach team is planning a fall festival for the church and community. Fall Festival will be Saturday, October 29 from 10 am to 1 pm. Beaver Creek Cares will be November 4-5.
For both, we will need individually wrapped fun-sized pieces of candy (Halloween style) for both the kids for Fall Festival and for the teachers for the appreciation gifts during Beaver Creek Cares. You can bring the candy to the narthex. We need lots and lots of candy!
Fall Festival
Fall Festival will take place Saturday, October 29 from 10 am to 1 pm. This will be a community-based outreach to reach children and young families in our areas. We will have several different activities:
Carnival games (with candy prizes)
Pumpkin painting
Costume contest
Food (hot dogs, chips, drinks, popcorn)
We are also working on a bounce house and a hayride!
Many hands make light work. We will need three different sets of volunteers for the event:
Saturday morning to help with set-up (arrive around 8:30 am)
Saturday to help with the event
Saturday early afternoon with clean up (arrive around 1 pm)
There is a more detailed sign-up list in the narthex. Please sign up where you can help. We also need volunteers to help pass out flyers once they are ready. Let us come together and let the families in our community know Beaver Creek cares!
Also, there are flyers in the narthex. Please take as many as you would like, and especially pass them out to families with children. We need to get the word out about the event! I have also attached a copy of the flyer to this email.
If you would like to take a road to pass out flyers, please email me or call the office to let us know! We really could use as much help as we can get in spreading the word!
Call to Prayer
Let us continue to pray for our nation in the following ways:
1) National return to God
2) Repentance of personal sin
3) Repentance of corporate sin
4) Healing for the brokenness of relationships
5) Our leaders
6) Revival
7) Guidance for our congregation in the days ahead
Idea Box!
What do you want to see at Beaver Creek? What are some ideas you have for the long-term growth of our congregation? Any outrageous outreach ideas? Please either email Pastor Ryan or write them down and place them in the brown suggestion box in the narthex. Dream big!
Nursery
The Christian Education Team is looking for volunteers for the nursery during the Sunday School hour. If you are willing to help, even if it is just for a Sunday, please reach out to the Christian Education Team and let them know.
Four Ways to Give!
1) Mail your tithe into the church office
2) Drop it by the church office on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, 9 am – 1 pm
3) Our online giving platform: https://beavercreekchurchva.churchcenter.com/giving
4) Drop off in the offering plate on Sunday!
Prayer Needs
Continue to Keep in Prayer our members in Skilled Care Facilities: Mary G Miller, Shirley Miller, Stanley Suter & Carolyn Wine
John Bennington (health)
Sandy Bennington (health)
Cooper household (peace)
Patsy Dastoli (health)
Elijah Tucker Dean (health)
Natalie Dodge (health)
John Fix (addiction)
Cindy Heatwole (health)
Bob Hess (health)
Tori Jackson (peace)
Mark Martin (health)
Barbara Meadows (health)
Betty Miller (health)
Mary G Miller (health)
Tami Plaugher (health)
Lottie Ritchie (health)
Ann Simmons (health)
Crystal Smith (health)
Whitmore family (various)
Mary Whitmore (health)
Winnie Wilfong (recovery)
Shelvy Wittig (health)
Owen Wright (health)
Pastor Ryan Cooper
Beaver Creek Church