Sermon notes for PRV’s new study through Colossians. Audio file can be found here.
Introduction
- Today (originally taught on January 5, 2014) we are starting a new series
- Working through the book of Colossians
- This book has popped up several times over the past month or so,
- Looks to be in line where God is taken us
Theme
- The theme, or overall message, of the book is
- “Christ is Lord over all creation, including the invisible realm. He has secured redemption for his people, enabling them to participate with him in his death, resurrection, and fullness.”
- Colossians is one of the most Jesus centered books of Paul’s
- Focused on teaching the believers at Colossae that Jesus is the King and ruler of every area of their lives
- Paul was also encouraging them to participate with Jesus
- Embracing the good news that we have died with Jesus and been resurrected into a new life through Him
- Now we can join with Jesus in changing the world for His sake
- This, to me, fits with us in our journey with Jesus
- It is easy to forget that we are new beings through the power of Jesus’ blood
- When we bowed our knees to Jesus and gave our lives to Him, the old stuff of the past was wiped away
- We are now new
- With a new mind, heart, passion and mission
- With a new year upon us, we need to stand strong in this reality
- We also need to embrace the part in Jesus’ mission that each of us have
- We were not saved – set free from the evil one’s chains simply to live a good life
- We were called – are called – to work with Jesus in changing the world
- Setting things right
- Crying with people, rejoicing with others
- Telling folks about the good news of God’s active and dynamic rule and reign.
Public Reading
- Colossians 1:1-14
First Things
- The author of book is St. Paul and St. Timothy
- Timothy, for those who don’t know, was a disciple of Paul
- Mother was a Jew, father a Greek
- Timothy traveled with Paul for a few years
- Would become the bishop of Ephesus a few years after this letter
- It was written around 62 AD (about 30 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus)
- St. Paul was in prison at Rome
- The audience, as previously mention, was the church in Colossae
- St. Paul never visited the town – nor did he start the church
- The church was started by a gentleman named Epaphras
- Seeing how Colossae was on the trade road to Ephesus
- About 100 miles west of Colossae
- It was likely that Epaphras heard about Jesus from the church in Ephesus
- Acts 19:10 said that “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” from Ephesus
- Brought it back to Colossae
Stories of the Kingdom
- In verse 4 we hear about how Paul and Timothy have heard about the church in Colossae
- they give praise to God for them
- they also pray for them
- I don’t know about you, but I love hearing stories about what God is doing throughout the world
- Stories of the Kingdom
- Last week Emily and I attended Holy Trinity Anglican Church with Emily’s parents and sister
- This is a church plant under the leadership of the Anglican Church in Rwanda Africa
- They describe themselves as “ANCIENT, EVANGELICAL, and CHARISMATIC”
- After the service I was talking to the Rector /pastor
- I told him how much I was enjoyed the service
- That I have been following the movement of the Lord within the Anglican Church for the past decade
- He was shocked and surprised – asking, “Who would follow the interworking of another church?”
- That is just the thing: if Jesus is there, then I’m for it
- Yes, I love the Vineyard
- This is my tribe – my stream within the bigger river of God
- But we have been called to bless the larger church of God
- Whether we agree with them or not
- If they are following Jesus, then I’m for them
- Just like Paul, I pray that (verse 9) they may be “filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
Church plants
- There’s another very important concept in this passage
- It is the concept of spreading the good news of Jesus through the starting of new churches
- The entire church in Colossae wasn’t started by a super star
- It was started by an largely unknown man who heard about Jesus and told others
- We need more folks like Epaphras
- Folks who can’t keep Jesus a secret
- Who start new churches
- Now some people may ask why we need new churches
- Here are some reasons
- It’s Biblical
- Jesus told us in Matthew 28 to “go and make disciples of all nations”
- The book of Acts is about God’s people planting churches
- People talk about being a Acts 2 church, well then, let us plant churches
- It’s Biblical
- It’s Needed
- 1 out of every 3 adults (33%) in America is unchurched. This means they haven’t attended a religious service of any type during the past 6 months. This represents approximately 73 million adults, plus roughly 27 million teens and children for a total of 100 million Americans. (2012 numbers)
- Others numbers I’ve heard is close to 80%
- This alone wouldn’t be enough to start new churches as much as it is a reason to get out there and tell people about Jesus
- Here’s how this works in with new churches
- Churches established at least 10 to 15 years earlier gain 80 to 90 percent of new members through transfers from other churches and denominations.
- 60 to 80 percent of new members in new church starts come from the un-churched.
- We have seen this ourselves – with most (not all) of our new converts coming in the first few years
- It’s Healthy
- It is healthy for the sending church
- It lets the sending church think outside of themselves
- It allows them to play apart in God’s mission to the world
- Each local church has been told by Jesus to not only transform their local community, but the world at large
- This to me, is what Jesus meant when he told us ALL to “go and make disciples of all nations”
- We do it here AND there – both/and not either/or
Practically
- You all have heard me mention the need for church plants before
- You all know Emily and mine passion for loving people and telling them about Jesus
- You all know our heart for the world
- Today you have a chance to be practically involved in this
- We – Emily, Jadon and myself – would like to request you all to send us out this year to start a new church
- This is a desire that, while it has always been in the background, started in the Fall of 2012
- It grew steadily over 2013 with things become certain in October 2013
- This has been a hard choice for us as we love this community and you all specifically
- After tons of prayers, talking to our mentors, and family we finally realized that this was what God was doing
- We have been talking to the church elders about this as we are aware of the challenges that come with this decision
- Yet we are confident that you all – that PRV – is strong enough and established enough that you all can continue on without us
- This year will be tough with a lot of major decisions, but that is ok
- Jesus is on the throne and is actively involved in every decision
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