Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Paul: A Servant of the Gospel Colossians 1:24-29 Paul’s prayer for them is a good model for us in praying for one another - Colossians 1:9-14 God qualified us, delivered us, transferred us & redeemed us

Paul: A Servant of the Gospel Colossians 1:24-29 Jesus is the image of God and is the architect, builder, possessor and sustainer of all Creation Jesus is preeminent over the church as its head and founder who reconciled man to God

Made a Servant Colossians 23 & 25 True believers will persevere in their faith The gospel is universally available It had spread rapidly even in the first few decades Paul was made a minister of the gospel – Colossians 1:24-29

Made a Servant Colossians 23 & 25 Minister - diavkono" / diakonos = deacon, minister, servant, attendant The importance of a minister is directly related to whom he serving There is a great contrast between leadership in the world and in the church - Matthew 20:25-28

Made a Servant Colossians 23 & 25 Jesus made Paul a minister - Acts 9. Every Christian is called and equipped to serve the Lord -Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4; Gal. 5:13

Rejoicing in Suffering Colossians 1:24 The Christian can rejoice in the midst of suffering because our purpose is life Suffering occurs because of our own sin, the sin of others and living in a sin cursed world To eliminate suffering, God would have to eliminate every human. He is patient instead - 2 Peter 3:15

Rejoicing in Suffering Colossians 1:24 Suffering is part of the Christian life and God uses it to mature us - Rom. 5:3-8; James 1:2-4; We share in the sufferings of Christ - John 16:33; Matt. 5:10-12; 2 Tim. 3:12; Acts 5:41; 1 Peter 4:13 Paul was a chosen to bear Christ’s name before the Gentiles and would suffer for it - Acts 9:16

Fulfilling Up in Affliction Colossians 1:24 This is not related to the heretical doctrine of purgatory Paul was not in any sense adding to Jesus’ work of atonement, but was simply sharing in Jesus’ suffering God even uses our suffering for the benefit of others - Paul’s imprisonment did - Philippians 1:12-14

Paul’s Stewardship of Service Colossians 1:25 A steward (oijkonomiva / oikonomia) is literally a “house manager” Paul’s ministry responsibilities were placed upon him by God to Whom he would give an account We will have correct motivations for ministry only after we understand it to be a stewardship from God

Paul’s Stewardship of Service Colossians 1:25 Paul’s faithfulness resulted in Epaphras learning the gospel and proclaiming it to the Colossians Our faithfulness to ministry God gives us will have effects far beyond what we can know in this life

A Manifested Mystery Colossians 1:26-27 God has brought to light what had been previously hidden in ages past and to earlier generations God is not hiding the news of justification by faith in Jesus, but the unrighteous will not believe it

The Riches of the Mystery Colossians 1:27 Man rejects God’s revelation in favor of his own sin - John 3:19 - so God intervenes The mystery is “Christ in you, the hope of glory”

The Riches of the Mystery Colossians 1:27 Messiah cannot indwell the unbelieving, and so they have no hope of redemption or reconciliation Christ indwells through faith in Him (Eph. 3:17) and regenerates setting you free from sin & death

The Goal of Service Colossians 1:28 To proclaim (kataggevllw / kataggellô) is to publically announce, to declare. To the degree the Messiah is not the focus of the message is the degree the message is not Christian Admonishing (nouqetevw / noutheteôis) is the negative side - proclaiming what is wrong and warning

The Goal of Service Colossians 1:28 There is no salvation without repentance because there is no saving faith without a change of mind Admonishment is part of normal Christian life - 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16

The Goal of Service Colossians 1:28 Teaching (didavskw / didaskô) is the positive side - proclaiming Chris what to seek and do. Teaching is a part of normal Christian life in fulfilling the Great Commission - Matthew 28:18-20

The Goal of Service Colossians 1:28 Maturity (tevleio" / teleios) is the goal of admonishing and teaching You can follow Paul’s example (Galatians 2:20) and fulfill God’s purpose for your life regardless of society

The Strength for Service Colossians 1:29 Paul’s Labor - toilsome labor that makes weary (kopiavw / kopiaô) - Luke 5:5; 2 Tim. 2:6; John 4:6 Fighting, striving, contending - (ajgwnivzomai / agônizomai) - 1 Cor. 9:25; 1 Tim. 6:12 True ministry can be toilsome labor & agonizing - 1 Cor. 11:23-28; 1 Tim. 4:10; 5:17; 6:12; 2 Tim. 2:1-15)

The Strength for Service Colossians 1:29 God’s Provision It is God that sustains us and accomplishes His will through us. His power is perfected in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9) - He chooses the weak to shame the strong (1 Cor. 1:28)

The Strength for Service Colossians 1:29 We simply surrender our will to His, step forward in faith to serve and then see Him work through us

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