Episodes
Monday May 29, 2017
Putting Christ First: Ministering Together: Colossians 4:7-18
Monday May 29, 2017
Monday May 29, 2017
Putting Christ First: Ministering Together
Colossians 4:7-18
The Couriers (v. 7-9)
- Paul ends his letter by telling the Colossians who he is entrusting this correspondence to
- Tychicus: One of Paul’s traveling companions (Acts 20:4)
- Delivered the Letters of Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Titus
- He is described by Paul as a beloved brother, a faithful minister and a fellow servant
- Onesimus: The servant that Paul wrote to Philemon about
- Who met Paul in his prison, and came to Christ (v. 10)
- Paul became deeply attached to him (v. 12, 15)
- These men were not just passive letter-carriers
- They were fellow ministers of the gospel who would often elaborate on the letter (see Eph. 6:21-22)
- Who met Paul in his prison, and came to Christ (v. 10)
Ministry Partners (v. 10-15)
- Paul goes on to extend greetings from all those who are ministering with him
- 3 Jewish coworkers
- Aristarchus: A Thessalonian who was possibly imprisoned with Paul (Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:29; Rom. 16:7; Phlm 23)
- Justus: Whose Hebrew name was Jesus*
- Mark: Barnabus’ cousin over whom Paul and Barnabus split company (see Acts 15:37-39)
- But, he reconciled with Paul (2 Tim. 4:11)
- And later worked with Peter in Rome (1 Pet. 5:13)
- Where he wrote the Gospel which bears his name
- 3 Gentile coworkers
- Epaphras: The local convert who brought concerns to Paul which prompted the letter
- Luke: The doctor who wrote the book of Acts and the Gospel which bears his name
- Demas: Who later abandons Paul (2 Tim. 4:9)
- Those working locally
- The church in Laodicea: Paul’s desire is to encourage fellowship between the local churches
- Colossae and Laodicea are less than 12 miles apart
- Nympha and the church which gathered in her home
- Possibly a wealthy widower who opened her large home for local Christians to meet in
- The church in Laodicea: Paul’s desire is to encourage fellowship between the local churches
The Church Universal (v. 16-18)
- Again, Paul encourages the church to be working outside of just its immediate community
- He also encourages them to encourage their brother Archippus to do what God has called him to do
- He closes the letter with a greeting in his own hand
- Since normally he used a scribe
So What?
- We are not called to live and minister alone
- We need partners
- Both in our congregation and in others
- And even those with whom we have had issues in the past
- And we need to encourage each other in the ministries to which we are called
Monday May 15, 2017
Putting Christ First: New Life at Work Colossians 3:22-4:1
Monday May 15, 2017
Monday May 15, 2017
Putting Christ First: New Life at Work
Colossians 3:22-4:1
Social Structures
- Paul’s focus here is show how our new identity in Christ is not meant to undo existing social structures
- But rather to transform us in them
- That being said: Read your own mail!
- Focus on what God is calling you to do
- Not on what others should be doing
Putting Christ First at Work (3:22-4:1)
- Bondservant ≠ slaves like in US history
- They were employees for a fixed period of time
- Who were often well compensated
- And were rarely forced into labor
- The modern equivalent would be employees
- Masters = employers/bosses
- Employees are called to obey their bosses
- Not just when they are looking
- Not to just get ahead
- But, by way of service to God
- The Lord is every Christian’s true Master
- Bosses are called to treat their employees well
- Not exploiting them
- Not making things unnecessarily hard on them
- Treating them like God treats you
- Because you both have the same Boss over you
What if they aren’t Christians?
- What if my spouse, or my children, or my boss, or my employer is not a Christian, am I required to still act this way?
- Yes, and even more so!
- Because your behavior to them is a testimony to the God you serve to them
- You are the Gospel they are reading!
So What?
- If we are new in Christ:
- How we treat our family should reflect that
- How we act at work should convey that
- Are you new in Jesus?
- Is our life showing that to those around us?
