Evangel Community Church

Evangel Community Church "The Church with a Heart"

05/31/2026

What Makes Christians Most Thankful

Join us this Sunday for a powerful study from Colossians 1:12–14: "What Makes Christians Most Thankful?" We have been qu...
05/30/2026

Join us this Sunday for a powerful study from Colossians 1:12–14: "What Makes Christians Most Thankful?" We have been qualified for an eternal inheritance, delivered from the power of darkness, and transferred into the kingdom of God's beloved Son. When we grasp what Christ has done for us, thanksgiving becomes the natural response of the heart.

"What Makes Christians Most Thankful?"
May 31, 2026●Colossians 1:12-14●Pastor Jeff Heidt

"Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." — Colossians 1:12–14 ESV

INTRODUCTION: The Question That Changes Everything
• Paul's consistent pattern praying without ceasing for the Colossians
• The apostolic commitment: "We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word" — Acts 6:4
The Two-Wing Model of Prayer:
o Petition — Verses 9–11 (asking God for something)
o Praise — Verses 12–14 (thanking God for something)
• The biblical balance: "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving" — Philippians 4:6
• "Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people" — 1 Timothy 2:1

FOUNDATION: Why We Must Give Thanks
• The simple but neglected command: "Giving thanks to the Father" Col. 1:12
• We never forget to ask — we only forget to thank
The Angels Thank God:
• "The living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne" — Revelation 4:9
• "Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving… to our God forever and ever" — Revelation 7:11
Jesus Himself Gave Thanks:
• "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth" — Matthew 11:25
• Gave thanks at the Last Supper — Matthew 26:27
• Gave thanks before feeding the five thousand — John 6:11
• Gave thanks at the tomb of Lazarus — John 11:41
We Are Commanded to Give Thanks:
• "Whatever you do… giving thanks to God the Father through him" — Colossians 3:17
• "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God" —
1 Thessalonians 5:18
The Contrast — The Mark of Godlessness:
• "Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him" — Romans 1:21
• Ingratitude marks a life without God; gratitude marks a life transformed by God
A Survey of Scriptural Reasons for Thanksgiving:
• For food — "Everything created by God is good… received with thanksgiving" — 1 Timothy 4:4
• For God Himself — "Give thanks to his holy name" — Psalm 30:4
• For His nearness — "We give thanks, for your name is near" Ps. 75:1
• For salvation — "I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord" — 1 Timothy 1:12
• For spiritual progress in others — "Your faith is growing abundantly" — 2 Thessalonians 1:3
• For everything — "I cease not to give thanks for you" — Eph. 1:16

THE PRIMARY ANSWER: What Christians Are MOST Thankful For
• Above all else — the work of Jesus Christ on the cross
• "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" — 2 Corinthians 9:15
• "Thanks be to God, that you… were once slaves of sin" — Rom. 6:17
• "Who will deliver me… Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" — Romans 7:24–25
• "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" — 1 Corinthians 15:57
• "Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession" — 2 Corinthians 2:14

■Pillar One: THE INHERITANCE (v. 12)
"Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light."
God qualified the unqualified:
• The Greek word means to make adequate, to grant the right, the title, the position
• This is positional, not performance-based — it is the finished work of Christ applied to you
• Before grace, we were completely disqualified:
o "You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked" — Ephesians 2:1–3
o "Separated from Christ… having no hope and without God in the world" — Ephesians 2:11–12
• God qualified you when EVERYTHING about you was disqualified — that alone deserves praise
 A Personal, Individual Inheritance:
• "Partaker" in Greek means to receive your own personal lot & portion
• Not a shared group package — every believer receives their own individual inheritance
• "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" — Luke 10:25 (You can't DO anything — it's a gift)
The Three Dimensions of the Inheritance:
1. Eternal Life - "Everyone… will inherit eternal life" — Matthew 19:29
• Eternal life is not merely quantity of life — it is a quality of life
• It is God's own life dwelling in you — Christ in you
• "This is the true God and eternal life" — 1 John 5:20
• God is holy about where He dwells- He qualified you to be His temple
• The glory departed from a defiled Israel (Ezekiel's vision — Ichabod) — but grace made you fit for His presence
2. The Whole Earth - "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" — Matt. 5:5
• Future reign with Christ — "You will… eat and drink at my table in my kingdom" — Luke 22:29–30
• Present reality — "He will receive a hundredfold now in this time: houses, brothers, sisters" — Mark 10:30
• Since the kingdom is coming, the pressure to grab everything now is lifted!
3. All the Promises
• "Imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" — Hebrews 6:12
• Every promise in Scripture belongs to the believer — healing, provision, peace, wisdom, strength
• This inheritance is ETERNAL — "the promised eternal inheritance" — Hebrews 9:15

