Colossians 2:8-12 (NASB)

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. ⁹ For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; ¹¹ and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; ¹² having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Big Idea: The Supreme Savior and Loving Lord Jesus is sufficient for your every need, every trial and every circumstance in life – you are complete in Him.

Outline:

1. Don’t fall for the trap (2:8)
2. You are complete in Christ (2:9-12)

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Colossians 2:1-7 (NASB)

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 so that no one will 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. ⁶ Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷ having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

The Big Idea: A Pastor/Shepherd’s love for God’s people should reflect the love that our Good Shepherd Jesus has for His people.

Outline: Four characteristics of a Pastor’s love for the Church that should be encouraging to your faith in Christ.

Last Sunday:

  1) His Care for the Church (2:1-3, 5)
  2) His Concern for the Church (2:4)

Today:

  3) His Celebration of the Church (2:5)
  4) His Charge to the Church (2:6-7)

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Colossians 2:1-5 (NASB)

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 so that no one will 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.

The Big Idea: A Pastor/Shepherd’s love for God’s people should reflect the love that our Good Shepherd Jesus has for His people.

Outline: 3 Characteristics of a Pastor’s love for the Church that should be encouraging to your faith in Christ (2:1-5)

I. His Care for the Church (2:1-3, 5)

II. His Concern for the Church (2:4)

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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 4 Sundays (Pt. 1 – 4 ):

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]

6) The Proclamation of Ministry (1:28)

o The “Who” and “The Whom”

o The “How”

Today (Pt. 5):

7) The Purpose of Ministry (1:28b-29a)

8) The Power of Ministry (1:29)

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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 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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