Teamwork

1. Fully Commit to Community (vv. 7-9)

Colossians 4:7-9 “Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.”

Paul was in prison in Rome during the writing of the letter to Colossians

All of the members of the body play a part in the church and the fellowship of the saints / Christians

If you are not committed to community you will be committed to isolation

The Colossians were cared enough by Paul to write them a letter and send Tychicus to be an encouragement

You won’t be fully loved in the body of Christ until you are fully known

Tychicus ( form Asia Minor)

a. Faithful Servant

b. Fellow slave (Dulas) with Paul

c. Loved brother of Paul

Onesimus was from Colossae and a servant of Philemon. He ran away to Rome, met Paul and was saved and then went back to Colossae to make things right.

Christians need to

Deny themselves

Take up their cross

Follow Jesus

In God’s church are you being a good teammate or a bad teammate?

Tychicus was a great teammate and had a great coach (Paul)

2. Look out for Each Other (v.8)

For Doctrine and things that pertain to life and godliness

To be a Christian means I am going to look out for the brothers and sisters in Christ around you.

Philippians 2:19-22 “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.”

Timothy and Paul were committed to each other.

When you see a need, meet the need

Tychicus is mentioned 5 times in the bible

Tychicus in Acts

In Acts 20:1–6, Tychicus is listed among a larger group of believers, including Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy and Trophimus. In Acts 20:4, Tychicus and Trophimus are further described in most manuscripts as being from Asia Minor. However, Codex Bezae (D) has “and the Ephesians, Eutychus, and Trophimus” instead of “and the Asians, Tychicus, and Trophimus.” This is a minority reading and is generally not accepted. Acts 20:5 mentions “these” who went on ahead—likely referring to Tychicus and Trophimus, not the larger group (Fitzmyer, The Acts of the Apostles, 666).

Tychicus in Paul’s Letters

Tychicus is mentioned in the closing paragraphs of four of Paul’s letters:

• (Eph 6:21) After introducing Tychicus as a messenger who will relate Paul’s latest activities, Paul refers to him as “my beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord.”

• (Eph 6:21–22) Tychicus is described as one who will tell them everything and encourage their hearts.

• (Col 4:7) Tychicus is again described as a “beloved brother and faithful minister.” In this verse, he is also a “fellow servant.”

• (Col 4:8) Paul describes Tychicus’ purpose to

Titus 3:12 “When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.”

3. Start with Yourself (vv. 7,9)

To be a part of a committed community you have to be involved and commited to that community

Isaiah 6 “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for u…”

a. Need to know whom you are serving. You are serving the Lord as you meet others needs

b. Proper response is “Here I am , send me!”

c. If I am saved I am serving

d. Need to be audaciously committed to community