1. [re]discover Colossians

2. “As a minister, I seek to live out God’s mission for my life and help encourage and equip others to do the same.” We are all called to be ministers

3. [re]discover: Ministry 1. The source of ministry - God (v.23, 25) Colossians 1

4. Acts 26:13-18 “I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me…, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? …“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”

5. [re]discover: Ministry 1. The source of ministry - God (v.23, 25) Joy is the deep-down confidence that God is in control of your life 2. The spirit of ministry - Joy (v.24) Colossians 1

6. [re]discover: Ministry 1. The source of ministry - God (v.23, 25) 2. The spirit of ministry - Joy (v.24) 3. The suffering of ministry – Vicarious (v.24) Colossians 1

7. An Old Oak Tree to a Young Sapling “Soon it will be autumn and the winds will start to blow hard and cold. But you’ll be safe. I’ll take care of you. The wind can do its worst to me. I don’t mind if I have to lose a few branches here and there in the process. What matters is that while you are young and weak I should take the full force the wintry wins on myself and let you grow in safety.”

8. [re]discover: Ministry 1. The source of ministry - God (v.23, 25) 2. The spirit of ministry - Joy (v.24) 3. The suffering of ministry – Vicarious (v.24) Filling up the affliction that is still lacking means, “I take the blows meant for Jesus because he took the blows meant for me.” Colossians 1

9. [re]discover: Ministry 1. The source of ministry - God (v.23, 25) 2. The spirit of ministry - Joy (v.24) 3. The suffering of ministry – Vicarious (v.24) 4. The subject of ministry – Mystery (v.25-26) “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:12 Colossians 1

10. [re]discover: Ministry 1. The source of ministry - God (v.23, 25) 2. The spirit of ministry - Joy (v.24) 3. The suffering of ministry – Vicarious (v.24) 4. The subject of ministry – Mystery (v.25-27) 6. The strength of ministry – Jesus (v.29) 5. The sum of ministry – Maturity (v.28) Colossians 1

11. [re]discover Colossians