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
Version: 20240320
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