EXAMPLES OF HOW TO LIVE YOUR FAITH

Colossians 4:7-10 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here. My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)

Colossians 4:11-13 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Colossians 4:14-17 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.”

I. Onesimus - the Servant Life - v9.

A. What was his character like? I. Onesimus - the Servant Life.

A. What was his character like? 1. He is called a “faithful & dear brother”. I. Onesimus - the Servant Life.

A. What was his character like? 1. He is called a “faithful & dear brother”. 2. He had been Philemon’s slave. Philemon 16 - no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. I. Onesimus - the Servant Life.

A. What was his character like? 1. He is called a “faithful & dear brother”. 2. He had been Philemon’s slave. a. Who was Philemon? I. Onesimus - the Servant Life.

A. What was his character like? 1. He is called a “faithful & dear brother”. 2. He had been Philemon’s slave. a. Who was Philemon? b. What did Onesimus do? I. Onesimus - the Servant Life.

A. What was his character like? 1. He is called a “faithful & dear brother”. 2. He had been Philemon’s slave. 3. After his conversion, what did he decide to do? I. Onesimus - the Servant Life.

3. After his conversion, what did he decide to do? a. Paul converted Philemon. I. Onesimus - the Servant Life.

3. After his conversion, what did he decide to do? a. Paul converted Philemon. b. Onesimus was now Philemon’s brother! I. Onesimus - the Servant Life.

3. After his conversion, what did he decide to do? a. Paul converted Philemon. b. Onesimus was now Philemon’s brother! c. What might be the right thing? - freedom & ministry. I. Onesimus - the Servant Life.

4. This is the story of obedience to what is right in the face of terrible consequences! I. Onesimus - the Servant Life.

B. What was Onesimus’ later ministry? I. Onesimus - the Servant Life.

I. Onesimus - the Servant Life - v9. II. Mark - the Reformed Life - v10.

A. What was his character like? II. Mark - the Reformed Life.

A. What was his character like? 1. He was Barnabus’ cousin. II. Mark - the Reformed Life.

A. What was his character like? 1. He was Barnabus’ cousin. 2. His house was a church. Acts 12:12 - When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. II. Mark - the Reformed Life.

A. What was his character like? 1. He was Barnabus’ cousin. 2. His house was a church. 3. He was Paul’s assistant. Acts 13:5 - When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John (Mark) was with them as their helper. II. Mark - the Reformed Life.

A. What was his character like? 1. He was Barnabus’ cousin. 2. His house was a church. 3. He was Paul’s assistant. 4. He chickens out & goes home. Acts 13:13 - From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. II. Mark - the Reformed Life.

A. What was his character like? 5. Paul & Barnabus have a falling out over Mark’s desertion. Acts 15: Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. II. Mark - the Reformed Life.

A. What was his character like? 6. About 10 years later, Mark is reinstated as Paul’s assistant. Colossians 4:10 - My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him). II. Mark - the Reformed Life.

A. What was his character like? 6. About 10 years later, Mark is reinstated as Paul’s assistant. Philemon Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. II Timothy 4:11 - Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. II. Mark - the Reformed Life.

B. What was Mark’s later ministry? II. Mark - the Reformed Life.

B. What was Mark’s later ministry? (Clement of Alexamdria quoting Papias) a. Mark was Peter’s interpreter. b. He wrote the Gospel of Mark. II. Mark - the Reformed Life.

B. What was Mark’s later ministry? (Eusebius) a. Mark founded churches in Alexandria, Egypt. b. Mark amazed Philo with his evangelism success. II. Mark - the Reformed Life.

I. Onesimus - the Servant Life - v9. II. Mark - the Reformed Life - v10. III. Epaphras - the Prayer Life - v12-13.

A. What was his character like? III. Epaphras - the Prayer Life.

A. What was his character like? Colossians 1:7 - You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ. III. Epaphras - the Prayer Life.

A. What was his character like? Colossians 1:7 - You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ. Colossians 4: Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. III. Epaphras - the Prayer Life.

A. What was his character like? Colossians 1:7 - You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ. Colossians 4: Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. III. Epaphras - the Prayer Life.

A. What was his character like? 4. This is the story of a prayer warrior! III. Epaphras - the Prayer Life.

B. What was Epaphras’ later ministry? III. Epaphras - the Prayer Life.

I. Onesimus - the Servant Life - v9. II. Mark - the Reformed Life - v10. III. Epaphras - the Prayer Life - v IV. Luke - the Faithful Life - v14.

A. What was his character like? IV. Luke - the Faithful Life.

A. What was his character like? 1. He was a physician. IV. Luke - the Faithful Life.

A. What was his character like? 1. He was a physician. 2. He labored with Paul. Philemon 24 - And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. IV. Luke - the Faithful Life.

A. What was his character like? 1. He was a physician. 2. He labored with Paul. 3. He remained faithful to Paul when the others left. II Timothy 4: Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. IV. Luke - the Faithful Life.

A. What was his character like? 4. This is the story of faithfulness under great adversity. IV. Luke - the Faithful Life.

B. What was Luke’s later ministry? IV. Luke - the Faithful Life.

B. What was Luke’s later ministry? 1. He wrote Luke & Acts! IV. Luke - the Faithful Life.

B. What was Luke’s later ministry? 1. He wrote Luke & Acts! 2. This is the story of humbleness! IV. Luke - the Faithful Life.

Develop: 1. The obedient servant life 2. The genuine repentant life 3. The consistency in prayer life 4. The life of faithfulness