Raintree Community Church

Missions Focus Sunday Dr. Joshua Paxton preached to us from 3 John 5-8, which called us to send missionaries out in a manner worthy of God so that we may be fellow workers in the Truth. He taught us how we can "hold the rope" with missionaries through meaningful involvement in training, sending, and supporting.  (Dr. Paxton is the Director of the Burnham Center for Global Engagement and Professor...

Text: Colossians 3:5-6   God's Grace Empowers Us to Make War on Sin (3:5) Because we are raised with Christ, we are empowered to put our sin to death. Because we are raised with Christ, we must no longer worship our desires.   God's Wrath Sobers Us to Think Rightly About Our Sin (3:6) For sinners outside of Christ, the wrath of God will be coming upon them; therefore, we need to take sin seriously...

Text: Colossians 3:1-4   We Must Earnestly Prioritize Christ and His Kingdom (3:1-2) Because we have been raised to life in Christ, He is our chief consideration in all things. We value Christ and His eternal kingdom over the things of earth.   We Must Purposefully Embrace Our Identity in Christ and His Kingdom (3:3-4) In Christ, we have died to ourselves and have been raised to a new identity in...

Text: Colossians 2:16-23   Consider the Insufficiency of Legalism (2:16-17) Following religious rules does not produce godliness; it can lead to self-righteousness and judgmentalism. Look to Christ as the substance of your faith!   Consider the Insufficiency of Mysticism (2:18-19) Worshipping angels and searching for visions will lead us away from the truth of the Gospel. Hold fast to Christ, the...

Travis Thompson preaches from 2 Peter 1:19-21.

Text: Colossians 2:11-15   In Christ We Are Given a New Heart (2:11-12) Because of Christ, we are given a new life with a transformed heart. Life Application: Because Christ has given us new hearts, we are now empowered by Christ to follow Him.   In Christ We Receive Complete Forgiveness (2:13-14) Because of Christ, we experience total forgiveness of all our sins as we are made alive in Him. Life...

Text: Colossians 2:6-10   We are Established in Christ (2:6-7) We look to Christ as our Lord and Savior in salvation. We are given new life in Christ through His work. We rest on Christ as our foundation with thanksgiving.   We are Steadfast in Christ (2:8) We must resist the lies of false teaching and cling to the Truth. These lies are deceptive, man-centered, and enslaving.   We are Fulfilled in...

Text: Colossians 2:1-5   Treasuring Christ Leads to True Community (2:1-2a) We have mutual encouragement in Christ because our hearts have been united in love by Christ.   Treasuring Christ Leads to Understanding the Wisdom of Christ (2:2b-3) In Christ, we have access to the abundance of His sufficient wisdom and knowledge.   Treasuring Christ Leads to Steady Resistance to Error (2:4) Because we p...

Text: Colossians 1:28-29   Proclaim Christ's Message Exclusively (1:28) The content and substance of our message is Christ alone. When Christ is proclaimed, the church will be warned of error and taught in wisdom . When Christ is proclaimed, the church will grow to maturity in Christ.   Depend on Christ's Strength Fully (1:29) We work for the sake of Christ through the power of Christ. The power o...

Text: Colossians 1:24-27     Suffer For Christ's Name Joyfully (1:24) We have been called to endure suffering with joy for the advancement of Christ's church. It is an honor to share in Christ's suffering for His Name.   Steward Christ's Word Faithfully (1:25-27) We have been entrusted with the Gospel of Christ and called to make it fully known to the world. The mystery of God's plan has been reve...

  Text: Colossians 1:21-23   What We Were Before Christ (1:21) The need for reconciliation: We were alienated, hostile in mind, doing evil deeds against God.   What We Become in Christ (1:22) The means of reconciliation: We become holy, blameless, and above reproach before God.   How We Live Because of Christ (1:23) The outcome of reconciliation: We continue by grace with steadfastness, holding on...

Text: Colossians 1:19-20   He is Preeminent in Completeness (1:19) Jesus possesses all the fullness of God Himself. Jesus lacks nothing as sovereign and supreme over all things.   He is Preeminent in the New Creation (1:20) Jesus brings complete and comprehensive reconciliation to His creation and His people. Jesus is the ultimate Restorer, making all things new in His eternal Kingdom.

