How do we keep the word in our hearts? Join us as Pastor Brandon goes through Colossians 1:28-2:5.

Metro Atlanta is famous for our terrible traffic. Most of us have probably had the frustrating experience of being late for a meeting because we’re stuck in standstill traffic. We can become increasingly irritated as we boil over in exasperation and anger.

Now imagine you looked over next to you to see someone blasting music, singing their guts, and experiencing what looks like real joy… in a traffic jam! We’d probably all draw the same conclusion, this is a strange time to be joyful.

In Colossians 1:24-27, Paul makes a very strange statement, “I rejoice in my sufferings…” What?!?! Suffering is a strange thing to take joy in, even more strange than being joyful in a traffic jam.

In 1985, everyone who knew Joe Simpson believed he was dead. At just 25 years old, Joe and his climbing partner, Simon Yates, became the first people to scale the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. Tragically, on the way down, Joe fell and broke his leg. As Simon tried to help him descend, Joe fell again—this time into a massive crevasse. It seemed certain he was lost forever and Simon returned to base camp, grieving the loss of his friend.

But then, three days later, Joe crawled back into camp. He had survived. Despite frostbite, exhaustion, infection, and permanent damage to his leg, Joe was alive. His story is almost too incredible to believe.

We’ve all heard stories like this—accounts of survival or hope that seem impossible. But perhaps the most unbelievable story of all is the resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus was crucified by professional Roman executioners, buried in a tomb, and three days later he rose from the dead. As unbelievable as that may sound, even more astonishing is the claim that his resurrection has the power to transform lives—even today, 2,000 years later.