Tag: Colossians

The Necessary Ingredients for Effective Gospel Ministry (Colossians 4:7-18)

On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Colossians, Devotionals, Imago Dei ClassLeave a comment

Last words are meant to be lasting words, yet so often I am guilty of skimming over them in the Bible. I find this temptation in the conclusion of Paul’s letter to the Colossians as well. He lists several names and gives salutatory commands that may seem to amount to “Tell Barnabas I said hey.” Yet when we slow down and consider all that he’s saying in this passage, there’s a beautiful lesson to be learned. That lesson is the example of effective gospel ministry.

Paul’s ministry of the gospel was effective. It bore much fruit. You and I are more than likely believers today because of Paul’s ministry. Yet we know from the book of Acts and his epistles that he never ministered alone. There were several men and women that God called to minister alongside Paul, whether it was through joining him on mission trips, helping him escape assassination attempts, or working alongside him to plant and encourage churches.

In other words, Paul’s ministry wasn’t effective just because he was a great communicator or a strong leader. It was effective because of the things and people that made up his ministry of the gospel. We see these people and these things in full color in Colossians 4:7-18. I call them the necessary ingredients to effective gospel ministry. Here’s seven of them.

1. Gospel ministry requires the family of God laboring together (4:7-8).

    Paul begins this section, “Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servantin the Lord” (v. 7).[1] Notice that he refers to Tychicus by name and calls him first a beloved brother and then a fellow servant. The church of Jesus Christ is not primarily a team or a staff, but a family, and we labor together to fulfill the family mission of making disciples among the nations. We are not called to minister individually, but together! If the apostle Paul needed partners in the gospel, how much more do we?

    2. Gospel ministry requires intentional encouragement (4:8).

    Paul tells the Colossians his purpose in sending Tychicus to them: “that you may know how we are” and “that he may encourage your hearts” (v. 8). These are two separate purposes, but they are closely related. We recently had a missionary from South Asia come and give our church a report on the work there. By letting us know “how they are,” he greatly encouraged our hearts that God is still at work among the nations.

    However, I do think Paul is sending Tychicus to encourage the Colossians directly. The gift of encouragement is to the church what a rush of oxygen is to a struggling fire. That’s why Paul commands the Thessalonians to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thess 5:11). We know this intuitively. If you’ve spent any time trying to improve in some skill or area of life and someone takes note and encourages you in it, it strengthens you to continue what you’re doing. So it is with gospel ministry. We must intentionally encourage one another to keep laboring for Christ’s kingdom.

    3. Gospel ministry requires intercessory prayer (4:12-13).

    Paul names another man in v. 12, Epaphras, and describes him as “always struggling on your behalf in his prayers.” He goes on to say that Epaphras “has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis” (v. 13). Epaphras could have visited and worked in these churches, but within the context of v. 12, Paul likely has the work of prayer in view. Epaphras is a prayer warrior for these three churches. His work is regularly taking them and their needs before the throne of heaven.

    Effective gospel ministry in a church requires intentional prayer of every member. As Spurgeon once said, a prayerless church member is like a decaying tooth in the mouth that does not contribute to the work of the church. Each member should pray for the ministry and health of the church. It is necessary work, and it is good work, but it is work. In other words, it doesn’t just happen naturally. We must make time for it, and commit to it. Let us be members who, like Epaphras, work hard by praying for our churches and their ministry of the gospel.

    Continue reading “The Necessary Ingredients for Effective Gospel Ministry (Colossians 4:7-18)” →

    How to Share Christ Effectively (Colossians 4:2-6)

    On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Colossians, Imago Dei ClassLeave a comment

    As Paul moves towards the conclusion of his letter, he asks the Colossians to partner with him in his life’s calling: proclaiming the mystery of Christ. He invites them to play their role in God’s mission by praying for and supporting him in his mission field (now prison), but also by engaging in their own mission field. He writes in Colossians 4:2-6,

    “2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear in the way that I ought to proclaim it.

