Sunday Sermon Colossians
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction/Welcome
Introduction/Welcome
Well good smokey morning everyone. Its like we in the Smokey Mountains today.
Thank you for joining us today, we are glad that each one of you are here to worship God in Spirit and in Truth this morning one verse at a time.
I have good news for you! Today, we will be starting the Book of Colossians where we will learn about the Supremacy of Jesus Christ and how Jesus is the head of the church.
Prayer
Prayer
Read Colossians 1:1-8
Read Colossians 1:1-8
Although we read the first 8 verses today, we will by no means work our way through them.
We must first dig into the historical context of how Colossians came to be and why?
Review
Review
Looking back over the last several weeks of Jesus’ ministry the last few days of his life we learned that many in his day reasoned away their Messiah.
We also learned that many gave excuses, not just to come to Him, but to come to the Royal wedding feast.
That we must have our oil lamps full, because the bridegroom cometh.
Do you have a wedding garment? Are you ready for the Royal Wedding Feast? The Great Supper that will take place on that day? Church, Jesus is coming and we must be ready!
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
Colossians is about the Supremacy of Jesus Christ, its about Him being Pre-eminent in our lives. Pre-eminent means number one. Since Paul wrote a short for chapter book, this leads me to believe that there was spiritual hosts of wickedness coming against this.
Church, there is nothing different today, In fact, I would suggest that there is more coming against us today than then. Everything is crying for our attention, everything is attempting to grab our attention and pull us away from Christ.
Often in our lives, Christ is marginalized.
He often isn’t first: schoolwork, hobbies, or family commonly take first place. In Colossians, Paul gives us reasons why Christ should be first in our lives and in the entire world.
He talks about how special Christ is and why he must be preeminent—first.
Is Christ number 1 in your life? Is he Supreme or Pre-eminent? Or are other people, places, things, philosophies in that place?
By the end of Colossians, we will know what and who is number one in our lives...
In Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous painting of The Last Supper, our Lord’s hands are empty. And therein lies an inspiring story.Da Vinci dedicated 3 years to this painting, determined that it would be his crowning work. Before the unveiling, he decided to show it to a friend for whose opinion he had the utmost respect. The friend’s praise was unbounded. “The cup in Jesus’ hand,” he said, “is especially beautiful.” Disappointed at once Da Vinci began to paint out the cup. Astonished, the distinguished friend asked for an explanation. “Nothing,” Da Vinci explained, “must distract from the figure of Christ.” Da Vinci focused attention solely on Christ by removing the distraction of the cup. Having removed the cup, he had to do something with the hand. The left hand was already outstretched just above the table, lifting, as if to bless and command. Now the right hand, also empty, was also outstretched invitingly.
What are we distracted with, what cup is taking away from our Master’s hand?
Author
Author
It is clear that Paul is the writer of Colossians as we can see here in verse 1:
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
We are blessed on this book, because it is a no brainer.
When they wrote letters in Pauls’ day, they would often start off with their name and what authority they spoke in.
Unlike us, we get a letter and have to wait all the way until the end to find out who had written it.
Paul had made a couple of tours around the Mediterranean, preaching the gospel and starting churches.
On one of his trips he stopped in Jerusalem and was arrested in the Temple for stirring up trouble in the Jewish world. He ended up in the hands of the Romans and then eventually wound up sitting in Rome waiting for a trial.
During this time of imprisonment in Rome, Paul wrote a couple of letters, called his “Prison Epistles”. The year is 60AD.
This imprisonment was house arrest as we will see here in these texts.
Paul was chained to a Roman Guard 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Paul could have visitors and they could bring him things like his cloak and books.
Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.
Some of the early church fathers say that there was not enough books to keep Saul of Tarsus busy. He was a book worm, or a sponge. I am guessing Paul had a photographic memory.
The guards had 3, 8 hour shifts. It was then that this gospel machine went to work, it was then that had penned three of his prison Epistles. Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians was written in AD 60-62.
Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves. Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.
Scholars believe have written that Paul was beheaded by Nero in AD 64-66.
He had written 2 Timothy right before his martyrdom for Jesus sake.
Paul writes:
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The City of Colossae
The City of Colossae
Colossae was one of three cities located about 100 miles inland from Ephesus.
The other two cities were Laodicea and Hierapolis (Col. 4:13, 16). This area was a meeting point of East and West because an important trade route passed through there.
At one time, all three cities were growing and prosperous, but gradually Colossae slipped into a second-rate position.
It became what we would call a small town.
Yet the church there was important enough to merit the attention of the Apostle Paul.
At the time Paul wrote Colossians, the church had been there for about 5 years.
Take time out to look at the map
Because this was a trade route, this was a melting pot for a variety of philosophies and religions that attacked the Supremacy of Jesus Christ.
This was primarily a Gentile area, but also had a large Jewish colony there.
