Heaven is the place we will finally and fully bask in the fruit of our reconciliation. Until that day, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation with one another. It’s messy work, but where would we go? We’re family, and Jesus is worthy of it all. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Philemon: Redemption and Relationships
TEXT: Philemon 1:17-25
TITLE:  Reconciling Because We Have Been Reconciled
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Forgive because you’ve been forgiven. Forgiven people are forgiving people. Reconciled people are reconciling people.

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”In my 30 years as a Christian, 20 of those in pastoral ministry, I have seen countless people come and go from the church. Some for good reasons and in good ways, but if I’m honest, most for bad reasons and in bad ways. In my mind, so many of the bad departures boiled down to one thing—An unwillingness to reconcile.”

“The church is God’s spiritual family; sinners saved by grace and brought into supernatural relationships with one another. And yes, just like any biological family, God’s family gets messy. If you’re new around here, I promise you, at some time, someone in this room will sin against you. Here's the question: When that happens, what will you do?”

“Will you reconcile or run? Will you forgive or flee?  It's human nature to run. But nothing is more out of step with the gospel than an unwillingness to reconcile with a fellow believer because, in the words of John Calvin— The gospel is the embassy of reconciliation.”

“This couldn’t be clearer in Philemon’s situation. We find his situation coming to a head in 17.”

“Paul uses the word partner to describe their relationship. It’s a powerful term that encompasses every aspect of their relationship. In one sense, they are partners in that they are co-laborers in the gospel. But more than business partners, they are brothers in Christ. At the deepest level, their partnership is expressed in their fellowship. They forgive one another. Encourage one another. Spur one another on. Correct one another. Enjoy one another. Challenge one another. Remember 6—koinonia is a gospel fruit that characterizes God’s people..”

“Paul says, just as you would receive me as a gospel partner, receive Onesimus. Welcome him as you would welcome me. Hug him as you would hug me. Take joy in him as you would take joy in me. Labor with him as you would labor with me. Be hospitable toward him as you would me. Look down at 21.”

“Paul was hoping to come to Colossae. When he did, the expectation, as partners, was hospitality. One can imagine what Paul’s stay with Philemon may have been like. Breaking bread. Catching up. Celebrating gospel grace. These men would have respected, enjoyed, and expressed gratitude for each other. Paul says I won’t be there this time, but Onesimus will—Receive him as you would receive me.”

“You know the story, so you know this is a big ask. Onesimus has sinned against Philemon in numerous ways. The nature of the Greco-Roman master-slave relationship demanded Philemon punish Onesimus. Besides guarding his reputation in the community, making an example of Onesimus would make him think twice about what he had done, and it would deter others from doing the same, showing everyone who is boss.”

“Here’s what’s hard for us to get our arms around—It doesn’t matter. What Onesimus did doesn’t ultimately matter. Here’s what matters: Paul, Philemon, Onesimus, and the entire church in Colossae, listening to this letter being read, believe their faith in Christ has made them one. Notice Paul’s language: (20) Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. (23) Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus.”

“Their union with Christ was center stage. This is an application of what we learned in the longer letter to the Colossians: Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all—Colossians 3:11 ESV”

“If Christ is all and in all and we are in Christ, then Christ in one another is all that should matter to us. Paul knows that Christ in Onesimus is all that matters.”

“The If in 18 shouldn’t be seen as casting doubt on whether or not Onesimus wronged or stole from Philemon. Given the context of a desperate runaway slave, it’s very likely Philemon was robbed, even if it was Onesimus’s service. Paul doesn’t give us details, but the church likely knew the details. What we do get is astounding. Paul says—Whatever he owes you, charge it to me. I’ll pay his debt in full. However he has wronged you, I will make it right so that the two of you can enjoy sweet fellowship in Christ. And did you catch what Paul said at the end of 19.”

“Do you see what Paul does here? He reminds Philemon of the basis of their relationship. In doing so, he moves Philemon from being a creditor to a debtor unable to pay the spiritual debt he owes Paul, i.e., he shared the gospel with him. Don’t miss the miracle of grace here.”

“In 18-19, Paul, in a sense, becomes Christ to Philemon. He becomes a mediator between them. Paul owed Philemon nothing, yet he took Onesimus's debt upon himself. He paid it in full so that Philemon, who could never repay Paul the spiritual debt he owed him, could now regard Onesimus as owing him nothing. What a profound expression of imitating Christ and living out the gospel. We are the spiritual debtors, and sin is our currency. Our sin against a holy God is an unpayable debt. As Romans 3 says—All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and no one can remedy their situation by the works of the law. That was Paul. That was Philemon. That was Onesimus. That was us.”

“Jesus, who owed God nothing; he was without sin, took the debt of our sin and paid it in full on the cross. Just as Philemon should regard Onesimus as owing him nothing because Paul paid it all, we owe God nothing because Christ paid it all.”

“This is the good news of the gospel we hope to bring into our relationships with unbelievers. It’s also the good news that shapes our relationships with one another. 1 Corinthians 15:1 says we stand in the gospel, meaning we keep believing it, living it, and allowing it to inform lives, including our relationships, even the most difficult ones.”

“Forgive because you’ve been forgiven. Forgiven people are forgiving people. Reconciled people are reconciling people. However you want to say it, the gospel is the basis for it. And, the gospel is powerful enough for what we cannot do on our own. Paul’s conclusion is telling. Paul knew Philemon. Most of all, he knew God would provide all the grace for Philemon to see his situation with a gospel-centered perspective of his difficult situation. You can hear it in his conclusion.”

“The Yes that begins 20 is emphatic. It's as if Paul says—Great! I'm glad that’s settled. I can’t wait to see you and Onesimus and all the Colossians. The guys say hello!”

“Forgiveness and reconciliation are the difficult expressions of our fellowship with one another. It can be overwhelming and seem unattainable. That’s because we’re proud. I think the other person is the chief of sinners, not me. We want to dump all the blame on the other person. We believe we are owed something. We believe vengeance is ours, not the Lord’s. We don’t want to pay the price that forgiveness requires, which is absorbing the hurt and embracing the offender. So, we disappear, disavow, or disassociate.”

“Illustration: Driving modes for different conditions: Rock, Sand, Mud, Snow - We must guard against making those kinds of distinctions in our fellowship based on how people treat us—them, but not them.”

“Here’s the truth: If we can’t forgive and reconcile with one another, we don’t have true fellowship. Forgiveness is the test of true koinonia. Here’ another truth: Only the gospel, not our reconciliation skills, is powerful enough to move our hearts to GENEROUSLY forgive one another.”

“When we see ourselves and one another as underserving recipients of the gospel, by God’s grace, we are enabled to do what seems humanly impossible and powerfully demonstrates the light of Christ’s glory and heart of God’s love!”

