Colossians 1:29ff handout...

The Church is to be growing consistently towards maturity, with distinguishing Marks. (2:1-7).

: A minister who struggles in prayer and concern for the church. (v1)

: Believers who possess encouragement & confidence (vv2-3)

What is God a God of?? (; )

What is promised to the believer?? (; ; )

What’s the ministry that the apostles engaged in? (; ; ; )

Jesus identified himself with the ministry which is described in , which was in essence a ministry of comfort ().

The needs of our people constantly requires that we give a significant share of our attention to this ministry of encouragement.

As believers, we have always been faced with distress, pain, anxiety, tragedy, violence, and death, and the elders are able to serve effectively as a shepherds of souls and the congregations, who follow them, only as they follow the example of their Lord and of the apostles in a ministry of comfort and consolation.

2. : Believers who possess encouragement & confidence

a. Comes from being knit together in love

b. Comes from knowing that what one believes about the mystery of God (Christ) is accurate

c. Comes from knowing that Christ is the source of all wisdom & knowledgeDS1

3. : Believers who resist seductive teaching (v4).

4. : Believers who maintain military discipline & order: Growing in the faith (v5).

5. : Believers who walk in the Lord (vv6-7).

a. Being grounded in the Lord

b. Maturing in the Lord

c. Overflowing with thanksgiving to the Lord