    5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” (NASB)

    There are two primary commands in this section. The first is to pray for opportunities to witness and the second is to take advantage of those opportunities. I use “witness” here as the term to define any opportunity we have to share Christ with those who do not know him. Let’s consider each of these commands in turn and consider how they apply to our lives.

    We Must Pray for Witnessing Opportunities

    It is important to note that Paul begins this section by encouraging prayer. And not just any kind of prayer. Paul encourages the Colossians to missions minded kingdom expanding prayer.  He doesn’t give them a list of his physical needs, but asks them to pray that he (and they) will be effective in reaching the lost. Effective evangelism always begins with prayer.

    Paul asks the Colossians to pray for God to open up a door for the word. In Acts 14:27 and 1 Corinthians 16:9, God is the one who opens the door for the gospel. He does this through providing opportunities to share Christ and opening the hearts of those who hear. Paul, now in prison, asks for the Colossians to pray that God will continue opening doors for him to preach Christ.

    Continue reading “How to Share Christ Effectively (Colossians 4:2-6)” →

    Throw Away the Grave Clothes and Put On the Grace Clothes (Colossians 3:5-17)

    On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Colossians, Miscellaneous4 Comments

    Have you ever spent a long day working outside in the heat? During the warmer months, I spend at least one day a week working in the yard. After such a day, my clothes are usually a dirty smelly mess, and I have to shower before doing anything else. My clothes are so filthy that I almost feel bad even putting them in the dirty clothes basket alongside other dirty clothes (that aren’t nearly as dirty).

    Now imagine what it would feel like to put those clothes back on after getting out of a nice long shower. It would be just…wrong. Why? Because after getting clean, you should put on clean clothes. You should adorn yourself with what is now true of your nature. You’re no longer a dirty sweaty mess, so you shouldn’t wear dirty sweaty clothes. You’re clean. So you should wear clean clothes. Simple enough, right?

    This is essentially Paul’s argument in Colossians 3:5-17. Since we have died to our old selves and old ways, we should put off our old clothes. Since we have been cleansed and raised with Christ, we should put on new clothes of righteousness. But how do we do that? What clothes should we remove, and which should we put on? What does that look like in real life? This passage has the answers.

    Grave Clothes

    First, we must take off our grave clothes, “for we have died, and our life is hidden with Christ in God” (3:3). However, Paul uses much stronger language than just “putting off” our old clothes. He says that we are to, “put to death” certain characteristics of our life before Christ (3:5). We are to kill our old habits and ways- sexual immorality, impurity, passion (lust), evil desire, and covetousness (3:5). All of these lead to idolatry because we cannot pursue them and also submit to the Lordship of Christ.

    Brothers and sisters, if you are still in sexual sin, you must put it to death. It is a suffocating garment of death that rots the soul and destroys relationships. Do everything you can to put a bullet in the head of sexual temptation and sin!

    Continue reading “Throw Away the Grave Clothes and Put On the Grace Clothes (Colossians 3:5-17)” →

    Christ, Who is Your Life (Colossians 3:1-4)

    On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Colossians, Miscellaneous1 Comment

    Guest written by Mark Shideler

    In Colossians 3:1-4, Paul takes us through a progression of “If, Then, Why?” to teach us how to live our physical life on this earth with spiritual things in mind.

    IF…

    Paul writes in verse 1, “If then you have been raised with Christ…”

    This question is pointing back to what he shared with the Colossians in chapter 2:13 , “…you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses…”

    The Bible paints a very bleak picture of our spiritual state without Christ. Although we are born into this world physically alive, we are spiritually dead. We have no ability to come to God or desire to do so. Our sin separates us from God and actually makes us God’s enemy (Romans 5:10).

    Modern religion often incorrectly portrays God as a sort of doting grandparent. But God doesn’t just adore us no matter what we do. He is a righteous judge who must punish sin. He is actually angry with our sin and can’t overlook it just because He loves us. However, He displayed His love by providing a way for our sin to be forgiven (even though we didn’t deserve it).