The Guarantee: "The Holy Spirit of promise… the guarantee of our inheritance" — Ephesians 1:13–14
• Arrabon in Greek — down payment, pledge, engagement ring
• The Holy Spirit in you is God's engagement ring - the wedding is coming
• "The eyes of your hearts enlightened… the riches of his glorious inheritance" — Ephesians 1:18
• Get into the Word to understand your inheritance — "the word of his grace… give you the inheritance" — Acts 20:32

■Pillar Two: THE DELIVERANCE (v. 13a)
"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness."
Instant, Complete, Accomplished Deliverance:
• "Delivered" in Greek means to draw to oneself -to rescue from danger
• Aorist tense — single, completed action at a specific point in time
• That moment: the new birth — the instant you placed faith in Christ
• Stop seeking what you already have — claim it, walk in it, live from it
The Domain of Darkness:
• "Domain" = jurisdiction, authority, legal governing power
• The very term Jesus used in Luke 22:53 at His arrest — "this is your hour, and the power of darkness"
• Satan's jurisdiction had its brief, dark hour — it ended in total defeat at the resurrection
• "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" Rom 16:20
• "Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world" — 1 Jn. 4:4
What the Cross Accomplished:
• Jesus went into the grip of darkness willingly
• He rose with all authority — and in rising, He pulled every one of His people out of the enemy's grip
• The enemy may still threaten — but he has no legal jurisdiction over a blood-bought believer
• You are FREE. Delivered. Rescued. Not gradually — instantly and completely

■Pillar Three: THE TRANSFERENCE (v. 13b)
"And transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son."
Not Just OUT, but INTO:
• "Transferred" means to completely relocate, to change domains entirely
• Salvation is not only rescue FROM — it is placement INTO
• You have been repositioned from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light
• "The kingdom of the Son of His love" — the Father gives His kingdom to the Son He loves, and gives citizenship to all who love the Son

A Present AND Future Kingdom:
• Future dimension: literal return of Christ, millennial reign, eternal kingdom
• Present dimension: "The kingdom of God is… righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" — Romans 14:17
• A kingdom is a group of people ruled by a king — you have already crowned Him King
• Even in a world that rejects Him, He is no less a King

An Unshakeable Kingdom:
• "Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken" — Hebrews 12:28
• Markets shake. Governments shake. Health shakes. Relationships shake. But the kingdom you belong to CANNOT BE SHAKEN
• This is the stability that the world cannot buy & cannot take from you

Kingdom Responsibility:
• "Walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory" — 1 Thessalonians 2:12
• "That you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer" — 2 Thessalonians 1:5
• We are ambassadors of the King — how we live reflects on Him
• The way we speak, love, respond, and endure is kingdom witness to a watching world

The Hinge: REDEMPTION (v. 14)
"In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
• This is what makes inheritance, deliverance, and transference possible
• Redemption = to buy back, to pay a ransom, to release a captive
• God put the full weight of sin on Jesus at the cross — the penalty was paid in full
• The result: complete, final, permanent forgiveness of sins
• Every sin. Every failure. Every shame. Every secret chapter. Forgiven!
• "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" — 2 Corinthians 9:15
• This is the primary reason for Christian thanksgiving - now & forever

CONCLUSION: Wake Up to What You Have
• Paul modeled the balanced prayer life — petition AND praise, asking AND thanking
• His thanksgiving always circled back to salvation, to the cross, to Christ
Three Challenges:
1. Thank God for your inheritance — You were disqualified; He qualified you. The Holy Spirit is your guarantee. Eternal life, the whole earth, and every promise is yours.
2. Thank God for your deliverance — You were instantly and completely rescued. The domain of darkness has no legal claim on you. You are free.
3. Thank God for your transference — You belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken. You carry the King's authority. You live under His reign right now.

