A Special Calling Series

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• Throughout the first chapter of Colossians, we have learned about how Jesus redeemed us, how He saved us from the penalty of sin. We have seen how He is reconciled us to Himself through His blood.

• Now, we need to pause for a moment and think about this question, “Why?”

• Why did Jesus die for us, why did God go to the trouble of saving us?

• Why did God reveal Himself through Jesus? Why do we gather together each Sunday? After we have looked at the gospel, the person and work of Jesus over the last four weeks, what are we left with now?

• Did God go to all this trouble just so He could have something to do or is there a high purpose?

• I think the Christians have taken it for granted that we are saved and we treat our salvation as a suit in the closet, if we are not careful, we find ourselves pulling it out of the closet only on “special” occasions.

• When this happens to us, it affects the church negatively also.

• You need to understand something very important. God sent His Son to die for you because He loves you! Jesus willingly endured hardship because He loves you. Everything God has done for us has been done because of His great love for us.

• Now think about this for a moment. Have you had someone love you or have you loved someone only to have them not show you any appreciation for the love you have for them? Have you ever had that happen to you?

• It is not a good feeling. It hurts to know you have given and sacrificed for someone you love, only to find that you get little to no response from them.

• Today, we are going to see that we have a special calling from God. This special calling should be part of our response to God for what He has done for us. This special calling is for the church, but what is the church? The church is all of us who make up the body of Christ.

• As we study Colossians 1:24-29 this morning, I hope that we will get a clear understanding of what god is calling us to do individually and as a church!

• SLIDES #2-4

• READ Colossians 1:24-29

• SLIDE #5

SERMON

We are called to:

I. SERVE JESUS SACRIFICIALLY (24)

• As we look at verse 24, does that verse jump off the page and grab you?

• I see something a bit strange, don’t you? Paul is rejoicing in his suffering for their sake. You need to realize Paul is in prison when he is writing this letter to the church at Colossae.

• You cannot serve without sacrifice. Think about it, by being here this morning you are demonstrating some level of sacrifice. We have had a few of the ladies working very hard to get you al signed up for the church directory, that act of service took a sacrifice of time.

• Everyone who is teaching this morning is sacrificing in order to serve.

• If you are in a position where you are not sacrificing, you are not serving.

• Jesus calls us to sacrifice, He calls us to serve.

• Paul understood this concept very clearly.

• Notice he says that He is suffering for their sake and he is doing his share ob behalf of His (Jesus) body, the church.

• Paul was called to level of sacrifice we may never experience, but the fact of the matter is this, we are called to sacrifice to serve. We need to understand that when we give our lives to Jesus.

• We must guard against wanting to ride the coat-tails of others. It is easy to look at the church and ask what they are going to do for me. We lose sight of the fact that we are called to sacrificially contribute to the ministry of ACC. WE are called to sacrifice time, talents and treasures for Jesus and for His church.

• Paul endured many hardships for the cause of Christ.

• SLIDES #6-7

• READ 2 Cor 11:23-28

• In redemption, Jesus did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. It is up to us to now sacrifice and serve.

• Paul is not implying that Jesus sacrifice was insufficient is some way, but that further progress of the gospel would require sacrifice on our part.

• What sacrifices have you made for Jesus?

• If we are not willing to sacrifice, the work of the church will never get off the ground.

• When I played football, I sacrificed a lot of time and energy. I was glad to do it because playing football was worth it to me.