Money Matters, Part 2

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

March 1, 2026

Give with the right motives, vv. 6-7.

• Give generously: the more seed a farmer sows the greater his harvest.
  • Generous giving is a that we trust God to provide for our needs.
  • Be a good steward: God honors the more than the amount, 2 Corinthians 8:12.
• If God loves a cheerful giver, what does it mean to give cheerfully?
  • From the heart: a deliberate act of the will as an expression of for God.
  • Not reluctantly: not stingy or self-centered.
  • Not forced: done only as a duty or by the church.

Expect God to work through our giving, v. 8.

• Grace is at the heart of everything God does for us.
  • Though we don’t it, God wants to abundantly bless us in every area of life.
• One way God blesses us is by providing everything we need, “all sufficiency in all things” (NKJV).
  • This is sometimes used to promote the prosperity gospel.
  • God gives out of not obligation.
• Ultimately, God wants to us to “excel in every good work.”
  • Cheerful, generous giving helps us grow spiritually and the lives of others.
  • Attitudes about giving affects how we live out our faith in other areas.

Takeaways for this week.

• Do your best to give out of love expecting God to bless it and use it.
• Give from the heart as you are able.
  • 10% is not commanded in the New Testament.

Do you know God in a personal relationship?

(Answers: reflection, intent, love, pressured, deserve, grace equip, impacts)

Next Week’s Message: Beginning of the Gospel, Mark 1:1

 

Money Matters, Part 1

1 Timothy 6:6-10

February 22, 2026

The greatest investment we can make in life is to live for God, vv. 6-8.

• This speaks to our greatest godliness…is great gain.
  • Jesus said the greatest priority of life is to love God (Mark 12:28-31).
  • We invest in godliness when we seek to live a life that is truly to God.
    • This means we trust God to be in control of everything in life (submit to Him as Lord).
• Contentment is a of seeking God first.
  • Contentment begins as we admit our on God, v. 7.
  • Contentment is based on trust that God will provide for our genuine needs.
  • Godliness with contentment is the pathway to the life possible, 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

Living for anything other than God has dangerous consequences, vv. 9-10.

• Seeking wealth before God sets money up as an in our heart.
  • As our priority shifts from God to wealth, we open ourselves up to a host of temptations.
    • The gathering of wealth is an illusion that destroys contentment: we never have enough.
    • Love of wealth hurts as people become less important.
  • Though wealth promises great benefits, it is dangerously
    • The wording of verse 9 describes drowning under its influence, Luke 5:6-7.
• The issue at stake here is because money is neither good nor bad, v. 10.
  • The lure of money can easily pull us from God.
  • Do not underestimate the damage we can do to ourselves, pierced…many griefs.

Do a heart-check today.

• Has anything become more important than God?
  • Recommit to living a godly life: Love God more than anything else.
• Appreciate what God gives and keep money in its right place.

Do you know God in a personal relationship?

(Answers: priority, pleasing, result, dependence, fullest, idol, relationships, self-destructive, attitude, away)

Next Week’s Message: Money Matters, Part 2 from 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

 

The Word of God

2 Peter 1:19-21

February 15, 2026

Practical: The Bible is our primary guide to truth, v. 19.

• The Old Testament, the prophetic word, is the of the New Testament.
  • Peter evaluated his personal in light of Scripture (transfiguration).
  • The Old Testament Scriptures always pointed toward the coming Messiah.
  • The overall message of the Bible focuses on and the gospel.
• It is vital that we pay attention to the message of the Bible.
  • The truth of the Bible is like a lamp shining in the
    • The messages of the world sound good but lead to hopelessness and death (darkness).
    • Jesus came to defeat sin and give us with God/eternal life, Luke 1:78-79.
  • The general message of the Bible can easily be understood by the average person.

Trustworthy: The Bible is from God (Word of God), not man, vv.20-21.

