Sermon Tone Analysis

Serving Christ

Colossians 1:24-29

This morning, we finish chapter one in the book of Colossians.

We will be looking at Paul and how he saw his part in the Kingdom, especially his ministry to the churches.

This morning, we finish chapter one in the book of Colossians.

We will be looking at Paul and how he saw his part in the Kingdom, especially his ministry to the churches.

Paul’s ministry was one of enlarging the Kingdom by sharing the gospel.

He had not been the one that brought the message to the church at Colasse and in our passage this morning we read about how Paul clarifies the ministry that God had given to him, and at the same time explains what Serving Christ is really all about!

Serving Christ involves suffering, it’s aim is maturity, and it is hard work!

First,

Serving Christ involves suffering!

It is not uncommon to hear Paul speak about suffering!

He knew suffering!

He says that He rejoices in his sufferings for you!

The first part of Paul’s ministry involved suffering.

You may remember the promise that God gave to Ananias when he was told to lay hands on Paul in

To complete the afflictions of Christ

The first part of Paul’s ministry involved suffering.

You may remember the promise that God gave to Ananias when he was told to lay hands on Paul in

At Paul’s conversion he understood that suffering would be a part of his ministry.

He had suffered much as he followed the Lord!

Even as Paul is writing, he is in house arrest for the sake of sharing the Gospel.

Even as he is writing, he is in house arrest for the sake of sharing the Gospel.

Paul saw suffering as a privilege.

Not something to be avoided, but embraced.

Paul suffered for doing what God had called him to do.

To take the Gospel to the Gentiles.

This was not met with favor from the Jews or the Gentiles.

You would think that following God and His direction for your life is easy, but Paul shares that Serving Christ is hard!

There were Jews who saw him as a traitor and wanted to silence him.

Paul was preaching a message of inclusion.

Gentiles were included in the work of God.

That meant that Christ could be resident among the Gentiles.

For the Jews - the idea that the Messiah would extend the Kingdom to the Gentiles - was unthinkable.

There were Gentiles who rejected his message, or saw their way of life being threatened by this Gospel and did not want him there.

Paul declares that he suffers to,

There were Gentiles who rejected his message, or saw their way of life being threatened by his message and did not want him there.

To complete the afflictions of Christ

Paul declares that he fills up in his flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ.

The idea of the words he uses for fills up is completing in place of, or completing for someone else.

This can be a bit confusing.

Was Paul saying that he needed to suffer for his own salvation?

Was the work of Christ insufficient in some way for Paul or for the people of Colassae?

No, Paul would never even suggest such a thing!

What then was Paul talking about?

Jesus told his disciples in ,

Paul was suffering on behalf of Christ - not just for himself, but for those who needed to hear the Gospel message.

We can keep our faith to ourselves and experience little or no suffering for Serving Christ - but Serving Christ can not be kept to ourselves.

Our faith demands that we live it out and that we share it with those around us.

We too are called to risk everything to live out our faith and to share the good news of Jesus with those around us!

Serving Christ has the aim of maturity!

Serving Christ’s aim is maturity!

Paul was responsible to share the Word of God.

He tells us that it is to,

To Fulfill The Word of God

The second aspect of Paul’s ministry involved the Word of God.

Paul was appointed to share the Word of God with the Gentiles.

He would take the writings that God had given to the nation of Israel and help those who were outsiders understand God’s desire for them.

The mystery revealed

The mystery was enclosed in the pages of the Old Testament and is now revealed and understood through Jesus - the Messiah.

The content of this mystery is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

The blessings of Israel are available to non-Jews because Christ was actually among them.

He is their hope in receiving and participating in the glory of Christ.

Paul has no desire for people just to be better!

To be a better father, a better husband, a better student, a better worker, a better boss - his goal is much higher than this!

He longs to present every man perfect in Jesus.

That is every person in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

We are surrounded by people incomplete today, and we can be tempted to think that if only they knew how to be a better parent - if only they could be free from their addictions - if only they knew how to work together as husband and wife - that would make a difference - - -

Paul would say - that leaves them imperfect.

The only thing that really makes a difference is Jesus!

Once we are in Him - he changes how we relate to our children, our spouse, our addictions - all is changed in Him!

Paul’s message was Christ.

The gospel - the fact that our hope is not build on a system, or a set of rules to follow.

Our hope is on the person and work of Jesus alone!

Paul’s Message

Paul’s message was Christ.

The gospel - the fact that our hope is not build on a system, or a set of rules to follow.

Our hope is on the person and work of Jesus alone!

CC

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,

Support me in the whelming flood;