Teamwork Series

Above All: Colossians 4:7-18

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

08-21-2022

Dream Teams

I asked a question on Facebook this week, “what have been some of the greatest teams of all time?” Here are some of the answers:

The 1992 Dream Team

The 1927 Yankees

The 2016 Cubs

The 1985 Chicago Bears

The 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team

The 90s era Bulls

This morning, we are going to study another amazing team - Paul’s missions team!

All Good Things Must End

We began this series on April 3 and, fourteen sermons later, we will end the study of the book of Colossians this morning.

I don’t know about you, but this study has been very encouraging for my soul. It has reminded me to seek fullness and freedom (Paul’s main themes) only in Christ.

Paul teaches the important doctrinal truths in chapter one and two. Then in three and four, he applies these truths to how to live as Christians in the real world of their church, their homes, and the community of non-believers that are watching them.

This morning, we come to what can be termed as “Final Greetings.” When it comes to a list of names in the Bible, especially ones that are difficulty to pronounce, some people skip these sections. Let me encourage you not to do that. The verses that end this letter are incredibly rich and there is much for us to learn from them.

Each of Paul’s letters have some sort of final greetings and instructions. And in his letters, he mentions over 100 people by name. In Romans 16, he specifically lists 16 people which he considers ministry partners.

Paul did ministry as a team. He wasn’t a lone ranger Christian. These people weren’t just “good people.” They were ferociously committed to the mission of telling others the Good News of Jesus.

Here in the closing verses of Colossians, we will meet ten people, real people, that lived and loved Jesus enough to assist Paul with the Gospel mission.

My prayer is that you will see yourself in one or more of these people and be encouraged to use your gifts and talents to love Mclean county and Chenoa in particular.

Turn with me to Colossians 4:7.

Prayer.

Commendations

* Tychicus

“Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.”  

Paul begins with two commendations. First, he mentions Tychicus, whose name means “fortunate.” Ty was from Ephesus and was with Paul through thick and thin. He was one of the delegates taking the collection to the church in Jerusalem in Acts 20:4.

He was Paul official representative. He was a dear brother and a faithful minister. This word is where we get the word “deacon.” I’m so thankful for our faithful deacon team that helps to serve this congregation.

Paul could trust him with any assignment. Near the end of Paul’s life, he was sent on missions to Crete (Titus 3:12) and Ephesus (2 Tim 4:12)

He was a fellow servant of the Lord. Paul didn’t consider himself to be above his fellow team members.. They were all just servants of Jesus.

On this assignment, Ty carried with him the letter to the Colossians, the personal letter to Philemon, and maybe the letter to the Ephesians. We’ll talk about that in just a minute.

Ty was sent with the express purpose of encouraging their hearts.

He would be the one to read the letter to the Colossian church and tell them how Paul was really doing. Because of Paul’s case, he couldn’t say much about his imprisonment. So Ty would be the one to answer questions and fill in the gaps.

Ty was faithful.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (I Cor 4:2)

Point to Ponder:

God doesn’t call us to be famous but to be faithful to make Jesus famous. Would others describe you as faithful? Are you true to your word? Can they trust you do what you say you will do?

Going forward, we needed people to simply be faithful to love God and love others.

Onesimus

He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

We studied Onesimus a couple of weeks ago.

He was a runaway slave from Colossae that Paul had met and led to Christ in prison. He calls Onesimus his “son” who became his son “while I was in chains.”

Paul wrote a small letter to Onesimus master Philemon that is part of the Bible, right after the letter to Colossae.