1. Colossians 1:1-8 (ESV) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

2. Colossians 1:1-8 (ESV) 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel

3. Colossians 1:1-8 (ESV) 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

5. The Word of Truth - The Gospel Colossians 1:1-8

6. Sermon Series through Colossians 19-Oct The Word of Truth, The Gospel Col 1:1-8 26-Oct Strength from Above Col 1:9-14 2-Nov Reconciliation through the Cross Col 1:15-23 9-Nov The Testimony of Suffering for the Cause Col 1:24-2:15 16-Nov A Shadow of Things to Come Col 2:16-3:4 23-Nov 90th Anniversary Celebration Weekend - Rev. William Hsueh 30-Nov A New Wardrobe Col 3:5-17 7-Dec Christian Households Col 3:18-4:1 14-DecSeasoned with SaltCol 4:2-6

7. Introduction FROM: (verse 1) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother

8. Introduction TO: (verse 2) To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

9. Paul Timeline

11. Main idea The Gospel, The Word of Truth, is central to our Christian lives

12. Outline I. Live out the Gospel (vs 3-4) II. Know the Gospel Truth (vs 5) III. Spread the Gospel (vs 6-8)

13. Live out the Gospel Colossians 1:3-4 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints

14. Live out the Gospel FAITH in Christ Jesus Led to the LOVE you have for all the saints Active love is a sign of a genuine faith

15. I. Live out the Gospel Faith (4102/pistis) involves belief but it goes beyond human believing because it involves the personal revelation (in working) of God. Faith is always God's work. Our believing has eternal meaning when it becomes "faith-believing" by the transforming grace of God. -from Strong’s Concordance

16. I. Live Out the Gospel APPLICATION: Do you have “Faith” in Christ Jesus that goes beyond just belief that God exists? -Spend time reflecting and praying about God giving you the gift of faith to truly know Him. Does your “Faith” lead you to love in action and demonstrate your genuine faith in Jesus? -Think of practical ways you are going to love others with the love that you know you have received from Christ.

17. II. Know the Gospel Truth Colossians 1:5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel

18. II. Know the Gospel Truth The dissolution of the idea of truth — of truth that does not need my approval in order to be proved true — severely undercuts the Christian understanding of evangelization or mission. Missionary proclamation was once understood as bringing the truth to others, and was therefore both legitimate and extremely important. For many today, the missionary enterprise is a matter of imposing our personal preferences and culturally conditioned prejudices upon others, and is therefore not only illegitimate but morally offensive. - NIV Application Commentary

19. II. Know the Gospel Truth APPLICATION: How well do you know the Gospel Truth? -Commit to reading, learning, understanding the Word of Truth, the Gospel. Do you recognize how the people around you perceive truth? -Are you able to share the Gospel Truth in the ways that others will receive it?

20. III. Spread the Gospel Colossians 1:6-8 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

21. III. Spread the Gospel “just as a tree without fruit and growth would no longer be a tree, so a gospel that bore no fruit would cease to be a gospel.” -Eduard Schweizer

22. III. Spread the Gospel APPLICATION: What are ways you are going to spread the gospel? What are ways you are going to be involved in how the church will spread the gospel?