Colossians 1:24-29 (NASB)

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 what 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, so 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 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. ²⁹ For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

The Big Idea: Christians are called to be ministers who sacrifice, suffer and serve with joy in order to make Christ known and to build one another up in Him.

Outline: Eight elements of Ministry that all Christians should understand, remember and model for the sake of Christ and His Church.

Last 3 Sundays (Pt. 1, 2 & 3 ):

1) The Author of Ministry (1:23d; 25a)
2) The Agony of Ministry (1:24-25; 29; (and 2:1))
3) The Attitude of Ministry (1:24)

4) The Mandate of Ministry (1:25b)
5) The Message of Ministry (1:25b-27)

o The Mystery revealed [to you]
o The Mystery received [by you]
o The Mystery’s endless riches [for you]

Today (Pt. 4):

6) The Proclamation of Ministry (1:28)

o The “Who” and “The Whom”

o The “How”

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Colossians 1:24-29 (NASB)

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 what 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, so 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 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. ²⁹ For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

The Big Idea: Christians are called to be ministers who sacrifice, suffer and serve with joy in order to make Christ known and to build one another up in Him.

Outline: Eight elements of Ministry that all Christians should understand, remember and model for the sake of Christ and His Church.

Last 2 Sundays (Pt. 1 & 2):

1) The Author of Ministry (1:23d; 25a)
2) The Agony of Ministry (1:24-25; 29; (and 2:1))
3) The Attitude of Ministry (1:24)

4) The Mandate of Ministry (1:25b)
5) The Message of Ministry (1:25b-27)

o The Mystery revealed [to you]
o The Mystery received [by you]
o The Mystery’s endless riches [for you]

Today (Pt. 3):

6) The Proclamation of Ministry (1:28)

o The “Who” and “The Whom”

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Colossians 1:24-29 (NASB)

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 what 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, so 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 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. ²⁹ For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

The Big Idea: Christians are called to be ministers who sacrifice, suffer and serve with joy in order to make Christ known and to build one another up in Him.

Outline: Eight elements of Ministry that all Christians should understand, remember and model for the sake of Christ and His Church.

Last Sunday:

      1. The Author of Ministry – vv. 1:23d; 25a
      2. The Agony of Ministry – vv. 1:24-25 (and 2:1)
      3. The Attitude of Ministry – v. 1:24

This Sunday:

      4. The Mandate of Ministry – v. 1:25b
      5. The Message of Ministry – vv. 1:25b-27)
         * The Mystery revealed (to you)
         * The Mystery received (by you)
         * The Mystery’s endless riches (for you)

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Colossians 1:24-29 (NASB)

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 what 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, so 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 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. ²⁹ For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

The Big Idea: Christians are called to be ministers who sacrifice, suffer and serve with joy in order to make Christ known and to build one another up in Him.

Outline: Three elements of Ministry that all Christians should understand, remember and model for the sake of Christ and His Church.

1. The Author of Ministry – vv. 1:23d; 25a
2. The Agony of Ministry – vv. 1:24-25 (and 2:1)
3. The Attitude of Ministry – v. 1:24

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Main Idea: Believers are called to persevere in the faith and yet God is the one who preserves the believer in the end.

The Promise of Eternal Life – John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 6:47; 17:1‑3; 1 John 5:4, 11‑13, 20; Rom 8:1; 29‑30; 1 John 2:25; 5:4

The Preserving Power of God – Isa 43:1‑3; 46:9‑10; 54:10; Job 42:2; Mat 18:14; John 6:37‑39; Rom 8:35‑39

The Pledge of the Holy Spirit – Eph 1:13‑14; 4:30

To Preserve and Present – Jude 24; 1 Pet 2:9; Eph 3:20‑21; Heb 7:25; Philip 1:6; 2 Cor 4:13‑14; 1 Cor 1:7‑8

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Colossians 1:23 (NASB)

²³ if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Theme: Christians are called to persevere in believing the truths of Christ and the Gospel.

Outline: You can be assured of your standing before God, as long as the following evidences remain true:

1. If you continue in the faith – v. 1:23a

2. If you do not stray from the hope of the Gospel – v. 1:23b

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Colossians 1:21-22 (NASB)

²¹ And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, ²² yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.

Theme: Our sinfulness has made us such enemies against God that the drastic measure of Jesus being crucified needed to be taken for us to be reconciled.

Outline: Three realities to understand about your past, present and future life as a Christian, so that you will appreciate and apply the reconciling power of Christ and the Gospel now.

1. What you used to be: Enemies with God in every way. – v. 1:21

2. What you are now: Reconciled to God through the death of Christ. – v. 1:22a

3. What you will be: Presented holy before God. – v. 1:22b

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Colossians 1:19-20 (NASB)

¹⁹ For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, ²⁰ and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Theme: Two implications for you to be encouraged by and live out from your knowledge of Christ and the gospel.

1: Recall and Remember Who Jesus is: The Absolutely Supreme Sovereign who is fully God. – v. 1:19

2: See and Seek Jesus as the All-Sufficient Savior through whom God reconciles all things. – v. 1:20

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Big Idea: Christians understand and believe that Jesus is God.

6 Claims that Jesus made about Himself which reveal that He is God the Son (equal to the Father):

1. Jesus claimed the Right to Forgive Sins
2. Jesus claimed the Right to Judge Mankind.
3. Jesus claimed the Right to Grant Eternal Life.
4. Jesus performed miracles on His own authority.
5. Jesus accepted worship from others.
6. The Eternal Destiny of Humans depends on their response to Jesus.

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John 3:22-30 (NASB)

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized— 24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

25 Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

The Big Idea:  Christ must increase, and we must decrease!

4 points to make clear:

1)  A Clear Perspective of God’s Gifts (v. 27)
2)  An Accurate Portrayal of Your Self (v. 28)
3)  The Right Prescription for Joy (v. 29)
4)  A Lowly Proposition to Live By (v. 30)

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