Colossians 1.1-14

Bible Basics
Paul, the author
Wrote 13 letters (epistles) etters to the churches. The churches were located in different cities and the letters take their name from the people of that city. This letter is to the city of Colossae, and the people of that city are know as Colossians. The letter is ddressed to “church” or “saints”.

Usually there is some problem to be addressed in these letters.

Letter form: greets the church in the beginning; ends with greetings to or from specific people
Today we deal with the greeting and introduction to the letter.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ …
Acts 9 Damascus Road experience: called apostle because of his face-to-face encounter with Jesus Christ. Paul had a specific call to the Gentiles, rather than the Jewish peoples.

Paul does not know these people; he has never met them. So he is establishing his authority by explaining who he is, by his title “apostle.” He has authority to teach; to deal pastorally with the congregation.

Grace and peace to you …
is a common greeting. Thick with meaning.
Grace: central concept of Christ’s work of salvation as gift (free and unearned) as opposed to any idea of work or merit. Indicates deep prayerful concern (element of intercession). Paul desires that the Colossians apprehend more fully the grace of God in which they already stand.
Peace: Shalom. Sense of general well-being, the source and giver of such peace is God alone. Includes everything given by God in all areas of life. Peace as wholeness, in particular in reference to relationships. Paul prays that they may comprehend more fully the nature of that relationship of peace which God has established with them.

Looking Back: Thanksgiving
Working Together
Timothy is mentioned and v.1 states, “we give thanks” – indicating Paul is not alone in ministry. Epaphras is mentioned as "fellow slave" and "faithful minister on our behalf". There is a teamwork that exists in the work of Christ. None of us is lone rangers. We work as a team at a local church level. I work as a team with fellow pastors. It is important that I develop relationships with my colleagues – that we grow together, that we are accountable to each other, that we encourage one another, and learn from one another. That has to happen here in the local church, from church to church in our charge and through the local ministerium. Our District Superintendent emphasizes the importance of pastors getting out of our own little box, and going to seminars outside our District and even outside our denomination – to broaden our horizon, to learn from others.

Epaphras
Epaphras is the one from whom the Colossians learned the Gospel. “Fellow-slave” is a title of honor. (Tri-city area of Hierapolis, Laodicea, and Colossae) Epaphras is lifted up as a good teacher. One who knows the Gospel and is linked with apostolic authority – from a direct source of the Gospel, even to Jesus himself, through Paul. This is important because there has been some false teaching that has crept in. And that is what Paul is going to address. And he emphasizes that they know the truth: “the message of truth”, “the gospel”, they have “heard and understood the grace of God in truth.”

Prayer of Thanks to God
Paul, Timothy and Epaphras are giving thanks for the faith, hope, and love that the Colossians have. That they know this message of truth. That they are bearing fruit and growing: good deeds, numerical growth, spiritual character. From the first day you heard it you have taken hold and have been growing. And he gives the Spirit the credit for this. They are doing acts of love that only can be credited to the Spirit of God at work in them. This message is being heard and bearing fruit around the world, and you are a part of this, a very vital part of this.

Looking Back
Looking back to who brought them to do the Gospel and to the good works, the fruit and the growth that has been and is among them.

• From whom did you first learn of Christ and his love for you? Remember and give thanks to God.

Looking Forward
Prayer of Petition (Intercession) for the Colossians:
~Know God’s will
Fill – abundant
Wisdom and understanding as gifts of God.
Live worthily: actions
Please God not self.

~Power to perform
Rely on God, not self.
The only way we have the power to live our lives in accordance to God’s word and to bring forth fruit in our lives (godly character and good deeds) is through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1.18-23

• What’s the next faithful step? Discern and pray for power to accomplish God’s will.

Read Colossians 1.1-14 in the New English Translation (NET).

Today, we begin a new series called, “Get Focused!” I believe that’s the message from the New Testament book of Colossians. The Christians in the city of Colossae, influenced by their culture, added non-Christian beliefs to their faith and practice. Paul writes a letter in response to heresy.

Paul
From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy my brother …

Paul, as a young Jew, persecuted Christians in what he considered service to God. But he met the One he was persecuting on the way to Damascus. Following that transforming experience, he responded to Christ’s call to be an apostle, and spent the rest of his life serving Christ and spreading the gospel throughout the world.

to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God our Father!

Paul never visited Colossae, but he had friends (Epaphras and Philemon) there. He addresses this letter to “the saints,” “faithful brothers and sisters in Christ,” which reminds me of the words I hope to hear from Jesus one day — “well done, good and faithful servant.”

Colossae was an important city in Paul’s day. It was very diverse, including people from all backgrounds. It was also a syncretistic city where people tended blends all types of faiths and beliefs.

Faith, Hope, and Love
We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints. Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel that has come to you.

Faith – basis of everything, including love, hope
“What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.” (Hebrews 11.1)

Love — practical expression of faith

Hope — in Christ alone
We have hope while we’re in this world, but our hope is not in this world, it is in Christ alone! Faith and love flow out of our hope!

Looking Back
Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing …

"Bearing fruit," it seems to me, refers to both spiritual growth and numerical growth. I believe this gospel is still bearing fruit worldwide. Although the growth appears to be minimal in the Eurpean and North American part of the world, it is growing at a phenominal rate in the Global South.

… so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.

I am struck by the importance of hearing in this passage. One day this week I was praying (unrelated to this sermon), and after the words came out of my mouth, I had to stop and think about what I had just said: "God, I don’t just want to be a doer!”

Now that’s not something I usually pray (especially as a pastor). I tend to downplay the hearing and uplift the doing (be doers, not hearers only).

But hearing is important! “Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the World of God!” (Romans 10.17). Hearing leads to fruit, to action, to doing.

You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave—a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf—who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Where did you learn the gospel? Who taught it to you or showed it to you?
I learned the gospel from my family and my church. And along the way there were some key people who modeled for me what living for Christ looked like. I’m grateful for having witnessed a passionate spirituality!

How did the gospel come to this region (central PA)?
Methodism can be traced in central Pennsylvania to an unknown circuit rider who made his way to a small cabin in Adams county in the late 1700s. But it was tough in the early days, due to the American Revolutionary War. Colonists were suspicious of the circuit riders because of John Wesley’s support of the British. But after the war, Methodism began to flourish in this region. In 1788, the first Methodist preaching took place in the area (the ministry here was part of the "Huntingdon Circuit"). The gospel came to this region at great price!

Looking Forward
What is the next faithful step? Where do we go from here?

Paul’s prayer for the Christ-followers at Colossae: For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God …

Know, Be, Do
In Paul’s prayer, knowing, being, and doing are interwoven masterfully throughout. We must know God, be Christ-like, and live our faith in the world.

to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects bearing fruit in every good deed growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.

Good news …
(God) delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.