Shout out to the Church (12)
Colossians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsPaul's shout out to the believers in Colossae
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Starting an 11 week series studying the letter of Colossians.
Colossians fills us with a knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Colossians arms us against self appointed false teachers and doctrine
Colossians shows how union with Christ shapes all of life.
Text: Colossians 1:1-8
Focus your attention this morning on the “Shout-out” Paul gives to the church meeting in Colossae.
Presented with two foundational truths.
I. THE CHURCH IS MADE UP OF BELIEVERS, NOT BUILDINGS.
v.2 “…holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse”
a) THE LOCAL / VISIBLE CHURCH
A specific gathering of believers in a
geographical area.
Col.4:12 Mention of Epaphras -who is one of you...
Q. - Where were first century Christians gathering?
(Synagogue / homes)
Acts 2:46,47
Romans 16:3,5
b) THE UNIVERSAL OR INVISIBLE CHURCH (All who know Christ)
1:1- Paul, Timothy
4:7,9,10 > Tychicus, Onesimus (run away slave), Aristarchus
One of the positive things to POST-COVID for the Church was the reminder that:
c) BELIEVERS MATTER MORE THAN THE BUILDING / PROGRAMS
Look at how Paul describes the believers he is writing to:
1:1 “holy and faithful brothers”
(set apart, trustworthy members of
his spiritual family)
1:3a “We always thank God the Father…when we pray for you...”
Always - in every circumstance or situation
Thank - expressing gratitude, favor
1 Corinthians 12: 18-20
Is that how you see one another in the Church?
Do you see your absence or present from NHCC in the same way?
The letter of Colossians immediately reminds us that: THE CHURCH CONSISTS OF BELIEVERS, NOT BUILDINGS.
Paul proceeds in vv.3-8 to show:
II.THE CHURCH EXISTS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, AND NOT YOUR PERSONAL CONVENIENCE.
1:3
a) All credit is directed to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples, in John ch.15 - “apart from me you can do nothing...”
John 14:12 “…do even greater works than these”
1:4-8
Paul is thrilled at the way in which the church in Colosse:
b) REFLECTS THE CHARACTER OF THE FATHER, SON, AND SPIRIT
Triad of three spiritual graces: Faith, Hope, & Love
Faith in Christ / Love (1:4)
Faith, Love, Hope (1:5)
“…stored up for you...” - reserved
Response to the Gospel (1:5-7)
“…bearing fruit”
“fellow servant…faithful minister”
(fellow servant used only 1 other time by Paul in reference to Tychicus)
I started, by giving you three reasons why we were going to study the letter of Colossians. But why should the opening eight verses be important to you this morning?
< God’s Love for His church, irregardless of its size
City of Colosse - lost its significance, by passed by the Roman World
< God’s Glory is to be reflected in His church, no matter what its size or location!