Biblical Priorities
Colossians 1:12-18
Intro:
What is most important to you?
At our retreat last fall, I asked the kids this question, If your house was on fire and everyone was out safely, what one thing would you go back in to get?
That is your priority.
There are some things in the Bible the God says should be our first priority in our lives.
Colossians 1:18 tells us that in all things Jesus should have the preeminence, or first place.
What are some other Biblical Priorities?
I.The priority of the Great Commandment. Deut. 6:4-5
A.Do you love the Lord with all your heart?
B.The problem with many Christians is that they love the Lord with only part of their heart.
c. When Hezekiah was restoring the Nation of Israel to the Lord the Bible says.
2 Chronicles. 31:21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
C. Our first priority should be to love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul and all our might.
1. We should love Him like he loved us.
2. Unconditionally – without connections.
3. We often love God for what he can do for us.
4.As long as you bless me I will serve you.
D. Our love for Him WILL be shown in our lives.
1.It will show in our service.
2.It will show in our sacrifice.
3.It will show in our submission (obedience)
E. A part of this Great Commandment is to teach our
Children to Love the Lord. Vs. 6-9
1.Teach them diligently. (like you would sharpen a
knife on a whet stone)
2. Teach them daily vs 7
3. Teach them deeply. Vs 8-9
The Great Commandment should be a priority in our lives and in our homes.
II. The priority of the Great Commission. Matt. 28:19-20
A. This is the only thing that Jesus told us to do before His ascension.
1.Make disciples.
2.Baptize them
3.Teach them.
B.It is to be worldwide in scope beginning at home.
-Acts 1:8 gives us the strategy.
1.Home
2.Region
3.Near by
4.The World.
C. This must be a personal priority.
1.Are you doing all you can to reach souls for Christ?
2.Everyone here knows someone who needs the Lord.
3.Let’s not only pray for souls, but go out and win
them to Christ.
4.I want to do more to win souls to Him.
D. It must also be a priority for our church.
1.Are you still giving to missions?
2.I want us to pray about supporting more missionaries this year.
3. We must do our part to reach the world for Christ.
The Great Commission must be a priority for our lives and for our Church.
III. The priority of a holy conversation. 1 Peter 1:13-16
A. Conversation – Your manner of life, your conduct.
B. We have lost the principle of personal holiness.
C. God made you holy through the shed blood of Christ.
-What does it mean to be holy?
1.Separated unto God.
2.Separated from sin.
D. We must avoid even the appearance of sin.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of
evil.
-Separated from the world.
Romans 12: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2.And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
E. We’ve got to quit trying to conform to the world’s
standards and be transformed to God’s standards.
-2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
1.Perfecting holiness….
2.Personal holiness (living right with God) must become a priority in our personal lives.
3.Confess sin
4.Commit fully to the Lord.
Conclusion:
The priority of the Great Commandment – Love The
Lord with all your heart, soul and might.
The priority of the Great Commission – To preach the
Gospel to every creature
The priority of a Holy Conversation. - To live like God wants us to live – Holy.