• The truth of the Bible is not open to our own personal
  • The Old Testament Scriptures were not the result of men giving their ideas or opinions.
  • We should always approach the Bible with an mind to God.
    • We cannot find truth by forcing our own ideas on the Bible: let it speak for itself.
    • Keep everything in its proper
• All Scripture, Old and New, is the work of the Holy Spirit and not mankind.
  • God worked through men to write a perfect message.
    • The original wording is like a ship being moved by the wind, v. 21.
  • We may not understand all of the Bible, but we can it all.
    • God gave us a of truth that is valid for all people of all times.
    • Without Scripture as a standard, there is no to the evil we can do, 2 Peter 2:1-2.

Today’s challenge.

• Read the Bible with new eyes: It is God’s perfect word of truth.
• Commit to consistent reading of the Bible.
• Study the Bible and apply its truths to your life.

Do you know God in a personal relationship?

(Answers: foundation, experience, Jesus, dark, peace, interpretations, open, context, imperfect, trust, standard, limit)

 

Carry On!

2 Peter 1:12-15

February 8, 2026

What I hope to accomplish as the pastor of Colosse.

Ground Colosse in the truth, v. 12.

• We have the Bible but occasionally need to be of its power and relevance.
• What truths do we need to be specifically reminded of?
  • First, the power of in our lives, vv. 2 Peter 1:3-4.
  • Second, the greater treasure of God’s the Bible, Acts 2:42.
    • The Apostles laid the foundation of the church on Jesus’ teaching.
    • based His teaching on the Old Testament Scriptures.
• The Bible is the only sound and trustworthy foundation of the church.

Inspire Colosse to godly living, vv. 13-14.

• The word for wake up is a strong word that means to stir up or provoke to action.
  • One of the church is to stir up genuine faith in each other, Hebrews 10:24.
  • It is a pastor’s responsibility to model and teach godly living.
• I do not know how long I will be able to serve Colosse as pastor.
  • had a strong sense that he did not have much longer, v. 14.
  • None of us knows how we have left to live, James 4:14.
  • to get right with God is very risky.

Prepare Colosse for the future, v. 15.

• Preparing for a sound begins with the Great Commandment, Mark 12:28-31.
• I want everything I do as pastor to point people toward God’s Word.
  • we need as a church is found in the Bible: recall these things at any time.
  • The strength of the church depends on the faith of its
    • The Bible is an unchanging constant in our ever-changing world.
    • Bible truth only grows as we and learn from the Bible.
• I pledge to do my best to help lead Colosse to a healthy future.

Things to do.

• Pray that I will continue learning and growing as your pastor.
• Let me hear from you.
  • Feel free to talk to me at any time about anything.
  • Use the Suggestion Boxes.

Do you know God in a personal relationship?

(Answers: reminded, salvation, Word, Jesus, purpose, Peter, long, Waiting, future, Everything, members, read)

 

Being a Barnabas: Willing to Stand

Acts 15:36-41

January 18, 2026

Good people disagree, vv. 36-39a.

• Background to the disagreement.
  • Paul and Barnabas were sent out as missionaries by the in Antioch, Acts 13:2-3.
  • The first journey included Barnabas’ nephew,
    • Their first stop was on the island of Cyprus where Barnabas had grown up.
    • John Mark the team during the trip, v. 38.
• The disagreement was so sharp that Paul and Barnabas ways.
  • Both men took a stand for what they believed
• Who was right?
  • Each man was probably right and wrong.
  • Paul focused on the importance of the
  • Barnabas focused on the in John Mark.

God is at work despite our failures or problems, vv. 39b-41.

• mission teams formed instead of one.
  • This is similar to the that drove believers out of Jerusalem.
  • Paul and Silas had two more successful mission trips.
  • It appears Barnabas and John Mark were also successful in their ministry.
• Friends were
  • Paul’s writings show he reconciled with John Mark and maybe Barnabas.
• The continued to spread.
  • Many were started and discipled.
  • John Mark clearly grew into the work God had for him, 2 Timothy 4:11.
    • John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark.

Take time this week:

• Ask God to give discernment on when to stand and when to be silent.
• Learn to listen, think, and pray before responding, James 1:19-20.

Do you know God in a personal relationship?

