SERMON OUTLINE:
(a). The City.
(b). The Church.
(c). The Crisis.
(d). The Content.
(d1) A saving faith (vs 4a, 6b)
(d2) A shared love (vs 4&8)
(d3) A sure hope (vs 5)
SERMON BODY:
Reading: Colossians chapter 1 verses 1-14
• The first email was sent by Ray Tomlinson, in 1971,
• He is the one to thank or blame for what is,
• An indispensable tool in our digital lives.
• Today, there are 3.9 billion email accounts (and counting).
• That's about half the world's population.
• With Gmail being by far the biggest and most popular email provider in the world,
• A typical email contains 434 words.
• The average person checks their email 15 times a day!
• TRANSITION: 200 years ago,
• People communicated in written form – a letter.
• Not quite paper and envelope (that would come along later).
• But they wrote via a Codex.
• A Codex or parchment was like paper,
• And this replaced having to write on expensive scrolls.
• Put simply, a Codex was a letter or several letters sown into a book.
Ill:
• Talking about letters,
• Reminds me of the old joke of a soldier on assignment abroad,
• He wrote to his girlfriend every day.
• When he eventually returned home on leave,
• He discovered that she had run away with the postman!
BACKGROUND TO THE LETTER:
• This letter was probably written around A.D. 62,
• While the apostle Paul was in prison in Rome.
• (Acts chapters 27-28).
(a). The city:
• Colosse was a city in Asia Minor,
• Which is modern day Turkey.
• It might surprise you to know that the name of the city, ‘Colossae,’
• Only appears once in the Bible (here in chapter 1 verse 2).
• Colosse was one of a trio of cities:
• Hierapolis and Laodicea being the other two.
• They both get a name check in chapter 4 verse 13,
• These cities rested at the foot of Mount Cadmus.
• These three cities were almost in view of each other.
Ill:
• This area used to be a meeting point of East and West
• At one time an important trade route passed through there:
• But when the road system changed.
• Colosse’s trade business declined.
• By the apostle Paul’s day, this one time a wealthy and populous city.
• Had been reduced to an insignificant market town.
• Today, we know of its location but there is nothing to see there.
• Because the site has never been excavated.
(b). The Church:
• We know from what the apostle Paul writes in chapter 2 verse 1,
• That had never visited Colosse.
• Quote: “…for all who have not met me personally.”
• But Paul did spend three years working 100 miles away in Ephesus.
• Ephesus was a magnet city,
• Acts chapter 19 verse 10 tells us that.
• People from all over Asia visited that city.
• People from all over the area (including Colosse).
• Visited Ephesus and some encountered the apostle Paul,
• The apostle Paul was a missionary, he was out to convert people,
• And many heard the gospel, got converted,
• Then they returned home and shared the message with their friends and family.
• That is what happened to a man named ‘Epaphras,’
• He gets a name check in verse 7,
• In this letter the apostle Paul reminds the Church that this Church,
• Verse 7: "…learned it (the faith/gospel) from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant".
• Epaphras was a citizen of Colosse, who went to Ephesus,
• And when he returned back home, he shared the gospel with his relatives and friends.
• And as a result, people were converted, and a church was planted.
• The church at Colosse was probably about five years old,
• When it received this letter from Paul.
(c). The crisis:
Ill:
• A man with three sons won £1 billion on the lottery.
• Since he now had more money than he knew what to do with,
• He offered to buy his sons anything they wanted.
• He stressed money was no object.
• His first son said he had always wanted a Jaguar car,
• So, his father bought him seven Jaguar cars in seven different colours,
• So, he would have a different one to drive every day of the week.
• His second son wanted a motorcycle.
• So, the father went out and bought him 30 new motorcycles,
• So, he would have a different bike to ride every day of the month.
• His youngest was only 8, and he said he wanted a Mickey Mouse outfit.
• So, his father went out and bought him, Southampton Football Club!
• (LOL- other football clubs are available)
• TRANSITION:
• (Apologies to Southampton fans but it has been a bad year on the pitch!)
• The Church at Colosse was facing a crisis:
• Relegation was not the issue.
• But the problem left unresolved,
• Could split or even destroy this local Church.
