We need to ensure that the church treats every person with high value and equal dignity. Relationships today are far more diverse and complex than at Colossae long ago. Yet, we preach the same Gospel that lifts up the lowly and brings down the dominators. If we have anything to say to households, it should be an appeal for equality, dignity, and justice in relationships. Humble Christian servants are still the building blocks for healthy churches today. As Paul showed, people of any age, gender, class, ethnicity, ability, or status, can serve Christ and expect the Gospel’s full rewards.

The people in Colossae were in a dangerous situation but they didn’t realise it. The false teachers sounded so plausible. So Paul writes to warn them, and to remind them how they were taught to live the Christian life.

Paul gives thanks - for their faith in Jesus Christ, for the love they show for all the saints and their trust in the hope laid up for them in heaven. He prays for them for Spiritual Intelligence, Practical Obedience and Moral Excellence

God offers to take our hurt and give us comfort. But he also asks us to pass that comfort on to others who are hurting

The attack on Ai fails because someone has taken illicit booty from Jericho. The items plus the offender and his family are destroyed and Ai can them be taken. Joshua then takes them to Shechem where the Covenant conditions are read out to the whole nation