1. Colossians 1:20-29
Serving the Lord

2. Colossians:
The history
The hope of the Gospel
The preeminence of Jesus
Ministry

3. Colossians 1:20-29

4. Suffer for Jesus Paul’s part Servants are willing
1 Peter 2:18-21 (ESV) Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

5. Suffer for Jesus Paul’s part Servants are willing
Philippians 1:29 (ESV) For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 (ESV) and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

6. Suffer for Jesus Paul’s part Servants are willing
James 5:10 (ESV) As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

7. Suffer for Jesus Paul’s part Servants are willing
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

8. Suffer for Jesus Paul’s part Servants are willing
Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9. Suffer for Jesus Paul’s part Servants are willing Following Jesus
Luke 14:25-28 (ESV) Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

10. Romans 8:12-18 (ESV) So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

11. Understand your responsibility
Stewardship
Matthew 28:19-20
2 Corinthians 5:9-10
Spread the hope!

12. Love Others
Compassion
God’s best for others
Others to know Jesus
What you were made for

13. Be a Servant!
Why God saved you…
Your responsibility
Proclaim Jesus
Make disciples