05/24/2026

Filled to Overflowing

What fills your mind will shape your life. This Sunday we’re opening Colossians 1:9–11 in a message called Filled to Ove...
05/23/2026

What fills your mind will shape your life. This Sunday we’re opening Colossians 1:9–11 in a message called Filled to Overflowing — discovering what it means to walk worthy through the knowledge of His will. God never called us to shallow Christianity, but to lives overflowing with truth, strength, wisdom, and joy. If you are hungry for deeper understanding, stronger faith, and a closer walk with Christ, come join us. Come expecting God to speak through His Word.

"Filled To Overflowing"
Walking Worthy Through the Knowledge of His Will
May 24, 2026●Colossians 1:9-11●Pastor Jeff Heidt

I. The Most Powerful Thing You Will Never See
The Central Question
• What if the most powerful thing happening in your life right now... is something you cannot see?
• Intercession: we can minister to one another without seeing or speaking to one another — through prayer
• Col 1:9a "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you."

II. The Priority of Praying For One Another
Intercession Is the First Priority — Not a Last Resort
• Eph 6:18 "...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit...for all saints."
• 1 Tim 2:1 "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions...be made for all men."
• Heb 13:18 "Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience..."
• Gal 4:19 "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you."
• Every believer is a priest- interceding before God on behalf of the saints
• Paul agonized (agonizomenos) in prayer — birth pangs — until believers became Christlike
The Two Pillars of Ministry
• Acts 6:4 "...but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
• Eph 4:11 Apostles, prophets, evangelists, teaching pastors given for the perfecting of the saints
• Col 4:12 "Epaphras...always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete."
Praying for Those Who Are Doing Well
• Paul's response: "Since I heard how well you're doing — I have not stopped praying for you"
What Is 'Praying Without Ceasing'?
• 1 Thess 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."
• Not a formal posture of prayer every moment — a consciousness
• God-Conscious: seeing in relationship to God instantly
• People-Conscious: seeing people in relationship to God
• Where God-consciousness and love for people meet — that is where intercession lives

III. The Petition — 'That You May Be Filled'
• Col 1:9b "...that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding."
The Word 'Filled' — pleroo = saturated — totally dominated — under the full control of. Like a glass of water filled to the brim.
• Stephen (Acts 6:5): 'a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit' — dominated, no room for doubt
• You can know something without being filled with it — knowledge sitting on a shelf, not touching behavior
• Substitute: 'That you may be controlled by the knowledge of His will'
The Word 'Knowledge' — epignosis — intensified, deep, full, life-changing, controlling knowledge
• 1 Cor 1:5 "In everything you were enriched by Him, in all utterance and all knowledge."
• Col 2:3 "...in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
• Phil 1:9 "...that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment."
• Rom 12:2 "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
• John 8:32 "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
• Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
• Isa 27:11 "It is a people of no understanding."
• Transformation starts in the mind — what you truly believe controls how you live
• God never intended Christianity to be empty emotion without truth underneath it
The Will of God — Revealed, Not Hidden — it is written in His Word
•SAVED — "Not willing that any should perish..." (2 Pet 3:9)
•SPIRIT-FILLED — "...be filled with the Spirit." (Eph 5:18)
•SANCTIFIED-"For this is the will of God, your sanctification." 1Thes 4:3
•THANKFUL-"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God."1 Thes 5:18
The Pathway from Ignorance to Knowledge
• John 7:17 "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine."

STEP 1: DESIRE — Hunger for God; you cannot stumble into truth, you must pursue it
• Hosea 6:3 "Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord."

STEP 2: THE HOLY SPIRIT - Receive Christ → God gives the Holy Spirit
• John 16:13 "When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth."