“God loved us enough to send His only Son. Jesus treasured us enough to give his life for us. In this broken world, the Spirit moves among us, empowering us to be reconcilers. And heaven, oh, heaven is the place we will finally and fully bask in the fruit of our reconciliation. Until that day, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation with one another. It’s messy work, but where would we go? We’re family, and Jesus is worthy of it all.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Romans 5:1
Colossians 2:13-14

APPLICATION:
In response to our text and Philemon as a whole, I want to leave us with two questions:

1. Who is your Onesimus?

   Is there someone you are challenged to forgive and need to reconcile with and restore your fellowship? I’m not going to unpack the theology and practice of forgiveness here. For your application, I encourage you to go to our website and listen to the FORGE teaching on being peacemakers. It will equip and encourage you to pursue reconciliation with your Onesimus. And we need to be encouraged, don’t we? In the words of C.S. Lewis: We all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it.

2. Who do you need to be a Paul to?

   Paul loved the Lord. He loved Onesimus. He loved Philemon. He loved the fellowship their shared life in Christ brought them into. That included the hard parts of fellowship. His appeal wasn’t easy. He chose his approach and words carefully. 

   Are you aware of a brother or sister stuck in unforgiveness and struggling to fellowship with someone because of an offense? Part of your fellowship with that person is to GO be Paul to them. GO be Christ to them. Allow yourself to be used by God as an instrument of reconciliation. If you need help, your pastors are eager to help you. 

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
How Rich A Treasure We Possess
Grace Alone
Christ Is Mine Forevermore
Christ Our Glory
Is He Worthy

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Acts 20:32-35 - The April Offering

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin

By Lundgaard, Kris A.

Buy on Amazon

Philemon is in a difficult situation. His runaway slave has returned home—as a brother in the faith! How will he respond? Will Philemon receive Onesimus into fellowship or exclude him from fellowship? Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Philemon: Redemption and Relationships
TEXT: Philemon 1:8-16
TITLE:  Fellowship That Overcomes
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA:

POINTS:
I. A Foundation of Love
II. A Christ-Centered Perspective
III. A Conviction of God’s Sovereignty

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Last week, we saw how Paul prayed for Philemon in 6—May the fellowship you share with others because of your union with Christ be powerfully effective. In 7, Paul followed that prayer with praise for how powerful and effective Philemon’s fellowship had already been in the Colossians church. To know Philemon was to be encouraged, corrected, and cared for in Christ. Rich koinonia characterized Philemon.”

“Philemon is in a difficult situation. His runaway slave has returned home—as a brother in the faith! How will he respond? Will Philemon receive Onesimus into fellowship or exclude him from fellowship? I want to begin by asking you to do something the Spirit has already moved me to do this week: Will I receive ___________ (multiple names?) into fellowship or exclude them from fellowship?”

“It’s easy to fellowship with the person in lockstep with you. What about a fellow believer you’ve been in conflict with, who is very different from you or is just a difficult person for you, so it’s easier to disconnect from them? Will I receive that person {give them a name and face) into fellowship, or exclude them from fellowship?”

“Here’s what our passage holds out for us: three things that must characterize our hearts if we are to glorify God in our fellowship in difficult situations.”

“Paul was an apostle. And as an apostle, his words carried authority. He alludes to this authority when he begins by saying—though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required. Paul could have commanded Philemon to forgive and receive Onesimus. Instead of demanding, he appeals. The foundation of his appeal is love—(9), yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you.”

“Love is the brand of the Christian life. That doesn’t mean Christian Duty is wrong. To the contrary, it’s biblical. But as a motivator, the law is much weaker than love. Paul is after much more than compliance. Remember his prayer in 6—the sharing of his faith, his fellowship with the saints, would become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in them for the sake of Christ. Paul’s desire for Philemon is a broader and deeper experience of the life he shares with his fellow believers. We see this a few verses later.”

“Paul’s point is that taking Philemon back in complete forgiveness as a brother in Christ must come from a believing heart, not a heavy hand. It needed to come from a heart of love, not a forced necessity. It needed to express the love Paul celebrated in 7 that flowed from Philemon’s faith in and love for Jesus Christ.”

“That’s so important. The cross positions us, and the Bible commands us to live a shared life of fellowship. Praying for one another, gathering with one another, carrying one another’s burdens, reconciling, and being peacemakers with one another, to mention just a few of over 35 one another’s, Scripture commands us to participate in our shared life in Christ.”

“But that duty becomes delight when it’s grounded in love—even the difficult expressions of our fellowship, like forgiving and reconciling with someone who has sinned against us. Duty will only get you so far, but love patiently perseveres, bearing and enduring all things, making our fellowship effective for the glory of Christ.”

“This is the first time Paul mentions Onesimus. In 15, we learn that Onesimus fled Philemon. Verse 18 suggests Onesimus may have been caught stealing from Philemon. Perhaps that’s why he fled—the gig was up. Whatever the circumstance, now 1300 miles away in Rome, he crosses paths with Paul. Paul shared the gospel with him, and Onesimus was saved. Notice how Paul speaks about him.”

“In 10, he refers to Onesimus as his child. The man who came to Paul as a fugitive slave is now his spiritual child. Notice what Paul says in 12.”

“There is deep affection and brotherly love between the two men. Paul isn’t just playing mediator; he is a brother in Christ. Onesimus is a changed man. Somehow, Onesimus crossed paths with Paul. They begin to talk, and Paul finds a way to share the gospel with this fugitive. Perhaps Onesimus had a moment of vulnerability and let Paul in on his situation.”

“Did Onesimus argue or believe immediately? Did they meet repeatedly or just once? We don’t know. We do know that, like the prodigal son, Onesimus is not the same person who fled Colossae. He is transformed by the saving grace of God.”

“Paul makes a play on words here. Onesimus means useful. But up to this point, he has only been useful to Philemon and only for earthly matters. Regarding Philemon’s true work of advancing the gospel and building the church, witnessing to the lost, a work he passionately shares with Paul, Onesimus has been useless as an unbeliever. But now, he joins the heavenly ranks of laboring for eternal things in Christ, which is exactly what he’s been doing in Rome.”

“Was he still a runaway slave—Yes. Did he still need to return and reconcile with his master, Philemon—Yes. But he is not returning home the same person. He had a completely new standing before his master: he was now a brother beloved, identified with Paul, and therefore accepted. If Philemon’s fellowship was going to be effective with Onesimus, it would begin here—A Christ-centered perspective of Onesimus.” 

“Imagine the moment Philemon and Onesimus are in the room. Whatever the moment was like, it had to be complicated. Paul’s words in 15-16 are meant to help Philemon see this problematic situation with the eyes of faith needed for effective fellowship with his new brother in the Lord.”

“Onesimus decided to make a run for it. But without mitigating his guilt or dismissing Philemon’s disapproval, Paul helps Philemon see this through the lens of God’s providence. He helps Philemon interpret this difficult situation through the sovereign hand of God, who is constantly working all things for Philemon’s good (Romans 8:28).”

“This is God’s doing. Onesimus fled from Philemon. But ultimately, God took Onesimus from Philemon. Why? Onesimus was gone for a little while—that you may have him back forever (play on words), not as a slave but as a beloved brother. As a slave in a Christian household, who knows how many opportunities he had to believe. Hearing the gospel in the home. No doubt, church members are praying for him. In God’s design, it took running away 1300 miles smack dab into Paul. Why? God’s plan for Onesimus!”