(Answers: church, John Mark, deserted, parted, best, mission, potential, Two, persecution, reconciled, gospel, churches)

 

Being a Barnabas: Willing to Sacrifice

Acts 4:36-37

January 11, 2026

Acts 4:36-37 CSB

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), ³⁷ sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Commitment: God’s will be done.

• A quick look at the setting for Barnabas and the church.
  • was growing rapidly, vv. 29-31.
  • Believers were standing firm in the power of the
  • Prayers were more for than deliverance.
• The church was determined to share the gospel, v. 33.
  • There was rapid, daily growth under God’s
• Faith sometimes calls us to sacrifice safety and comfort.
  • It is to pray for protection and deliverance.
  • It is to pray for God’s will to be done.
  • The question: Am I willing to do anything God asks me to do?

Compassion: serve others without expecting anything in return.

• Believers like Barnabas had two things in common, v. 32.
  • the believers had one heart and mind.
    • unified the church despite differences.
    • Common goal of bringing glory to Jesus.
  • deep compassion for others.
    • It was a practical compassion that reached out to people in
      • Their love for God led to social action.
    • Gifts were
      • Giving was a privilege not a burden.
• Barnabas modeled both of these traits, vv. 36-37.
  • Positive examples like Barnabas always others to deeper faith.

Points of application for this week.

Barnabas should inspire two things: love for God/love for others.

• Consider how much God has done for you.
  • Take time to thank Him.
  • Ask Him for boldness to stand firm in faith.
• What can you do to help someone else this week?

Do you know God in a personal relationship?

(Answers: Persecution, Spirit, strength, power, good, better, Unity, Grace, Generosity, need, voluntary, encourage)

 

Willing to Risk

Acts 9:26-28

January 4, 2026

Don’t let fear dominate, v. 26.

• Paul had been violently the early believers.
  • He watched and approved the stoning of
  • The high priests sent him far away to arrest believers in Damascus, Acts 9:1-2.
• The believers did not Paul when he showed up in Jerusalem.
  • Was he trying to them just to get inside the church?
  • Why had he disappeared for 3 years (Gal. 1:18-19)?

Be willing to take a chance, v. 27.

• Despite the Barnabas decided to bring Paul to the disciples.
  • We can assume Barnabas urgently for discernment.
  • After talking with Paul, he believed Paul’s story to be true.
  • There was no way Barnabas could guarantee Paul was telling the
• Barnabas made the best he could.
  • We can be certain the Holy Spirit was actively at work, John 16:13.

 

Watch to see what God does, vv. 28-30.

• This opened the way for Paul to work with the apostles in Jerusalem.
  • Paul began sharing the gospel in Jerusalem.
  • When his success led to persecution, the apostles helped protect him.
• Paul’s was a great encouragement to other believers.

What can we learn from Barnabas?

• Faithful service to God sometimes includes risk.
  • Refuse to let fear dictate your decisions, 2 Timothy 1:7.
• God uses people like you and me to reach the world, Acts 1:8.
  • Who is God leading you to take a risk with?
• There are many blessings we will never see if we are not willing to take a risk for God.
  • Look to see what God does when you take a risk for Him!

(Answers: persecuting, Stephen, believe, fool, risk, prayed, truth, decision, boldly, example)

 

What Child is This?

Matthew 2:1-12

December 21, 2025

King Herod was afraid.

• Herod ruthlessly killed anyone he considered a to his throne.
• He assembled the Jewish leaders to find out where the Messiah would be born.
• He said he wanted to worship the Messiah but in truth wanted to Him, vv. 7-8.
  • He used the information later to kill boys in Bethlehem under 2-years old.

The Jewish leaders were unaware.

• The Jewish leaders knew Micah’s (5:2) about Bethlehem, v. 6.
• Keep in mind these were the religious leaders of the nation.
  • They Scripture well and expected the Messiah to come.
  • They didn’t take the time to travel five or six miles to Bethlehem to check.

The wise men were searching.

