Sermons
Secondhand car dealers and double glazing salesmen
Anglian Windows mistake…
Scarcity – short supply, time limited deal, access to insider information “Shouldn't tell you this but…”
Rapport – likeable, connection, idle chit chat. On your side against common enemy – sales manager.
False teachers in Collosae a bit like it.
2:4 deluding them with plausible arguments
Mystery = secret knowledge only the elite get it
I think the false teachers were the way they are now – sweet tongued, bleached teeth, white suited charlatans!
Paul contrasts himself the way he often does – I’m suffering for you. There’s a second century document that describes him. And, according to the story, Paul is approaching the city of Iconium and Titus has given Onesiphorus a description of his appearance. He was to watch for a man who was “small in size, bald-headed, bow-legged, well built, with eyebrows that met, rather long-nosed and full of grace.”
In 2 Cor 10:1 he describes himself this way: For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”
If its true – Paul was ordinary!
He has so far – greeted them by reminding them how he gives thanks to God for them
Reminded them of the supremacy of Jesus – It’s all about Jesus. And now this next section is Paul telling them
his vision and goal – To make Christ fully known to all so that they become mature in Christ.
Let’s read chapter Colossians 1:24-2:5
Bit of an odd start!
Fill up what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions
Having argued Christ is sufficient and don’t make your faith gospel plus, or Jesus plus. Is he now saying the opposite?
No – Jesus is clearly sufficient Heb 10:12-14
What is lacking is that not many people have heard and responded to the Gospel – Paul wants the gospel to make known.
Jesus suffered and he is suffering for Jesus, making it his life’s work.
The world is often pretty hostile to the Gospel – here you may get laughed at, but in other countries you could get beaten, tortured or killed.
In contrast to the slick peddlars of false doctrines, Paul suffered a lot for the Gospel
in 2 Cor 11 he listed it
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Mystery
I love a good murder mystery with all its twists and turns. It was a bit different back then. I’m sure there were ancient greek versions of Agatha Christie and Micheal Connelly. But there were these mystery religions with secret initiations, secret knowledge and only some people would get in with special revelation. Last week the BBC news reported Satan Con – where Satanists had their big conference in America!
Paul flips the obsession with mystery cults on its head by mentioning mystery three times in the passage, flipping it on its head.
v26 the word of God is FULLY made known, the mystery hidden for ages.
Augustine famously described the relationship between the Old and New Testaments this way: “The new is in the old concealed; the old is in the new revealed.” Paul says teh OT was a bit of a mystery, but it has been made clear for anyone now – proclaimed from the rooftops, not hidden in weird cults and rituals/
v27 God has chosen to make known among us the mystery – and then he tells us the mystery is “Christ in you”
2v2 God’s mystery is Jesus!
The mystery is not some secret special knowledge only some will get initiated into. It is fully revealed! Jesus! The Gospel! Christ in you!
Paul knows we have just got to proclaim it v28
Pauls’ ministry is twofold.
v25 make the word of God fully known – tell people about Jesus
v28 warn and teach so believers become mature.
Two things in church growth – evangelism and growing maturity!
1 Helping lost people find Jesus.
Culture of everyone a witness.
You may say I’m not an evangelist. Probably not! An evangelist is an Eph 4 ministry gift, someone who is gifted by God to euip the saints for work of ministry. AN evangelist is someone who is fruitful in witnessing and able to equip others to be a witness.
Did you remember earlier I described Paul as a bit unimpressive especially when speaking. And yet he was used to bring many to the Lord. He was ordinary, but filled with the Holy Spirit? – Power to be a witness!
I find it difficult to turn conversations round to the Lord – techniques always feel cheesy! “Where are you on your spiritual journey?”
EARLY OFFER OF PRAYER, share the gospel.
Most people take you up on an offer of prayer for something. Except my hairdresser!!!!
Most of us wait to be asked. Well take this verse…
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
If no-one is asking are they noticing that you have hope?! Or are you just as hopeless as everyone else?!
2 Presenting people mature
It’s a ministry of warning everyone and teaching everyone – it’s the negative and the positive. Warning people of the judgement to come, the effects of sin and the need to turn and put your faith in Jesus and teaching so people can become fully mature in Christ.
In that verse Paul mentions everyone four times – everyone gets the opportunity to become fully mature in Christ. We love to see people developed at The Gateway – growing inGod and flourishing in the gifts and skills the Lord is giving you.
Preachers class – and next week!
FF Bruce said “There is no part of Christian teaching that is to be reserved for the spiritual elite. All the truth of God is for all the people of God.”
Paul has taken great pains to show Christianity is not a mystery – the gospel is simple and clear. And everyone can grow to be mature.
Work hard in God’s power
v29 For this toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Toil is exhausting work. Struggle is often used in the athletic context – pushing through the wall to finish the marathon.
Jesus did it in the Garden of Gethsemane in Luke 22:44.
Contrasted with His energy working powerfully in me.
Pentecost Sunday today – celebration of that first day when the Holy Spirit came upon all believers.
They had been waiting in the city for power to be witness – in Jerudalem, Judea, Samaria an the Ends of the Earth.
And then suddenly as they were praying together – the Spirit came on ALL of them – no mystery or for only a special elite – all of them
Young and old, male and female, slave and manager etc.
Filled with power on high…
To be witnesses
To grow people to maturity