The goal, ministry, and message of the church. Colossians 1:24-2:5

Jesus > Everything

This is true, and it’s the heartbeat of Paul’s letter and his life.

Jesus himself said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure because of the worth of Jesus. His kingdom is a treasure because He is the treasure… Philippians 2:9–10 (ESV) says, “9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”

In our passage today we zero in a few different truths. Each one of these is weighty and significant on its own, and when placed together I believe we have a message that God desires for our church to take to heart.

Look with me at Colossians 1:24–2:5 (ESV)

24 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, 25 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, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 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. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. 2 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, 2 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, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 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.

Jesus is worthy of our suffering

Colossians 1:24

24 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

Paul is not surprised, nor does he regret his suffering. He has known since the time of his salvation that he would suffer…

Acts 9:15–16 (ESV), “15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

One of the primary reasons Paul suffered was because of the Gentiles. Paul writes in Ephesians that the dividing wall between the Jews and the Gentiles has been torn down. He goes on to say that there is now one “man” referring to the people of God where there were once two. Paul is suffering a great deal because of the Jews. The same people that were angry that Jesus spent time with sinners are now persecuting Paul because of his ministry to the gentiles.

But, as God shows us here in this passage we know that Jesus is worth it.

Jesus counted the suffering worth it when he went to the cross, Paul counts it worth it in his missionary and ministry journeys, and we should too.

Jesus is the goal of ministry

Colossians 1:25-27

5 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, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 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

The ministry of the church is the message of Jesus

Colossians 1:28-29

28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

“Him we proclaim”

There are many who proclaim things in the name of Jesus, but makes it clear that we are actually proclaiming Jesus.

Jesus is not the means to something greater… which is part of the heresy that Paul is writing to combat. The Colossians were faced with false teaching that claimed Jesus wasn’t enough. They presented Jesus as the step toward something greater. They claimed a mysterious truth or being greater than Jesus as the true knowledge. And that Jesus was a key or step toward that deeper and greater knowledge. But, as we have already pointed out that Jesus is the goal… therefore Jesus is the message.

Jesus is our salvation. Jesus is the one who has accomplished our salvation. No one is saved by their works or a set or religious rules.

I remembered a conversation I had with a fellow pastor here in Tupelo a few years ago. Matt Powell and I sat and talked for along time about how we like to preach that salvation is by grace, but then we go and live and judge others according to works and the law.

But, its true- salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus… alone. There isn’t another way. And salvation is in Christ because He is God.

I mentioned in our first sermon on Colossians that Paul is combating heresy with the truth, and that as we make our way through the letter I would take a few moments and speak to modern heresies and false teachings.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe that Jesus was divine. They do believe that he was in heaven before coming here, and they believe that he went back to heaven after he died. They believe that Jesus is God’s only direct creation, and that’s why he is called the firstborn of all creation. But, because he is not God, he is not a part of the Trinity, though they believe he lived a perfect life. ‘

Like the false teachers impacting the Colossians, they see Jesus as a lesser being than God, but one who points us to the true being and knowledge which is God. In addition, they don’t affirm the Holy Spirit as God either, instead they claim he is a force and not a person… therefore they reject the teaching of the Trinity all together. In the end, Jehovah’s Witnesses are not bearing the truth of Christ, for they are not proclaiming Christ as Paul speaks of here, and they deny the very truth of Scripture with their own translation of the Bible that distorts the word of God.

We, like Paul, proclaim Christ and Christ alone. He is the goal of our ministry and the subject of our message.

“Warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom…”

The word warning could also be translated “admonishing.” And it refers to “the task of calling to mind a correct course of action. It encourages people to get on with what they know to do”

So, Paul says that we proclaim Christ, then we confront and teach believers to live according to the way of Jesus… because the goal is Jesus… and that means that our goal for people to grow up into Christ. Like he said in Ephesians 4:15–16 (ESV), “15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

And he says here in verse 28, “… that we may present everyone mature in Christ”

Paul’s goal for each church is the same- Jesus

Paul’s message to each church is the same- Jesus

For a long time churches have proclaimed Jesus, and some have warned- but not in the way that Paul speaks about here. There is always a warning of hell in the proclamation of the gospel.

