How do We Measure Up? Introduction to Colossians
Pastor Bill Nichols - July 25, 2010Today's Scripture reference is Colossians 1
Introduction
This morning I want to begin a series of sermons from the New Testament book of Colossians. This letter from the Apostle Paul was written to the church in Colosse, but Paul asked that it also be read by the church that was in Laodicaea, one of three important cities that were located on the banks of the River Lycus a short distance apart. It was an area of wealth due to the trade of wool and dye. Laodicaea was especially famous for the production of fine quality garments.
Although Paul had founded many churches during his missionary journeys, the church in Colosse was not one of them. Paul had not even visited the church there, but he still had a love and concern for them as fellow believers, and because of his relationship with some of the members, especially Epaphras.
According to Paul's words in verse seven, Epaphras may well have been the founder of the church. As we know from Acts 2, the church had its beginning in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Jews from all over had come to celebrate the Passover, and the text says that about 3,000 accepted the message of the gospel and were baptized. As these people went back to their homes in cities all over the Roman Empire, they took the Gospel of Christ with them, they told their families and friends the good news, and new churches sprung up everywhere.
Epaphras heard and believed the gospel somewhere and he took it back to Colosse and according to Paul, shared it with the people there and a church was formed. He may or may not have helped start the churches in Laodicaea and Hierapolis, but he did have a close association with them. (see chapter 4)
Last week I spoke about the importance of relationships within worship. The growth of the first century church was largely a result of relationships. When you turn to Colossians chapter 4 you get the picture that there were very close family ties and friendships among the believers there and in the churches in the other cities in that area. Because of the kinship that all believers have in Christ, Paul could address the believers in Colosse as "The holy and faithful brothers in Christ in Colosse."
A Powerful Testimony
After His customary greeting, Paul begins his letter to the church with words of thanksgiving for the testimony of the church in Colosse. He writes: "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you."
Why was Paul so thankful for these believers? What was it about them that caused him to pray for them with thanksgiving? Quite simply, it was the testimony of their faith in Christ. Paul says: "we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints."
Faith in Christ is foundational to the church. Hebrews 11:6 says:
"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
But faith in Christ Jesus should also result in a dynamic love for those who are in Christ, the church.
What was it that Jesus told His disciples concerning their testimony before the world? After they had finished the Passover meal, and Judas had been sent out, Jesus said to His disciples;
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34
Paul writes that this is indeed the testimony of the church in Colosse. They had a love "for all the saints". And Paul here says that both their faith and love had sprung from the hope that they had stored up for them in heaven.
Let me ask you this morning where your hope lies? Is it in your job? Better not be. With the economic conditions that we are in today, many people have lost their jobs, and each month the employment situation seems to worsen. You or I could be next. If your hope lies in your job, then the loss of your job could cause you to lose hope in life.
Is your hope in your possessions? What if everything you owned was lost in a fire or a flood or some other natural disaster. If your hope is tied to what you possess, where would you be when everything is gone?
What about your health? If your hope is in your health, what will you do if you are suddenly diagnosed with an incurable disease?
While it is hard for me to mention and for any of us to consider, is your hope in your family, in your husband or wife, in your parents or siblings, in your children? There are all kinds of issues that affect our family relationships, and if your hope is in your family, when problems arise or family members leave, how will that affect your life?As believers, our hope is to be fixed on that which is stored up for us in heaven, our salvation which is found in Jesus Christ.
Paul, writing to the church in Corinth and talking about spiritual gifts concluded that there are three things that will remain after everything else has failed. They are faith, hope and love, the greatest being love.
These three qualities or attributes that Christians are to have in their lives are discovered in the gospel, which Paul here calls the Word of Truth.
Do you struggle with faith? Read the Scriptures. Do you have trouble loving others? Read the Word of Truth. Are you struggling with hope in your life? Spend more time in the Bible and you will see examples of faith, hope and love, and you will be given guidance on how to have these three attributes in your life.A powerful Witness
The second thing that Paul commended them for was their witness in their community as they shared with others the good news of the Gospel of Christ. Paul states that 6b "All over the world (probably the settled Roman Empire) this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth."
Just as it has been doing among you! The believers in Colosse were not idle. When they heard the good news, they not only accepted it with joy, but they shared it with others and they were bearing fruit in their community for Christ.
Let me ask you this morning. If you suddenly found out that you had won the lottery or the publishers clearing house sweepstakes, would you keep it to yourself? No, you would be excited and tell everyone you know about your good fortune.
Which is the greater treasure, material riches or the riches you find when you accept Christ as Lord and have all your sins forgiven and gain eternal life? "Let me think about that for a minute!"
The earthly riches we gain, while exciting and useful, are temporal. You cannot take them with you when this life is over. As a matter of fact, I believe that the reason that God gives us riches is so we can use them to His glory and not just to our own edification. But that is another sermon.
The church in Colosse was excited about the hope they had in Christ and they were bearing fruit (making disciples) and the church was growing dramatically.
As we, both individually and as a congregation, grow in our excitement about the hope that we have in Christ, the faith that we profess to believe, and the love that we are to have for one another, Gateway will begin to experience growth in a way that we cannot even begin to imagine.
But before that can happen, we each need to take a real look at our faith, hope and love.
Conclusion
When we came to Gateway 21 months ago, the attendance was running under 25 on average. One of the first things I did was set up 50 chairs in the sanctuary. Someone told me that we did not need that many chairs and I told them that 50 was my first target goal. We have averaged 50 in attendance the last three months. July is down a little due to summer vacations, but we are still running strong in attendance. Why? Because you are sharing the good news with your families and friends. The result is that we growing. We now set up 80 chairs on Sunday mornings, and as you know, 75 is our next target goal.
Gateway's leadership is meeting twice a month to seek direction for the future. We are working to develop a short term and a long term vision for Gateway. We are asking questions like, what does God want us to be doing in this community. What abilities do we have in our congregation that can be used to start the kinds of ministries that are needed in this area. What will Gateway look like a year from now, 5 years from now, 10 years from now?
If Paul were writing a letter to our church, could he commend us for our faith, demonstrated through love and founded on the hope that we have in Christ? Could he commend us for the fruit that we are bearing as we share with others the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ? I hope so, and I hope that as we continue to seek God's direction, that these things will become even more evident in our church, not just to us, but to those who live in and around our community.