Sermon Notes for Sept 9, 2012 (Con't)
Main Text: Colossians 1:24-29
Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--
-- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints,
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
We proclaim him, admonishing and telling everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
Because of the importance of these verses in relation to our topic: The Congregation's Path Toward Becoming a Faithful Church, Bro. Mike says he will spend 3 weeks in this passage.
MAIN OUTLINE:
- Faithfulness in Christ
- The Mystery of the Gospel
- The Work of the Gospel
Faithfulness in Christ
We all want to be part of a faithful church. Paul demonstrated
his faithfulness and it caused him great suffering.
Suffering in Paul's Life Came:
- With Professing Christ in His Life
- With Identifying with the Church
- With Seeing his Ministry as Serving Others
1. Paul gave up Israel, status, protection of the law, special aspects of being one of the top people in Israel. He exchanged all of this
for a life of suffering.
Read his resume in 11 Corinthians 11:23-27. He worked hard, was often imprisoned, flogged, exposed to death many times, beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, lost at sea, in danger everywhere he went, experienced cold, hunger, and lack of sleep for the sake of the gospel.
And in Colossians 1:24 he says, "Now I rejoice in my suffering for you and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in His afflictions for His body, which is the church." Bro Mike noted particularly the last four words...which is the church....all Paul's suffering was for the church.
Paul says he was rejoicing in his suffering. He was enjoying them!
Was Paul (1) mentally ill? (2) suffering from low self esteem?
No, he has a high view of Christ. Paul says, "Count me in as a Christian." Did he ever feel he was perhaps following the wrong path? No! He kept saying "Count me in!"
2. Identifying with the church can get us into trouble these days. People will begin telling us about how the church hurt them, let them down, destroyed their faith. Likely telling the truth. Paul had a deep concern for all the churches. In 11 Corinthians one of the causes of suffering he added to his list was "Besides everything else, I face daily concern for all the churches" (11 Corinthians 11:28
The church is being thrown overboard today in America. 'We don't need the church. We can go somewhere at sunrise and worship alone or with a few friends. The church is irrelevant...out of fashion..out of touch'. We must be prepared to face this opposition.
3. Bro Mike said he was humbled when he considered Paul's ministry. He said after he was ordained (in January of 1978) he feels the first years were all about himself. God must have done a special work in Paul - from the start it was all about others.
[Note: that must have been a Bro Mike I never knew.]
Conclusion:
for a life of suffering.
Read his resume in 11 Corinthians 11:23-27. He worked hard, was often imprisoned, flogged, exposed to death many times, beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, lost at sea, in danger everywhere he went, experienced cold, hunger, and lack of sleep for the sake of the gospel.
And in Colossians 1:24 he says, "Now I rejoice in my suffering for you and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in His afflictions for His body, which is the church." Bro Mike noted particularly the last four words...which is the church....all Paul's suffering was for the church.
Paul says he was rejoicing in his suffering. He was enjoying them!
Was Paul (1) mentally ill? (2) suffering from low self esteem?
No, he has a high view of Christ. Paul says, "Count me in as a Christian." Did he ever feel he was perhaps following the wrong path? No! He kept saying "Count me in!"
2. Identifying with the church can get us into trouble these days. People will begin telling us about how the church hurt them, let them down, destroyed their faith. Likely telling the truth. Paul had a deep concern for all the churches. In 11 Corinthians one of the causes of suffering he added to his list was "Besides everything else, I face daily concern for all the churches" (11 Corinthians 11:28
The church is being thrown overboard today in America. 'We don't need the church. We can go somewhere at sunrise and worship alone or with a few friends. The church is irrelevant...out of fashion..out of touch'. We must be prepared to face this opposition.
3. Bro Mike said he was humbled when he considered Paul's ministry. He said after he was ordained (in January of 1978) he feels the first years were all about himself. God must have done a special work in Paul - from the start it was all about others.
[Note: that must have been a Bro Mike I never knew.]
Conclusion:
FOR THE PROFESSING BELIEVER:
Is there any level or degree of difficulty in your life that is expressly due to your association with Christ, His church, and your devotion to others?
FOR THOSE THINKING ABOUT FOLLOWING CHRIST:
You are going to be influenced by someone or something. You are going to be following some path. And when you choose a path, you will have to make a choice about Jesus.
The Bible says that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You can begin the journey today.
For full sermon, go to our church website: fbc-bc.org. I heartily recommend it! He has some great illustrations I didn't include here.
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P.S. I am beginning to see why Bro Mike said that the thing to concentrate on in Bible study is to become an expert in the life of Paul.
For full sermon, go to our church website: fbc-bc.org. I heartily recommend it! He has some great illustrations I didn't include here.
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