The Trellis Podcast

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21 Days of Reading Scripture: Day Thirteen | Colossians 3:1-4 May 17, 2025

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Today's Passage: Colossians 3: 1-4

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Today's Prayer:

Father for some reason you’ve called us into a relationship with You.

You want us to be with You, where You are, and about what You are about.

Your eternal decree is too marvelous to comprehend.

Yet, you’ve also placed us at Your table to be not only servants but also friends.

Here, we are protected and fully alive.

Help us today to reflect on the things you are about.

Your word says in Philippians 4:8 to think on eight things: whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and anything worthy of praise.

Lord, as we are not guaranteed tomorrow, will you help us today to hide in the shadow of Your wings—free to be with You and about Your Kingdom.

NOTES & LINKS:

Information about the Women's Summer Study

Information about the Men's Summer Study

Reach out to the Center for Spiritual Formation

21 Days of Reading Scripture: Day Twelve | Colossians 2:18-23 May 16, 2025

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Today's Passage: Colossians 2: 18-23

Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Today's Prayer:

We choose to reject worldly systems and embrace the cross we choose to reject pride and instead Embrace the mercy of God We choose the one mediator who bore our sins on the cross.

We confess Christ as the head of the body come in the one who nourishes us. We ask you to knit us together. Holy Spirit, we ask you to make manifests the gifts you've given to our church for the work of equipping and edifying your body. We confess that we are members of Christ and members of one another. Teach us Holy Spirit, the role you have for each of us. May none of us think of ourselves as useless, and without gifting.

Rather than focusing on our gifts, we choose to focus on you God, our head.

Father, we lift our gaze to you and as we do, we ask that we would be transformed into your likeness. As we look in Your wonderful face, we ask that the things of earth would grow strangely dim, in the light of Your glory and grace.

In Jesus name we pray…Amen.

NOTES & LINKS:

Information about the Women's Summer Study

Information about the Men's Summer Study

Reach out to the Center for Spiritual Formation

21 Days of Reading Scripture: Day Eleven | Colossians 2:13-17 May 15, 2025

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Today's Passage: Colossians 2: 13-17

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

Today's Prayer:

God in our heart of hearts. We confess you did it, and in so doing, you made everything available to us. We thank you for making us alive in Christ. We thank you for canceling our debts. We thank you for the way that you have nailed them to the cross, and for the person who needs to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you have accomplished this.

Would you minister to their hearts today? Holy spirit, you make us a different kind of people.

You make us the kind of people who walk in the awareness of a God who triumphs over rulers and authorities. We say to you, the substance belongs to Christ. On this day, the substance belongs to you, and it is in your name that we pray. Amen.

NOTES & LINKS:

Information about the Women's Summer Study

Information about the Men's Summer Study

Reach out to the Center for Spiritual Formation

21 Days of Reading Scripture: Day Ten | Colossians 2:8-12 May 14, 2025

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Today's Passage: Colossians 2: 8-12

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Today's Prayer:

Father, the language of being taken captive is unsettling.

Holy spirit, we ask that you would make us a discerning people. We choose against human wisdom in favor of spiritual wisdom and understanding and we pray the truth of Proverbs 9:10 over our lives today, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Holy Spirit, in the same way we asked you to illumine our hearts to the ways we’ve been deceived through persuasive arguments, we come to you again today and ask that you show us where we’ve been taken captive through the philosophy and deception of our time and generation. You have made us a particular kind of. You tell us in 1 Peter that we are…

9 …A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Chosen. Royal. Priests. Holy. Your possession for the purpose of proclamation. We can scarcely wrap our minds around it but It is the truest true!

Oh God, life East of Eden threatens to conform us to its patterns, but we choose to be transformed by the renewing of our minds that we might prove what is good, acceptable, and perfect (Romans 12:2).

Our hearts thrill to read of how You have made us complete. We take our place under your headship and authority. On this day, we choose again to put off our flesh and walk as Spirit-people. Again we make our confession that we have been buried with You in baptism, and raised by God in faith.

Our new identity is firm. Our future not up for discussion and secure in You. Move in power in and through us today.

In the strong name of Jesus we prayer…Amen.

NOTES & LINKS:

Information about the Women's Summer Study

Information about the Men's Summer Study

Reach out to the Center for Spiritual Formation

21 Days of Reading Scripture: Day Nine | Colossians 2:4-7 May 13, 2025

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Today's Passage: Colossians 2: 4-7

I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Today's Prayer:

Dear God, would you illumine the places in our lives where we have either been deceived or are at risk of deception from the persuasive arguments of our day and time. Speak to our heart even in this moment, Lord and shine your light on the places we are thinking wrongly…acting wrongly…believing wrongly…

We so identify with the people of Colossae and we confess that it our desire to stand firm and steadfast. We want to be an immovable people when it comes to walking in truth. We confess that error will divide us, and it is our desire that truth unite us as a body.

Psalm 119:32 says. “I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding” and we ask you to broaden our understanding.

