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Colossians 1:15-20 — The Object of Passion
Steve Whitacre

“If at any moment, for any reason, he should loosen his providential and preserving grip on any thing, it would disintegrate.  It would vaporize and vanish into a vacuum of nothingness.  Every heartbeat, every flutter of an eyelid, every rustle of every blade of grass, every breath you breathe is sustained by the Son of God.”  Sam Storms, One Thing, 108.

“We should not begrudge a great passage like this some close study and hard thinking.  But when our study is ended, our work is only half done: we should then rise up and sing the hymn of Colossians chapter 1 to the risen Christ and the Father who sent Him.” Peter Lewis, The Glory of Christ, 257.

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Here are my highlights from the retreat:

1. Preaching God’s Word and hearing it preaching.  Nothing I would rather do.  Still amazed by forgiveness and love from Luke 7.  And I’ve been praying “strengthened with power” and “know the love of Christ” since Friday night.  Keeper!
2. Singing songs of worship at the top of our lungs.  O Happy Day!  Thank you, Duke and the band!
3. Observing teens and parents in extended, meaningful discussion.  After the preaching of God’s Word, this is the second most important thing that happens on the retreat.
4. Meditating together on Exodus 12, John 1, Revelation 5.  So helpful to see the truth it takes blood to forgive sins… throughout the storyline of the Bible.
5. Hearing teens encourage one another each morning.  So great to hear about fruits of the Spirit at work in your lives!  Well done!
6. Watching Terri, the Student Leadership Council, and so many others serve in so many ways to make the retreat happen.
7. Human foosball!  That was hilarious.  Ultimate and dodgeball were a lot of fun, too!
8. Wonderful weather!  How kind of God.
9. Kline’s Dairy Bar.  Need I say more? The peach shake rocked my world.
10. Kline’s Dairy Bar painting.  So realistic I can almost taste it!

How about you?

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What a wonderful retreat!  For those who went, how did God meet you?  What was your highlight?  Funniest moment?

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Have a safe trip, everyone!  See you in Harrisonburg this afternoon.

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Quick links to important topics: pray, directions, packing list.

As you are packing, pay attention to the weather:

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To all of you who served at the Car Wash and Yard Sale yesterday: great job! Your hard work and joyful manner is a loud testimony to the power of the gospel. Mr. Winter sent me these pics… Enjoy!  (Click on any of these to see a bigger version.)

Someone want to explain that last one to me?

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From this morning:

CHAPTER 12: WORLD, MEET YOUR REBELUTIONARIES

• Impressions, now that you’ve finished the book? What was the best part? What do you wish there had been more of?
• What is starting to stick with you? What are you putting into practice? What have you learned about motivation? Why should we Do Hard Things?
• In your own words, what is the gospel?
• What is the connection between the gospel and Doing Hard Things?
• Complete the Rebelutionary Action Plan (see below) with your parents…

From the OFFICIAL STUDY GUIDE:

• You’re carrying Do Hard Things through the school library, and you meet a friend who asks, “Hey, what’s that book about?” What do you say?
• Which part of this book inspired you the most? Which part made you the most uncomfortable? Explain why.
• Working from the “five-step rebelutionary action plans” that the authors share for Noah, Serena, and Brandon (pages 214–24), what is your action plan to deal with the distractions and obstacles you face? Get help from friends, family and other advisers as needed to create the smartest plan possible. Write it down. Then keep your five-step plan where you can read and review it every day.
• Mentally, travel forward one year in your life. What do you hope will be different then that wouldn’t have been if you hadn’t read Do Hard Things? Five years forward, what’s your answer to the same question? Twenty years forward?
• Take time in the coming weeks to reflect on the following passages about four inspiring Bible rebelutionaries: David in 1 Samuel 16—17 and Psalm 18; Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1; Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 and Philippians 3:12—4:13; and Timothy as seen in Paul’s letters to him in 1 Timothy 4:1-16 and 6:11-21of 2 Timothy. Write down key truths from these passages in your own words and reread the truths and the verses often.

A REBELUTIONARY ACTION PLAN:

• What do you need to get honest about, and to whom?
• What negative actions or patterns need to end?
• Who can best help you get from point A to point B?
• What are one or two key action steps that, once taken, would make it a lot tougher for you to chicken out and turn back?
• How and when will you take those steps?
• Acknowledge you can’t succeed without God’s help by making a simple and practical plan to stay close to Him:
• Bible reading:
  What (will you read):
  Where (will you have it):
  How long (on most days):
  How often (# of times per week):
• Prayer:
  How often:
  How long:

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