We Serve The Same Purpose Series

Sermon Brief

Date Written: Sept 25, 2014

Date Preached: Sept 28, 2014

Where Preached: OPBC (AM)

Sermon Details:

Series Title: We Serve the SAME God

Sermon Title: We Serve the SAME Purpose!

Sermon Text: Colossians 2:1-23 [ESV]

Introduction:

Over the past few weeks we have learned that Paul was excited about the church at Colossae. He had heard about their faith and how they had been serving Christ and penetrating that city with the Gospel.

He wrote this letter to speak to some problems Epaphras had raised in a letter to him and Paul instructed these believers that they ALL served the SAME God and that they were all on the same team…

Paul told them that God had called all of them out of sin and had also called ALL of them to ‘get in the game’ in serving God. God had called them but God provided a leader FOR the church in Jesus Christ!

Jesus was the centerpiece of God’s ultimate plan for redemption of His creation! Jesus completed God’s plan when He died on the Cross of Calvary and was raised to life for the eternal life of those who would trust in Him.

Paul stressed that Jesus WAS and IS our leader in the church, and2 weeks ago we heard how:

Paul revealed that Jesus is our Creator…he is God!

He also revealed that Jesus is our deliverer and has delivered us from the dark domain of the Evil One.

Then Paul taught that Jesus is the very cornerstone of our faith

Paul let the church know WHO Jesus WAS but he then went on to let them know WHAT He had done FOR them!

Jesus is the ONE who has reconciled us!

Jesus is the ONE who restores us from our broken, sinful state back to our original created order.

Jesus is the ONE who is revealed to the world around us when we are reconciled and restored!

We have learned that we are on the same side, & Jesus is our leader. We know WHO He is and WHAT He has done as our leader… but what is our PURPOSE in serving God? Why do we follow our leader, Jesus?

This morning we are going to look at Col 2 and we will see our purpose for serving Jesus? Turn with me to Col 2 as I read from the ESV…

Now in 1:27 Paul states the purpose of his ministry to the church in Colossae. His purpose was to reveal to the Gentiles the mystery of God which IS Christ Jesus!

So, when we get to Ch2 we see in the 1st 5 verses Paul actually restates his purpose, but he adds something to it… he adds what he knows to be benefits OF His ministry…

Paul purpose was to share Christ with a lost/broken world, and he understood that the Church was God’s instrument to share Jesus with the world so… the church must be healthy. In ch 2 we find Paul calling on the church to be…

ONE Body GROWING Spiritually v1-5

1For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Now already know that Paul had laid out WHO Jesus was and WHAT He had done for them! This was Paul’s purpose, to reveal Christ…to make known the mystery of God. In 2:2 Paul restates his purpose for ministry…

But in 2:2 we find Paul emphasizing 3 results in knowing Jesus:

…that their hearts may be encouraged… Knowing Jesus as Paul had revealed Him served to encourage and uplift the hearts of those in the fellowship. Jesus was deliverer, creator, and cornerstone of our faith. This was a message of encouragement!

This encouragement by Paul was not a shallow labor to make them feel better about themselves, but it was a strategic effort on his part to bring about a unity in Christ among the fellowship.

I don’t know about you, but I find it a great joy and encouragement to know I am going to come together as ONE voice to worship on Sundays! It comforts my soul!

It IS a joy to come together & worship Christ & to hear the message of Jesus and WHAT He has done for us! AMEN! Does knowing who Jesus is and what he has done encourage your heart today? Can I get an amen up in here?