Father we come to you in full confidence today asking you to make us a people of stability. As your people, marked by having received Christ Jesus the Lord, we choose to walk in you. Holy Spirit, apply the finished work of Christ to our lives. Root us deeply and firmly. Build us, grow us up in Christ. We reject a life that lulls us to sleep. We reject a life that makes little of you. We reject a faith that is passive. And in its place, we choose a faith that is rooted and established.

We bless Your name. We thank you, Christ Jesus, for Your finished work. We praise you because You are exalted far above all powers and principalities and You sit at the right hand of the Father where are right now intercede for us.

As we move throughout this day, with all that it holds, both large and small, we do so overflowing with gratitude at the life you make possible for your people.

In Christ’s name we pray…Amen.

NOTES & LINKS:

Information about the Women's Summer Study

Information about the Men's Summer Study

Reach out to the Center for Spiritual Formation

21 Days of Reading Scripture: Day Eight | Colossians 2:1-3 May 12, 2025

Show notes

Today's Passage: Colossians 2: 1-3

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Today's Prayer:

We thank you that Paul was willing to struggle and intercede for your people in Laodicea, that they would grow up in the faith and come into a true knowledge of You.

Father, Paul speaks in this passage of the way we are meant to struggle and contend on behalf of those with whom you’ve placed us.

So today, we sit in silence for a moment and ask your Holy Spirit to search our minds and imaginations for those you’ve entrusted into our care. As we move throughout today and the days we follow, we choose not to fall asleep to the people You’ve place around us. People who You will direct across our paths. Even now, allow names and faces to come to mind… Even now, would your Holy Spirit form prayers in us for those you’ve given into our care… Sons and daughters, parents, friends, colleagues, ministry partners…

God, we ask that their hearts would be encouraged. That you could knit them together in love… We ask that they would have an assurance of understanding that results in a full and deep and rich knowledge of the mystery that is You, Father! Oh God, Your Word says that wisdom and knowledge are treasures – and our deep desire is to possess them as gifts made available to us through Christ.

Holy Spirit, as your new covenant people, we ask that you apply these treasures to our lives today. They are our inheritance, and we chose to possess them in all humility and gratefulness.

And it is in your name that we pray…Amen.

NOTES & LINKS:

Information about the Women's Summer Study

Information about the Men's Summer Study

Reach out to the Center for Spiritual Formation

21 Days of Reading Scripture: Day Seven | Colossians 1:28-29 May 11, 2025

Show notes

Today's Passage: Colossians 1:28-29

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Today's Prayer:

Lord, your goodness never ends.

You are always at work among your people.

We ask for wisdom.

We ask for more of your Spirit.

We ask for the fullness of your power at work in our lives.

Help us be a people always growing into your likeness.

Create in us a deeper longing to walk closely by your side.

Fix our eyes on the power of your presence in each breath we take.

We want to proclaim you boldly and in deep love to this broken world.

We want to love your church that your body might be encouraged and built up.

As we pour out our lives, keep us firmly in your hand.

Remind us of who and whose we are.

We love you, Lord.

Amen.

NOTES & LINKS:

Information about the Women's Summer Study

Information about the Men's Summer Study

Reach out to the Center for Spiritual Formation

21 Days of Reading Scripture: Day Six | Colossians 1:24-27 May 10, 2025

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Today's Passage: Colossians 1:24-27

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Today's Prayer:

Lord, you graciously invite your people into your work.

You allow us to be a vessel for the work of your hands.

When we are faced with suffering,

Remind us of who you are.

When we’re unsure how to persevere,

Remind us of your strength in our weakness.

Keep our eyes on you.

Strengthen our minds for the work you have placed before us.

Guide our hands and feet as we care for your beautiful creation.

We long to be a people that point the world to your glory.

We long to be a people that point to the great hope we have in Christ.

You are the hope of glory.

We love you, Lord.

Amen.

NOTES & LINKS:
Information about the Women's Summer Study

Information about the Men's Summer Study

Reach out to the Center for Spiritual Formation

21 Days of Reading Scripture: Day Five | Colossians 1:21-23 May 09, 2025

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Today's Passage: Colossians 1:21-23

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Today's Prayer:

Lord, you have given us all we need.

Your provision is perfect, without fault.

We came to you in all our messiness.

And you offered restoration.

You offered healing,

And you created a way for us to come before your throne.

You call us holy and blameless.

And you strengthen us to endure.

Remind us today that you are more than enough.

Remind us today that the hope we have in you is unshakable.

We love you, Lord.

Amen.

NOTES & LINKS:
Information about the Women's Summer Study

Information about the Men's Summer Study

Reach out to the Center for Spiritual Formation

21 Days of Reading Scripture: Day Four | Colossians 1:18-20 May 08, 2025

Show notes

Today's Passage: Colossians 1:18-20

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Today's Prayer:

Lord, you are the one who brings deep, everlasting peace.

You are the one who brings healing and reconciliation to your people.

You suffered and died that we might have life—

That we might know the fullness of your love.

You reign supreme,

Yet you lowered yourself as a servant to all—

That we might know how to follow your ways.

One day we will stand before you

And know how you have ordered all things for your glory.

One day we will see the beauty of your good and perfect ways.

We stand in awe today of the gift of your cross.