This week 20 plus men from West Seattle gathered early Wednesday morning to pray for each other, the community and our church. In addition to sharing about the conversations we had this week with unbelievers, we also shared about those we met at Mars Hill this week that were either new to our church or that we did not already know. We desire to be a body of people that is tuned into God’s perspective on all interactions we have with others (see the apostle Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 5:16).

We then turned our attention to Colossians 3: 12-14:

12) Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13) bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14) And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Pastor Cliff talked first about how the Gospel was being revealed in verse 12. We were chosen to be set aside and holy despite our unrighteousness and we were loved despite our wickedness.

Knowing the truth of the Gospel, that we get what we don’t deserve, we have very different attitudes towards others. This new attitude causes us to chose to extend love and service to others . We become compassionate, kind, humble, meek, patient, forgiving, and most of all loving.

Pastor Cliff then posed these application questions for us to consider through the week:

Questions:

• When it comes to showing compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience what area are you least likely to reflect Christ’s image?

• What specific steps can you take to put on the attributes of Christ that are descried in these verses?

• Do you live your life knowing you are wretched on your own yet forgiven because of the Gospel?

• Do you live your life know that you are unlovable yet loved by Jesus?
  Who have you not forgiving?

• How could your understanding of the Gospel cause you to have a greater capacity to love?

• Who are you not living in harmony with and how could your understanding of the cross help you with this?

• In what ways do you feel better than others?

Prayers this week:

• Continue to pray for a spirit of humility and unity among the leadership and staff at Mars Hill.

• Pray for the women’s ministry coffee fellowship this Saturday morning. Pray that woman will be able to connect to the Body of Christ.

• Pray for the marriages in our church that there would be intimacy and oneness in Christ. Pray that priorities would be based on an identity in Jesus. Pray that men would lead well and over the family.

• Continue to pray for the Song of Solomon series. Pray that all believers will seek to pursue their primary identity in Christ, that marriages will be strengthened, and that those yet to be married will pursue relationship that are honoring to Jesus.

• Continued prayer for the Equip classes that people will grow through the process and remain faithful to attend and do the work.

• Pray for the Apprentice training of potential community group leaders that competent and committed leaders come out fo the class.

• Pray against Satan, his tricks, and divisive attempts to hamper the mission of Mars Hill and lead people astray from the truth of the gospel.