5 Portraits of Fellowship

Introduction:

v H:

H: Review of the Book

v FCF: What type of relationships should you have with other Christians?

FCF: What type of relationships should you have with other Christians?

v BI: You need to be in fellowship with other Christians

BI: You need to be in fellowship with other Christians

What is fellowship? Is it merely sharing meals? Is it just being in the presence of one another? Scripture provides us with a deeper meaning of the concept of fellowship.

Certainly a meal can be fellowship, but not all meals are fellowship.

Fellowship Defined: The self-sacrificing conformity to a shared vision and mission.

The vision is people from every nation and tribe worshiping the Triune God of the Bible through the Son of God Incarnate, Jesus Christ.

The mission is laid out for us in and illustrated in the book of Acts. We are to make disciples who make disciples.

We are to preach the gospel to the lost and one another. We are to uplift the poor and downcast among us, love one another, and be abundant in good works.

v Transition: In our passage this morning Paul and his companion serve as five portraits of fellowship. It’s to them we now turn.

Transition: In our passage this morning Paul and his companion serve as five portraits of fellowship. It’s to them we now turn.

Body:

Body:

1. You need to be in fellowship with other Christians; look at the portrait of encouragement:

I. You need to be in fellowship with other Christians; look at the portrait of encouragement: 7-9

Paul has sent two of his ministry companions to Colossae: ,

Because he wants the Christians in Colossae to know how he, his companions, and the ministry are doing: ,

So,

A: Do you know other Christians who are downcast? Do you know members of this church who are struggling? If so, find them and tell them what God is doing or has done in your life. Encourage them that God is up to something, though it may not be clear, it is going to be for good.

You can connect with other Christians and churches through the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board. Connect with church planters and missionaries. Know them and encourage them.

2. You need to be in fellowship with other Christians; look at the portrait of impartiality: 10-11

II. You need to be in fellowship with other Christians; look at the portrait of impartiality: 10-11

Three Jewish Christians on Paul’s team send greetings to the gentile Christians in Colossae:

I: To a Jew in this time period, a gentile was no better than a mangy, vile, and diseased stray dog. Yet, these Jewish Christians offered greetings and Paul a Jew offered instruction and encouragement.

A: As a Christian your identity should be found in nothing other than Jesus Christ. Therefore, you shouldn’t see someone as inferior based on race, wealth, or gender. It is not that you have to ignore differences between races, economic classes, or the genders. Instead you should see that the gospel and the identity you share with fellow believers in Jesus transcends these things. In Christ a poor man and rich man are equally saved, equally heirs, and equally united to God. In Christ it doesn’t matter if you are white, black, asian, latino, slavic, arabic, jewish, or etc. you all are on equally united to Christ and one another. Our basis of dignity, self-worth, and value is grounded in our union with Jesus and the fact that as human beings we bear the image of God.

Are you partial on who you will associate with, pray for, or minister to?

Get to know Christians who differ from you ethnically, culturally, and economically? Pray for and if you can with them. Offer them encouragement and if need be support them.

III. You need be in fellowship with other Christians; look at the portrait of service: 12-13

3. You need be in fellowship with other Christians; look at the portrait of service: 12-13

Epaphras serves the Christians in Colossae in prayer:

He prays for their maturity

He prays for their assurance

That is that they would know what God has revealed and live in accord with it.

Epaphras serves the Christians in Colossae in laboring for them:

He preached the Gospel to them:

He continues to work for their behalf

Q: “Most people want to serve God—but in an advisory capacity only.”

However, we should dare to be more like Epaphras, serving God and His people with our lives no mater the cost.

A:

Pray that your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world, in our nation, state, and communities would know what God has revealed and respond appropriately to it.

Preach the gospel to unbelievers, train those who believe, and continue to pray for and encourage them.

4. You need to be in fellowship with other Christians; look at the portrait of communication: 14-15

IV. You need to be in fellowship with other Christians; look at the portrait of communication: 14-15

Paul and two of his other companions send greetings to the Christians in Colossae, Laodicea, and Nympha’s house:

A: Talk to and know your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, both in this church, this community, and beyond. Send letters of encouragement to Christians overseas. Let them know they aren’t alone and remind them of the hope we have in Jesus.

V. You need to be in fellowship with other Christians; look at the portrait of instruction: 16-18

5. You need to be in fellowship with other Christians; look at the portrait of instruction: 16-18

Paul gives instruction for this letter to be read in the churches. This letter includes much instruction:

Paul gives instruction for a specific Christian to do the ministry he has been called to:

Paul gives final greetings, instructs them to remember him, and wishes them grace:

A:

God has given you specific gifts or callings and you should seek to glorify and serve God with your gifts and in your calling.

As a church we should partner together to point out and affirm each other’s gifts and train one another to use them in service to God in the church and in the world.

We should seek to instruct each other and other Christians in both doctrine and devotion

Conclusion:

Conclusion:

v H:

H: Overview of the book

v FCF: What type of relationships should you have with other Christians?

FCF: What type of relationships should you have with other Christians?

v BI: You need to be in fellowship with other Christians

BI: You need to be in fellowship with other Christians

R2J: Jesus is the best and He is enough!

v R2J: Jesus is the best and He is enough!