I would like to compare the trade route that ran through these cities to the I-5 corridor or interstate.
I-5 is like a trade route, you have everything under the sun traveling up and down that road.
In Colossae, there was a constant influx of new ideas and doctrines that flowed in from the East and it was fertile ground for heresies, which is false teaching.
Today, we have the trade routes of the world streaming into our pockets, into our homes, into our children.
And if we do not know our Bibles church, we, like the Colossians will get pulled into the philosophies of this world and into religious speculations that are fighting for your soul.
If it is New, it is not True!
The only way to prevent this and to combat the garbage of the world is to keep the garbage out!
The Church of Colossae
The Church of Colossae
Colossae probably would never have been mentioned if it was not for the church there.
Paul did not start the church there, nor did he ever visit as far as the scholars know.
So how did the Colossian church begin? Who was the pastor if it was not Paul?
The church at Colossae was the fruit of Paul’s 3 year ministry in Ephesus.
Read Acts 19:1-10
Read Acts 19:1-10
Read Acts 20:25-32
Read Acts 20:25-32
And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Church. the witness of the church at Ephesus was powerful. Did you catch what this verse said? All who dwelt in Asia heard that word of the Lord!
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
That’s what they did!
When we examine the prison epistles written by Paul, we can just about track Paul’s ministry and discover how the Colossians church started.
What is included in the Prison Epistles?
During Paul’s ministry in Ephesus he lead to men to the Lord.
Epaphras- in the Greek it is: e-pä-frä's
Scholars believe he planted this church
He was a pastor/ evangelist who brought the gospel to Colossae shortly after Paul brought him to the Lord
His name means lovely
And he is only mentioned 3xs in the Bible
as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
Church, there are times in life that we do not feel like we are making a difference in the lives of those around us. Stop it!
In the Word of God I can think about several people that were mentioned only once like Anna that prophetess that was a widow for 84 years.
Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
There was Simon the Cyrenian who carried Jesus.
Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.
My point is this church, Epaphras, Anna, and Simon were just ordinary people like you and me, but God used them.
There is nothing that goes unnoticed in the Father’s eyes.
So when you don’t think you make a difference, think about Anna, the woman at the well, Simon, and Epaphras.
For God uses ordinary people, to do extraordinary things!
This was a small church with a big heart, that is still impacting the world!
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter One: From Paul, with Love (Colossians 1:1–2)
There is a good lesson for us here: God does not always need an apostle, or a “full-time Christian worker” to get a ministry established. Nor does He need elaborate buildings and extensive organizations. Here were two laymen who were used of God to start ministries in at least three cities. It is God’s plan that the Christians in the large urban areas like Ephesus reach out into the smaller towns and share the Gospel. Is your church helping to evangelize “small-town” mission fields?
The Colossians church was predominately Gentile.
Epaphras also did ministry in Hierapolis and Laodicea
2. Philemon- fe-la'-mon
His name means one who kisses
Paul lead his to the Lord as well
Philemon had a large home, and scholars believe he was wealthy as he had slaves as the personal letter teaches us
The personal letter, although called a prison epistle is settled in between Titus and Hebrews
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
So the church at Colossae was started by Epaphras and then the baton was handed off the Archippus.
In this verse we learn that Appia was Philemon’s wife, while Archippus was his son.
Remember when Paul said:
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
This was prophetic as the wolves came into Colossae and Ephesus and into that whole region.
Epaphras left the church at Colossae and went to Rome to see Paul because of the false teaching that had come into the church.
It is here, because of Epaphras the epistle of Colossians was penned.
Remember what Jesus said?
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
The only way for us to be wise as serpents and harmless as dove is to know our Bibles. The weapon of warfare that God has given us is the Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit that will quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
The wolves exist today church, and they come in all shapes and sizes.
Th trade route is in your pocket and in your home, you do not even need to leave your house.
The philosophies of men and other religious systems are attacking our kids in the schools, in the universities, and at all levels.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
Are you guarding your hearts?
Are you letting the trade routes of this world to steal the Supremacy of Christ form your life?
Prayer
Prayer
Announcements
Announcements
Does anyone have an announcement?
Do you like the bulletins? And should we continue during Covid, or wait until this passes to make them even better?
Back the Blue
Evergreen Community Church Donation September 20th 7-8pm. We need about 4 men that can help unload the blessings.
Kids need a safe place with internet to study and the MFMA is attempting to coordinate with the school district to make this happen. If we partook of this, we would need a handful of volunteers that would be interested in shepherding the children. Let me know.
I am in contact with Prison Fellowship and their Angel Tree program. we are going to become a Angel tree site and will buy gift for kids in the valley for Christmas this year:)
If anyone has office manger experience and is looking for work. Please direct them to me. CAC
We are also looking for a Womens Director to lead and shepherd our women and kiddos.
Benediction
Benediction
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
The Lord Bless you!
Your Mission Starts Now!