2. Paul’s Relationship to the Church
Colossians 1:24ff
Part 4

3. Paul Suffered for the church
His REAL suffering was not surprising…
Look at the beginning Acts 9:16
…for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.

4. [23] Are they servants of Christ
[23] Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. [24] Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; [26] on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; [27] in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. [28] And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
(2 Corinthians 11:23-28 ESV)

5. Paul Suffered for the church
His REAL suffering was not surprising…
Look at the beginning Acts 9:16
The middle 2 Cor.11:23-28

6. Paul Suffered for the church
His REAL suffering was not surprising…
Look at the beginning Acts 9:16
The middle 2 Cor.11:23-28
And life at the end 2 Tim.4:6-7
[6] For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

7. Paul Rejoiced in his Suffering
He kept a good attitude…

8. He kept a good attitude like others before him
[40] and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. [42] And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
(Acts 5:40-42 ESV)

9. He kept a good attitude like others before him
[40] and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. [42] And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
(Acts 5:40-42 ESV)

10. Philippians 1:3-4
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all…

11. Paul Rejoiced in his Suffering
He kept a good attitude…
Phil.1:3-4-in prison

12. Philippians 1:17-18
[17] The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. [18] What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will rejoice

13. Paul Rejoiced in his Suffering
He kept a good attitude…
Phil.1:3-4-in prison
Phil.1:18-w/enemies

14. Philippians 3:8
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ…

15. Paul Rejoiced in his Suffering
He kept a good attitude…
Phil.1:3-4-in prison
Phil.1:18-w/enemies
Phil.3:8-looking back
What was his goal that encouraged this?

16. 1 Peter 3:18
[18] For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…

17. Paul’s goal was the same goal that Christ had
Colossians 1:28-29
And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom that we may present every man complete in Christ. And for this purpose also I labor…..
Paul’s goal was the same goal that Christ had

18. Paul Ministered to the church… how???
2 Cor. 11: Was concerned for all
1 Cor. 5:3-5 - Led them in hard decisions
2 Cor. 12:21 - Mourned over their impenitence
2 Cor. 13:10 - Was severe in his rebuke…but
2 Cor. 12:19 - Built them up with his teaching
Gal. 3:3 - Reminded, Eph. 1: commended, and
Acts 20:27 - Kept back nothing!

19. His ministry was to preach the word..
1:26 - The message hidden, now revealed
1:27 - Focused on Jesus Christ
1:28 - In every way possible…
proclaiming, admonishing, teaching
to present every man complete in Christ
1:29 - using God’s power fully

20. What’s the point? What is MY attitude toward the church?
Am I keeping a good attitude?
Am I willing to suffer?
Am I willing to serve?
Am I laboring in the word?
Or, am I just hanging on the fringes?