This is a story about four people in the church whose names were Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. The church had financial responsibilities and Everybody was asked to help. Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it. But you know who did it? Nobody. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
Then the church grounds needed some work, and Somebody was asked to help. But Somebody got angry about that, because Anybody could have done it just as well and after all, it was really Everybody s job. In the end the work was given to Nobody, and Nobody did a fine job. On and on this went. Whenever work was to be done, Nobody could always be counted on. Nobody visited the sick. Nobody gave liberally. Nobody shared his faith. In short, Nobody was a very faithful member.
Finally the day came when Somebody left the church and took Anybody and Everybody with him. Guess who was left? Nobody! [Author unknown]
Colossians 4:7-18 7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nymphaand the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
17 And say to Archippus, See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord. 18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
1. WHO WE ARE KNOWN AS Lessons we can learn from how Paul addressed his associates 2. WHERE WE ARE PLACED Lessons we can learn from how the situations in the lives of Paul s associates impacted the manner they served God 3. WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO Lessons we can learn about how we can relate to members of the Church through the lifestyle of Paul s associates
WHO WE ARE KNOWN AS Lessons we can learn from how Paul addressed his associates
WHO WE ARE KNOWN AS - Lessons we can learn from how Paul addressed his associates Beloved brother Beloved brother Faithful brother Faithful minister Fellow Servant Servant of Christ Jesus Hard Worker Vs. 7 Tychicus Vs. 9 Onesimus We relate to church members as beloved brothers and sisters. We belong to the church family We are known as people who love others
WHO WE ARE KNOWN AS - Lessons we can learn from how Paul addressed his associates Beloved brother Faithful brother Faithful minister Fellow Servant Servant of Christ Jesus Hard Worker Faithful brother Vs. 9 Onesimus: One of you We relate to church members without bias. We accept them for what the Lord is doing in their lives We are known as unbiased, accepting people
WHO WE ARE KNOWN AS - Lessons we can learn from how Paul addressed his associates Beloved brother Faithful brother Faithful minister Fellow Servant Servant of Christ Jesus Hard Worker Faithful Minister Vs. 7 Tychicus: faithful deacon We relate to church members as the intermediary of the Lord. God has placed us to carry out a service for the church members with the help of others We are known as people who serve
WHO WE ARE KNOWN AS - Lessons we can learn from how Paul addressed his associates Beloved brother Faithful brother Fellow Servant Vs. 7 Tychicus: faithful slave Faithful minister Fellow Servant Servant of Christ Jesus Hard Worker We relate to church members as the servant of the Lord. God has placed us to carry out a service for the church members with the help of others We are known as humble servants of the Lord
WHO WE ARE KNOWN AS - Lessons we can learn from how Paul addressed his associates Beloved brother Faithful brother Faithful minister Fellow Servant Servant of Christ Jesus Hard Worker Servant of Christ Jesus Vs. 12 Epaphras: slave of Jesus Our primary service as a slave is to Jesus. We belong to him. When we serve people we are actually serving Him. We are known as those who have committed everything to serve Jesus
WHO WE ARE KNOWN AS - Lessons we can learn from how Paul addressed his associates Beloved brother Faithful brother Faithful minister Fellow Servant Servant of Christ Jesus Bishop Alfred Tucker of Uganda Servant of Christ Jesus Hard Worker
WHO WE ARE KNOWN AS - Lessons we can learn from how Paul addressed his associates Beloved brother Faithful brother Faithful minister Fellow Servant Hard Worker Vs. 13 Epaphras Our work for the Lord often involves painful, difficult hard work. Servant of Christ Jesus Hard Worker We are known as people who give everything to serve God
WHO WE ARE KNOWN AS - Lessons we can learn from how Paul addressed his associates Beloved brother Faithful brother Faithful minister Fellow Servant Servant of Christ Jesus Hard Worker Tolstoy told a budding artist: You do not love him. Because, if you did, you would paint him better Hard Worker
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. John 13:12-14
WHERE WE ARE PLACED Lessons we can learn from how the situations in the lives of Paul s associates impacted the manner they served God
WHERE WE ARE PLACED - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn from how the situations in the lives of Paul s associates impacted the manner they served God Fellow Prisoner Failed in the past Fellow worker Physician Fellow Prisoner Vs. 10 - Aristarchus Aristarchus was in chains with Paul We have to pay a price to follow Christ House church leader
