Rethink & Return with Jason Shepperd

This episode covers Colossians 2:16-23, exploring the ongoing attacks against our freedom in Christ, the danger of false spiritual superiority, and why religious rules cannot transform the human heart. As followers of Jesus, we must learn to recognize the difference between genuine spiritual growth and practices that only create the appearance of spirituality.
Paul warns the church not to let anyone judge them based on food, drink, religious festivals, or Sabbath days. These things were shadows of what was to come, but the reality is found in Christ. Legalism attempts to earn or maintain righteousness through our own works, while true freedom in Christ calls us to resist sin without becoming enslaved to human-made religious rules. We must be careful not to confuse freedom from legalism with approval of sin.
We also explore the danger of spiritual elitism and the pursuit of experiences that promise a deeper connection with God but ultimately distract us from Jesus. Spiritual experiences, false humility, and claims of superior knowledge do not necessarily produce spiritual maturity. Jesus is enough. His Word, His Spirit, His Church, and His work provide what we need to grow in Him.
Because we have died with Christ, we no longer belong to the elemental ways of this world. Yet rules and regulations, even those that appear wise or disciplined, cannot remake the human heart. Rules can restrain behavior, but they cannot provide the transformation we need. Real spirituality goes deeper than outward appearances and religious performance.
God is after our hearts, not simply our ability to follow rules. Lasting transformation comes through submission to the Spirit of God, allowing Him to change us from the inside out.
How do we recognize legalism? How can we guard against spiritual pride? And what does it look like to live in the freedom Jesus has given us? Join us as we return to the absolute authority of Jesus and discover why true spiritual growth begins with a heart fully submitted to Him.
Additional Resources
Watch or listen to Past Sermons
Start With 7 (Daily Audio Devotionals)
GOOD.GOD.GOSPEL. (How to Have Conversations Toward Salvation)
Learn about Church Project Network and follow our NEW Instagram (@churchprojectofficial)
Read this book by Jason: “A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”
Website

This episode covers Colossians 2:6-15, challenging believers to continue growing in Christ, recognize deceptive teachings, submit to the authority of Jesus, understand the significance of baptism, and live in the freedom secured through the cross.
Paul reminds believers to continue living in Christ just as they received Him as Lord. The Christian life begins with grace and surrender, and it continues the same way. We are called to remain rooted in Christ, strengthened in faith, growing in our commitment, and overflowing with thankfulness. Even when seasons of growth are difficult, deep roots help us remain steadfast.
The passage also warns against hollow and deceptive philosophies that depend on human tradition and the spiritual forces of this world rather than Christ. Believers have a personal spiritual responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their church by remaining grounded in Scripture. Anything that alters or adds to Christ as He is can lead us away from the truth.
Colossians declares that all the fullness of the Deity lives in Jesus bodily. Because Jesus is fully God and the head over every power and authority, He deserves complete submission. If Jesus is our Savior, He is also our Lord and leader. Following Him means obeying what He says and surrendering every area of our lives to His authority.
Paul then points to baptism as a picture of the old life being buried and a new life being raised through faith in the power of God. Our salvation does not come through good works or willpower, but through the resurrection power of Jesus.
Finally, we are reminded that Jesus canceled our sin debt through the cross and disarmed the powers and authorities. We were dead in our sins, but God made us alive with Christ. Because of what Jesus has done, we do not need to continue living in fear or shame. We can live freely and fully in the victory of the cross.
Additional Resources
Watch or listen to Past Sermons
Start With 7 (Daily Audio Devotionals)
GOOD.GOD.GOSPEL. (How to Have Conversations Toward Salvation)
Learn about Church Project Network and follow our NEW Instagram (@churchprojectofficial)
Read this book by Jason: “A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”
Website

