I’m In Pursuit Pt. 2 What Do You Know
Colossians 2:6–15
I. THE CALL TO BE ROOTED
Colossians 2:6–7 (NKJV):
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Roots do two things:
- Sustain — they pull nutrients that feed growth.
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- Stabilize — they keep you from toppling in storms.
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Jeremiah 17:7–8 (NKJV):
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will it cease from yielding fruit.
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Shallow roots produce seasonal Christians; deep roots produce steadfast disciples.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
• Where do you draw spiritual nourishment?
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Shallow roots often manifest as various forms of unstable faith:
- Environmental Faith: A belief system that is strong only when surrounded by a supportive religious community but collapses when outside that comfort zone.
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- Second-hand Faith: A faith that is borrowed from parents, a pastor, or friends, rather than a personal, direct relationship with a higher power.
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- Stagnant Faith: A spiritual life lacking ongoing growth or new experiences, leaving an individual vulnerable when a test or temptation arises.
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- Event Faith: A dependency on the next big spiritual “high” or event to stay motivated, rather than consistent daily practices.
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- Surface-level Practice: Engaging in religious activities like Sunday services without a corresponding commitment to daily practices such as consistent prayer, scripture study, and personal devotion.
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• What storms reveal shallow roots?
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In a spiritual context, “storms” refer to life’s trials, tribulations, temptations, and crises that test the genuine strength and depth of a person’s faith and character.
When a person with shallow roots encounters a “storm” (e.g., job loss, heartbreak, persecution, or a moral crisis), they are likely to be shaken, uprooted, or fall away. The storm acts as a test that reveals the true foundation:
- The person might run away from God rather than to Him for strength.
- Their faith may wither under pressure because it has no deep source of nourishment.
- They may be easily swayed by fear or anxiety when unexpected changes blow in like strong winds.
II. THE CHALLENGE OF COUNTERFEITS
Colossians 2:8 (NKJV):
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Counterfeit ideas often sound spiritual but lack Christ.
Sources of deception:
• culture’s values
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• emotionalism
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• human traditions
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• spiritualized opinions
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• intellectual pride
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2 Timothy 4:3–4 (NKJV):
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- Who or what influences your faith system?
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- Do your beliefs align with Scripture or social media algorithms?
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III. THE CONQUEST OF THE CROSS
Colossians 2:13–15 (NKJV):
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
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1 John 3:8 (NKJV):
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
- Christ didn’t just defeat Satan; He exposed him.
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- Root yourself in Christ.
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- Filter everything through the Word.
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- Fight from victory, not for it.
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- Stop giving the enemy access to a life he no longer owns. Grace not only saves…grace strengthens!
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