“Paul could have turned Onesimus in. Instead, he shared Christ with him and said you need to return and make things right. That’s who you are now. You serve a new Master. You do all things for the glory of your heavenly Master. For Philemon, he gets to experience the most powerful fellowship he has ever experienced—forgiving and receiving a runaway slave, no longer as a slave, as his beloved brother in Christ, serving the same Master he serves.”

“To this world, what Paul was asking Philemon to do was revolutionary. But in the kingdom of God, what’s revolutionary is not outwardly following a set of rules but living in step with the realities of the gospel from a changed heart. And today, we must be reminded of the same gospel reality that defines us. Do you want to know how to impact the world? We don’t start revolutions. We fellowship with one another in brotherly love, even with the most difficult or different person because they are a brother or sister in Christ, and our relationship is a providential outworking of God’s sovereignty in our lives. How powerful is that? This is how God changes us and the world.”

QUOTES:
John Woodhouse- “The effectiveness of the fellowship believers share is seen most clearly in difficult situations, where this fellowship changes things in unexpected ways.”

Geoffrey Wilson - “If this letter presented no revolutionary challenge to the social structures of the day, the implications of its teaching were bound to prove fatal to slavery in the end

APPLICATION:
- Will I receive ___________ (multiple names?) into fellowship or exclude them from fellowship?

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
We Give Thanks (Psalm 107)
Sing
Here Is Love
Help Us See Christ
There is One Gospel

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
GUEST PREACHER - Rich Richardson

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

There are many facets to our life as a church! Our hope is that these posts will enable you to plan, pray, and ultimately rejoice in what the Lord is doing at Sovereign Grace Church. Here are a few updates for you to do just that! 

regional assembly of elders (RAE)

The pastors will be attending the RAE in California from March 27 to March 29.

Please pray for them as they are cared for and encouraged by other pastors in the Sovereign Grace Churches West Region!

SG Youth Chili & Pie Competition Fundraiser

SGYouth’s FOURTH annual Chili & Pie Competition Fundraiser is March 30, after the service!

The rules are simple, SIGN UP, BRING YOUR BEST, and the church will vote for the winners. If you want to compete but haven't signed up yet, CLICK HERE.

Not competing? No problem! Just come hungry and enjoy the delicious chili and pies. All proceeds will support students in our youth group attending the Sovereign Grace Regional Retreat this July. See below to find out more about Youth Camp!

Baptism Sunday

Baptism Sunday will be on April 13 after the Sunday morning service!

A light lunch will be provided.

If you would like to be baptized, or if you want more information, please contact Pastor Tom.

You can also check out this blog post written by Pastor Derek titled “The Importance and Joy of Baptism Sundays” HERE.

Good Friday service & Easter Sunday service

Good Friday and Easter Sunday are just around the corner! Join us for the Good Friday Service on Friday, April 17 at 7 PM as we come together to worship Jesus and reflect on His sacrifice on the cross.

Then, come back for our Easter Sunday Service on Sunday, April 20 at 10 AM as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior!

This is a wonderful opportunity to invite friends and family to worship with us!

Forge

FORGE speaks into the lives of men regarding the church, family, work, and leisure.

Save the date for the next FORGE meeting on April 26. All men are invited. More details to come.

Check out the past FORGE teachings HERE.

Sovereign Grace Regional Youth Retreat

The next Sovereign Grace Regional Youth Camp is Jul 11-14 and Registration is NOW OPEN! The theme of this year’s youth camp is “Christ Over All”!

To sign up or find out more, please CLICK HERE!

*Early Bird Registration ends on March 31!*

Welcome to the book of Philemon. Just 335 words in the original, Philemon is about redemption and relationships. It’s about how the gospel transforms our relationships by creating true and meaningful fellowship with one another. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Philemon: Redemption and Relationships
TEXT: Philemon 1:1-7
TITLE:  Got Fellowship?
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Fellowship is a powerful blessing God calls every believer to flourish in.

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Just 335 words in the original, Philemon is the third shortest book in the Bible. Only 2 and 3 John are shorter. Paul wrote Philemon around the same time he wrote Colossians and Ephesians, 62 AD.”

“It’s different than Colossians and Ephesians. As you read it, you won’t find Paul arguing grand theology. You won’t see him connecting the Christological dots of the gospel to OT promises. You won’t find Paul using his apostolic authority to shape local church polity and liturgy. Philemon is a Christian speaking to a Christian about a personal matter. In a sense, it’s Colossians fleshed out in a real-life situation.”

“Paul intercedes for Onesimus, a slave who has deserted his master, Philemon. Paul crossed paths with Onesimus in Rome, shared the gospel with him, and now he sends him back to Philemon with this letter.”

“Philemon is about redemption and relationships. It’s about how the gospel transforms our relationships by creating true and meaningful fellowship with one another.”

“Verse 1 makes it clear that Paul is writing this letter. Equally clear is who he is writing it to. First, he mentions Philemon, the primary recipient of the letter.”

“Philemon lived in Colossae and was part of the church there. We don’t know when he became a believer, but 19 suggests he was saved under Paul’s ministry. Our text makes it clear that Philemon was a church pillar, serving and hosting. It’s clear from this letter that, unlike most in the Colossians church, Philemon knew Paul and labored in the gospel with him in some way.”

“Paul also greets Apphia, probably Philemon’s wife, and Archippus, possibly a leader in the church, but probably Philemon’s son. Paul’s letter concerns matters in Philemon’s household, so including Philemon’s family would make sense. Paul thought highly of Archippus, encouraging him to fulfill his ministry in Colossians 4:17 and referring to him as our fellow soldier. If Archippus was Philemon’s son, the picture here is beautiful: A young man on fire for God serving in his parent's church. The next generation laboring side-by-side, ready to take the helm. It reminds us of what we are building for here at SGC on the west and east side.”

“Speaking of the church, Paul ends by greeting the church at the end of 2—and the church in your house. So Paul is writing to Philemon about a personal matter, but he is doing it very publicly.”

“Paul finishes his greeting in 3, reminding everyone what has brought them together and what binds them together—the grace and peace of God in Jesus Christ. Every word that follows is an outworking of the gospel that now defines their existence, including the heartfelt appeal Paul is about to make to Philemon.”

“Paul now turns his attention to Philemon. The you’s and your’s from 4 to 21 are singular, meaning Paul speaks directly to Philemon. You can imagine Tychicus reading this letter to the church, repeatedly lifting his eyes to look directly at Philemon. You could probably hear a pin drop.”

“Paul isn’t trying to publicly pressure Philemon. The personal and public nature of this letter speak to the nature and centrality of what Paul is about to commend Philemon to—true fellowship. The first thing Paul does is pour out his gratitude for Philemon.”

“It reads a bit more awkward here, but Paul is commending Philemon for the same thing he commended the church for in Colossians 1.”

“Philemon was an exemplary man of faith. Paul has nothing bad to say or correct about Philemon. His faith in Jesus was strong. He loved the Lord. He longed to please God with his life. And that love and zeal for God bubbled out into his relationships. He loved the church. He loved his brothers and sisters in Christ. He was known for the fruit of the Spirit that should characterize everyone saved and indwelt by the Spirit, a gospel cause and effect according to 1 John 3:14—We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers.”