Meditation Verse: Col. 3:23
Monday May 08, 2017
Putting Christ First: New Life in Practice. Colossians 3:18-4:1
Monday May 08, 2017
Monday May 08, 2017
Putting Christ First: New Life in Practice
Colossians 3:18-4:1
Social Structures
- Paul’s focus here is show how our new identity in Christ is not meant to undo existing social structures
- But rather to transform us in them
- That being said: Read your own mail!
- Focus on what God is calling you to do
- Not on what others should be doing
Putting Christ First at Home (3:18-21)
- Wives are called to submit to their husbands
- Submit (hypotassō): Suggests a voluntary willingness to recognize and put oneself under the leadership of another
- It is to recognize a relationship of order established by God (v. 18b)
- But it is conditioned by the husband’s submission to God (see Eph. 5:22)
- Husbands are called to love their wives
- Like Christ loves His Church (see Eph. 5:23)
- Sacrificially
- “Do not be harsh”= Do not make them bitter, resentful
- This was counter-cultural
- Like Christ loves His Church (see Eph. 5:23)
- Children are called to obey their parents
- Obey: follow their instructions
- Again, as long as it is not in contradiction with God’s truth
- This pleases God because it means we are living under His rule for our lives (see Eph. 6:1-3; Ex. 20:12)
- Obey: follow their instructions
- Fathers* are called to be encouraging to their children
- Not give rules for rules’ sake
- Not irritate or embitter
- Again, this was counter-cultural
- Submit (hypotassō): Suggests a voluntary willingness to recognize and put oneself under the leadership of another
Putting Christ First at Work (3:22-4:1)
- Bondservant ≠ slaves like in US history
- They were employees for a fixed period of time
- Who were often well compensated
- And were rarely forced into labor
- The modern equivalent would be employees
- Masters = employers/bosses
- Employees are called to obey their bosses
- Not just when they are looking
- Not to just get ahead
- But, by way of service to God
- The Lord is every Christian’s true Master
- Bosses are called to treat their employees well
- Not exploiting them
- Not making things unnecessarily hard on them
- Treating them like God treats you
- Because you both have the same Boss over you
What if they aren’t Christians?
- What if my spouse, or my children, or my boss, or my employer is not a Christian, am I required to still act this way?
- Yes, and even more so!
- Because your behavior to them is a testimony to the God you serve to them
- You are the Gospel they are reading!
So What?
- If we are new in Christ:
- How we treat our family should reflect that
- How we act at work should convey that
- Are you new in Jesus?
- Is our life showing that to those around us?
Meditation Verse: Col. 3:23
Monday May 01, 2017
Monday May 01, 2017
Putting Christ First: Changing Clothes, part 2: Putting on the New
Colossian 3:12-17
Putting on New Clothes (v. 12-14)
- Because we are new in Christ
- Chosen and loved by God
- Set apart for God
- We should seek to emulate Jesus with:
- Compassion (lit. ‘guts of pity’): To be moved by what moves Him
- Kindness/Generosity: To look to the needs of others
- Humility/Modesty: To think of ourselves rightly
- Meekness: To not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance
- Patience: being self-controlled in the face of provocation
- Tolerance: Putting up with the struggles of others
- Forgiveness: Letting go of the wrongs that others have done to us
- All of these are just how Jesus treats us
- And all of which can be summed up in one command: Love each other! (John 13:34-35)
Taking Up New Residents (v. 15-16)
- We are called to let Christ’s peace rule in us*
- This is a call to let Jesus take control of our lives
- “Heart”: Place of will, decision
- “Rule”: Umpire, arbiter
- Peace should always take precedence in the life of a Christian, because of the peace we have with God through Christ
- Which should lead to gratitude
- We are to let Christ’s word dwell in us*
- The truth of the Gospel should transform us
- And we should encourage each other deeper and deeper into that truth through:
- Teaching: Show what is right
- Admonishing: Correcting what is wrong
- Praising God together
- This is a call to let Jesus take control of our lives
Living Out a New Mission (v. 17)
- With our new identity in place
- And our thinking & words being conformed to Christ
- We are called to let everything we do and say reflect Jesus to the world
- This is result of putting Christ first in our lives
So What?
- Are we letting Jesus transform our lives?
- So we are loving each other the way He loves us
- And so we are reflecting Him to the world
Meditation Verse: Col. 3:17