The Increasing and Fruitful Gospel (2)

[1] Title

Celebrate in Church Intro, Prayer

Rapid Increase

Jesus born - small town outskirts - no big deal to the locals - one more baby (DuBois 100+ births)

Mary (1)

Joseph (2)

Elizabeth (3)

John the Baptist (4)

Disciples (+12)

Upper Room (120)

Year 33 - Peters Sermon at Pentecost (+3000)

Roman Empire Year 40 - 1,000

Year 100 - 7,500

Year 150: 40,000

Year 300: 1.2 million, 2%

Year 350: 34 million, 50%

Today: 2.4 billion world wide or 7.2 (1/3)

Jesus has become a big deal - Gospel has changed the world

Main Passage

Paul has celebrated faith, love and hope which is laid up for them in heaven, then continues. Look for where credit is given.

[2, 3, 4, 5]

Colossians 1:5–8 ESV

because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 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, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

[6]

Credit to the gospel

Acts 20:24 ESV

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.