    When we could never get to God, God came to us. Jesus Christ died to fulfill the legal transaction necessary to forgive sin – an innocent life dying for a sinful life. When we repent of our sin and place our faith in Christ’s sacrifice, we are forgiven, raised from death to life, and brought into fellowship with our Creator.

    Paul didn’t take for granted that this transformation had happened in the life of every person in the church of Colossae. He says “IF” this has happened…

    I wonder, would we be shocked at how many spiritually dead people attend church every week? Going to church, doing good things, getting baptized, and even believing in God cannot raise a dead soul to life. Only repentance of sin and faith in the finished work of Christ’s sacrifice can do that. All of us should heed Paul’s admonishment in 2 Corinthians 13:5 to examine ourselves to make sure we are in the faith.

    Continue reading “Christ, Who is Your Life (Colossians 3:1-4)” →

    Is Trusting Jesus Enough for Salvation? (Colossians 2:16-23)

    On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Colossians, Imago Dei ClassLeave a comment

    Is trusting Jesus enough for salvation? Can it really be that simple? Or is there a deeper, hidden meaning within Christianity? Are there religious practices for the spiritually elite that make us more acceptable to God and draw us closer to him? These are some of the questions the Colossians wrestled with. Fortunately for them (and us), Paul addresses in our text this week, Colossians 2:16-23. The passage reads,

    “16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

    20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”

    There are two commands in this passage. The first, to not let anyone pass judgment on your faith. Second, to not let anyone disqualify you. Let’s consider each of these in turn.

    1. Let no one pass judgment on you (2:16-17)

      The believers at Colossae were being judged by those who thought they needed to add another element to their faith. Followers of Jesus were being told by people of Jewish background that they also needed to practice Sabbath, keep Jewish festival days, and observe dietary laws. In other words, their faith in Christ was not enough, unless the Jewish traditions were observed in addition to it.

      Paul tells the Colossians, “don’t let these people judge you.” We can’t keep people from judging us. But we can shrug off their judgments. This is what Paul is telling the Colossians to do- they are to pay no attention to those who judge them in this regard. Why? Because all of these things are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

      Take the Sabbath, for example. The Sabbath was a day of rest from work to enjoy God and his blessings. The Sabbath was a shadow that pointed to the future substance, who is Christ. He has provided ultimate, eternal rest for God’s people. There’s no working for our salvation, but rather resting in what Christ has done for us. He beckons those who are weary and heavy laden to come to him and find rest (Matt 11:28).

      So it is with all of the Jewish traditions. They were shadows that pointed to Christ! He is the true temple, the true Passover lamb, the true sacrifice, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king! There is no going back to these shadows, the substance has come!

      Continue reading “Is Trusting Jesus Enough for Salvation? (Colossians 2:16-23)” →

      Walking While Remaining Rooted (Colossians 2:6-15)

      On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Colossians, Imago Dei ClassLeave a comment

      Why do you live the Christian life? After coming to faith in Christ, why keep pursuing him? Why keep coming to church? Why should we keep reading the same stories, preaching the same gospel, and doing the same things? Why not try something new? Paul answers these questions in our text this week.

      In Colossians 2:6-15, Paul encourages his readers to continually pursue Jesus, but he also tells them why. He writes, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (2:6-7).

      Notice the command: walk in Christ! Paul adds, “just as you have received him.” In other words, they needed to hold fast to the gospel that was preached to them: salvation by grace through faith in the divine Son who died for our sins, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven (see 1 Cor. 15:1-4).

      Christ is the vine, we are the branches (John 15:5). We are rooted, built up, and established in him (v. 7). Spiritual growth comes not by moving on to “bigger and better” religious practices or philosophies, but my remaining tethered to Christ and deepening our roots in him.

      This leads to the second command: don’t be taken captive. “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (2:8).

      It’s almost as if Paul anticipates the Colossians taking the role of my six  year old who’s favorite question is, “why?” The what is the command: walk in Christ! Don’t be taken captive by anything or anyone else! But the why is found in 2:9-15. In fact, there are multiple whys, multiple reasons why the Colossians, and why we by default, have no where to turn besides Christ:

      1. The whole fullness of deity dwells in Christ.

      This is another undeniable statement of Christ’s deity. “For in him [Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (2:9). What a statement! In Jesus, the whole fullness of God dwells bodily. This is the miracle of the incarnation. The Son of God became man in Christ. If that is true, why would the Colossians need to look to anyone or anything else?