“Whatever strengths Philemon had - Bible knowledge, business skills, or maturity in wisdom - his faith in Jesus and love for the church stood out the most, and all Paul could do was say—Thank you, God!”

“Now, in 6, Paul shifts his prayer from what he sees to what he hopes. This is the key verse in our text. It’s also the most difficult. It sounds like Paul has Philemon’s personal evangelism in mind—the sharing of your faith may become effective. The sharing of faith here is not evangelism—it’s biblical fellowship. Sharing your faith with those in the faith. Sharing your love for and life in Christ with other believers.”

“The word Paul uses for sharing is koinonia. It means fellowship, partnership, or sharing. It communicates the shared life believers have together. It’s the word used to describe the intimate nature of the early church in Acts 2 and the Philippian's devotion to Paul and his ministry in Philippians 1:6.”

“You can’t manufacture koinonia; the gospel creates it. You can’t have this fellowship with your unbelieving friends because it’s rooted in your identity in Christ. Koinonia is between believers— sharing your faith with those in the faith—love, encouragement, forgiveness, correction, learning, burdens, patience, friendship, hope, interdependence—all the blessings we have in Christ, we share with one another, not just intellectually or in theory, but experientially. That’s koinonia. That’s biblical fellowship.”

“You could say it this way: I pray your experience of our shared life together, because of our common faith in Christ, will bring you into a deeper understanding and experience of the blessings we have as a result of our union with Christ for the glory of Christ.”

“Why is Paul praying this way? Paul is about to ask Philemon to do something unheard of, unnatural, and counter-cultural in his day—welcome back his runaway slave, who is now a believer in complete forgiveness as a fellow brother and co-laborer in Christ. Only the power of the gospel is sufficient for this. So Paul prays that the fellowship Philemon knows to be God’s will for and goodness toward His church will now be freely extended to Onesimus, whose life is now bound up in fellowship with Jesus; therefore, his life is now bound up in fellowship with Philemon and the rest of the church.”

“Paul prepares Philemon by drawing his attention to God’s will and his experience of God’s will for His church. Paul’s prayer precedes his appeal because he knows Onesimus’s return to Colossae will be a true test of gospel union and fellowship in Philemon’s home and the Colossians church.”

“We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But we are not alone. The Christian life is personal but not private. When we are joined to Christ, we are joined to one another. In a society that prizes individualism, that can be hard to embrace.“

“It’s easy to think about the church as a voluntary group of people who meet on Sundays because they share the same doctrinal beliefs or ministry paradigms. But the most intimate expression of our doctrine and the most powerful testimony to our ministry is our fellowship with one another.”

“God uses our mutual fellowship to strengthen our faith, conform us to Christ, lighten our burdens, enlarge our sense of awe and wonder of Christ, and shine as a bright light in our dark world. Koinonia is a powerful thing.”

“If Paul knew our church I know he would say the same thing, even calling some of you out by name. The question remains: Are you in fellowship? The path to meaningful fellowship doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating. Start with your church family. Start small.”

“Biblical fellowship is a powerful blessing. Fellowship expresses our dependence upon one another. Fellowship is central to our partnership. That is not a SGC thing; it’s a gospel thing. It’s a Bible thing. It’s a God thing. Got fellowship? If not, you are missing out in a big way on what God has for you.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Colossians 1:3-4
1 John 1:3

QUOTES:
David Garland - “Paul is referring to the mutuality of Christian life which springs from a common participation in the body of Christ. Shared faith in Christ has a bonding character and welds us to others who share the same experience of faith.”

David Garland - “The spiritual well-being of the congregation will always be demonstrated publicly by the well-being of its social relationships. The reconciliation of a disloyal slave with his master as brothers in Christ speaks volumes to the community within and without. It demonstrates how Christian faith recasts all relationships and how Christ reconciles all things to himself.”

APPLICATION:
There’s one big question for us today: Got Fellowship?
- What do you see most in others? What makes you say—Thank you, God!—when someone comes to mind?
- Are you in fellowship? Do others know you, and do you know others in your church? Not simply by name, but do you spiritually KNOW them, and do they spiritually KNOW you?

• Come to church early and stay late so you can get to know people. Rushing in late and rushing out early doesn’t help. 

• Grab a lunch after church with someone. 

• Open your home.

• Accept the invitation into someone else’s home. 

• Join a CG, a context to share life your life in Christ—the ups and downs, good and bad, triumphant and tragic—with fellow believers.

- We’re all busy, the question is, What am I busy with? But if Fellowship is a powerful blessing God calls every believer to flourish in, then we must make time for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to be busy with koinonia.

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Our Song From Age To Age
How Vast The Love
The Steadfast Love of Christ
God Is Faithful (Psalm 114)
Reformation Song

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Philemon 1:8-20

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

As a Christian, your name isn’t in print, but you join this list at the end of Colossians. By grace you have been made Alive In Christ to carry on their same gospel mission locally in our city and globally through SGC. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 4:7-18
TITLE:  In This Together
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: The Gospel unites and knits us together in one shared purpose.

POINTS:
I. The Gospel Brings Us Together
II. The Gospel Produces an Enduring Heart for One Another
III. The Gospel Gives Us a Shared Purpose

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”We come to Paul’s concluding words of this remarkable letter. Filled with profound theology, rich Christology, and practical Christian living, Colossians has been invaluable to my faith, and I trust it has also been invaluable to you. Today, we end with a list of names. What do we do with this? It seems rather anti-climactic. Here’s what we’ll do: I want to introduce you to each person Paul mentions briefly, and then we’ll mine three nuggets of gold.”

“In 7-9, we are introduced to Tychicus and Onesimus. They were the mailmen. They delivered this letter to the Colossians. As Paul says in 7, Tychicus was a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. He was a regular with Paul, called out by name in Acts 20, 2 Timothy 4, Titus 3, and, again, at the end of Ephesians. Joining Tychicus was Onesimus, the runaway slave. More on him next week as we dive into the book of Philemon.”

“In 10-14, we meet six other men. First, Aristarchus. From Thessalonica, Aristarchus was with Paul on his third missionary journey. Committed to Paul and his gospel mission through thick and thin, he was one of the men dragged away by the angry mob in the Ephesus riots in Acts 19. He was with Paul when he sailed to Rome, according to Acts 27, and now 10 makes it clear he was imprisoned with Paul. 

Then there was Mark. Also known as John Mark, he was famous for writing a gospel and parting ways with Paul about a dozen years earlier over a sharp disagreement, according to Acts 13.

Then, in 11, Paul introduces Jesus, who is called Justus. All we know about Justus is what Paul says here. 

In 12, Paul mentions a man we have already met, Epaphras. Probably converted under Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19), Epaphras returned to his hometown of Colossae, where he planted and pastored the church. This letter was a response to the update Epaphras gave Paul on the church. 

In 14, Paul mentions the good doctor, Luke. Well known, Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke and its sequel, Acts. He was Paul’s wingman. 

