Introduction:
I. What is the purpose of church?
II. What is supposed to be accomplished at and by church?
III. In other words, why come, what is supposed to happen as a result of my being here?
IV. If you listen to many of those in church leadership, and many church goers, you will get many different answers.
A. Some see the church as primarily a place to dispense the gospel,
1. For these the message must be the “gospel” every week, and
2. There must be an “altar call” every week.
3. The idea being to simply see people get “saved”
B. Some see the church as a duty
1. I have to go so God will be happy with me,
2. I have to go because your supposed to go,
V. Some see church as a place to make you “feel good” whatever that means.
1. The rest of your week stinks, so you certainly don’t want to come to church and have it stink too.
2. Church is a place to help us believe life has something better to offer.
B. What is church?
1. It is a place to come meet Jesus, that way,
2. You will feel better
3. You will have a richer life,
VI. But, is that really what church is about?
A. Is that really what ministry should be?
B. What is supposed to happen to us, or around us, or because of us, since we went to church.
C. I believe God speaks to these questions in these few verses from Colossians,
D. Please open your bibles to Colossians 1, verse 24.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body (which is the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. 25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf, and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with persuasive argument. 5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
VII. This morning would like us to consider three reasons, not for coming to church, BUT, “Three Reasons To be Involved in Ministry,
A. Going to church is important, BUT
B. It seems to me that the bible is more interested in our being involved in ministry than in going to church.
To Further What Christ Began
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body (which is the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. 25 Of this church
I. Most of the various bible translations are very similar
A. The words are different, but almost always the meanings are the same.
B. Here however, is a pretty big difference between reliable translations.
1. If you have an NASB, which I typically use, it says of verse 24, “Now I rejoice in MY sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church...)
2. If you have the King James, it reads,”...Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:”
3. If you use the NIV, it reads “ Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.”
C. Like I said, there is a big difference between, “what was suffered” and “what I suffer” so which is correct?
II. I want to also be honest with you and say most of the commentators I use speak to the idea that Paul is writing about his own suffering.
A. I really don’t like to disagree with the experts, but Paul’s suffering is not what I see in this passage.
B. Considering,
1. Paul was addressing the view of the Gnostics that Christ could not be God,
2. And considering that in the previous verses, Paul has talked about living for Christ.
3. And considering the end of this verse talks about Christ’s afflictions.
C. I believe Paul must be talking about “rejoicing in Christ’s suffering, and not his.
III. I know, I know, “to rejoice” in someone else’s suffering, especially Christ’s seems like a pretty terrible thing to do, but I do rejoice in His sufferings.
A. We realize that if Christ had not suffered we would still be in our sin.
B. If Christ has not suffered our eternity would not be heaven,
C. But more interesting in this passage, Paul says, “I do my share to fill up what was lacking in Christ’s afflictions.”
IV. Now let me ask you, what could possibly be missing in Christ’s life on earth and death on the cross?
A. Did His death not cover everyone that believes?
1. Most certainly it did.
2. Christ death was completely sufficient, for all that will believe.
B. Only one thing was “lacking” if you can call it lacking.
1. While Christ was on earth, He only began to see the world come to faith.
2. Not everyone then believed, and certainly not everyone today believes.
V. Essentially Paul is saying, “I was called into service of continuing the work of ‘spreading’ the good news of salvation through faith, that Christ began.”
A. I’m doing everything I can,
B. How about you.
VI. It’s not that the work of Christ was somehow deficient in the quantity of people that could be saved, but in a manner of speaking it was deficient in the quantity of people that WERE saved.
VII. And we get to help “Further the Work that Christ Began.”
To Share The Gospel
I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
I. As free thinking and acting humans, we like to make decision and plans based on our own volition.
A. Don’t tell me what to do
B. Don’t tell me where to go,
C. You can’t make me...”
D. Often this kind of attitude of decision making even filters into our church life.
1. We decide what ministry, if any we will do.
2. We decide where and how often we will attend church.
3. We decide whether we are happy, based on things like music, syle of preaching and the interpersonal dynamics of the group.
4. We even decide to whom and to what extent we will share Christ with those around us.
II. Paul had a different way of looking at life, and most especially ministry though.
A. Vs. 28 says “I was made a minister according to the stewardship, that is the plan, of God.
III. I wonder how that concept might change our thinking and acting, if we really believed God had placed us in our various circumstances and with different people, for His purposes.
A. Would we more readily look for a means to settle disputes, if we really believe God had placed us with this particular group of people for His glory?
B. Would we look for opportunities to serve if we really believe God had put us in a particular place in order to carry out His plans?
C. Would we be more apt to look for ways to share the gospel with those around us, if we really believed God want to reach that person through us?