Ephaphras who helped start the Church and in verse 7 is called its ‘minister’:
• But Ephaphras needed help to help solve this crisis that was taking place.
• And so, he went to his good friend and mentor the apostle Paul.
• The apostle Paul at this time could not come in person,
• Because he was a prisoner in Rome for his faith.
• (this is mentioned in chapter 4 verses 3, 10 & 18).
• Epaphras came to see Paul and reported to him about a dangerous new teaching,
• That was spreading through the Church.
Question: What was the crisis/problem?
Answer:
• The false teaching was called Gnosticism, that word means “to know.”
• The Gnostics claimed to have a special insight and revelation.
• Note: It is the opposite of an ‘agnostic.’
• An ‘agnostic’ is one who does not know.
• These Gnostics claimed to be ‘in the know.’
• They claimed to have superior knowledge of spiritual things.
• The Gnostics claimed they were not denying the Christian faith,
• But only lifting it to a higher level.
• They taught that Christians were missing out,
• Saying, “Don’t settle for what you have, you can have even more!”
• It all sounded so good, “We can deepen your faith,”
• “You can go onto a higher level.” - “Let us lead you on!”
Ill
• These Gnostics were (and still are) scammers.
• On May 3rd, 1978 this man Gary Thuerk sent the first spam email.
• As a result many years later
• We all get scam email everyday.
• About 50% of my emails are spam and part of a scam.
• Crime figures show a near 60 per cent rise in reported fraud,
• Over the past five years boosted by a rise in identity theft and online scams.
• TRANSITION:
• These Gnostics were (and still are) scammers.
• They presented to build a up and help but all they really do is destroy and cause harm.
Notice: As you read through the letter note the repetition of certain words:
• The words are, “All” and “Complete” or Fullness”, “Perfect”.
• Paul’s main theme in the letter is summarised in the verse (chapter 3 verse 11):
• “Christ is all in all”.
• Quote J.B. Phillips: “Christ is all that matters”
• Note: Of the 95 verses in this letter, Christ is mentioned in 80 of them.
• The idea being,
• If you have Jesus, you have everything you need!
Ill:
• From a distance an artificial flower can look very nice,
• But artificial flowers fall far short of the real thing.
• Real flowers have a pleasant scent and are plush to the touch.
• The colours of real flowers are more vivid,
• And the fakes usually just can’t copy them.
• And fellas here are a tip,
• I wouldn’t recommend buying your wife a bouquet of artificial flowers,
• For your anniversary or for her birthday!
• TRANSITION:
• Real flowers come from life and contain life giving nectar,
• Artificial flowers can look pretty,
• But they are dead, and they cannot produce anything.
• TRANSITION:
• These Gnostics are spiritually dead,
• They may look the part they are dead, and they cannot produce anything.
Note:
• Paul’s second main theme in the letter is chapter 2 verse 10:
• That we are “Made complete in him”.
• Since we are complete in Christ,
• We don’t need Gnostic wisdom, or anything else.
• Now alongside the Gnostic wisdom was a form of Jewish legalism.
• Jewish converts wanting the Church to embrace Jewish traditions and practices.
Ill:
• They too were a mixture of Jesus and ‘extras.’
• e.g. Jesus and traditions,
• e.g. Jesus and circumcision.
• e.g. Jesus and the practice of strict diets,
• e.g. Jesus and plus the compulsory observance of holy days.
• e.g. Jesus and a variety of other things that you will see as you go through the letter.
• So, the apostle Paul’s second main theme in the letter is chapter 2 verse 10:
• That we are “and in Christ you have been brought to fullness” (NIV)
• KJB: “Made complete in him”.
• Since we are complete in Christ, Full in Christ,
• Then, we don’t need Gnostic wisdom and we don’t need Jewish legalism!
• Note: The Gnostics were not only offering something inferior,
• It was also harmful and dangerous.
• It would hinder and destroy, instead of helping and bringing life.
Note: One final observation before we pull out a few threads from the verses.
• The book divides into two halves:
• Chapters 1 and 2 are mainly doctrinal,
• Chapters 3 and 4 are manly practical.
• Chapters 1 and 2 are mainly doctrinal, what we believe.
• Chapters 3 and 4 are manly practical, how we behave.
