Colossians 4:7-8 - Tychicus
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
[READING - Colossians 4:7-8]
7 As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. 8 For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts;
[PRAYER]
In movies, they're called ‘the supporting cast.’ In sports, they're called ‘role players.’
They aren’t the stars of the show or the franchise players.
They're the people who help carry the storyline so the stars can shine in their featured roles.
They’re the people who make the blocks so the franchise players can their touchdowns.
There were people like this in the days of the early church, and they were a vital part of the church.
When you think about the followers of Jesus named in the New Testament, who would you think of as a featured star or franchise player?
You would certainly think of the Apostles, wouldn’t you?
Peter, John, James, Matthew, Paul, and all the rest; and rightly so, because Ephesians 2:20 says the church is built on the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles…
…but that's only 12 people.
You might also include Mary, the mother of Jesus, or the brothers of Jesus, James and Jude.
You might think of Paul’s proteges—Titus and Timothy, or powerful preachers like Apollos.
But by the time we get to Paul and his letter to the church at Colossae, there are tens of thousands of followers of Jesus, and the vast majority of them were not known as ‘featured stars’ or ‘franchise players.’
Perhaps you don’t feel like a featured star in the church today. You’re just a member of lil’ ol’ Emmanuel Baptist Church.
The president of the Southern Baptist Convention doesn’t know your name.
The executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Convention doesn’t know what you’re doing in service to the Lord.
The local association may barely be aware of your existence… but probably not.
You might feel like you’re insignificant or unimportant, but even if you’re just a part of the supporting cast—even if you’re just a role player, you’re a vital part of the church.
The mission and ministry of the church wouldn’t go as far without you.
[CONTEXT] The mission and ministry of the early church wouldn’t have gone as far without Tychicus.
Tychicus’s name means ‘fortunate,’ and the early church was fortunate to have him.
Tychicus seems to have been one of Paul’s most trusted teammates in ministry.
He traveled with Paul on Paul’s third missionary journey, and the early church trusted him (along with Paul and some others) to deliver aid to the poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 20:4).
Tychicus was so trustworthy that he likely spent time as an interim pastor in Ephesus and perhaps even also Crete.
But perhaps most notably, Tychicus delivered Paul’s letters and Paul’s encouragement.
Tychicus delivered Paul’s letter to the Colossians and most likely his letters to the Ephesians and the Laodiceans too. He also may have delivered letters to Titus and Timothy as well.
Tychicus is memorialized as Paul’s mail-carrier in Gustav Dore’s woodcut. Paul is in prison writing his letter to the Ephesians; Tychicus is waiting, ready to receive it and take it to its destination.
But after Tychicus delivered Paul’s letters, he delivered Paul’s encouragement.
As we see here in Colossians 4:7, Tychicus not only brought this letter to the Colossians but also brought them information (v. 7) about Paul’s circumstances that would encourage their hearts (v. 8).
Paul wanted the Colossians to know about his circumstances in prison.
Paul wanted them to know that his circumstances in prison had turned out for the greater progress of the Gospel (cf., Phil. 1:12).
This would have certainly encouraged their hearts, and Tychicus delivered that encouragement to them.
But with that background in place, we want to focus on three DESCRIPTIONS of Tychicus this morning—the three DESCRIPTIONS we see in Colossians 4:7.
[CIT] In this verse, Paul describe Tychicus as a beloved brother, a faithful servant, and a fellow slave of the Lord Jesus.
[PROP] We should aim to live so others in the church would describe us in this way.
[INTER] But what do each of these DESCRIPTIONS mean?
[TS] Let’s spend some time thinking carefully about each one…
Major Ideas
Major Ideas
DESCRIPTION #1: Tychicus was a beloved brother (Col. 4:7a)
DESCRIPTION #1: Tychicus was a beloved brother (Col. 4:7a)
7 As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.
[ILLUS] When I was a boy, I would watch the World Wrestling Federation featuring Hulk Hogan on TV. I wasn’t a Hulka-maniac, but I did cry when Andre the Giant beat him at Summer Slam in 1987.