But, the church is filled with people who don’t need to be scared out of hell, they need to be admonished and taught on their way to heaven.

Now, I am not saying that every person who attends a church service is a Christian. But, I am saying what the Bible says, that the church is made up of those who are already saved.

And, it doesn’t make sense to keep calling people who are saved to get saved… you have to proclaim Christ and at the same time you have to warn/admonish and teach believers to grow up into Christ, or to mature as Paul says here in Colossians.

If you aren’t saved, you need Jesus… you cannot grow up into salvation- you must be saved by Jesus before you can grow up into maturity. But, if you’re saved, then you must grow, it’s God’s goal for your life.

Unfortunately, I think there are some, maybe many, who are bored with admonishment and maturity. You see American Christians have proven over the years to love proclamation and warning, in fact many are obsessed with warnings, getting most excited when preachers speak prophetically to the world from their pulpits.

One of the problems with warning people outside the church from the inside of the church is that the outside world isn’t listening. Just yesterday during our food giveaway we had many conversations with people completely disinterested in Jesus. They didn’t want us to pray with them, and they didn’t want us to share anything with them. And that’s heart breaking. But, as one of our men said, we are planting seeds… and I would add that sometimes we aren’t planting seeds because we are preparing the soil for the seed. And God is working in each situation and we are praying that those who had hard hearts toward Christ were impacted in some way that would soften them to the truth of the Gospel.

Those who pine for the days of hell-fire and brimstone are right that we have to keep sin, hell, and the truth of Jesus in front. But, the same people who yearn for the good ole days of hellfire and brimstone are the ones who also complain about the current state of affairs in the American church. But the anemic American church is the result of ignoring this important part of the ministry that Paul speaks of in verse 28… The church has ignored the call to present the members of the members of the church as mature for too long. And his is so important that Paul is suffering and struggling to this end- to see the church fulfill its calling and live out their faith in Jesus.

There are many churches who have moved away from Jesus altogether, and once you move away from Jesus you are not a church anymore. But, for the churches that are driving to follow Jesus, the solution isn’t to get louder about hell to those who are saved… The solution the problem is for the American church to grow beyond the altar moments of Sunday morning worship and begin to mature in their faith so they can be living sacrifices Monday through Saturday.

Early on in my youth ministry I grew frustrated with the lack of maturity in the church. It’s hard when students are growing deeper and deeper while adults are just doing Sunday church. I would struggle with the attitude toward adults in the church. The emphasis was always on altar calls and attendance… but the last 25 years of church research has exposed that many churches have’t had a plan for maturing members. Too many people think that maturity is a given… but it’s not. Spiritual maturity is the result of the Christ-centered ministry.

Because the Christian life is made up of what happens after a profession of faith and baptism.

Baptism is the starting line, not the finish line. And churches or pastors who see baptism as the finish line or the goal have missed the fullness of the gospel and the ministry of Christ.

Here at HBC we have kept the pedal down on proclamation and warning, but we have increased the importance of equipping over the last 5 years. Almost 6 years ago my relationship with HBC began… and in my time getting to know the church through the search committee, one of the things that drew us toward one another was an emphasis on equipping and discipleship. I remember the look on their faces when I said my hope would be that one day 1000 people would leave Sunday services to go and share the gospel with Lee County during the week. And, I am thrilled at how the Lord is growing us and working in us to that end.

Paul embodies the commitment to making disciples in his personal ministry to the church. As he says, “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” This =’s proclamation, warning, and maturing.

Paul has given himself to reaching and teaching to the point of suffering, and his focus on the maturity of the church is at the root of his letter to the Colossians.

Look with me at Colossians 2:1-5

“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 2 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, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 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.”