• We know very little about the wise men.
  • Probably astrologers from away in the east, high in society and wealthy.
  • They were who had some knowledge of Judaism.
• Somehow, they connected an unusual star to the birth of the King of the Jews, the Messiah.
  • The best explanation for the star is that God performed a to lead the wise men.
  • In leading the wise men to Jesus, God was them to Himself.
• Though they were Gentiles, these men were acting on genuine faith.
  • It them great time, effort, and expense to travel so far.
  • They did not give up until they had seen the baby Jesus and Him.
  • God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

Which attitude best fits you?

• Are you afraid to trust God and give Him your life?
• Are God and religion something you just don’t think much about?
• Do you want to know more about God? Do you want to live your life for Him?
  • God wants us to come to Him and live our lives in His love and strength, John 6:44.
• Ask God to help you be like the wise men.

Do you know God in a personal relationship?

(Answers: threat, kill, prophecy, knew, far, Gentiles, miracle, drawing, cost, worshipped)

 

Do the Right Thing

Matthew 1:18-25

December 14, 2025

Joseph was faced with a sudden crisis that required a hard decision, vv. 18-19.

• He learned about Mary’s pregnancy getting engaged.
• Joseph only saw two divorce Mary or have her stoned to death.
  • His choice of a quiet divorce reflected that he was a man, v. 19.

God spoke to Joseph in the midst of his crisis, vv. 20-23.

• There are several times Joseph received a special message in a
• God sent an angel to confirm that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
  • Joseph needed to know Mary had not been
  • The child would be the Messiah, Jesus, who would save His people from their
  • The angel helped Joseph connect the child’s birth to Isaiah’s prophecy 700 years earlier, v. 23.

Joseph listened to God and did the right thing, vv. 24-25.

• Joseph’s obedience showed he was a man of genuine
  • Most people would not believe Joseph and Mary so they would live with social stigma.
  • Joseph was being asked to raise the of God, the Messiah.
• Joseph was willing to accept every challenge because he knew it was God’s will.

Doing the right thing is often a difficult decision.

• God wants us to trust Him than anyone or anything else.
• Following God is not necessarily easy or
• The will provide the strength and determination we need to stand firm.

Set aside time this week to read Matthew 1:18-25 and consider how it applies to you.

• Are you spending daily time with God? We can’t trust Him when we don’t walk with Him.
• Are you listening for the Holy Spirit to speak? Listening is a skill that can be developed.

Do you know God in a personal relationship?

(Answers: after, options, righteous, dream, unfaithful, sins, faith, Son, more, painless, Holy Spirit)

 

The Church’s One Foundation

Matthew 16:13-20

November 30, 2025

Built on Jesus, the Rock, vv. 17-18a CSB

• This is the time the Bible speaks of the church.
  • The Greek word for church means a called-out assembly.
  • The church is God’s people – both local and universal.
• What did Jesus mean by, on this rock I will build my church?
  • He probably meant He would build the church on my church.
    • The heart of the church is Jesus Himself in whom we find salvation.
  • The apostles held a special place in the church, Ephesians 2:19-20.
    • From Jesus’ training, the apostles built the church on Scripture, prophets.

Strengthened and guided by Jesus, the Rock, vv. 18b-19

• The church has the of the kingdom of heaven.
  • Keys open doors: sharing the leads to eternal life.
  • The church has authority to declare and guard the truth of the gospel, 1 Timothy 3:15.
    • • The church cannot give or forgive sin.
  • God’s plan to reach the world is through the Matthew 28:18-20.
• Even death, the gates of Hades, cannot stop the church.
  • defeated Satan and death once and for all, Hebrews 2:14-15.
  • With Jesus as the Rock, can stop the church!

Pray for Colosse (or your church) this week.

• God is at work using the church to reach the world.
  • Invite someone to Colosse.
  • Are you ready to join Colosse as a member?
  • Where can you get involved in Colosse ministries?
• Continue to pray about the proposed vision from Acts 2:42-47:

Equip the Church to Love God, Learn from His Word, Live in Community, and Go Into the World

(Answers: first, believers, Himself, starting, keys, gospel, salvation, church, Jesus, nothing)