But if you watched wrestling during that time, you saw Hulk Hogan being interviewed by Mean Gene Okerlund.
Mean Gene would ask his question, and Hulk would respond, “Well, brother...”
For Hulk Hogan, no one seemed to have a name.
Everyone was called brother.
Myabe that’s why I sometimes call complete strangers brother.
I pull up to the drive-thru, “Hey, brother, can I get a coffee?”
I pay for the oil change, “Thank you, brother.”
Most of the time my use of the word brother is as meaningless as Hulk Hogan’s.
But when Paul uses the word brother, it isn’t meaningless.
[EXP] The Scripture only uses the particular phrase ‘beloved brother’ to describe four men.
Peter describes Paul as a beloved brother (2 Pet. 3:15).
Paul uses that phrase to describe Philemon (Phile. 1:1).
Paul uses that phrase to describe Onesimus (Col. 4:9; Phile. 1:16).
And Paul describes Tychicus as beloved brother (Eph. 6:1; Col. 4:7).
Tychicus was a dearly loved brother (Col. 4:7, CSB).
In that phrase ‘beloved brother’ there is closeness and connection.
The connection between Paul and Tychicus is communicated in that word brother.
These men were brothers by way of their shared faith in Jesus Christ; they were blood-brothers because of the blood that Jesus shed for them.
This was a real link, a real bond, a real union between them in Christ.
The closeness between Paul and Tychicus is communicated in the word beloved.
Tychicus was surely beloved by many people in the local church but especially by the Apostle Paul.
Paul wasn’t close with everyone. He couldn’t have been, but there was a real accord, a real affection, a real love between these brothers.
[ILLUS] When Paul was imprisoned a second time in Rome, he knew that the end of his life was near. Church tradition has it that both he and Peter were martyred during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Nero. In 2 Timothy 4:6, Paul wrote…
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
Understandably, Paul wanted to say goodbye in person to Timothy and Titus, his proteges in the faith, but someone trustworthy would need to fill in for them, and someone tender would need to break the news to them that their father in the faith was about to die.
Tychicus was that man.
He was sent to Ephesus so Timothy could visit Paul (2 Tim. 4:12), and then afterward he may have also been sent to Crete so Titus could visit Paul (Tit. 3:12).
This kind of thing is what made Tychicus a beloved brother.
[APP] Are you fortunate enough to have a beloved brother or sister like Tychicus? One closely connected to you through faith in Christ? One you can count on in the darkest moments? One you can trust in at the end? Do you have a beloved brother or sister in Christ like that?
Are you a beloved brother or sister like that to others?
It’s not always easy to be a beloved brother or sister like Tychicus.
Sometimes you will have to do difficult things.
It’s often inconvenient.
You will have to put others first.
And sometimes a lot may be asked of you.
[ILLUS] John Newton and William Cowper were beloved brothers in Christ.
John Newton was the former slave ship captain who wrote Amazing Grace after repenting of his sins and trusting in Jesus for salvation.
William Cowper was the poet and translator of Homer who wrote There is A Fountain. He also struggled with severe depression.
Through 27 years of friendship Newton walked with Cowper through the darkness of depression.
Once, after a failed suicide attempt, Newton refused to leave his side and then Newton and his wife took care of Cowper in their own home for 14 months.
[APP] Sometimes a lot may be asked of you as a beloved brother or sister in Christ, but there is always a heavenly reward in it…
…and it is one of the ways we live to honor Jesus who is forever our beloved brother (cf., Matt. 28:10).
Tychicus was a beloved brother.
Will you be a beloved brother or sister in Christ?
[TS] …
DESCRIPTION #2: Tychicus was a faithful servant (Col. 4:7b)
DESCRIPTION #2: Tychicus was a faithful servant (Col. 4:7b)
7 As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.
[EXP] Some English translations refer to Tychicus as a minister rather a servant (ESV, NIV, KJV, NKJV, CSB); the NLT say that he is a ‘faithful helper.’ The Greek word is the one usually translated as deacon or servant.
