Jesus: The Gospel Worth Celebrating.

Introduction

A few years ago, I went to Ukraine on a mission trip where we hosted an English camp for young adults. Picture this: over 100 campers, tents pitched in the beautiful Carpathian Mountains, and days filled with teaching English, running games, and building relationships. But our ultimate goal? Sharing the gospel.

While there, I met a young couple named Andrew and Olya. Andrew was a star on the Ukrainian national rugby team, and Olya was part of the Ukrainian basketball team. They were incredible athletes—but as impressive as they were on the court or field, they were both lost without salvation.

Throughout the week, I got to know them better, and by Thursday night, Andrew approached me with a rather unusual request. He wanted my help to express his undying love for Olya by hiking up the side of the mountain next to us and arranging stones in a giant heart with Olya's name in the middle. Romantic, right? I thought, "This could be my chance to share the gospel with Andrew!" So, I agreed.

But then Andrew informed me that we’d need to start the hike before Olya woke up. His plan? Leave at 2 a.m. “Absolutely not!” I told him. “Let’s aim for 5 a.m.” I thought I’d negotiated well—until 2 a.m. rolled around, and Andrew popped his head into my tent, whispering, “Jason, you up? Let’s go!”

Half-asleep, I stumbled out of my tent, but instead of heading up the mountain, Andrew led me to a nearby creek. There, he pulled out four massive burlap sacks and handed me two. He instructed me to start filling them with rocks. I quickly pointed out that we’d find plenty of rocks on the mountain, but Andrew shook his head. “These rocks are much more beautiful,” he said.

So, I started tossing small, manageable stones into my sack. Not good enough for Andrew. He came over and started replacing them with much larger rocks. “Big rocks!” he insisted. “Olya needs to see my love for her!” Soon my sack was overflowing with what felt like boulders. I finally convinced him that I could only carry one sack at a time, and we began our climb up the mountain—each of us carrying our burdens of rocks.

Now, I’d like to think I’m in decent shape, but carrying these sacks up a mountain was no small task. My back ached, my legs burned, and I was sweating like crazy. Meanwhile, Andrew seemed oblivious to the weight of his own sack, determined to reach the top. As we hiked, I started sharing the gospel with him. But no matter how I explained it, he just couldn’t see why he needed a Savior.

About an hour into our climb, I was exhausted, and thankfully, so were Andrew’s sacks. I told him we needed a break. As we sat down, I prayed fervently, asking God to give me wisdom and open Andrew’s eyes to the truth of the gospel.

Then Andrew turned to me and said, “This bag I’m carrying is too heavy for me to carry any more on my own.” That’s when it clicked. I knew what I needed to do.

I grabbed my sack of stones, walked over to Andrew, and slung his two sacks over my shoulder. (To this day, I still don’t know how I managed that—I’m not exactly built like a rugby player.) I told him, “Don’t worry. I’ll carry them for you. You just walk with me.”

Andrew stared at me, completely stunned. “Why would you take all of my burden when it’s not even your purpose?”

And I said, “Because I want you to see what the gospel can do for you. Jesus wants to take your burden of sin—you just have to let Him.”

That moment changed everything. Andrew finally understood the gospel. By the time we reached the top of the mountain—where, by the way, there were plenty of beautiful stones just lying around—Andrew had placed his faith in Jesus.

We built that giant heart for Olya, and it was so big you could see it clearly from the tents below. But here’s the best part: not only did Andrew accept the gospel, but so did Olya. And then three of their friends believed, too.

Church, the gospel is something worth celebrating! It’s the one thing that can radically change lives.

(Have you paused recently to celebrate the gospel? Not just to acknowledge it, but to truly rejoice in what Jesus has done for you? Let’s dive into this passage and be reminded of the greatness of the gospel and the Savior at its center.)

Have you paused recently to celebrate the gospel? Not just to acknowledge it, but to truly rejoice in what Jesus has done for you? Let’s dive into this passage and be reminded of the greatness of the gospel and the Savior at its center.

The Gospel Transforms Lives (Colossians 1:3-5a)

After His introduction in verses 1-2 Paul expresses his thankfulnessin the salvation of the Colossian believers,

Col. 1:3-5a

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven…”

Paul brings together three defining marks of the Christian life: faith, love, and hope. Did you see it?  

We have heard of your Faith in Christ,,, and of your love for each other, because of  the hope  laid up in heaven...

These three Christian virtues are not isolated; they are deeply interconnected. in and through the gospel of Christ.

Faith is the root of the gospel ,

love is the fruit of the gospel

and hope is the anchor that sustains it all.

Faith in Christ Jesus

Faith is where it all begins. It’s the foundation of salvation and the starting point of a transformed life.

