Final Instructions: Living in an increasingly tense and unusually difficult era.

We are living in an increasingly tense and unusually difficult era. It seems every arena of society is shifting and being reshaped in someway. Often, change is not something that we as human beings handle or embrace with great joy and acceptance. Change can become debilerating to our condition and churches, if we focus on the change, and if we do not actively invest in intentionality and new growth amidst the change. How we live despite changing times, makes all the difference.

Paul, an highly educated Jewish leader from many generations ago, encountered the risen Jesus in an undeniable and unforgettable way. This undeniable and unforgettable encounter brought about some significant change for Paul - changing both how he viewed God and how he experienced the tense and unusual difficulty around him. Paul's encounter shifted and reshaped every area of his life. As a result, Paul embraced this change, and learned to embrace all the change and tension that faced from after that point. Paul constantly invested in new practices and intentionality to grow in new ways as a leader and as one who follows God. He invested these practices in his churches and friends as well.

It is not surprise then, that Paul writes to the Colossian church, a church that was in the middle of their own season of cultural and moral earthquakes. Paul's letter is instruction and encouragement, but there is also an undeniable challenge for them to embrace reality, not become deliberated, and to push towards intentionality and growth in a season of change. In fact, Paul closed his letter to the Colossian Churches with some final instructions on how to develop a posture and practice of intentionality and growth. Paul's final instructions were meant to notably challenge them to invest in new practices and intentionality, to push towards maturity in Christ, despite the increasingly tense and unusual difficulties of their era.

Through our series Final Instructions, at River Corner Church, we studied what it means for followers of Jesus to actively invest in intentionality and new growth amidst the increasingly tense and unusually difficult era. This series looks at four distinct final instructions from Paul's letter to the Colossians.

1. Devoted to Prayer (Colossians 4:2) 
2. Intercessory Prayer (Colossians 4:3-4)
3. Make the Most (Colossians 4:5)
4. Gracious Conversations (Colossians 4:6)

These four final instructions are noteworthy lessons that come from four noticeable themes that Paul had creatively woven throughout the letter to the Colossian churches. It is my hope that these four final instructions will help inspire you towards maturity with Jesus, despite this increasingly tense and unusually difficult era.

If you need prayer or have any questions, please contact me.

Also, River Corner Church is a growing church community of everyday people who gather to worship God, follow Jesus, and journey through life together. We invite you to gather with us on Sundays at 10:00 AM. You will find us gathering at 524 River Corner Road in Conestoga, PA.