Caretakers of the Promise

Good Morning

Good Morning and Welcome to Freedom Chapel. My name is Pastor Terry, my wife Michelle and I serve as the lead pastors here at Freedom Chapel. We exist to bring hope to our community we do that by being a Place to Belong, Church for the Whole Family.

If you are new with us this morning would you please take the time fill out that little flap on the side of your bulletin. If you put it in the black boxes by the back door we will make a donation in your name to a local charity and send you cookies. Church can we show our guests some love this morning.

Wednesday Bible Study

Wednesday Bible Study’s begin this Wednesday night.

In the Fellowship Hall the Men Will be Studying the book of Jonah led by Mike Bena.

In the Tot’s Room the Women will be studying Philippians led by Tabitha Wiekle.

In the Sanctuary the Coed class will be studying 1 and 2 John and that class will be led by Michelle and I.

Youth and Kids’s Ministry will be kicking off as well.

Come out at 6:30p.

Traveling through Colossians

This is our third week in our Journey through Colossians. Last week Pastor Rustan taught through Colossians 1:15-23.

This part of Paul’s letter to the church in Colossia includes the words to what would have been one of the first century churches Hymns or Creeds.

In a time before the entire Canon of the Bible was accepted Creeds and Hymns were memorized as a way to combat heresy’s that were arising in the church. Creed’s were memorized to combat false teaching with truth. When a believer knew what they believed about God it was difficult for outside influences to negatively impact the body with false teachings.

Today we have the Bible. The Old Testament and the New Testament. I like to call the Old Testament the First Testament because it is as important for our walk with God as the New Testament. The New Testament is a compilation of Letters written to the first century church that even today is applicable to our lives. This is why we teach through entire books or letters of the Bible. It is applicable. The Bible is our center for truth. This is the foundation we need to build our lives on.

When we know and understand the Word of God it forms our belief system. It is important to understand why the letter was written, and who it was written to otherwise you end up with miss understandings and false teaching based off of scripture taken out of context.

Today we are going to cover another small chunk of Colossians. If you have your Bibles turn with me to Colossians 1:24-2:5.

Caretakers of the Promise

Lets Pray!

Colossians 1:24–2:5 ESV

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. 1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

So let’s begin to break this down. in order to better grasp Verse 24 I am going to switch translations.

Colossians 1:24 NLT

24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.

Participants in Christ’s Suffering

Paul is telling the church that he find Joy in his suffering because it allows him a deeper understanding of the sufferings of the Church.

Paul had endured many sufferings for Christ during his ministry. He encountered beatings, imprisonment, stoning, and much more.

Galatians 6:17 ESV

17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

Paul had endured some stuff. When he writes these letters he is not coming from an arrogant, high and mighty, living in a mansion, mega church Pastor mindset. He is literally sitting in Prison to fight for the Church and allow them religious freedom.

Paul had come from a place of being in the upper folds of the Jewish Faith. He probably lived a pretty nice life as a Pharisee. When He came to Christ he lost everything. The Jews kicked him out and tried to kill him, and Christians were terrified of him because he was a murderer of Christians. Paul would go on to be the father to the gentiles. He would be imprisoned and instead of allowing himself to be set free he petitioned Cesaer. His purpose was to create Freedom to speak and teach about Christ.

Colossians 1:24–26 ESV

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.

What is the Mystery?

Colossians 1:27–29 ESV

27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Christ in You!

Christ in you!

Not with you!

Louie Giglio analogy.

We need to come to the realization that Christ is dwelling in us.

The Question is how much room are you giving him?

How much room are you giving Him?

As a Pastor it is my call to warn and teach. My end goal is to present a mature church to Christ.

We have lost touch with an idea maturation.

Definition of maturation

1a: the process of becoming mature (s b: the emergence of personal and behavioral characteristics through growth processes

The idea that I should be growing closer to God and as I grow closer to God my attitudes, actions align more and more with the attitudes and actions of Jesus.

As Paul wraps up this section of letter he outlines what Maturation looks like.

Colossians 2:1–5 ESV

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Paul having not met this church body wanted them to experience something that only comes from Christ.

1. Hearts that are Encouraged.

2. A Body Knit together in Love.

You need to be knit to your church.

3. Fullfillment found only in the Understanding and Knowledge of Christ.

There were false teachers saying you need something more.........

In Christ all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found. You don’t need anything else.

Colossians 2:4 ESV

4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

I am so sick of all the additives being added to Christianity.

Nationalism

Spiritualism

Secularism

We don’t need additives.

Would you stand with me this morning.

How are you being a Caretaker of the Promise.

Holy Spirit what do you want me to hear this morning.