Jesus said in Matthew 20:25-26…
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
That was what made Tychicus great; he was a great servant.
Paul described him as a faithful servant.
Other servants of Jesus might be lazy or unreliable, but not Tychicus.
He could be counted on, and he counted it a privilege to serve the Lord Jesus by serving others.
[ILLUS] The Puritan, John Howe, served as chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector of the English Commonwealth from 1653-1658.
During that time, Howe was often approached for assistance by others, and never refused a worthy request. He would take it to Cromwell and ask for help on behalf of others.
One day, Cromwell said to him, “Mr. Howe, you have asked favors for everybody but yourself; pray, when does your turn come?”
Howe replied, “My turn, my Lord Protector, is always come when I can serve another.”
I think that’s how Tychicus felt too.
[APP] How do you feel about serving others?
Jesus said in Mark 10:45…
45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Tychicus certainly understood that if Jesus, the Son of God, came to serve others, so should those who follow Him.
It’s much more pleasurable to the flesh to be served, but the way of Jesus is serving others faithfully.
[TS] Beloved Brother. Faithful Servant. Fellow Slave.
Jesus said…
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;
DESCRIPTION #3: Tychicus was a fellow slave (Col. 4:7c)
DESCRIPTION #3: Tychicus was a fellow slave (Col. 4:7c)
7 As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.
[EXP] Most English translations don’t refer to Tychicus as a slave but as a fellow servant or bond-servant as the NASB does, but the Greek word is the one commonly translated as slave.
A slave was owned by his master; he only served his master’s interests.
But Paul described Tychicus as a fellow slave.
This is because Paul described himself as “Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus...” (Rom. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Tit. 1:1).
Peter, James, and Jude also described themselves as slaves of Christ (James 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:1; Jude 1).
And Paul also described Epaphras and Timothy as slaves of Christ (Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:7; 4:12).
All Christians are described as slaves of Christ (Rev. 1:1; 7:3; 11:18; 19:2, 5; etc.) and instructed to view themselves as slaves of one another (1 Cor. 9:19; 2 Cor. 4:5; Gal. 5:13).
In Galatians 1:10 Paul said of himself, “If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a slave of Christ,” (Gal. 1:10).
Slaves of Christ don’t live to please themselves or to please anyone else; they live to please Jesus, their Master.
Such was Tychicus: a fellow slave owned by Christ who lived to please Christ alone.
[ILLUS] Are you a slave of Christ? Are you living to please Christ alone?
C. S. Lewis said, “Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows. Aristotle said that some people were only fit to be slaves. I do not contradict him. But I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters.”
I agree with Lewis: I see no men fit to be masters, but I do know of one man who is fit to be Master of all: the God-Man Jesus Christ is fit to be Master.
He is fit to be Master because He came in the form of a slave to set us free from slavery to sin. Philippians 2:7-8 describes His descent into slavery…
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
And then Philippians 2:9-11 describes His rise as Lord or Master of everything…
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
[APP] Everyone is a slave. Romans 16:18 says that some people are slaves of their own appetites (Rom. 16:18); but all men, women, boys, and girls are slaves to sin (Rom. 6:6) until they become slaves to righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.
In Romans 6:17-18, Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome…
17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Does that describe you? Are a slave of Christ and His righteousness, living to please Him alone, or are you still a slave of sin?
The only way to break free of the slavery of sin is to trust in the righteousness of Jesus Christ—His righteousness that is counted as yours when you trust that He died to pay the price for your sins and when you trust that He rose so you would be counted as righteous before God.
[TS]…
Conclusion
Conclusion
You might feel like you’re insignificant or unimportant, but if you’re a beloved brother or sister, a faithful servant, a fellow slave of Christ Jesus living to please Him alone—even if your role is just as a member of the supporting cast so to speak—just know that you’re a vital part of the church just as Tychicus was.
The mission and ministry of the church wouldn’t go as far without folks like you.
[PRAYER]
