Colossians 1:24–2:5

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. 25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been

manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. 1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,

2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. 5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.

Forgotten part of the Gospel

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.

Personal sufferingCorporate suffering

Yeah suffering!

1. Believers share Christ’s sufferings by doing the Father’s will. Gal. 2:20; Phil 3:10

2. Christ suffers with believers Acts 9:4–5; 2 Cor. 1:5

3. Suffering is needed for maturity Heb. 5:8 4. We must fulfill the “birth pains” for the new

age. Mark 13:8

Yeah suffering!1.Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but

Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

2.Acts 9:4–5 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

2 Corinthians 1:5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

3.Hebrews 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

4.Mark 13:8 “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

This church?

Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

The suffering church

A look at the leaders

Ministers accountable to God for His message

1. Servant 2. Slave3. Steward

Benefits the congregation

Stewardship is contagious

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ…

1 Peter 4:10–11a

Preach a message

Mystery, glory, riches

Proclaim and admonish

Christ in you gives hope

Teaching with wisdom to make

complete/perfect

Important part of that message

to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27

Christ in you

All three persons of the trinity indwell you!

Jesus- John 14:20, 23; 2 Cor. 13:5

Spirit- John 14:16–17; 1 Cor. 3:16

Father- John 14:23; 2 Cor. 6:16

Christ in youJesus John 14:20 “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. John 14:23

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

Holy SpiritJohn 14:16–17 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you

forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

1 Corinthians Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? Father John 14:23 (NASB95) 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love

him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the

living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

2nd part of the message

Encouragement-Hearing the message/unity Knit together in love-bring together as one unit

Wealth in understanding ChristHidden treasure

Knowledge-experiential Wisdom-application of truth

Called to work

For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

Engage in hard workTo do something with great intensity & effortAccording to His power

Called to work 2

Struggle for believersPhysical- suffering for believersSpiritual- prayer

Rejoicing in maturity

Why?

I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.

Completing the package

The believers response

No one is lead astrayDisciplineStability