• Good doctrine should always lead onto good living,
• It will help us make good choices and decisions throughout life.
• It will help us live a life that pleases God.
(d). The content:
• I want to finish off my sermon,
• By pulling out three threads that are woven in these first few verses of the letter.
• And we will look again at the content in these verses next week.
• The threads are faith, love and hope.
(D1) A saving faith (vs 4a, 6b)
• “We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus.”
• “Since the day you heard the gospel and truly understood God’s grace.”
Note: 2 things.
• FIRST: They heard the gospel (Good news of Jesus Christ).
• Salvation in rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• He died on the cross as a substitute taking the punishment for our sins.
• He rose again as proof of purchase that he paid the price!
Ill:
Life in 6 words: the G.O.S.P.E.L.
• GOD loves us (John 3 verse 16)
• OUR sins separate us from God. (Isaiah chapter 59 verse 2)
• SINS cannot be removed by good deeds. (Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8-9,)
• PAID in full by Jesus (1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 3-8)
• EVERYONE must believe. (John 3 verse 16)
• LIFE eternal with Jesus starts now and lasts forever! (John 3 verse 16)
• SECOND: They believed in a message of grace.
• GRACE = is getting what you don’t deserve.
• The biblical definition of grace is unmerited favour.
• It is something you didn’t earn or deserve,
• It is the gift of God.
Ill:
• Grace is so fragile that as soon as you try to add anything to it,
• It’s gone!
• Don’t miss understand me,
• God’s grace in itself is not fragile,
• But it can become that way,
• When our faith and our salvation are based on what we do for God,
• Rather than what God does has done for us in Jesus Christ.
Ill:
• Most Sunday afternoons at Speakers Corner, Hyde Park. London.
• I ask Moslems (and religious people) the question.
“When you die and stand before God, why should he let you into his heaven?”
• Most of them reply by telling me what they are doing for God.
• And that is wrong – self effort – salvation of works.
• The answer I am looking for is,
• “Because Jesus took my sin on the cross and I have taken him as my saviour!”
(D2) A shared love (vs 4&8)
Verse 4:
“Because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and of the love you have for all God’s people.”
Verse 8:
“And who also told us of your love in the Spirit.”
N.L.B.:
“And he is the one who has told us about the great love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.”
These words of the apostle Paul remind us,
• That faith in Jesus is not just about what we believe - it is about how we live.
• When our faith is real, it shows itself in love for others.
• This verse highlights the importance of community in our Christian walk.
• I t is not enough to be individual believers.
• Church is not a club or group we attend once a week or when we feel like it.
• The Church is a community of believers, a family.
• We are called to connect with one another.
• The Colossian Christian’s understood this principle.
• They showed faith and love for others,
• Which energized the early church, helping them stand firm amid external pressures.
Ill:
• A rooster minus a hen equals no baby chicks.
• Kellog’s minus a farmer equals no corn flakes.
• If the nail factory closes what good is the hammer factory?
• Beethoven genius wouldn't have amounted to much if the piano tuner hadn't showed up.
• A cracker maker will do better if there's a cheesemaker,
• The most skilful surgeon needs the ambulance driver who delivers the patient.
• Just RS Rogers needed Hammerstein.
• You need someone and someone needs you.
• TRANSITION:
• The Church is a community of believers, a family.
• We are called to connect with one another.
(D3) A sure hope (vs 5)
“The faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel.”
N.L.B.:
“And you are looking forward to the joys of heaven and have been ever since the Gospel first was preached to you.”
The word “hope” in this context is associated with a deep assurance about our future.
• As followers of Christ,
• We are assured not just of heaven,
• But a of a glorious inheritance waiting for us when we enter God’s eternal kingdom.
This verse encourages us to focus on the things that truly matter and are everlasting.
• What and who do we live for – the temporal or the eternal?
• This verse tells us to shift our gaze from our present circumstances,
• And be focused on the eternal promise that lies ahead.
• Our future is bright because our future is with Christ.
• That is not a maybe be, it is a fact based on the words, work of Jesus Christ.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=akH0Mdby8CsiBw1aixPnbSr0XhkzifzT&fmode=download
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/b9xAUw44rc8?si=Qz5nYO0vlgFNUg5f