      2. You have been made complete in Christ.

      “…and you have been filled in him” (2:10a). The fullness of God that dwells in Christ has made us complete in him. He who fills all things has filled us in him.  In other words, the Son of God has made us whole. He has met our greatest need, which is reconciliation with God. Once reunited to him, we lack nothing. In Christ, we have everything (2 Peter 1:3).

      Continue reading “Walking While Remaining Rooted (Colossians 2:6-15)” →

      How to Faithfully Serve Christ’s Church (Colossians 1:24-2:5)

      On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Colossians, Devotionals, Imago Dei ClassLeave a comment

      Last week we considered Paul’s Christological masterpiece in Colossians 1:15-23. Oh what a beautiful passage! This week we move to 1:24-2:5, where Paul continues his theme of Christocentrism, but does so with an emphasis on what it looks like to serve him faithfully.

      Paul begins by describing his own ministry, which sets the example he sets for all ministers of Christ. His goal was, and our goal should be, to hear “well done, good and faithful servant” after our life of service (Matt 25:23). Scott Pace echoes this point, “The measure of our success in life, and certainly in ministry, is ultimately summarized by one standard in God’s kingdom—faithfulness.”[1] This passage teaches us what faithful servants of Jesus do. They suffer as servants of the church, they strive for the mission of the church, and they strengthen the members of the church.[2]

      Suffer as Servants of the Church (1:24-25)

      Paul begins this section, “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known” (1:24-25).

      Faithful servants of Jesus should expect suffering. “If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first” Jesus said in John 15:18. We should also expect suffering to come at the hands of a broken and fallen world. “In this world you will have tribulation,” Jesus says, “but take heart, for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

      Notice that Paul says he rejoices in his suffering. He knows that these tribulations are to be expected. But that is not why he rejoices in them. He rejoices in them because he knows that they are doing something! I am suffering “for your sake,” he says, and “I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” What does Paul mean here?

      Continue reading “How to Faithfully Serve Christ’s Church (Colossians 1:24-2:5)” →

      You Should Regularly Pray This! (Colossians 1:9-14)

      On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Colossians, Devotionals, Imago Dei Class, Messages1 Comment

      What should I pray for consistently? Aside from our immediate needs (health, jobs, direction), we often do not know what we should pray about or who we should pray for. We don’t know how or what to pray for our own spiritual lives, much less the lives of our fellow church members or friends. Thankfully, God’s Word shows us the what and the how!

      This week we continue our study of Colossians  by studying 1:9-14, where Paul moves from his opening greeting and thanksgiving to encouraging the Colossians by giving them insight into how and what he prays for them. He does this to show them that God is answering their prayers and to model for them what they are to pray for, look for, and rejoice in.

      I think Paul highlights two main prayer requests here, requests that all of us should regularly pray for ourselves and other believers in our lives:

      1. To be filled with the knowledge of God’s will (1:9)

      Paul’s first request is that the Colossians would be “filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual insight” (v. 9). The “will” and “insight” that he has in mind here is not the specifics regarding who to marry or which job to take, but God’s will for all his people- the will to know his Son and walk with Him.

      How do I know that? Because Paul tells his readers why he prays this for them, “so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (v. 10).” The kind of spiritual understanding he is praying for is understanding what God wants (to trust his Son) and what kind of life is pleasing and honoring to his Son.

      Paul then describes the kind of life, or “walk,” that is pleasing to the Son. First, it is a walk that bears fruit. “Fruit” is the tangible evidence of God’s work in and through us. It includes spiritual growth, holiness, and having an eternal impact through our ministry (and yes, everyone is called to minister wherever God plants them!).

      Bearing fruit is using the gifts God has given us, in dependence upon the Spirit who dwells inside us, to impact those around us. It is becoming more and more like Jesus, and because of that, introducing more and more people to Jesus.

