Colossians 1

So who is Jesus to you? Phil Ware talks about Paul's big reversal from seeing Jesus as a blasphemer to seeing him as everything.

Who is that little child in that manger who looks so tiny and fragile? Phil Ware begins a four series set of articles for Advent and this first one is called BEFORE and focuses on Jesus being God, pre-existent before the world began.

Can you really accept that God views you as He does? Phil Ware describes a dream a friend had about Phil's dad -- and he shares how hard it is for him to accept that God feels that way about him, too.

The Father is looking to use you, no matter how unlikely it seems possible! Rubel Shelley reminds us that God does his best work through the most unlikely of people.

Moses wanted Pharaoh and the Egyptians to see that only Israel's God was truly God. Anything in addition to God was less. James Nored and Phil Ware look at Moses' showdown with Pharaoh to remind us that this was really a showdown to show who was truly God and our need to choose to follow him.

How can such a discovery, no matter how badly dirt-encrusted and stained, not be seen as a genuine treasure? Phil Ware tells us a simple story of a mother's love to remind how our Father sees us as his treasure.

How did God make you to stand out from the crowd? Phil Ware reminds us that the Gospel of Luke introduces us to common folks made special by God to remind us that we are not just another face in the crowd.

How would you feel if it was you? Phil Ware shares about an embarrassing moment in church when he was in high school and compares it to Philemon being called out in church in Colossae.

A genuine disciple, and especially an apostle, follows the path of Jesus who gave up his life to seek, serve, and save the lost. James Nored in video, and Phil Ware using the Scriptures, remind us of the beauty and the cost to God of saving us and forgiving us, and giving us a new life.

Where do you live your life of faith? Phil Ware talks about persecution of believers today and how we can make a difference.

Are you playing religious games or are you really delivered? Phil Ware shares another insight from Colossians about deliverance from the dead-end alleys, the dark dungeons, and the pits that keep us trapped and reminds us how Jesus brings deliverance.

Sometimes a single, short, straightforward passage from Proverbs gives us two gems to help us live fruitful and long lives! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to celebrate the greatness of Jesus our Lord and learn to live for him from others and help others learn to live for him, as well!

Why can't we see the power of the Holy Spirit in less exciting ways? Even if our time in life means we have to slow down, that doesn't mean the Holy Spirit quits working in us; we can see his power in the small things he does in our lives.

Our message points us to 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Paul's promise that if we are in Christ, we are a new creation! Phil Ware and Demetrius Collins invite us to worship God and celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit as we are transformed to be more like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ as we trust in God to give us a new fresh start in life because of Jesus!

Despite all the challenges, Mary and Joseph accepted their part in salvation's plan and their faith brought us God's gift of love, his beloved Son, Jesus! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to recognize God's great love in sending Jesus, the joy Jesus' birth brings, and the truth that Jesus is with us and for us in this

What do you do when things fracture between you and someone important to you? Phil Ware talks about what to do when relationships are shattered and how it feels easier to trade in those relationships for new ones, but asks if this is really smartest and if it honors Christ and our walk with God.

We must learn to use prayer to face our challenges. One of our most important tools in our spiritual warfare is prayer.

When we see one of these risk-takers and God-seekers, they deserve a Pat on the Back! Max Lucado reminds us to give risk-takers, God-seekers, and hard-workers a pat on the back.

Why are we on this trip? Phil Ware reminds us of our purpose of being on the journey and living for Jesus call and mission and vision in our lives.

Can you walk this walk from now on? It's not how many days we have, but how we use those days for God that matter -- or to say it differently, it is not how far we walk, but how we walk in the miles we cover that matter most.

Are you going to let that keep you away from Jesus? We lose sight of what is important and let many things get between us and Jesus.

Because we could not be James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that we all needed Jesus' redemptive death on the cross so we could find new life in the grace of God.

You offer the invitation, and Jesus brings the blessing! Max Lucado reminds us that Christ is our hope and that we can invite him into our lives anew, and to stay, this Christmas.

Moses wanted Pharaoh and the Egyptians to see that only Israel's God was truly God. Anything in addition to God was less. James Nored and Phil Ware look at Moses' showdown with Pharaoh to remind us that this was really a showdown to show who was truly God and our need to choose to follow him.

Weren't we re-made for more than we're settling for? Phil Ware shares with us ideas about growth and how God has re-created us to be like Jesus and be full of life and growth, spiritually and physically.

What's your toughtest word to spell in your lifestyle? One way to learn the art of reconciliation is to look at the word as meaning re-cancellation -- cancelling the debt, the sin, the hurt between us and another.

Surely this can't be done in the test tube or research laboratory? Jesus is much more than his DNA: even this hoax can't begin to explain Jesus as God's Son.

How do we prepare the hearts of those we influence to be ready to receive Jesus with joy? ToGather.church worship segment for April 5, 2020, focusing on Jesus' Triumphal Entry and how we prepare people to receive Jesus into their hearts and shout "Hosanna!" in praise and welcome to him.