Paul mentions one more companion in 14—Demas. All we know about him is that three or four years later, according to 2 Tim 4, he fell in love with the world and deserted Paul. 

In 15, Paul turns his attention to the church about ten miles away from the Colossians in Laodicea. He asks them to pass his letter on to them and read the letter he sent them. In particular, to say hello to Nympha, the woman whose home the church in Laodicea met in.  

Finally, Paul mentions Archippus. He is mentioned only here and in Paul’s greeting to Philemon. Was he Philemon’s son or close friend? We don’t know. We know he lived in Colossae and was connected to Paul in ministry, according to Paul’s encouragement.” 

“So, where’s the gold? Here’s the gold? The Gospel unites and knits us together in one shared purpose.”

“As you read our text, you realize these were real and ordinary people. Like you and I, they had their own anxieties, struggles, triumphs, and dreams. They grew up and lived in different towns and cities around the Mediterranean. They had different experiences and backgrounds. Some grew up Jewish, some Gentile.”

“Just like you and I, they came to faith in Jesus Christ at some time, and their lives were changed. A big part of that change was their relationships. Paul was a Christian-hating religious prodigy turned church-planting and scripture-writing apostle who is now hanging out with a runaway slave, Onesimus. Their stories couldn’t be more different!”

“…the gospel brings us together in all our differences. This is the power of the gospel. Do you remember what Paul said in 3:11? So many differences. So many stations in life. So many experiences. But one thing transcends all of it—Christ!”

“Paul had a big brain. His theological prowess was unmatched. His Christological depth was unequaled. His church planting knowledge was unparalleled. His wisdom in practical Christian living was unsurpassed. He was the smart guy of the smart guys. We see that in all his letters, including Colossians. But as big as his brain was, Paul’s heart was even bigger.”

“Paul didn’t live in a high tower with his books withdrawn from people. Paul had a heart for people. He used his gospel knowledge and understanding to encourage others in Christ and knit them together in brotherly love. This is what Paul cherished in the Colossians.”

“Look at 7—Paul refers to Tychicus not just as a faithful minister and fellow servant but, first and foremost, as a beloved brother. In 9, he refers to Onesimus similarly—a faithful and beloved brother. Before Paul was interested in their gifts, he was interested in them.”

“If Paul dictated this letter to Timothy as many believe he did, then his heart for the Colossians is uniquely on display in 18. More than mere authentication, one could imagine Paul, filled with affection for his brothers and sisters, taking the pen from Timothy and saying—This is personal; let me write the final greeting.”

“Branding is significant in the business world—Nike swoosh, Apple apple, McDonalds golden arches, Amazon smile, colorful Google G. You see the image and immediately know who it is. Love is the Christian brand. The love of God poured out at the cross marks the Christian life.”

“Paul’s purpose in life was to make Christ known with his words and life. In this mission, Paul knew he was not a one-man show. Even in his difficulties—he writes from prison—Paul is aware and celebrates how God is using others to advance the gospel and build the church.”

“Whether it was Tychicus and Onesimus delivering his letter to the Colossians, Epaphras pastoring them, the gospel labors, personal loyalty, and close friendship of Aristarchus, Mark, Justus, and Luke, Nympha hosting Sunday services in Laodicea, or the undisclosed ministry of Archippus in Colossae, Paul publicly celebrated and passionately supported the ministry of those around him. He valued their gifts. He supported their service. He celebrated their contribution because he understood they had a shared purpose in Christ.”

“The reality is God’s design is that we need each other in life AND ministry. The gospel has brought us together, knitted us together, and given us a shared purpose for which no one alone is sufficient.”

“We want to do more of that [encouraging and sharing God’s grace] publicly and privately. The truth is we need each other. God has distributed different gifts to different people. We need them all. No one in the church is a one-man show. As 1 Cor 12 says—there is one body but many members and each one is important.”

“Notice the final four words of this precious letter—Grace be with you. Paul ends where he began—God’s amazing grace. Everything we have seen over the last five months in Colossians is rooted in God’s grace. As Christians, we stand in the grace of the gospel. We obey in the grace of the gospel. We grow in the grace of the gospel. We proclaim the grace of the gospel. Our lives demonstrate the grace of the gospel. We stand in God’s grace.”

“As a Christian, your name isn’t in print, but you join this list. By grace you have been made Alive In Christ to carry on their gospel mission locally in our city and globally through SGC because: The Gospel unites and knits us together in one shared purpose.”

APPLICATION:
- Take a season and fellowship with folks you don’t typically fellowship with.
You don’t have to abandon your crowd; just make room for others. Learn their stories and celebrate how the gospel came to them. The gospel has brought us together; let’s pursue togetherness. 

- Is there someone in your life that love would not be the brand of your relationship? I encourage you to pray and pursue.

- You may not be part of the east side CG, but like Epaphras in 12, you can—struggle on our behalf in your prayers for us.

- Cultivate a new habit: Every Sunday, thoughtfully thank someone as they serve

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
How Great Thou Art
O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing
The Steadfast Love of Christ
Crown Him With Many Crowns
There is One Gospel

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Philemon 1:1-7

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

Church, we are excited to sing a new song this week from Sovereign Grace Music: The Steadfast Love of Christ. This is a song of hope and assurance that Christ’s love for us will remain steadfast through all things. What a wonderful promise for us to declare with and to one another!

We hope you take some time this week to learn the new song and come eager to sing praises to our Savior on Sunday.

I can’t wait to gather and worship with you!

Link to Listen and Learn: https://sovereigngracemusic.com/music/songs/the-steadfast-love-of-christ/

How you act and speak around unbelievers matters to God because He uses it to create gospel opportunities. This makes our gospel mission an everyday mission. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 4:5-6
TITLE:  An Everyday Mission
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: God uses your conduct and words to draw unbelievers to Himself

POINTS:
I. Watch Your Walk
II. Watch Your Talk
III. Watch God Work

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”God uses your conduct and words to draw unbelievers to Himself. That’s the message of Colossians 4:5-6. How you act and speak around unbelievers matters to God because He uses it to create gospel opportunities. This makes our gospel mission an everyday mission.”

“In the preceding verses, Paul exhorted the Colossians to a mission-minded prayer life. Now he takes us from the prayer closet to the public square when he says—Walk in wisdom toward outsiders.”

“By outsider Paul means unbeliever. If you have trusted in Jesus Christ for your salvation, you are in the eternal family of God—You are an insider. But if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, you are outside the eternal family of God—You are an outsider.”

“You may have been raised in a Christian home. You may be a faithful church attender. You may know the Bible inside and out. You may hang out with Christians. You may live a pretty wholesome life. But if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, you are on the outside of the family of God without hope in life and death. Good news—You can repent and believe today!”

“For the believer, the call is to live wisely around unbelievers. Paul has already said in Colossians 2:3—Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. So wisdom here is not one’s own judgments or the conventional wisdom of the world built on humanistic ideas and philosophies. Wisdom is to live according to God’s will and His provision in Jesus Christ. Simply put: Act like a Christian, even around non-Christians.”