Text: Colossians 1:15-18   He is Preeminent in Creation (1:15-17) Jesus is the eternal Son of God who is the exact image of God Himself. Jesus is the supreme and sovereign Creator, Sustainer, and focal point of all things.   He is Preeminent in the Church (1:18) Jesus is the Founder and Leader of the church. Jesus' death and resurrection secured our entrance into the church. Nothing can compare to...

Text: Colossians 1:13-14   The Work of Redemption Accomplished (1:13) God the Father accomplished His saving work through Christ. This saving work delivered us from darkness and brought us into the kingdom of Christ.   The Work of Redemption Applied (1:14) Through Christ's sacrificial death, we have been set free from the power of sin. Though Christ's sacrificial death, we have been forgiven of th...

Text: Colossians 1:9-12   Gospel-Centered Prayer Prioritizes God's Will (1:9) We must seek to be filled with the knowledge of God's revealed will so that we will live according to His wisdom.   Gospel-Centered Prayer Produces Godly Fruit (1:10) Knowing God's revealed will leads to a life that is pleasing to God and bears godly fruit.   Gospel-Centered Prayer is Powered by God's Strength (1:11) We...

Text: Colossians 1:3-8   The Foundation of Gospel Work (1:3-5a) The foundation of the Gospel is God Himself as He saves us by His grace. The evidence of God's saving grace is true faith in Christ and genuine love for the saints that is grounded on eternal hope in Christ.   The Fruitfulness of Gospel Work (1:5b-6) The Gospel has a global impact as the truth is preached and heard. The Gospel has a f...

Text: Colossians 1:1-2   The Author of Colossians The human author of this book is the Apostle Paul, who also penned 13 letters of the New Testament. Paul was redeemed by God's grace and became a missionary for the Gospel's sake.   The Audience of Colossians Paul wrote this letter to the church at Colossae from prison in Rome between A.D. 60-62, before his eventual martyrdom in A.D. 64. Paul was c...

Text:   Philippians 2:5-11   Jesus, Our Suffering Servant (2:5-8) These verses center on the humiliation of Jesus as He came in the flesh and died on the cross. Jesus, Our Exalted Lord (2:9-11) These verses center on the exaltation of Jesus where every earthly and heavenly being will bow at His feet and give Him the worship He deserves.

Text: Isaiah 9:6-7 and other selected passages   Jesus Makes Peace With God and Man Jesus broke down the wall of hostility between God and man through His atoning work on the cross. Jesus brings wholeness and reconciliation to our relationships. Consider these verses: Psalm 85:8-10; Isaiah 55:10-11; Ephesians 2:12-18; Colossians 1:19-22; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24   Jesus Brings Peace Within our Hear...

Text:  Isaiah 9:6 and Selected Passages   Jesus is the Father of Eternity Jesus is the self-existent Son of God who is the unchanging author of eternity. Consider these passages: Psalm 90:1-2; Isaiah 40:28-31; 1 Timothy 1:14-17; Hebrews 1:10-12, 13:8.   Jesus' Fatherly Care is Everlasting Jesus' fatherly care toward us is never-ending and overflowing. Jesus calls us to come to Him as weak, burdene...

Text:  Isaiah 9:6 & Other Selected Passages   Jesus is Mighty in Creation Jesus is our mighty fortress, present help, and comfort. Consider these passages: Genesis 1:1; Psalm 33:6-9; Psalm 95:1-6; John 1:1-4   Jesus is Mighty in Salvation Jesus is mighty to rescue us from our bondage to sin and give us new life in Him. Consider these passages: Psalm 40:1-4; Zephaniah 3:17; Luke 1:46-55; Galatians...

Text: Isaiah 9:1-6   The Light That Shines into Spiritual Darkness (9:1-5) Jesus is the promised Light that brings deliverance and hope to those living under sin's tyranny.   The Child Who is Born with a God-given Destiny (9:6) Jesus is the promised Son who was born as our Savior, but also as our King.   The Counselor Who Comes with Divine Wisdom (9:7) Jesus is the promised Counselor in whom all w...

Gebriell Sierra preaches to us from James 4:8 on drawing near to God.

Text:  Titus 3:12-15     We must intentionally provide for the needs of our Gospel ambassadors (3:12-13). The Gospel points us outward to encourage and support fellow laborers in the ministry.   We must lovingly support the needs of our Gospel community (3:14-15a). The Gospel points us inward in addressing the urgent needs of the church by devoting ourselves to good works.   We must willingly rely...