Why would Jesus face all that he faced when He could have stopped it with a word? Max Lucado reminds us of the gift Jesus gives us with the cross and resurrection.

The Holy Spirit gives birth to Lord in the heart of each new Christian and longs to bring that new follower of Christ to full maturity in Jesus. Phil Ware challenges us to enter the mystery of the conception and birth of Jesus the Messiah with Mary and find ourselves caught up in the story of Jesus with her.

Why are you here? What is your purpose? Can you know? Tom Norvell reminds us that God made us uniquely to be us and the best thing we can be is to be who we were born and re-born to be.

When Jesus taught on prayer in the Sermon on the Mount, he shifted from individual prayer in private to prayer shared with others Phil Ware, with the help of Grady King, reminds us that prayer is a together experience in much of experience and God calls us to share this experience together, then Grady King gives us some added insight and an exercise to help us through the next week.

Are you too hard on yourself? Perfectionism is not a godly trait, but a trait that makes life miserable and puts us out of balance.

Can you unlock the mystery? Alan Smith talks about the concept of mystery from Colossians and Ephesians and how God has revealed his mystery.

What is most important for us to believe and do as disciples of Jesus, today? Phil Ware begins a series of messages on what is core, or what is at the heart of what we must believe and do to be true disciples of Jesus, today.

We have to follow the Lord, and Jesus promises to empower our becoming like him through the Holy Spirit. Phil Ware continues his series on Jesus and transformation and focuses today on our walking with Jesus each day in the gospels and learning his words and talking with him and taking on on his character and compassion as the Spirit transforms us.

Where will we find Jesus in the middle of our messes? We will find the presence of Jesus in our lives when we are willing to be his presence in the lives of others.

If there is a God and he's out there, why doesn't he just get it over with and show himself to us? Why this need for faith? Phil Ware and James Nored share in word and video an idea about how we can truly understand God's greatness, glory, and grace even though we cannot understand everything about him.

Can anything good come from Nazareth? Phil Ware reminds us not to put away Jesus with the Christmas lights and blow up snowman, but to remember that Christ is alive in us!

Do we even know what it means to truly persevere? Mike Barres contrasts our whiny little attempts at perseverance and compares it to the real martyrs in the world and calls us to genuine perseverance.

Are you still a child at heart? Ron Rose challenges us to mystery, kingdom, living as we remain childlike but not childish.

Do you have the strength to stand? The power of an anonymous motel room doesn't have to claim our purity or cause us to cave into sin.

Can you find that light that chases away the shadows? Phil Ware continues his series on When Spirit Becomes Flesh and talks about Jesus as heaven's light.

Why do we hide the simple message of Jesus behind all our complex rules? Phil Ware shares a principle from Colossians and asks us to think about how Jesus would respond to this desperate housewife.

Is there any hope, any light, for our darkness? Phil Ware talks about the triumphal entry of Jesus and the darkness that Jesus faced for all of us to defeat the darkness and bring us to light.

The Holy Spirit gives birth to Lord in the heart of each new Christian and longs to bring that new follower of Christ to full maturity in Jesus. Phil Ware challenges us to enter the mystery of the conception and birth of Jesus the Messiah with Mary and find ourselves caught up in the story of Jesus with her.

Our practice of omitting from the Lord's Great Commission is more likely based on our preference for the attractional model of doing church. Phil Ware continues his series on What is CORE focusing on the training -- teaching to obey -- element of the Great Commission.

Advent is the celebration of Jesus' coming to earth and bringing God's heavenly Kingdom shown in his ministry, lived by his people, and ultimately experienced at his return! Phil Ware shares Scriptures and James Nored shares an inspirational video regarding the blessings and significance of Advent, Jesus' coming to earth as God in human flesh as our Savior and Lord.

Will we follow Jesus now that Christmas is over and the New Year approaches? We are called to live for Jesus after the Christmas lights quit twinkling.

The more I discover, the vast possibilities ahead yawn even wider before me. Melissa Troyer reminds us of the breathtaking partnership we have with Christ to remain in the process of transformation.

What is your unit of measurement? Bill Sherrill challenges us to judge our success based on our hearts and our service.

When all is said and done, what will you be? When we grow up, we want to be like Jesus!

The cycle of violence is heartbreaking — will it ever end? Phil Ware reminds us of the simple, yet powerful words found in the hard story of Jesus' birth and Herod's attempt to murder him at Bethlehem -- But Herod came to an end.

Jesus longs to be born again into our world in me? Jesus wasn't just born into our world in the womb of Mary, but he longs to be born into our world again in each individual Christian the Holy Spirit gives birth to in the world.

Can Jesus really be born again? Christmas must be a reminder to us that we are honored to be Jesus everyday in a world that doesn't know him and his loving grace.

So what can we do to bless our churches this next year as we thank God this year? Larry Davies offers a Thanksgiving check up for churches and their leaders as he explores things that make for healthy churches.

So do we make people think of Jesus? Phil Ware continues his series on What is Core by calling us to true discipleship, people being conformed to be like Jesus and living out the cross, burial, and resurrection in their lives.