      “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should last,” Jesus said in John 15:16. These words were spoken to his original disciples, but they apply to all his disciples. Our Lord is pleased when we bear fruit![1]

      The second aspect of a walk that is pleasing to the Lord is a life marked by “increasing in the knowledge of God.” Jesus does not save us just so we can labor for his kingdom and see fruit in our ministries. We aren’t just servants, but friends and children of God (John 15:15). He wants us to see fruit in our relationship with God. He wants us to growin our knowledge of God. He wants to see our capacity for a relationship with God to deepen. And that happens as we grow in our knowledge of God.

      We can spend so much of our time praying about and being consumed with the little details of our life. Its not that God doesn’t care about those, but what he is primarily concerned with, as was Paul, is that we understand his will and walk in a manner worthy of Christ. If we do that, all the little things will fall into place. For example, our youth pastor regularly tells high school students to not be primarily focused on where God wills for them to go to college but who God wills for them to be wherever they go. That last piece- the who he calls us to be- that’s the knowledge of his will, and that knowledge applies to not only college choices, but to every area of our lives.

      Continue reading “You Should Regularly Pray This! (Colossians 1:9-14)” →

      The True Gospel & Worldwide Fruit (Colossians 1:1-8)

      On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn Colossians, Imago Dei Class, Messages1 Comment

      This week we will begin our Colossians series by studying the first eight verses of the book. These verses contain Paul’s opening greetings, which includes his declaration of authorship, official address, and thanksgiving. Too often opening greetings are skimmed over, but there’s plenty here to learn about the nature of the gospel, the role of faith, and the responsibility of those who are ministers of the gospel.

      1. Reason for Thanksgiving (1:3-5)

      After his customary extension of grace and peace to his brothers and sisters in Christ at Colossae, Paul tells them that he always gives thanksto Godfor them. “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you” (Col 1:3). Then he tells them why he gives thanks for them, “since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven” (Col 1:4-5).

      Why is Paul thankful for the Colossians? First, because he has heard of their faith in Christ Jesus (v. 4). Second, because their faith in Christ has produced the natural fruit of loving each other (v. 4). And third, because their faith is not in vain, but is rooted in a sure hope that is laid up for them in heaven (v. 5).

      When we look at our own lives or the lives of believers around us, these same things should encourage us and lead us to thanksgiving. We should be thankful for genuine faith in Christ. Thankful for the Spirit bringing real fruit from our faith in our lives. Thankful that our faith will result in a future inheritance in heaven.

      Simply put, Paul is thankful that real Christianity has taken root at Colossae. People have trusted Christ, are loving one another, and are living with their gaze fixed on heaven. If we, our church, or our families are doing the same, let us thank God; it all comes from Him!

      Continue reading “The True Gospel & Worldwide Fruit (Colossians 1:1-8)” →

      The Preeminent King Who Reconciles All Things

      On By Jarrett Ray FletcherIn MiscellaneousLeave a comment

      Our focus as a church this week was on the preeminence of Christ. Preeminence refers to the exclusive right of being first, supreme, or surpassing all others. The Son of God in the person of Christ is preeminent (Colossians 1:18). He is before all things (1:16) because He created all things (1:15-16) and holds all things together (1:17b).

      Christ is also preeminent over the church (1:18). The church is made up of those whom Christ created; they are part of the “all things” He created in 1:16, who rebelled against Him (1:21) but have been reconciled back to Him (1:22). But how did this reconciliation occur? By the preeminent One “making peace through the blood of His cross” (1:20).

      The beauty of the gospel captured my heart this Sunday. Colossians 1 presents the Son as the One who created all things and currently holds all things together. But it also presents Him as the One who reconciles all things by His own death. Only the One who created all things can reconcile all things back to Himself- and there was only one way for Him to do that- “by the blood of His cross” (1:20).

      Here is the prominent reminder for us: everything that we need, from the greatest need of salvation to the smallest need of our next breath: Christ provides. He created all things. He sustains all things. He reconciles all things. By the blood of His cross.