This episode covers Colossians 2:1-5, where Paul challenges believers to fight for the faith of others, pursue gospel goals greater than themselves, seek more of Jesus, resist deception, and grow in spiritual discipline. Through Paul's words to the church, we discover what it means to live a life fully engaged in gospel work and committed to the growth of others.
Following Jesus was never meant to be easy or comfortable. Paul describes contending for others as a struggle, even an agony. Gospel work requires us to fight through prayer, invest in people's lives, and recognize that the local church is worth fighting for. Rather than pursuing an easy Christianity, we are called to contend for the gospel growth of others.
Paul also reminds us of the importance of having a gospel goal greater than ourselves. His purpose always included Jesus and the local church. When our lives are connected to something eternally meaningful, we discover purpose in this life and peace for the next.
But gospel growth isn't only about ourselves. Paul deeply desired for others to experience salvation in Jesus while continuing to discover more of Christ himself. There is always more to know about Jesus, and we grow in that knowledge through seeking and suffering.
At the same time, believers must recognize the ongoing danger of deception. Fine-sounding arguments can distract us and lead us in a different direction. God's Word, wisdom, and wise counsel help us recognize these attacks.
Finally, Paul celebrates the Colossians' discipline and firm faith. Spiritual maturity requires consistent Bible reading, prayer, giving, community, and serving.
Are you fighting for the faith of others? Do you have a gospel goal beyond yourself? And are you growing more disciplined and firm in your faith? These questions challenge us to pursue a Christianity marked by purpose, perseverance, and gospel growth.
Additional Resources
Watch or listen to Past Sermons
Start With 7 (Daily Audio Devotionals)
GOOD.GOD.GOSPEL. (How to Have Conversations Toward Salvation)
Learn about Church Project Network and follow our NEW Instagram (@churchprojectofficial)
Read this book by Jason: “A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”
Website

This episode covers Colossians 1:24-29, exploring what it means to rejoice in suffering, serve the Church, proclaim Jesus, and live with the end in mind. Paul’s words challenge us to see suffering not simply as something to avoid, but as something God can use to shape and sanctify us. While suffering may seem antithetical to our human spirit, God does some of His deepest work in the crushing, shaping us in ways that other experiences cannot.
The conversation also looks at what it means to have full access to the new life we have in Christ while still being attached to the old. We are saved, being sanctified, and still human here. Rather than avoiding the things that shape us, we are called to recognize how God uses suffering in the process of sanctification.
Paul’s example also points us toward becoming servants of Christ and servants of the Church. Because the Church is the body of Christ, we are called to see it as sacred, worth serving, and worth building up. A major part of that calling is presenting the Word in its fullness.
At the center of the passage is the mystery that has been revealed in Jesus: Christ in you, the hope of glory. Whatever we are looking for—money, health, relationships, family, dreams, or anything else—our ultimate hope is found in Jesus. He is the greatest revelation and the only hope that anything could become glorious.
Finally, this episode challenges us to publicly and personally proclaim Jesus, help others mature in Christ, and consider what we are ultimately aiming toward. There will be an end, and the question is: What will be said of you at the end?
Additional Resources
Watch or listen to Past Sermons
Start With 7 (Daily Audio Devotionals)
GOOD.GOD.GOSPEL. (How to Have Conversations Toward Salvation)
Learn about Church Project Network and follow our NEW Instagram (@churchprojectofficial)
Read this book by Jason: “A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”
Website

This episode covers Colossians 1:21-23, exploring the powerful reality of what it means to be reconciled to God through Jesus. Paul begins by reminding us of the seriousness of our former condition—we were alienated from God, enemies in our minds, and living in evil behavior. But the gospel tells a completely different story: what was once broken has been made right through the physical death of Jesus Christ.
Through Christ, believers are presented holy in God’s sight, without blemish and free from accusation. This reconciliation is not something we accomplish by becoming good enough or convincing God to see us differently. It is the work of Jesus. In a moment, we are made right with God, while for a lifetime we continue becoming more like Christ through His Spirit, His Scriptures, His Church, His grace, and His kindness.
The message also examines what it means to remain established and firm in the faith. Continuing in the faith does not earn our reconciliation; rather, remaining reveals that we have been reconciled. When life becomes confusing, desperate, or unclear, we are called to know the gospel and place our hope in it.
Finally, this passage challenges every believer to confidently know and share the gospel. The gospel is not meant to remain invisible or silent—it is something we have heard and something others need to hear from us. Because the gospel is for everyone, we are called to intentionally move people along in their journey toward Jesus and become servants of the gospel, using every part of our lives to serve its mission.
Additional Resources
Watch or listen to Past Sermons
Start With 7 (Daily Audio Devotionals)
GOOD.GOD.GOSPEL. (How to Have Conversations Toward Salvation)
Learn about Church Project Network and follow our NEW Instagram (@churchprojectofficial)
Read this book by Jason: “A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”
Website