“As Christians, the Colossians were a minority trying to follow Jesus in a hostile environment. Like us, they faced pressures to conform to fit in, be accepted, win the approval of others, and take some of the sting off the social repercussions of living for God in an anti-God society. That reality makes it easy to capitulate and compromise the convictions of our faith in the name of personal comfort and advantage. It’s tempting to justify the means with the ends in the name of evangelism.”

“Whatever ways you are trying to build with your unbelieving friend, they need to be worthy of the gospel and pleasing to the Lord. That calling always applies—our conduct matters.”

“Our mission statement as a church reads:  We exist to build a God-glorifying community that proclaims and demonstrates the transforming power of the gospel to Tucson and beyond. Here’s a question: Are there ways your demonstration is hindering your proclamation?”

“Our lives shouldn’t confuse people about the gospel; they should commend people to the gospel.”

“There is a strategic urgency to this calling—read 5. We could say, grab every opportunity, seize every open door, buy up every moment God gives us to witness to Jesus. Time is short, and eternity is at stake. The one thing we won’t do in heaven is evangelize—it will be too late.”

“Paul turns the focus from mission-minded behavior to mission-minded speech. The Bible says the tongue is a powerful thing. James 3 says it builds up and burns down. Psalm 19 says our words are an indicator of our devotion and desire to live in a manner worthy of and pleasing to the Lord. Jesus said our words reveal our hearts in Matthew 12.”

“(6a) Let your speech always be gracious. This is not a call to always speak about God’s saving grace. It’s a call to allow God’s saving grace to shape our speech. Our words should reflect the gracious disposition of God toward us in Christ. Theys should reflect love, gentleness, compassion, patience, and hope.”

“(6a) Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt. The imagery helps us in two ways. First, when you season something with salt, it brings out the good flavors. It makes the bland tasty. The second thing salt does is preserve. In a day when there was no refrigerator, you packed meat in salt to keep it from rotting. Speech seasoned with salt will be winsome and wholesome instead of arrogant and defiling. Your conversations with unbelievers will be enjoyable. They will have a positive effect for the good of others. Your conversations will arouse a thirst (effect of salt) in others for continued conversations.”

“It’s the grace and power of God alone that saves. But God uses means—messengers of the gospel like you and I. God desires not religious lingo, but winsome and wholesome speech seasoned with the grace and goodness of Jesus.”

“This is cultivated as we personally meditate on the wonder of the gospel. Take time to muse on the glories of heaven. Take time to consider the unfailing sufficiency of Jesus.”

“Now, the goal of speaking with gracious and seasoned words is this—(6c) so that (purpose) you may know how you ought to answer each person. Here’s Paul’s assumption: The unbelievers in your life are watching and listening. If your conduct and conversations are consistently Christlike, people will notice. And whether it's someone suffering, someone seeking more in life, or someone looking for a fight, sooner or later, the Lord will lead that someone to ask you—What’s up with you? Why are you different? And that is your 1 Peter 3:15 moment.”

“That moment is what you’ve been praying for. That moment is why you watch your walk and talk. That moment is one of the millions of moments that God creates and uses to build his kingdom. That moment is one of the greatest moments of doing all things for the glory of God. Be encouraged. God is the God of that moment. There is no moment too big or heart too hard for God. And no matter how equipped or unequipped you feel for that moment, the Spirit will show you how to answer each person.”

“Our gospel mission is real. Wherever you go tomorrow, there will be real people watching and listening. Your conduct and words matter in the mission. But don’t be afraid; God has sent you, and he goes with you.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 2:4-5
1 Peter 3:15

QUOTES:
HB Charles- “Sometimes we excuse ungracious speech by claiming we are brutally honest, when in reality we use truth as a pretext to express ourselves at other people’s expense. I am not saying that you ought to avoid truth-telling, rebuke, and confrontation when the situation calls for it. But the Lord would have us to say hard things in a gracious way. Ephesians 4:15 says we are to be “speaking the truth in love.” This holy balance of truth and love is all the more significant when it comes to proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. We are to be faithful witnesses, not prosecuting attorneys or condemning judges. We are trying to win souls, not win arguments. We are to proclaim the name, person, and work of Christ, not promote our knowledge, experience, or maturity. Do not let lies, gossip, criticism, negativity, profanity, complaining, or backbiting to rob you of the opportunity to share the goodness of God, the plan of salvation, and the hope of heaven with lost people.”

APPLICATION:
Q. Are you redeeming the time? Do you believe that anytime you are with someone, God has ordained that moment and though you may not be able to tell them about Jesus, your conduct matters to your witness?Repent. Rejoice in the finished work of Jesus. Trust God. And in the power of the Spirit, move forward, redeeming the time with faith, courage, and zeal for Jesus.

Q. How do I cultivate graciousness and saltiness in my speech? Take time to fill your head and heart with Jesus—What goes in will surely come out.

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
How Great (Psalm 145)
Praise to the Lord
Bless The Lord O My Soul (Psalm 103)
We Give Thanks (Psalm 107)
As You Go

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Colossians 4:7-18

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” - Colossians 4:2-4 (ESV)

The Good News of Christ will advance according to God’s purpose. In His purpose, “being on gospel mission includes praying for our gospel mission.” Paul exhorts the Colossians to join the gospel mission by praying for those on the mission. 

Be encouraged church! Our local gospel mission is advancing through you in many ways, and the following are some ways that you can pray for our gospel mission:

• Pray for revival—that the Holy Spirit would fill and edify our church while we are on mission. Pray that God would save the lost and advance His kingdom!

• Pray for our evangelism training, Bridge Course, and Outreach Adventure testimonies.  

• Pray that the Lord would open a way for you personally to speak of the gospel with your family, friends, co-workers, and other connections in the community.

• Invitation Sunday (March 9th) - Pray that this event will help us make gospel connections with family and neighbors in our community.

• Pray for an Eastside church plant and a church planting pastor.

• Eastside Community Group - Pray that this new group will grow and advance the gospel on the Eastside.

• “Pray also for us.” Pray for you pastors as we lead our church on mission, that we would boldly proclaim the word of God. Pray for our monthly Pastors Day. We pray for you and our mission, evaluate ministries, plan, and more during these times. Also, pray for our pastoral counsel and ministry among the saints.

• Pray for our ministries - Youth, Children’s, Men’s, Women’s, Marriage, Community Groups, Welcome Team, Worship Team, Sound, Media, and more—that each would strengthen the church while on gospel mission.
  

Here are just a few ways that you can pray for our family of churches in Sovereign Grace Churches:

• West Regional Assembly of Elders (March 27-29) - Pray that the pastors and teams at this gathering would be filled with the Spirit, encouraged, grow, and be granted wisdom from God as they lead their local churches on mission.

• Pray for the Sovereign Grace Pastors College - Our churches need men trained and deployed on mission. Pray for this invaluable means of preparing future pastors for pastoral ministry within our family of churches.

• Pray for future church plants - Check out (here) the many ways you can pray for church planting in Sovereign Grace.

• Pray for the numerous Sovereign Grace Churches mission opportunities. Sign up for the Sovereign Grace Churches Missions Blog/Email (here) to learn ways to pray for our family of churches’ mission.

