070923-“Servants To The Church”...Colossians 1:24-29

Colossians 1:24-29...“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body, that is, the church. I have become its servant, according to God’s administration that was given to me for you, to make God’s message fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.”

John 19:26-27...“When Jesus saw his mother and disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home”

Romans 16:1...“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae”

1 Peter 5:12...“I have written you this brief letter through Silvanus (I know him to be a faithful brother) to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God”

Romans 12:10...“Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor”

1 Timothy 3:15...“I have written so that you will know how people ought to act in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth”

Hebrews 2:11-12...“That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying: ‘I will proclaim Your name to My brothers;I will sing hymns to You in the congregation’”

Sermon In A Sentence:Because Christ is in you, He works powerfully to strengthen you as you serve the needs of His body, the church.

“Key Verse” In Colossians:
“I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments.” -Chapter 2, verse 4

As Followers of Christ We Have Become Servants To The Church:
-To make God’s message fully known (v.25)
-To make the mystery of Christ “in you” fully known (v.26-27)
-To warn and teach everyone with God’s wisdom (v.28)
-To present everyone mature in Christ (v.28)

Acts 6:1-3...“…there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews… that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, ‘It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to handle financial matters. Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit & wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty’”

“MYSTERY”
-“musterion”
-Refers to something not previously revealed
-For example: something that was a misunderstood part of the O.T. that’s now revealed in Christ
-Truth that had been stored in the mind of God

Sermon In A Sentence:Because Christ is in you, He works powerfully to strengthen you as you serve the needs of His body, the church.