STEP 3: THE WORD — The Spirit reveals and illuminates Scripture
• 2 Tim 3:16 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable...that the man of God may be complete."
Wisdom and Spiritual Understanding
• Wisdom (sophia): taking God's truth and forming it into governing principles for life
• Understanding (sunesis): taking those principles and applying them to real-life situations
• The bridge between hearing and doing — between Scripture and daily living
• Knowledge→ Wisdom→ Application = The Chain Of Transformation
• Obedience starts in the mind → self-control → right thinking → right knowledge → changed life

IV. FIVE BENEFITS OF APPLIED KNOWLEDGE (Col 1:10–11)
• Greek hina clause — 'in order that' — when truth fills and controls you, things start changing

BENEFIT ONE: You Will Walk Worthy of the Lord - v.10a
• Col 1:10a "...that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him."
•'Walk'=daily conduct,moment-by-moment life-not Sunday performance
•Worthy walk = your practice matches your position
• Eph 4:1 "...walk worthy of the calling with which you were called."
• 1 Thess 2:12 "...that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory."
• 2 Cor 6:16b "I will dwell in them and walk among them."
• 1 John 2:6 "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."
•Jesus is not only your example — He’s your strength; He walks in you through the Holy Spirit
•Result: 'fully pleasing Him' - not performing/pretending - living from the inside out

BENEFIT TWO: You Will Be Fruitful In Every Good Work — v.10b
• Col 1:10b "...being fruitful in every good work..."
• God's people are not ornamental — we are fruit-bearing trees
• Ps 1:3 "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season."
• Fruit = souls won to Christ (Rom 1:13)
• Fruit = praise — 'the fruit of our lips' (Heb 13:15)
• Fruit = generous giving (Phil 4)
• Fruit = righteous living — kindness, love, purity, faithfulness
• James 3:17 "The wisdom that is from above is...full of mercy and good fruits."
• 2 Pet 1:8 "...if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful."
• John 15:5 "He who abides in Me...bears much fruit."
• Where there is no fruit, there is usually a lack of truth — fruit GROWS where truth lives

BENEFIT THREE: You Will Grow In The Knowledge Of God — v.10c
• Col 1:10c "...increasing in the knowledge of God."
• Growth = maturing — moving from infancy toward Christlikeness
• Eph 4:13 Goal: 'the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ'
• 1 Pet 2:2 "...as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."
• 2 Tim 3:16–17 Scripture profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction — 'that the man of God may be complete'
• We grow by the knowledge of God — knowledge is the instrument, not just the destination
• A glorious upward spiral: feed on the word → grow → want to know more → grow more
• 2 Pet 3:18 "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
• Eph 1:17–18 "...the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened."

BENEFIT FOUR: You Will Be Strengthened With All Might — v.11a
• Col 1:11a "...strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power..."
• Not a little power — not barely enough to survive — all might, according to His glorious power
• 'Strengthened'=present participle-continuous, daily, sustained action
• Eph 3:16 "...to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man."
• Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you."
• 2 Cor 4 (Phillips): 'pressed but not crushed, puzzled but not in despair, struck down but not destroyed'
• Outward man wears out — Inward man receives fresh strength
• The more you know Him, the stronger you become — truth goes deeper, power rises higher
• Phil 4:11–13 "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content...I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

BENEFIT FIVE: You will endure everything with joy — v.11b
• Col 1:11b "...for all patience and longsuffering with joy."
• PATIENCE (hupomone): steadfast endurance — standing firm because you know God is working
• LONGSUFFERING (makrothumia): patient endurance with people and slow circumstances, trusting God's timing
• WITH JOY — not bitterness, not resignation — joyful endurance
• The key to joyful endurance is: knowledge
• James 1:2–3 "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."
• Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego: 'Our God is able to deliver us — but if not — we still will not bow' (Dan 3:17–18)
• Paul & Silas in prison: midnight, backs bleeding, feet chained — singing — because they knew God was in control
• Rom 8:28 "All things work together for good to those who love God."
• Deep knowledge of God → deep endurance → deep joy — prison bars cannot steal it

CLOSING • THE CHALLENGE – The Chain:
Knowledge → Wisdom → Application → Worthy Walk → Fruitfulness → Growth → Strength → Joyful Endurance-it all starts with being filled by the Holy Spirit

05/17/2026

The Gospel Truth

What is the Gospel Truth? In Colossians 1, the Apostle Paul reminds us that the gospel is not just a religious idea — it...
05/16/2026

What is the Gospel Truth? In Colossians 1, the Apostle Paul reminds us that the gospel is not just a religious idea — it is the power of God that changes lives forever. This message explores seven powerful truths about the gospel: it is received by faith, produces love, anchors us in hope, bears fruit, and reaches the world through ordinary people filled with the Spirit of God. Jesus still saves, still transforms, and still calls His church to carry the Good News to a broken world. Join us as we open the Word of God and lift up the name above every name — Jesus Christ.

