November 4, 2023

COLOSSIANS 4: THE CALL

November 19, 2023

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

One of the saddest things imaginable is for a child or adult to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, respond with enthusiasm, but then not understand how to grow in the Lord, or how to seek Him for daily living, having no one to come alongside and mentor them so they can grow. Paul understood the importance of this, and his letters to the churches throughout his portion of the world were filled with mentoring these new converts by encouraging words—and with the visitations of sound believers whenever possible. In the letter to the Colossians, he made certain to give them instructions to send the letter on to the other churches. He also filled it with directions for daily living that provided ways to seek God on a deeper level through community, family living and personal responsibilities to seek God’s face. Join us!

Focal Passage: Colossians 4

A call to fervent prayer:

  • Read Colossians 4:1. In this letter from Paul to the church at Colossae, there were no chapters—it was one continuous letter. Chapter 4: 1 seems to be the ending of 3:22-25, speaking of masters and slaves, or today, employers and employees. What is the responsibility of the believer who hires someone to work for him? Often, we want the job done by the person who is willing to take the lowest pay; would we want Christ to treat us like that? Are we being examples of Christ if we pay them only a lesser amount?
  • Read 4:2-4 and 1 Thess. 5:17-18. How does one pray without ceasing? How does “earnestly” fit in here? What did it mean? Where should thanksgiving be in the list?
  • What did Paul specifically ask for prayer for, as he and his team ministered to unbelievers? How much do you think it means to Jonathan and the staff to know that you lift them up by name each day? Why? When you need serious prayer, whom do you want to pray for you?
  • What acronym did we focus on, in order to make it easy to remember the areas where we need to pray? Why is it helpful to begin with the “Lord’s Prayer” when praying fervently?

A call to a faithful witness:

  • Read vv. 5-6. Why is it so necessary that our walk matches our talk? What is the number one complaint when you hear people criticize the local church? What do you tell them?
  • Read James 1:5. Is there any reason why any of us should not have wisdom? Each day, can we ask God for wisdom for the encounters we shall have that day? How will this help us as we interact with unbelievers? What does it mean to “redeem the time”?
  • How can we use grace and salt when speaking to unbelievers? How often are we impatient or short-tempered and the hearer has no idea why? How can we change? The stickers we often see on cars of “Salt” and “Life” generally are associated with beach life; how can they apply as well to Christians?

A call to fellowship:

  • Read Acts 2:44-47. How did the early believers live? What is the closest we can come to that model in today’s world? Without a doubt the church should be the “community” for us and our families. What are some ways in which our church fulfills this fellowship?
  • Read vv. 7-15. How was Paul and his team carrying out the call to have fellowship with the believers? Does that mean that all of them will never fail the others? Read 2 Tim. 4:10. What later happened to Demas? Read 1 Cor. 10:12. What does this mean to you?

What’s your call?

  • Read vv. 16-18. What were they to say to Archippus? Have you ever experienced the feeling that a particular person was going to be used by God? Did you say anything to them? Sometimes, all it takes for them to come to a decision is the encouragement of another believer. Think about it and ask God to use you.
  • Read Jer. 29:11-13 and 31:17a. What does God say to you? Read Heb. 12:1-2 and Job 31:4. God knows every thought we have, every sin we commit and still gives us eternal life. What should be our response?
  • How can we discover and get busy with our calling?

 

Close:

How much involved in community are you? To be sitting at your desk, writing a document and a text comes across your phone, saying “I was just sitting here thinking how thankful I am that you’ve been mentoring me, and what a joy it’s been!” That’s community. Or for the phone to ring and a fellow believer says, “I just heard you both are sick; what can I do for you?” That’s community. Knowing if things get too rough, you can call on any of your Life Group and they will bring a meal, that’s community. The prayers that go up on a daily basis, the moments taken out of someone’s busy day to say we’re thinking about you, that’s community.

Living in a college town with a large Christian university that pulls in thousands of students, and hundreds or thousands of staff, one may feel a camaraderie that is not at all what a big city is, but it probably is close to resembling the communities of believers of Paul’s day. There are few feelings so sweet as friends and acquaintances who share your faith and your joy in the Lord Jesus Christ. Would you like to join us? Christian communities are not hard to find.

 

By Sandy Day

November 19, 2023

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