Today’s text is a call to Mission-Minded Prayer. Praying with God’s redemptive purposes in mind. In a sentence: Being on gospel mission includes praying for our gospel mission. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 4:2-4
TITLE:  A Mission-Minded Prayer Life
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Being on gospel mission includes praying for our gospel mission.

POINTS:
I. The Priority of Prayer
II. A Priority in Prayer

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”It’s not that we can’t pray for anything else but our gospel mission, rather, because everything is connected to and finds its ultimate purpose in our gospel mission: Being on gospel mission includes praying for our gospel mission.”

“Prayer is critical to the Christian life and Paul’s words remind us of that. We are too busy, too weak, too foolish, and too blessed not to pray. Like the characteristics we have already seen in Ch 3—an aggressive hatred for sin, a passionate pursuit of righteousness, and humility and grace in the home and workplace, prayer should mark the Christian life.”

“This is Paul’s point when he says—Continue steadfastly in prayer or pray without ceasing. The point is not that we are to pray every waking moment but that our lives should be devoted to prayer.”

“Prayer should be the Christian’s first impulse. We pray often, repeatedly, and without giving up. Prayer is not a hit-and-miss discipline reserved for difficult seasons of life. It’s a lifestyle born out of our dependence on God that permeates all we do. So more than a spiritual discipline box to be checked off, God desires that we live with an attitude of prayer—Continue steadfastly in prayer.”

“This is a divine command to be obeyed. But it’s also a heavenly invitation. God loves it when His people pray.”

“God desires that we ask Him for things - Philippians 4:6. God delights in the prayers of His people - Proverbs 15:8. God secured the privilege of prayer with the blood of His Son - Hebrews 4:14-16.”

“God invites us to speak to Him, to come to Him with our praises and requests. In Jesus, the name we bear before the throne above, the God who speaks and holds the stars into place, who creates life in the womb, who numbers the grains of sand on the earth and the hairs on our heads, He says, speak to me, pray—My ear is open to you!”

“Is prayer a priority in your life? The question is not meant to condemn your conscience; it’s meant to drive you to Jesus, you’re only defense before God, the one who qualifies you to pray. If you lack the desire to pray, the God of sanctifying grace has His ear open to you—Pray and ask Him to help you.”

“To be watchful is to be alert or awake. We don’t sleepwalk through our prayers. We don’t pray on autopilot. The idea of watchfulness in prayer is that our prayers reflect that we grasp the spiritual realities of the moment we live in, what we are called to, and what is at stake.”

“Paul isn’t exhorting us to wordiness or turning our prayers into theological dissertations. When it comes to prayer, God cares about our faith. Watchfulness in prayer is praying with a gospel-informed consciousness. It’s a mission-minded watchfulness shaped by God’s redemptive purposes.”

“In the context of Colossians:

• Their prayers should reveal that they are alert and awake to the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ (1:15-21) and who they are in Christ (3:1-4). 

• Their prayers should be informed by the sovereign purposes of God through His church to save sinners (1:28). 

• Their prayers should reflect an awareness of the temptations of mixing the world’s ways with God’s (2:8). 

• As they pray, they should be conscious of God’s desire that they live a life pleasing to Him (1:10) and do all things for his glory (3:17). 

• Their prayers should reveal the hope they have in the triumphant return of Christ (3:4).”  

“Jesus demonstrated this mission-minded watchfulness as he went off to pray on the eve of his death in the Garden of Gethsemane—Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation—he told the disciples. In other words, be alert to the moment. Be spiritually awake to what is at stake. Know what is happening here. Don’t be spiritually lazy, pray for me in my time of need and guard your own hearts—The mission is moving forward.”

“Paul’s prayer is a mission-minded prayer. Here’s the question for us: Whatever our circumstances, whatever our needs, whatever our station in life, do we see it all through our gospel mission to live for and tell others about Christ? If we do, our prayers will reflect it in some way.”

“A mission-minded prayer life. It really isn’t complicated. You don’t need a seminary degree, you just need to know Jesus.”

“Being watchful in prayer is not about living anxious and scared. It’s not about connecting the dots between every global event and Christ’s return. Fear doesn’t motivate and energize a mission-minded prayer life. Thanksgiving for Jesus, all we are and have in him, the certainty of all that God is doing, and the unfading hope we have that Jesus will return in glory—that energizes our prayers and saturates our prayer life with thanksgiving.”

QUOTES:
Charles Spurgeon- “Prayer can never be in excess.”

John Woodhouse - “Praying like Paul comes not from a sense of guilt at not praying enough, or even a mere duty that Christians should pray, but from watchfulness and thankfulness. Watchfulness and thankfulness come, not from just being told to be watchful and thankful, but from the extraordinary thing that God has done and is doing. It is a marvelous circle. If you are filled with the knowledge of God’s will you cannot but be joyfully thanking him. If you are really thanking him, how can you not be praying that his marvelous work will have its full effect in you, your friends, in the whole world?”

APPLICATION:

• How often do I find myself justifying prayerlessness with busyness? (even good busyness) 

• When my typical prayer time gets bumped, do I desperately find some way to still pray?

• What characterizes you most when someone shares a need with you: I‘ll pray for you, or, Let me pray for you right now? (Pause and Pray)

• In your efforts to be productive, do you functionally view prayer as unproductive? (Spurgeon—A little prayer between me and everything I do)

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
It Is Finished
We Have Been Healed
The Greatest Of All
Jesus Thank You
Father You Are All We Need

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Colossians 4:5-6

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

Before there was sin, there was work. Work was part of God’s perfect creation and order. Sin affected work, but work has always been good to God. The truth is God does care about your job, and our text is proof of this. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Colossians: Alive in Christ
TEXT: Colossians 3:22-4:1
TITLE:  Working for the Audience of One
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: The gospel transforms our work into worship.

POINTS:
Principle #1 As a Christian, you have a new Master in the workplace
Principle #2 As a Christian, you have a new mission in the workplace
Principle #3 As a Christian, you have a new motive in the workplace

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”It’s easy to have an unbiblical view of work. We can disconnect our work from our faith as if God doesn’t care about our job. The truth is, work is good. God created work. When He introduced Himself to us in the Bible, He revealed Himself as a working God. When God created man, He told him to get to work. When we work, the image of God is on display for all to see. Before there was sin, there was work. Work was part of God’s perfect creation and order. Sin affected work, but work has always been good to God. The truth is God does care about your job, and our text is proof of this.”

“Christ’s work for and in us transforms how we work for Him.”

“In Ch. 3, Paul turns his attention to the marks of a life transformed by and submitted to Christ:

• 1-4—Life that identifies with Christ alone

• 5-11—Life victorious over sin

• 12-17—Life characterized by righteousness and love

• 18-21—Life marked by humility and grace in the home

Paul introduces one more today—work. The immediate context is the slave-master relationship. Although there are significant differences between first-century slave-master relationships and modern employer-employee relationships, there are three principles of worshipful work.”

“The moment we read the word slave, our minds race. Slavery in the Greco-Roman world was indeed different than the slavery that has tainted the history of our country. Still, slavery is slavery. So why doesn’t Paul condemn slavery here? Did he condone slavery? Was he acquiescing to the culture? The Bible never condones slavery, and Paul never bowed to the culture.”