Genuine Faith is not simply intellectual agreement; but total dependence on Jesus Christ for Salvation

To illustrate what true faith looks like, I’d like to ask two volunteers to come forward for a demonstration. These two individuals will stand facing each other and place their hands against the other's hands, providing support. As they take a step back, they must lean further into each other's hands for balance. Then, they’ll take another step back, relying even more on the other person to hold them up. Eventually, all their weight will be leaning on the other person. If one were to let go, they would fall completely.

Faith in Christ works the same way. It’s not partial reliance or adding Jesus to our lives—it’s complete trust in Him alone as Savior and Lord. Without this faith, there is no salvation.

Paul celebrates the Colossians’ faith because they turned from self-reliance to trust in the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

Faith is what ties lost sinners to salvation Ephesians 2:8

Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Faith is believing in who Jesus is and what He has done.  its beleiving that there is no other way for you to become right with God, no other way For your sins to be forgiven, no other way for your eternity to be sealed in heaven, than through the finished work of Jesus on that Cross.

Faith is that moment when what we know about Jesus becomes what we are relying on to save us from an eternity in hell.

Church, Without faith, there is no salvation.

Faith is the root of salvation and the reason we can celebrate the gospel.

Love for the Saints

Paul continues in verse 4 by praising the Colossians for their love for one another, a defining mark of true faith.

remember what Jesus said in John 13:35 ?

John 13:35 (ESV)

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This is not the same love the world can offer. The world’s love often, if not always, comes with strings attached. The worlds love wants something in return.

The love mentioned in our text is vastly different than the worlds love-

Understand church that When we receive Jesus as our Savior We are Born again with a new self- The very nature of Christlikeness

And one of the supernatural changes that takes place in our lives is the new ability to love others like Christ loved us.

In 1 Cor. 13:4-8 we see what this christ-like love looks like in a believers life

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (ESV)

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

and notice what verse 13 says

1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Faith Hope and Love are eternally bound together in and through the gospel,

and Friends its Christ’s love - the love that we recieved at salvation, that compels us to love even those who are difficult to love.

it’s Christ's love that compels us to love others even when we are tired

it’s Christ's love that compels us to looks past differences and chooses unity within the body of Christ.

Friends, this love flows out of our faith in Jesus. Its what the gospel produces in the believers heart.

When we realize how deeply we are loved and forgiven by God, it transforms how we see and love others.

and Church this type of love is what the community should see when they encounter us in this world.

Hope Laid Up in Heaven

Finally, in verse 5 of our text- Paul ties faith and love to hope. saying they arise “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.”

In Hebrews 6:19 We read that hope is the anchor of our soul,,,

Hope is not wishful thinking; it’s a confident expectation based on the promises of God.

and this hope is the anchor of the soul.

As 1 Peter 1:3 says, “He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Church, Our hope is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

and This hope should transforms how we live.

It should give us courage in trials, peace in uncertainty, and perseverance in hardship, Knowing that no matter what happens in this life, our future is secure in Christ.

Hope changes how we live. It gives us a reason to press on and a reason to rejoice in the gospel

Romans 1:16 declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

The Gospel Doesn't Just Save Sinners.

It Radically Transforms Lives

When the gospel takes root in your life, it changes everything.

Faith grows deeper, love becomes sacrificial, and hope shines brighter.

Brothers and sisters, Let the gospel deepen your faith, let it expand your love for one another , and let it be the anchor for your hope.

The gospel is worth Celebrating because it radically transforms lives

Trans: Paul moves on in verses 5- 6 to teach us that…

2. The Gospel Bears Fruit (Colossians 1:5b-6)

Colossians 1:5–6 (ESV)

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, 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,

Paul points out something incredible about the gospel—it’s not stagnant. It’s alive. It’s active. and it bears fruit wherever it is proclaimed

The gospel meant to be a contagious message… a message of redemption that is to be spread around this world.

Paul in this text, wants to encourage the church by highlighting the

The Universal Impact of the gospel

He says in verse 6 “ Indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing

The great Commission is being fulfilled, the church is doing what God intended His church to do,

They are spreading the gospel with the world!

This is a beautiful reminder for the church today- The commission is not over-

The gospel message is meant to transcend all time, all cultures, all nations and all people.

Friends we need to understand that the gospel is meant to be shared and it will bear fruit wherever it is proclaimed.

The Personal Impact of the Gospel

But Paul doesn’t just speak globally; he makes it personal. in verse 6 he goes on to say… “as it also does among you.”

The Colossians had experienced the gospel message firsthand.

The gospel had transformed their own lives and was continuing to shape their church.

Here’s the beauty of it: The same gospel that bore fruit in the Colossians is at work in us today.

