1. COLOSSIANS 1:24-2:5CO

2. COLOSSIANS 1:15-23 DOCTRINAL TRUTHS Jesus Christ is God Jesus Christ is The Creator of all things Jesus Christ is The Sustainer of all things Jesus Christ is The Head of the church Jesus Christ is The Reconciler of all things Jesus Christ is The Supreme Lord Jesus Christ is The Sufficient Savior

3. 1:24-2:5 PRINCIPLES Christ’s enemies persecute His followers Ministry is hard work enabled by Christ Ministers love people Ministry’s message is Christ Ministry’s goal is maturity in Christ False teachers have plausible arguments Be firm in your faith in Christ

4. CHRIST’S ENEMIES PERSECUTE HIS FOLLOWERS Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church 1:24 Nothing lacking in Christ’s work! Christ’s enemies not finished afflicting Christ by persecuting His followers

5. CHRIST’S ENEMIES PERSECUTE HIS FOLLOWERS And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Acts 9:4-5 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. Mark 13:13

6. MINISTRY IS HARD WORK ENABLED BY CHRIST Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake…of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God…For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. 1:24, 25, 29 All believers should be in ministry from conversion to glorification. What is your ministry?

7. MINISTERS LOVE PEOPLE For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ 2:1-2 Pray, role model, speak when possible JOY: Jesus…Others…You

8. MINISTRY’S MESSAGE IS CHRIST to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim…1:25-28 Mystery: an unknown truth revealed by God, and fully when it is a historical reality

9. MINISTRY’S MESSAGE IS CHRIST To make the word of God fully known… Christ in you: the already –Justification: declared as righteous as Christ –Sanctification: growing in Christ likeness The hope of glory: the not yet –Glorification: no sin, sadness, sickness, death

10. MINISTRY’S GOAL IS MATURITY IN CHRIST Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ…to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 1:28; 2:2,3 Never add something to Christ. Can lead only as far as you have gone.

11. FALSE TEACHERS HAVE PLAUSIBLE ARGUMENTS I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 2:4 Yoga, Karma, Brahman, Nirvana, reincarnation, oneness with nature, enlightenment, Unitarianism, pluralism, relativism, 2 nd blessing, evolution, PETA, look out for #1 because you only go around once, be good and become a god, you are god…

12. BE FIRM IN YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 2:5 “With his sword unsheathed and his armor still on, he went directly into the presence of his King with the stain of battle still on his garments.” Dr. Gardner Taylor How will you meet Christ?