What words do you most long to hear from Jesus today? Phil Ware continues his series called Beyond Bread and Wine and focuses on the three sets of words we most long to hear.

Have you lost your identity? Phil Ware challenges us to look at our identity built around the question of "Who are you?" and the answer framed by the work of Jesus.

What in the world are you living for, anyway? We have to have a mission for our families bigger than physical and financial goals, we have to have a spiritual mission.

All anyone wants to talk about is Jesus! Phil Ware concludes his series on Inviting Jesus back to church with this message on Jesus being our center.

Do we realize the grace of getting to tune our lives to Jesus? Phil Ware and James Nored remind us that the core of our faith is Jesus, that Christ is our defining note around whom all of us must tune our lives and recognize the grace of being called and transformed to be like him.

Do we realize the grace of getting to tune our lives to Jesus? Phil Ware and James Nored remind us that the core of our faith is Jesus, that Christ is our defining note around whom all of us must tune our lives and recognize the grace of being called and transformed to be like him.

Do we realize the grace of getting to tune our lives to Jesus? Phil Ware and James Nored remind us that the core of our faith is Jesus, that Christ is our defining note around whom all of us must tune our lives and recognize the grace of being called and transformed to be like him.

Why does the character we long to have take so long to develop? Phil Ware's first in a four article series on Jesus' work of transformation in us, this week, we are called to follow Jesus.

God alone had earned the right to speak truth into their lives, compassion into their hearts, and righteousness into their behaviors. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of the importance of the 10 Commandments and the two divine principles of God and Jesus and call us to live them in our daily lives.

What can we say but, Mom, our mothers, pay a high price for loving us and bringing us to Jesus.

The mystery, the wonder, the bewilderment, the delight, the fear, and the struggle as a new mom to God's Son were secreted in this hiding place of Mary's heart. Phil Ware reminds us that Mary treasured all the things about Jesus' birth in her heart and we can find our treasure with Jesus as he comes to us in the manger at Advent.

Is there something out there? What would it mean if there were? Scientists are forever searching the skies for alien life, but what does that mean to the Christian? Randy Becton shares his thoughts on extra-terrestrials, aliens, and God.

Why do we have to be the big fish in our small puddle? Phil Ware looks through The Jesus Window and is led to ask a question of all of us: just how big is our aquarium, just how big is our Jesus?

Our hope, our answer, and God's unveiling of his greatest mysteries are found in Jesus, the Messiah, Son of God, the Christ who is our Savior and Lord! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in an online worship through words and music using YouTube videos to help us understand and connect emotionally with God's mystery to bring things together in Christ.

Jesus said this was the right thing for him to do! James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of an important reason to be baptized: not only was Jesus baptized, he also said it was the right thing to do and called on all his disciples to be baptized and baptizers.

Are we listening to what Jesus said? Phil Ware begins a series of messages on the Great Commission and Jesus' last words which must be our first priority.

We will exchange our mortal bodies for immortal bodies that are made for eternal glory! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to glorify God as we remember the encouraging future and forever-change we have in Jesus at his return in glory.

What should we expect of our leaders to help us reach maturity? Phil Ware addresses the issue of church leadership, hypocrisy, and consumerism by pointing leaders to Paul's example in Colossians of pointing people to Jesus, praying for their maturity, and trusting in Him to supply the power as Paul worked strenuously

Caught to be released into life, community, and purpose by the grace of God! Phil Ware begins a series of articles on sharing Jesus in word and deed with others called Catch and Release and focusing on following Jesus.

We all need to discover that Jesus is not just alive and interceding for us at the right hand of God, but he is also present with us now as our resurrected Lord, Savior, and friend. Phil Ware shares how we can experience Jesus in our lives based on Jesus' promises and Matthew's story of Jesus in his Gospel.

We can't do it for everyone, but we can for at least our one! Phil Ware finishes his Just One series by calling us to help others find their one song.

Can you think of a more noble vision or a more compelling mission for us, the Lord's people, than to be Jesus' bodily presence to our fractured and fragmented world? James Nored and Phil Ware challenge us through words and video to embrace God's mission for us as the bodily presence of Jesus in the world.

Are we really willing to make Jesus the center of our life. Phil Ware reminds us that Jesus is the center of everything, our salvation, our time, our hope, but will we make Jesus the center of our lives?

I remain convicted that these passages give us the CORE of what we must believe and practice as Jesus' disciples. Phil Ware brings his series on 'What is CORE!' to a close, giving us a short summary to help us remember these three CORE passages and what they teach and call on us to do.

How can I take this bread and wine as someone worthy? Phil Ware reminds us that we share in The Supper, not because we are worthy of Jesus' sacrifice, but because we've been made worthy by his sacrifice!

What happens the other 51 weeks of the year? Phil Ware begins a 4 part November series on giving thanks just in time for the Thanksgiving season.

How do we know what passages of Scripture are most essential? Phil Ware stops at the mid-point in his series on What is CORE to review and look forward to what is ahead.

How do we ever understand what the cross cost God? Phil Ware continues his series on Mary and her being a window to the heart of God.