Preaching For Maturity Series

Theme: The Purpose of Preaching

Text: Colossians 1:28-29

Greetings: The Lord is good and his love endures forever.

Paul, a Prisoner.

At the end of Paul’s third missionary journey he stayed in Corinth (Acts 20:2, 1 Corinthians 16:6).  During this time, he wrote an epistle to the Romans mentioning his vision to evangelise the western regions of the Roman Empire. Paul left Corinth and reached Macedonia, visiting and encouraging the saints in Philippi and then Troas before sailing on to Miletus, just south of Ephesus (Acts 20:3-15).  Paul summoned Ephesian elders and exhorted them about “savage wolves” (Acts 20:16-38).  Then Sailed to Tyre in Syria and then to Caesarea.  Those places Paul was warned through the Spirit that he would be arrested (Acts 21:4,11). But for the sake of the Gentiles Paul was ready to be arrested and to die (Acts 21:13). After his arrest, Paul defended himself before the Sanhedrin but they plotted on his life.

So Paul was transferred from Jerusalem to Caesarea, the capital of the Roman province of Judea (Acts 23).  There he defended himself before the governor Felix. But he left Paul in Prison to please Jews. Governor Festus succeeded (Acts 24).  Festus, wanted to please Jews.  But Paul declared his innocence and exercised his rights as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar, his appeal was granted (Acts 25:6-12).  However, not understanding the religious charges brought against Paul by the Jews and having nothing definite to write to the emperor, Festus sought the counsel of King Agrippa. Both agreed that Paul had done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment (Acts 26:31-32). But because Paul had appealed he was sent to Rome. After a dreadful voyage and shipwreck, Paul finally reached Rome.Paul had house arrest (Acts 28:16). 

Paul’s first Roman imprisonment (Acts 22:22) began here and continued his prison life for over four years. Luke records in Acts that Paul “stayed two full years in his own rented quarters, and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ”(Acts 28:30-31).  During this time, he wrote the Prison Epistles: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

City of Colosse

Colosse was a city in Phrygia, in the Roman province of Asia (part of modern Turkey), about 100 mi. E of Ephesus. The city lay alongside the Lycus River, not far from where it flowed into the Maender River. The Lycus Valley narrowed at Colosse to a width of about two mi., and Mt. Cadmus rose 8,000 feet above the city.

Colosse was a thriving city in the fifth century B.C. when the Persian king Xerxes (Ahasuerus, Esther 1:1) marched through the region. Black wool and dyes were important products. In addition, the city was situated at the junction of the main north-south and east-west trade routes. By Paul’s day, however, the main road had been rerouted through nearby Laodicea, thus bypassing Colosse and leading to its decline and the rise of the neighboring cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Colossians Theme, purpose and Outline

Theme: Christ is Lord over all of creation, including the invisible realm. He has redeemed his people, enabling them to participate in his death, resurrection, and fullness.

Purpose, Occasion, and Background: A dangerous teaching was threatening the church at Colossae, one that lessened Christ’s role and undermined the new identity of believers “in Christ”(1:2,28). Paul wrote to warn against this false teaching and to encourage the believers in their growth toward Christian maturity. He emphasises Christ’s authority over all evil powers. Christians are united with the risen Christ, and share in his power and authority. Paul also encourages these believers to fight against sin, pursue holiness, and live as distinctively Christian households.

Founder of the church: The church at Colosse began during Paul’s 3-year ministry at Ephesus (Acts 19). Its founder was not Paul, who had never been there(Colossians 2:1), but Epaphras (Colossians 1:7).

Outline (by BLUE LETTER BIBLE)

1. Personal Matters (1:1-14)

Paul’s Greeting (1:1-2)

Paul’s Thankfulness (1:3-8)

Paul’s Prayer (1:9-14)

2. Doctrinal Instruction(1:15-2:23)

About Christ’s Deity (1:15-23)

About Paul’s Ministry (1:24-2:7)

About False Philosophy (2:8-23)

3. Practical Exhortations (3:1-4:18)

Christian Conduct (3:1-17)

Christian Households (3:18-4:1)

Christian Speech (4:2-6)

Christian Friends (4:7-18)

The purpose of preaching:

The preaching office undergirds and nourishes all the work of the church and of Christians. John Calvin said that where the Word is not preached and heard, there is no church.  The preacher must be mentally and spiritually prepared. (The Westminster Directory of Publick Worship). The purpose of preaching is expressed by Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1-3 & Luke 4:18-19, 2 Timothy 4:2-4).

Colossians 1:28-29: Paul mentions the four importance preaching in v.28. First, the idea of proclaiming involved communicating to a large audience. Second, Paul communicated Christ through "warning" or "counselling." Third, Paul communicated through teaching or instruction. Fourth, Paul desired maturity in his church.