Colossians 2:6–8 (ESV)

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Wow. Every week I feel like the Lord gives us just the right passage to meet us where we are.  In the midst of the current circumstances, I can’t begin to tell you how this passage has ministered to me as I studied it this week. We’ve all been learning what it means to “walk in Christ” while not being able to walk very far, at least not with other people.

Even as I type this, I just learned that our region has just come under a “Stay-at-Home Order.” That means, right now the Lord is using the thought of being rooted in Him to hold me secure and steady. My prayer is that, after this Sunday, He will do the same for you.

While the stay-at-home order is more challenging news, I want to encourage you that, based on a conversation with the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, the church is considered a life-sustaining organization; and our current approach to rooting and establishing people through worship and care is well within the bounds of this order. I’m encouraged that the mission of Christ is not being hindered!

This encouragement leads us to the last part of the passage. Now more than ever as verse seven says, we need to recall what we’ve been taught and allow ourselves to abound and overflow in thanksgiving. These are not natural actions, but that is the point. This is why our gatherings are so important. We need to be reminded regularly that deepening our roots of steadfastness, joy, and peace is a supernatural work of God so that we are not shaken or knocked off CENTER.

This week, we will learn what is means to pursue Christ in the midst of difficulty. Take some time to read the passage again and consider how our spiritual lives are strengthened as we live our lives with a Christ-Centered Pursuit. I love you, Church and I can’t wait to worship and open God’s Word with you this Sunday.

Here are the songs we’ll be singing this Sunday to help you prepare for worship.

Loved and Sent,

SUNDAY PLAN
9:00 AM  – Online Only Worship Service
10:15 AM – Meet in Small Groups Online
7:00 PM – Mission Night of Worship Online

SUNDAY RESOURCES
Everything below and more is available both on our mobile app and on our website.

Mission Kids Resources – Click Here

Sunday Online Only Worship Service at 9:00 AM

Online Giving – mission-church.com/give-now

Friendship Register – Click Here

Bulletin & Sermon Notes – Click Here

Zoom App for any device– Click Here (to prepare to connect to Small Group, Student Ministry, and Prayer Online Gatherings – individual links will sent each week by small group and student ministry leaders) 

Need a Small Group? If you are not connected with a Small Group, please click here to email Lisa Self, our Ministry Director of Hospitality & Assimilation.  She will connect you with a group for Sunday morning.

Small Group Discussion Questions

  1. What are you looking forward to pursuing/doing after we are free to leave our homes?
  2. How are you centering, steadying & rooting your walk with the Lord right now?
  3. How have you been built up and encouraged this week?
  4. What truth from God’s Word are you most grateful for?
  5. What are some examples of the elementary principles of the world? How do you see them surfacing during this season? What steps are you currently taking to stay centered on Christ?

Mission Night of Worship – Sunday 7:00 PM