Congregational Attitudes

A. Col. 1:9-10, Paul’s prayer for the congregation at Colossae, “For this reason,
since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and
asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom
and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of
the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God.” Paul addresses their attitudes and thought
processes. It’s easier to do what is right when we think what is right.
1. Attitudes are extremely important. Prov. 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Out of your heart comes the way you think and act. Prov 23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Matt. 5:8, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Do you want to see God and be with Him eternally? You had better keep your heart pure. Jesus also said, in Matt. 5:28, “Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” You become what you desire in your heart.
a. Proper attitudes are needed in order to have proper relationships in the congregation where you worship. Rom. 12:3, “I say to every one of
you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of
yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God
has given you.” Paul clearly addresses the attitudes we are to have
toward one another as members of a congregation. Your attitude about
other members of this congregation affects your relationship with God and
you do not want it to have an adverse affect on your salvation.
(A) What is your attitude about God and how you relate to Him. Do you
relate properly to the words of Jesus in Matt. 22:37-38, “Love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” How is that love
expressed? The most important way is stated in Jno. 14:15, “If you
love me, you will obey what I command.” He even stated that
negatively in Vs. 24, “He who does not love me will not obey my
teaching.”
(1) Your commitment to God is seen in your attitude of gratitude.
Col. 3:17, tells us, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do
it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.” Rom. 8:28, reminds us that “In all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose.” Vs. 32, “He who did not spare his
own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, along

with him, graciously give us all things?” The longer we go and
the more we read, the better it gets, and the more reasons we
have to appreciate God and all we have in and from Him. This
is how we are to respond to all God has done, Eph. 5:19?20,
“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving
thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ.”
(2) What about our attitudes toward ourselves? Where is your attitude of Humility? Rom. 12:3,16, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.” Humility means that you are willing to serve, to do even “menial” tasks. Jno. 13:12?17. Lawrence Bell said, “Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I’ll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things.” Jesus said in Matt. 25:21, “If you are faithful in the small things you will be happy and I will bless you.”
(a) May this congregation be blessed with such people. Men and women who are willing to serve God with all their body, heart, soul and mind. Who seek to serve one another as true children of God.
(b) Acts 20:32.

Spur - 06/22/03 pm