"The Gospel Truth"
May 17, 2026● Colossians 1:1-8●Pastor Jeff Heidt

The word Gospel means good news — from the Greek euangelion.

THE FOUNDATION — Colossians 1:1-2 ________________________________________
I. THE WRITER — Paul, the Apostle (v. 1a)
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God…" — Colossians 1:1a
• Jewish by ancestry. Roman by citizenship. Greek by culture. Pharisee by training — then God’s grace interrupted everything!
• "By the will of God" — Paul never campaigned for his calling. God called him, placed him, and sustained him.
Key Truth: The greatest credential any servant of God carries is not talent or title — it is the will of God.
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II. THE COMPANION — Timothy, the Brother (v. 1b)
"…and Timothy our brother…" — Colossians 1:1b
• Paul was chained in a Roman prison — but Timothy was there beside him: his spiritual son, trusted and faithful.
Key Truth: Never underestimate the power of simply standing beside someone — praying with them, encouraging them, reminding them they are not alone.
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III. THE READERS — The Saints at Colossae (v. 2a)
"…to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae…"
• Saint means set apart for God — not spiritually elite, but anyone who belongs to Jesus Christ by grace.
• Colossae was a small, fading, forgotten city — yet God sent them a letter that would last for eternity.
• Key Truth: God loves to use ordinary people in overlooked places to accomplish His eternal plans.
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IV. THE GREETING — Grace and Peace (v. 2b)
"Grace to you & peace from God our Father & the Lord Jesus Christ."
• Grace — God's undeserved favor poured out on sinners through Jesus Christ. Not earned. Not achieved.
• Peace — deep reconciliation with God. A settled heart resting in Christ. Grace always comes first — peace always follows.
• Key Truth: You will never find true peace by trying harder. Peace is always the result of receiving the grace of God.
SEVEN PILLARS OF THE GOSPEL TRUTH — Colossians 1:3–8
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Pillar #1 — THE GOSPEL TRUTH IS RECEIVED BY FAITH (v. 4a)
"Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus…" — Colossians 1:4a
• Paul thanks God first – not for their money or talent – for their faith.
• Nobody is saved by church attendance, family background, or another person's prayers. The Gospel is received by faith alone.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." — Hebrews 11:1
• Faith is not wishful thinking — it is trusting what God said before you can see it. Noah built for 120 years while everyone laughed. Every hammer strike was faith.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved." – Acts 16:31
Key Truth: The greatest miracle in this room is that somebody believed the Gospel. Salvation starts — faith in Jesus Christ.
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Pillar #2 — THE GOSPEL TRUTH RESULTS IN LOVE (v. 4b)
"…and of your love for all the saints…" — Colossians 1:4b
• Real faith always produces love. You cannot truly meet Jesus and stay the same.
"Faith works through love." — Galatians 5:6
• Their love was for all the saints — not just the easy ones, not just those who agree with you. All of them.
"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." — John 13:35
"The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit." — Romans 5:5
Key Truth: The Gospel does not just change what you believe — it changes how you love.
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Pillar #3 — THE GOSPEL TRUTH RESTS IN HOPE (v. 5)
"…because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven…" Col. 1:5
• Faith receives the Gospel. Love flows from the Gospel. Hope keeps you standing when everything around you is shaking.
• "Laid up" means reserved, protected, kept safe — by God Himself.
"An inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you." — 1 Peter 1:4
• You have been bought with a price! Purchased by the blood of Jesus. Sealed by the Holy Spirit. Your name is written in glory.
"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." — Hebrews 6:19
"The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." — Romans 8:18
• Key Truth: When your hope is anchored in Christ — storms may rage, hell may fight — but you are not going under. The anchor holds.
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POINT 4 — THE GOSPEL TRUTH REACHES THE WORLD (v. 6a)
"…which has come to you, as it has also in all the world…" Col. 1:6a
