Do It Well

Colossians 1:24-28

Hopewell Baptist Church

March 20, 2022

Opening Illustration

Transition

Big Idea

Colossians 1:24–28 (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.

This is the Word of the Lord our God. Let’s Pray.

Do It Well

I. Gospel Stewardship – Colossians 1:25-26

a. God gives us the Gospel, the mystery (v.26), to Steward

b. We must Steward the Gospel well

i. To steward the Gospel well, we must invest it, via ourselves, in others.

1. Parable of the Talents – Matthew 25:14-30

2. Evangelism and Discipleship

II. Gospel Suffering – Colossians 1:24

a. Expect Suffering

b. Rejoice (be glad) in Suffering

c. Be strengthened by Suffering

d. Suffering Grows us

i. James 1:2-4

ii. The believer and the church as a whole

III. Gospel Growth – Colossians 1:26-28

a. The Gospel is revealed by God to believers (often through believers)

i. Matthew 13:10-17

b. The kingdom was enlarged through Paul’s suffering and Stewardship

i. He suffered well and stewarded well.

c. The Gospel is further “invested” in others!

i. Evangelism and discipleship

IV. Application

a. Steward the Gospel Well

i. Invest in the Gospel in yourself – v.25

1. Hebrews 5:13-14 – Spiritual Milk vs. Solid Food

ii. Invest in the Gospel in your family – Psalm 78:1-8

iii. Invest in the Gospel in others – v.28

iv. If we are not investing the Gospel in ourselves, what, then, are we investing in in ourselves? In our families? In others around us?

b. Suffer Well for the Gospel

i. Expect it – v.24

ii. Rejoice in it – v.24

iii. Learn to rely on God in it – Deuteronomy 8:2-3

iv. Use it – 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

v. The church all around the world is going to suffer, to come under some level of persecution (2 Tim. 3:12) sooner rather than later. We, the church, MUST learn to rely more solely on God, not on ourselves or anyone else.

Do It Well

V. Response – are you here, and you’ve never before felt the grace of God? Has someone maybe been investing in you, and you realize your need for a savior?

a. Belief

i. Repent

ii. Believe

b. Obedience

i. I pray that when we do suffer for the Gospel, that we all find ourselves not on the shifting sands of the world and culture, but upon the Solid Rock that is Jesus Christ!

ii. Baptism

iii. Membership

c. Surrender

i. Vocation

ii. Volunteer