The Town Church / Fort Collins

We begin Colossians with an introduction to the context of the book and the central theme of this series: Christ is all. This letter opens with thanksgiving and a prayer of encouragement for the church at Colossae. These verses serve as a model for us in our own prayers and a reminder of the qualifying work of the gospel. 

Last week, Vince led us through the vision of The Town Church. This week, three of our elders lead us through the mission of the church, which is broken into four categories. These four categories show us how we can practically live out the church's vision to see the gospel transform everything. 

As a church, our vision is to see the gospel transform everything. This week, we launch our Vision and Mission series by narrowing in on the gospel and its transformative power. 

This week, we get to hear from all of you! Vince reads out responses to the question posed to the church: How did this series through 1 and 2 Samuel raise your affections for Jesus? 

The book of 2 Samuel concludes by demonstrating once again how God uses our own sinful motives to fulfill His purposes and bring glory to His name. Through this, we are reminded of the true and perfect King who leads His people to right worship. 

This week, we explore the gospel themes woven throughout 2 Samuel 21 and 22, and we also lean into prayer and the patience of God.  How have we recognized our own lack of prayer in certain situations in life, and what draws us to finally seek the Lord? When it seems like justice is delayed, how can we still trust God? 

All of Scripture is meant to point us toward Christ and the Gospel. This week's sermon explores the key Gospel themes presented in 2 Samuel 21 and 22. 

2 Samuel 20 looks at three different types of people: the worthless or rebellious, the seemingly faithful, and the faithful. How do we see those categories play out in the world today? What do expressions of false faithfulness look like? Can we think of times when we tend to be inconsistent in our own character?  Bonus: Betty brings the best podcast snack to the studio! 

2 Samuel 20 begins with a rebellion against David and ends with a glimpse of who has remained faithful to him. Throughout the passage, we also see men who seem faithful to the king, when in reality their loyalties lie elsewhere.  This inconsistency in character challenges us look inward and consider what our fruit reveals about the abundance of our own hearts. 

This week, the king returns home.  How did David get to a place where his response was to pardon, give, and bless? What can we learn from the characters' responses to David's actions? What "wilderness experiences" have we walked through, and how have we grown from them? 

Throughout this passage, we see David extending mercy and kindness to those who do not deserve it. His actions point us to a perfect King who pardons abundantly out of His deep love for us. 

Another special guest joins us as we explore more of 2 Samuel and its characters.  How have we seen David change throughout these past couple of weeks? What do we learn about Joab's character, and how does he contribute to the changes in David? As we continue pushing through heavy passages, where can we look for hope? 

The pattern of trouble and brokenness continues for David and his family as Absalom is killed, ending his rebellion. Through this story of destruction and grief, our hearts are pointed even more toward the coming King and the restoration He provides. 

Guided by Proverbs 19:21, the sermon led us to see that despite the many plans man might make, God's purposes will always stand. We continue that conversation in this week's AfterWord by exploring a few questions: Does this Proverb elicit comfort or fear? How can we hold plans our own plans loosely? What does it look like to submit to and discern good counsel? 

In his continued plot to overthrow David, Absalom seeks out counsel from Ahithophel and Hushai. While many plans are made in the minds of these men, we are reminded that the purposes of the Lord will always stand in the end. 

This week, we examine the characteristics of the two central figures of this passage: Absalom and David. What can we observe about their character from the text, and what can we learn through them?  Additionally, we learn what Jon's favorite condiment is (hint: it's not generally identified as a condiment)!

Conflict between rebellion and surrender are displayed in this passage through Absalom and David. Absalom's rebellion puts David in a challenging position, requiring a response from the king.  How does David respond to his circumstances, and what can we learn through him? 

This week, we continue to examine the effects of sin on David and his family. How can we zoom out enough to see the long-term consequences of sin in our own lives? What does redemption and hope look like in situations that we may never understand?  We recognize that the heaviness of these chapters may speak directly into your own story. If you find yourself in this position, our desire is to suppo...

Patterns of sin and its consequences continue in David's family, leading to grief, anger, and murder. The heaviness of these chapters points us to the hope we have in Christ-- hope of restoration, renewal, and the eternal weight of glory that is to come. 

David makes a series of destructive decisions, leading us to see God's discipline in David's life. How can we discern between discipline and trials? How do we see David respond throughout these chapters, and what can we learn from these responses? 

David, the king anointed and established by God, makes a series of decisions that are displeasing in the eyes of the Lord.  Through David's sin, we see the Lord's loving discipline and His work of redemption in David's life. This passage opens our eyes to the reality of our own sin and points us toward the ultimate redemption accomplished through Christ! 

David is settling into his role as king and is pointing us forward to see glimpses of Jesus! How do you relate with Mephibosheth? How do the events related to Mephibosheth reveal the beauty of the gospel for our own lives? 

Now that God has established David's throne in Jerusalem, David's attention turns both outward in military battles as well as inward in caring for the remnant of Saul's family. Through it all, we see greater and greater glimpses and longings for the future coming King Jesus!

David desires to set up Jerusalem as the capital city as well as the worship city for the people of God. God has created us to worship him - and all of life points us to him. This week we discuss the seriousness of the worship of God. What stands in your way of worshiping God? What helps you as you continue to pursue the worship of God, and in what Olympic event is Betty competing?

All things in our lives are meant to point us back to the reality that we were created to worship the Creator.  2 Samuel 6-7 remind us that God desires to be worshipped fully and rightly, and His ultimate plan is His eternal worship.