• False teachers said: "Jesus is not enough — you need deeper secrets, hidden knowledge, something more." Paul's answer: The Gospel is for the whole world — because every human heart has the same problem: sin.
"The same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him." – Rom 10:12 "This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world…" Matt 24:14
• The Gospel came to you – out of all the people on earth, the message reached your ears, Christ called your name and opened your heart.
"For God so loved the world…whoever believes in Him…" John 3:16
Key Truth: The Gospel is global in its reach — but it is also personal. Out of all the people on this earth, the message found you. ________________________________________
Pillar #5 — THE GOSPEL TRUTH PRODUCES FRUIT (v. 6b)
"…and is bringing forth fruit…" — Colossians 1:6b
• The Gospel is alive — different from every religion, philosophy. Religion says "Try harder." The Gospel says "Be made new."
• When the Gospel enters a heart — love replaces hatred, joy replaces emptiness, peace replaces fear, purity replaces perversion, forgiveness replaces bitterness.
"The word of God is living and powerful…" — Hebrews 4:12
Key Truth: Nobody can change themselves like that. Only the power of God can transform the human heart – and changed people reach people.
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Pillar #6 — THE GOSPEL TRUTH IS ROOTED IN GRACE (v. 6c)
"…you heard and knew the grace of God in truth…" — Colossians 1:6c
• Every religion says: work harder, do better, earn your way. The Gospel says: you need God’s grace.
• Grace is God giving what is not deserved — mercy extended to those who deserve judgment.
"By grace you have been saved through faith…not of works…" — Ephesians 2:8–9
• You cannot earn a gift. You can only receive it. When Lydia heard Paul preach - "the Lord opened her heart." God did it. His grace alone.
Key Truth: Nobody in heaven will say they made it on their own. Every redeemed soul will say - "Jesus saved me. Jesus kept me. Jesus paid it all."
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Pillar #7 — THE GOSPEL TRUTH IS REPORTED BY MEN (vv. 7–8)
"…as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit." — Colossians 1:7–8
• Paul calls Epaphras faithful — not famous, not flashy, not flawless. Just faithful.
• Somebody had to go to Colossae. Somebody had to open their mouth. Epaphras did — and a church was born.
"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" — Romans 10:14–15a
"It pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." — 1 Corinthians 1:21b
Key Truth: If you don't speak — someone may never hear. If you don't go — someone may never know. The chain breaks wherever a human link is missing.
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TODAY’S REFLECTIONS...
1. Have I truly put my faith in Jesus Christ — or have I been trusting in religion, routine, and my own efforts to save me?
2. Does my life show real gospel love for others, or have I allowed pride, bitterness, selfishness, or division to grow in my heart?
3. Am I living with my hope anchored in heaven, or have I become so attached to this world that eternity barely affects the way I live?
4. Is the gospel still producing fruit in my life — changing me, stretching me, convicting me, making me more like Jesus — or have I become spiritually stagnant?
5. Am I depending on the grace of God daily, or am I trying to earn God’s approval through performance and appearance?
6. Who in my life needs to hear the gospel from me this week — and will I be faithful enough to open my mouth and tell them what Jesus Christ has done?

05/10/2026

Missionary Tim and Debbie Anderson

Come join us this Sunday to hear what God is doing in South America from our missionaries Tim and Debbie Anderson...
05/09/2026

Come join us this Sunday to hear what God is doing in South America from our missionaries Tim and Debbie Anderson...

Every Monday Night at Evangel Cafe @ 5 P.M. we'll be having a Bible Study in the Book of Esther taught by our very own N...
05/09/2026

Every Monday Night at Evangel Cafe @ 5 P.M. we'll be having a Bible Study in the Book of Esther taught by our very own Nicki Bugbee. Ladies, bring your bible and a friend...

National Day of Prayer on May 7 at 7 P.M. Evangel Community Church, 500 McDonnell Street, Chittenango
05/05/2026

National Day of Prayer on May 7 at 7 P.M. Evangel Community Church, 500 McDonnell Street, Chittenango

Address

500 McDonnell Street
Chittenango, NY
13037

Opening Hours

Wednesday 7pm - 9:30pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

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