Colossians 1:24-29Paul’s Ministry

Colossians 1:24-26

24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Colossians 1:27-29

A MinisterA Minister

…of the gospel (v. 23)… of the church (vv. 24-25)

“General term for service (dia , konis , raising a dust by speed) . . . one who serves.

- A. T. Robertson

Humble service to the Lord & his people

A MinisterA Minister

• His Attitude (v. 24)

• His Master (v. 25)

• His Message (vv. 25b-27)

• His Task (v. 28)

• His Manner (vv. 28-29)

• His Purpose / Goal (vv. 28-29)

Colossians 1:24-29The Ministry of Paul

I. His Attitude (v. 24)

“Sufferings”“Afflictions”

His Attitude (v. 24)

A. Rejoice

B. Fill up what is lacking

• Suffer just like Christ did• Lacking in that it didn’t go as far

C. For sake of the church

Colossians 1:24-29The Ministry of Paul

I. His Attitude (v. 24)

II. His Master (v. 25)

His Master (v. 25)

A. Source

B. Stewardship

• Dispensation - Arrangement or Plan• Stewardship of Paul

Dispensation” is oikonomian, made up of oikos, “house.” and nomos, “law,” namely, the law of the household, the method of administrating the household. It speaks of a house-steward, one to whom is given the responsibility of administering the laws regulating the proper conduct of affairs in the household. Here the meaning is that of stewardship. Paul is given the responsibility of preaching the Word of God and seeing to it that it was guided rightly in its initial impact upon the Roman Empire.

-Wuest

His Master (v. 25)

A. Source

B. Stewardship

• Dispensation - Arrangement or Plan• Stewardship of Paul

Colossians 1:24-29The Ministry of Paul

I. His Attitude (v. 24)

II. His Master (v. 25)

III. His Message (vv. 25b-27)

His Message (vv.25b-27)

A. What to Preach

• Word of God (v. 25b)• Mystery - Revealed (v. 26)• Christ in you (v. 27)

B. To Fulfill the Word of God (v. 25b)

Colossians 1:24-29The Ministry of Paul

I. His Attitude (v. 24)

II. His Master (v. 25)

III. His Message (vv. 25b-27)

IV. His Task (v. 28)

His Task (v. 28)

A. Preach - “to announce”

B. Warning - “to admonish, exhort, warn”

C. Teaching - “to instruct”

Colossians 1:24-29The Ministry of Paul

I. His Attitude (v. 24)

II. His Master (v. 25)

III. His Message (vv. 25b-27)

IV. His Task (v. 28)

V. His Manner (vv. 28-29)

His Manner (vv. 28-29)

A. Uses Wisdom (v. 28)

B. Works Hard (v. 29)

• LaborLabor - “to feel fatigue; by implication, to work hard”

• StrivingStriving - “to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or genitive case (to endeavor to accomplish something).”

Colossians 1:24-29The Ministry of Paul

I. His Attitude (v. 24)

II. His Master (v. 25)

III. His Message (vv. 25b-27)

IV. His Task (v. 28)

V. His Manner (vv. 28-29)

VI. His Purpose / Goal (vv. 28-29)

His Goal (vv. 28-29)

A. Every man - universality

B. Perfect - Completeness, maturity“Full age” (Heb. 5:14)

“…that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” (v. 28)

Colossians 1:24-29The Ministry of Paul

I. His Attitude (v. 24)

II. His Master (v. 25)

III. His Message (vv. 25b-27)

IV. His Task (v. 28)

V. His Manner (vv. 28-29)

VI. His Purpose / Goal (vv. 28-29)