IV. If you look at verse 29, Paul says, “it’s for this reason that I labor.”
A. The word “labor” is from the athletic arena and means
1. To strive,
2. To use all my strength
3. To agonize
B. In other words, “I use every ounce of my energy, which God suupplies, in order to accomplish His mission.
V. Our purpose for ministry is “To Further What Christ Began.”
VI. Second, or a continuation of that thought is our purpose for ministry is “To Share the Gospel.”
VII. First Paul says, “Christ shares salvation through our lives.”
A. Look at verses 26 and 27 - “that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. “
1. The mystery of salvation revealed in and through us.
2. Consider that for a moment,
B. We are exposers of the gospel.
VIII. I have spoken of this person I work with named Randy.
A. We spend a lot of time together, and quite often the conversation will turn to spiritual matters.
B. It just so happens that one of the other people that works at the store calls himself a Christian.
1. More than once, Randy has said something to me like,
a. “See. That is what you Christians are really like.”
b. “You are worse than us.”
c. “You’ll do anything for a dollar.”
2. Please understand, he is not talking about me, BUT
a. The actions of my Christian “brother” make it even more difficult for Randy to understand Christ.
IX. Christ is not only manifested or made known to the saints, He is made known through the saints; and part of the purpose of ministry is to share the gospel through our lives.
A. But that does not relieve us of the responsibility to share the gospel through speaking the word.
B. Look again at verse 28 - “And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ.”
X. We are to speak the gospel to the non-Christian and the Christian.
A. See that word “admonishing” it means “to warn” and the writer does not restrict this warning to believers in Christ.
B. He says “warn” every man.
XI. Warn them of what?
A. Warn them of the consequences of not coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
B. Warn them of what happens in the next life, based on living this life separated from God.
XII. Secondarily he says, “teach every man.”
A. That is “instruct every man towards maturity in Christ.
B. In Christ, we lives our lives with two objectives.
1. Warn the lost,
2. Instruct the found.
XIII. What an awesome responsibility we have, to live our lives in a way that furthers the ministry Christ began of seeing the message of salvation effect all those we come into contact with.
XIV. Can I ask, “When was the last time you agonized over someone because they had not yet come to faith in Christ.”
A. If we really believe this stuff, it should be effecting how we act and speak, wherever we find ourselves.
B. My fellow “Christian” sometimes says, “We are not in this store by accident” and the truth is we are not.
1. Not that I do everything perfect, but, I believe I am there in part to be an example of how faith in Christ can look on the job.
2. Maybe I am even there to “teach” my brother that his business can do better through application of Christian principles.
C. Maybe you are where you are for much the same purposes.
XV. Are we up for the task?
To Encourage Living For Christ
2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf, and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with persuasive argument. 5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
I. Remember, the church at Colossia is being diluted by the false teaching that is taking place.
A. Some people are probably being drawn away by “persuasive arguments,” as stated in verse 4.
B. Some people, probably many people that the church membership cares about, are never coming to faith in Christ, because they are being misled by find sounding ideas.
C. And probably some people are saying,
1. What can we do?
2. How do we keep people from being led away; we don’t have any power.
II. So far, Paul has said that there are two basic reasons for ministry,
A. Reason one is to “Further the Work that Christ Began.”
B. Reason two is to “Share the Gospel”
1. With the lost, and
2. Instruct the found, towards maturity in Christ.
III. Here in chapter 2, verses 1 to five, Paul states that one final reason for ministry is to “Encourage Living For Christ.”
A. The question is, “How is that best accomplished.”
1. Those with the gift of preaching are quick to say things like, preachers says,
a. preach longer or
b. harder or
c. more,
2. Those with the gift of teaching are quick to say,
a. Add a Sunday School class or
b. Add a small group,
c. In other words do more teaching.
IV. But look at verses 2 and 3 - “that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.“
A. There is an important concept here that we don’t want to miss.
B. The statement is, “that there hearts may be encouraged” encouraged to what,
1. Hang in there, regardless of the fine sounding arguments for a better way,
2. Remain faithful to Christ, even in the face of better sounding plans.
V. Paul says, “I want you to understand how hard I am struggling” so that your hearts may be encouraged” through being “knit together.”
A. Knit together, in the same fashion that a husband and a wife are supposed to “cleave to one another.”
B. Knit together, just like a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link.
C. Knit together, means
1. “to come to the same conclusion” or
2. “To join together.”
VI. In other words, we become stronger when we bond together.
A. Ecclesiastes 4:12 reads - “ And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”
1. Teaching is good,
2. As a preacher, I certainly believe good preaching is pretty good,
B. But do you want to know what is even better at encouraging people to live for Christ, and grow to maturity, and to hang on in the tough times?
1. Being knit together with other believers.
2. Knowing that in the hard times, someone has their back.
3. Knowing that there is someone that it there
a. To encourage them when they are struggling,
b. To admonish them when they are straying,
c. And to say, “I knew you could do it,” when they find success.
VII. We really can’t do this thing alone.
A. So who have you asked to be part of the cord that keeps you strong?
B. Who are you helping to remain strong?
C. Who do you know that really needs you to give them a phone call, or just take them out for a cup of coffee? Conclusion
I. The modern church often makes coming to faith in Christ sound like it’s all about us?
A. To make us happy.
B. To make us prosperous.
C. To make us whatever.
II. But I wonder what would happen if once we come to faith in Christ, we really began to understand that ministry is not about us.
III. Ministry is about,
A. Furthering what Christ Began,
B. It’s about Sharing the Gospel,
C. It’s about the Encouraging One Another.