“Slavery was a reality in the first-century church. Some households in the church in Colossae had slaves. One slave in the church was Onesimus, who we will learn about when we begin Philemon in a few weeks. However, Paul’s goal here is not to ignite outward systemic change but to show the inward transformative power of the gospel even in the most challenging situations. That transforming power begins with our identity.”

“The adjective earthly sets limits on the noun master. The point is there is another master, the ultimate Master that the slave serves and identifies with. This is the foundation of Paul’s instruction here:

• 23—Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, not men (not even earthly master)

• Then, in 24, Paul says it as clearly as he—You are serving the Lord Christ

• Finally, in 4:1, Paul addresses the earthly masters—Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing you also (like the slave) have a Master in heaven.” 

“Paul’s instruction makes it sound like their earthly master doesn’t exist. That’s the point. They work for a person, but it’s the person of Christ for whom they genuinely work. They work for the audience of One, and that One is the One who created all things, sustains all things, is over all things, and reconciles all things to Himself.”

“Paul sets the slave's obedience and the master's authority in a whole new context. The earthly master is not decisive, and if you’re a boss at work, you should remember that (4:1). Christ, their heavenly Master, is decisive. For slaves, that meant whatever indignity, shame, and drudgery they faced, as slaves of Christ, their work had value and worth in the eyes of God.”

“The work you do, in or outside the home, pushing papers, making the sale, engineering the chip, running your company, no matter how menial or mundane, has worth and value because it is serving him.”

“In 17, Paul said–And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. His words here in 23 echo that mission—Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord. Those words roll off our lips without a second thought. But this was a tall order for a first-century slave. The work of slaves was often unpleasant. They were constantly exploited. So, the natural temptation was to do the minimum to be seen as obedient or escape punishment. That’s the idea of eye service and people-pleasers. When the master is looking, look like you’re working so they will be happy, and you will be safe. But without making a distinction in the nature of the work, Paul says, Don’t work that way. Don’t put on an act. Don’t turn it on and off for your advantage.” 

“Instead, notice the end of 22—work with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. In other words, work from the heart. Work in a way that reflects your love, trust, and reverence for God (i.e., fearing the Lord). Whether your earthly master is watching or not, your heavenly Master is always watching.”

“This is the freedom we have in Christ. We can put off half-hearted service and work from the heart. We can put off an attitude of drudgery and ungratefulness and work from the heart. In keeping with Colossians, we don’t have to ascribe to the world’s attitudes toward work, reflected in the 80s hit—Everybody is working for the weekend or TGIF. Whatever work God has called you to, a teacher, homemaker, engineer, doctor, salesperson, carpenter, truck driver, or business owner, you can do it wholeheartedly unto the Lord.”

“The theology inherent in our text is God’s sovereignty. He is in charge in whatever circumstance you are in. He has providentially placed you right where you are. Your job, and think about this, a context in which you will spend 1/3 of your life, is a context to worship Him with your work.”

“He deserves and demands the best you have to give. And, for His glory, He provides the wisdom and power to work with diligence, integrity, joy, gratitude, and excellence.”

“A paycheck is essential and favor with the boss is great. But God’s purpose is this—1:18 in everything he [Christ] might be preeminent. The gospel gives us Christ’s glory as our highest purpose, even as we work for imperfect bosses in the fading structures of this world. Any other motivation as your highest motivation is sinful and expressions of pride and self-love.”

“In the Roman world, slaves and rewards didn’t go together. They had shelter, food, and clothing but not much of a payday. And they certainly had no inheritance to look forward to. They were used to being motivated by punishment. So imagine how fulfilling Paul’s words must have been—you will receive the inheritance from the Lord as your reward for your work.”

“Again, even the slave's work is redeemed. Their heavenly master has an eternal inheritance waiting for them. Their earthly master may not give them what their labors deserve, but no matter how exploited they are, they are not in vain because the Lord sees all their work and will reward them in heaven. The flip side of this is in 25.”

“Paul doesn’t say if he is speaking to the slaves or the masters here. I think it’s both. The point is that obedience to God is paramount, even in the worst of work situations. God cares about our work. He is watching as we work. And He desires that our work reflects His holy nature and righteous purposes.”

“Our salvation is secure on Judgement Day because our sins have been obliterated on the cross. But, every believer, employee or employer, will be rewarded, whatever that looks like, according to how they devoted themselves to their heavenly master, including how we go about our work.”

“Paul ends his instruction by effectively saying that the slave and master are the same—accountable to God. In this context, the slave and master are both believers, bought with the blood of Christ, brothers in Christ (1 Tim 6:2), both slaves to Christ. So Paul ends this section where he began in 1-4: Whether you are an employee or employer, as a Christian, you do not identify with your vocational calling. You identify with your Master in heaven. As you work, you look in faith and draw your strength from the Perfect Worker!”

“Christ obeyed His Father when he took on flesh to work for our salvation. That work took his life as he rendered Himself to God’s will. And we are transformed workers only because of his work in the gospel. The work Jesus did with his life, death, and resurrection is the work we now identify with. The work Jesus did 2000 years ago is what gives your work today meaning and value. His redeeming work redeems your work, transforming it into heavenly worship that pleases God, exalts Christ, and brings you joy.”

“Whether you are an employee or employer, the gospel gives you the freedom to put sinful behaviors and patterns off and put on Spirit-empowered, Christ-exalting excellence. As we work for our heavenly Master, finding our mission and motivation in his provision and purposes, we’ll see that Christian employees and employers are not only the best in the workplace, but our work truly is worship to the one true God.”

QUOTES:
John Loftness- “Our calling to labor is not equal to our calling to Christ. Christ rules our work, and He gives it meaning and purpose. Our call to relationship with God in Christ shapes, elevates, and dignifies our calling to work. Work becomes more than a means of survival, more than a means of satisfying physical needs and fulfilling our identity in the image and likeness of God. Work becomes a means of giving honor and glory to God.”

John Piper - “That is amazing freedom. You think, earthly lord, that I am obeying you. But it’s not what you think. You do not have any final authority over me. I do not do anything you say simply because you say it. I have a Lord who is infinitely stronger, infinitely wiser, infinitely more satisfying, infinitely more authoritative in my life than you. What I do, I do for his sake. You have no ultimate claim on me. I march to the beat of another drummer. If you tell me to do anything that contradicts his will, it’s not going to happen. I am in your service at his bidding. And I serve you the way I do because he is an infinitely greater Lord than you are.”

APPLICATION:
- What motivates you to work from the heart?
- Who does my attitude and work ethic reveal I love the most?
- What are your temptations at work?

• Eye-service and people-pleasing

• Half-hearted or shoddy work

• Begrudging attitude

• If you work from home, are you working from home

- If you are over people, what sinful patterns are you vulnerable to?

• Unreasonable expectations

• Ungracious responses

• Stingy compensation

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Come Praise And Glorify
God Over All
We Give Thanks (Psalm 107)
God Is Faithful (Psalm 114)
My Life Is An Offering

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Colossians 4:2-4

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon