Connect 360: A Genuine Church

  |  Source: BaptistWay Press

Lesson 6 from the BaptistWay Press Connect 360 unit “The Fullness of Christ” focuses on Colossians 2:1-7.

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  • Lesson 6 from the BaptistWay Press Connect 360 unit “The Fullness of Christ” focuses on Colossians 2:1-7.

There is a need in all of us to have our hearts encouraged—and to encourage the heart of others. Paul spoke of our need to realize that our hearts are knitted together in love. The phrase “having been knit together” (Col. 2:2) means that it is a one-time event in which we are the recipients of the action. We do not do the knitting; Christ knits all true believers together when lives are committed to him. We are bonded; therefore, we should be encouraged in our hearts and live lovingly with one another.

Christ—the embodiment of the love of God—lives in us and wants us, both as individuals and as the church, to experience and share his divine love with others (Col. 2:2). As individuals and as the living organism called the “church,” we are to have hearts and minds—and we are to employ both. Our minds are to be adept in two types of mental information: knowledge, which involves factual and truthful information; and wisdom, which is a God-given ability to know how to apply and use such knowledge.

We are deeply planted and rooted in Christ, and like trees, our roots need to go deep down into fertile soil. We should cooperate with God as he stimulates our roots to dig deeper into Christ and his word so that we will never be uprooted by that which is false. We should seek to do as Jesus did by “increasing in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and people” (Luke 2:52).

Knit together in Christ

God has knit all believers together in Christ. We don’t need to earn God’s love; we need to show it to others. God wants us to invest our hearts in Christ’s agendas and use our minds to process and utilize knowledge in wise ways. We need to be rooted in Christ, and he should permeate all aspects of our lives.

We must become thankful believers who are so full of gratitude that it continually overflows wherever we go. Commit to splash gratitude in your workplace, home, church, at stores and so forth. The church is comprised of you and me, and it will only be as alive and active as we are.

Compiled by Stan Granberry, marketing coordinator for BaptistWay Press.

To learn more about BaptistWay Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.

 


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