A few things about maturity:

Colossians 2:1-5

Maturity is evidenced in a church that is encouraging, united in love, and growing in understanding and assurance.

A mature church is one that is in good order and firm in its faith in Christ.

I/we am/are deeply committed to the proclaiming Christ and warning of the perils of sin and hell… but I/we am/are also equally committed to the maturity and the growth of the church. This is a distinctive of Harrisburg… and one that I am thankful has developed and continues to develop.

I was recently asked what’s the most significant thing we have done as a church in my time here… before I could answer Jill said, “Discipleship Groups.” And I would completely agree.

Discipleship groups are where the rubber meets he road. It’s where people get to know you and what’s really going on.

I like to look at this way- God guides and directs us through preaching in our worship services. Then, in our Sunday school classes we are able to apply the Bible more personally to our personal situations. But, it’s in d-groups where accountability to the application begins to happen.

And, our equipping classes provide opportunities for us to grow in unique ways and allow us to get to know more of the members of our church.

But, d-groups are where it’s at. They each move at their own pace, but they all have the same goal- Jesus.

One of my favorite doctrines is missions or missiology… but you can’t be a church on mission with immature church members.

Maturity is the foundation of a missional church.

You can only grow as much as the foundation will allow.

When I first came to HBC I had our staff read through a book entitled the Trellis and the Vine. In the book the authors use the relationship of a trellis and a vine to talk about the church. The church is the vine, and the trellis is the support structure.

They make the point that the trellis doesn’t grow the vine… which in turn means that structures that don’t grow churches anymore than a trellis grows the vine. Which means that the focus of the church is on the growth of the people in the church. Which is exactly what Paul is writing about when he talks about presenting believers mature in Christ.

We are not called to multiply immaturity… we are called to mature in our faith and then multiply the kingdom… and honestly I am not sure that you can do one without the other. It’s a both and for most of us.

The foundation of the church is the teaching of the apostles and prophets, and Christ is the cornerstone on which those two stand… so the foundation of the church is Christ and the ability of the church to reach the lost and multiply the kingdom depends on the spiritual maturity of it’s members.

When the church is growing spiritually you can’t keep up with it organizationally. In fact, a spiritually mature church often needs less programming to share the gospel because the members are doing it personally rather than programmatically.

Again, that goes back to when I was meeting 6 years ago with the search committee from HBC, I began praying then for God to grow us spiritually to the point where we were sharing the gospel as a whole rather than as a small percentage. And praise the Lord He’s growing us and isn’t done yet!

Maturing in Christ is not about how long you have been here, when you were baptized, or your age. Maturity in Christ is about how you live… and when we look at what Paul says… maturity is evidenced the most with a willingness to sacrifice and even suffer.

Another way to look at this is that a church that reaches is one that teaches

Making all of this personal:

Christ suffered for the salvation of the church

Reaching and teaching requires struggle and involves suffering.

Suffering accompanies the strJesus said that suffering was a part of following Him

therefore like Paul we should filter our suffering experiences through that lens… even spiritual suffering and spiritual warfare.

It’s almost a rule in my life as a pastor… that when the Lord is working, my life will be more difficult.

I will also say that it’s also a rule that when I make bad decisions there are consequences… so I am not saying that every time something is difficult in my life it’s because the Lord is working through me.

But, I can say every time the Lord is working then my life and family fall under an intensified spiritual attack. I’m also convinced that many people are unaware of the role they play in the plans of the enemy. They are simply being critical and expressing their rights and opinions.

But, I want to make sure that we all remember that our culture is under the rule and reign of Satan… so when you play by the rules of culture you are playing by the rules of the Devil. And there should never be a sense of confidence or pride when you play with his rules.

Reaching the lost, unchurched, and de-churched comes with a price. But, its a price not many realize they will have to pay. In fact it’s one that surprises a lot of people when it happens. But, just like Paul’s experience

Maturity is the foundation of a life on mission

Jesus is the goal of our lives

Jesus > Everything