It’s the same message with the same power, producing the same kind of fruit.

church we need to understand that The gospel doesn’t lose its effectiveness over time—it continues to change lives today. It continues to bear fruit where ever it is proclaimed.

We can rejoice in the gospel - Because when it is shared it brings forth fruit.

Trans:

Finally in verses 7-8 Paul gives us the third reason the gospel is worth celebrating:

Look with me at verses 7-8:

Colossians 1:7–8 (ESV)

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.

The Gospel Brings Faithful Messengers (Colossians 1:7-8)

The gospel is worth celebrating because it calls and equips faithful messengers to carry its message.

We can celebrate the gospel- Because God chose to use us as His messengers of the gospel.

God didn’t need us to share the gospel, He can save people just as many people without our help, But in great love for us- He chose us as the conduit to carry this message to the world.

We can celebrate because we get to be in a front row seat as the gospel transforms lives.

Paulin this text introduces Epaphras as an example of how the gospel calls and equips faithful messengers.

Through his  life and ministry, Paul shows us three key characteristics that we can learn from when it comes to sharing the gospel.

The first attribute of this man was that..

Epaphras: A Fellow Servant

Paul calls Epaphras a “beloved fellow servant.”

This title reminds us that the work of spreading the gospel is not about individual glory.

It’s about humility, working together for the sake of Christ.

Epaphras wasn’t a celebrity or someone seeking recognition—he wasn’t a pastor or a great missionary - he was a servant, faithfully partnering with Paul to advance the gospel.

How can we be fellow servants?

Serve alongside others, putting the mission above personal recognition.

Find ways to support your church and community selflessly,

and celebrate the successes of others, knowing we’re all part of God’s team sent out with the same message to share.

Trans: Paul then describes  Epaphrus a "faithful minister of Christ"

Epaphras: A Faithful Minister

What made him faithful wasn’t his charisma or credentials, but his unwavering dedication to proclaiming Christ and serving the Colossian church.

Faithfulness, in God’s eyes, is measured by obedience and perseverance, not by outward success.

and friends faithfulness should be your desire as a beleiver,

Faithful to Gods Word,

Faithful in serving Gods Church,

and Faithful in proclaiming God's Gospel.

I love the words of on old song that simply reads “ Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.”

As believers we should have a great desire to leave a legacy of faithfulness for others to follow. a legacy of making and equipping more disciples. A legacy of a life commited to the gospel, and a life that reflects Jesus.

Trans: Epaphras didn’t just proclaim the gospel; he lived it. He was an example to follow,

Epaphras: An Example to Follow

His life was marked by love for God and for others.

He embodied the gospel message in his actions, faithfully pointing people to Jesus and making Him the focus of his ministry.

In Chapter 5 it tells us that Epaphrus was there serving by his side…  caring for Paul in His imprisonment,  a picture of man who lived out the gospel with his life.

Christian, Your life should proclaim the gospel in this world.  Your life should be the example for others to follow,

The gospel should compel us to live faithfully in all that we do, It should motivate us to stay on mission- The mission of looking like Jesus- The mission of Making and Equipping more disciples.

Church, are you willing to be a faithful messenger like Epaphras?  

Are you willing to live a life that is others focused and Christ glorifying?

"We can rejoice in the gospel because it calls and equips ordinary people, like Epaphras, to faithfully share the life-changing message of Jesus with the world."

Bring It Home: The Gospel is the Center of Our Mission

As we bring this message to a close, I want to  reflect on the centrality of the gospel in our lives and in our church.

The gospel is not just a message we believe; it’s the mission that compels everything we do. The gospel is what transforms lives, is what produces eternal fruit in our lives, and the gospel is what sends faithful messengers into the world.

For the Church

Church, The gospel must remain at the heart of our mission. Everything we do—our worship, our service, our outreach—must flow from the good news of Jesus.  -The good news that while we were still in our sins, Christ loving came to this earth and died in our place, all so that He could offer us eternal life.

Church if we are going to make and equip more disciples than the gospel must be at work in our midst.

As we move forward as a church, let’s ensure that the gospel shapes our priorities and drives our vision.

For the Individual

For you personally, the gospel demands a response today.

If you have never accepted the gospel message in your life, What are you waiting for? Jesus loves you and he wants to save you from your sins.  Respond in Faith today.

Christian Are you allowing the gospel to transform your life? Is it bearing fruit in how you live and love? Are you sharing its truth with others?

Brothers and sisters, let the gospel be your foundation, your motivation, and your proclamation.

As we close, let me leave you with this: The gospel is worth celebrating because it reveals Jesus, who is above everything.

Let’s celebrate it by living lives that reflect its power.

Let’s share it boldly and faithfully.

And let’s love others as Christ has loved us.

Pray