WHERE WE ARE PLACED - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn from how the situations in the lives of Paul s associates impacted the manner they served God Fellow Prisoner Failed in the past Fellow worker Physician House church leader Failed in the past Vs. 10 -Mark Mark had failed in the past. Most probably, the church member were instructed about how to relate to him We have to win back even those who have fallen
WHERE WE ARE PLACED - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn from how the situations in the lives of Paul s associates impacted the manner they served God Fellow Prisoner Failed in the past Fellow worker Physician Fellow worker Vs. 11, 12 Aristarchus, Mark and Justus These were travel companions of Paul We have to learn to serve with others House church leader
WHERE WE ARE PLACED - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn from how the situations in the lives of Paul s associates impacted the manner they served God Fellow Prisoner Failed in the past Fellow worker Physician House church leader Vs. 14 Physician Luke was in Paul s travelling team of pastors. He would have treated patients as he travelled to preach and do ministry We have to learn to comfortable with those who are more skilled and gifted than us as we serve
WHERE WE ARE PLACED - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn from how the situations in the lives of Paul s associates impacted the manner they served God Fellow Prisoner Failed in the past Fellow worker Physician House church leader House church leader Vs. 15 All churches were house-churches in those days. A woman led one of the churches in Colossae (or Laodicea) We have to learn to grow and serve in a small group
WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO Lessons we can learn about how we can relate to members of the Church through the lifestyle of Paul s associates
WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn about how we can relate to members of the Church through the lifestyle of Paul s associates Greet Encourage Welcome Comfort Wrestle in prayer Witness Share spiritual resources Help people to serve Remember your leaders Greet each other Vs. 10, 12, 14, 15, 18 Paul greeted the church members. He added the greetings of others as well. We must take initiative to greet people in the church
WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn about how we can relate to members of the Church through the lifestyle of Paul s associates Greet Encourage Welcome Comfort Wrestle in prayer Witness Share spiritual resources Help people to serve Remember your leaders Encourage one another Vs. 8 Paul encouraged the church members through Tychicus We must encourage the hearts of people in the church
WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn about how we can relate to members of the Church through the lifestyle of Paul s associates Greet Encourage Welcome Comfort Wrestle in prayer Witness Share spiritual resources Help people to serve Remember your leaders Vs. 10 Welcome Paul commanded the church members to keep in mind the instructions about Mark and to welcome him We must welcome people in the church
WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn about how we can relate to members of the Church through the lifestyle of Paul s associates Greet r Encourage Welcome Comfort Wrestle in prayer Witness Share spiritual resources Help people to serve Remember your leaders Vs. 11 Comfort Paul mentioned how his associates, Aristarchus, Mark and Justus had comforted him We must comfort others as we gather in the church
WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn about how we can relate to members of the Church through the lifestyle of Paul s associates Greet Encourage Welcome Comfort Wrestle in prayer Witness Share spiritual resources Help people to serve Remember your leaders Vs. 12 Wrestle in prayer Epaphras was always struggling on behalf of the church in his prayers, so that they would stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God We must pray intentionally for the people of the church
WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn about how we can relate to members of the Church through the lifestyle of Paul s associates Greet Encourage Welcome Comfort Wrestle in prayer Witness Share spiritual resources Help people to serve Remember your leaders Wrestle in prayer John Sung s suitcase
WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn about how we can relate to members of the Church through the lifestyle of Paul s associates Greet Encourage Welcome Comfort Wrestle in prayer Display trust in others Share spiritual resources Help people to serve Remember your leaders Display trust in others Vs. 13 Paul stands as witness for the work that Epaphras has put in before We must show faith in people of the church
WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn about how we can relate to members of the Church through the lifestyle of Paul s associates Greet Encourage Welcome Comfort Wrestle in prayer Witness Share spiritual resources Help people to serve Remember your leaders Share spiritual resources Vs. 16 Paul s letter to Colossians had to be sent to Laodiceaso that they can read it there too We must be willing to share as many resources as we can with the people in the church
WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn about how we can relate to members of the Church through the lifestyle of Paul s associates Greet Encourage Welcome Comfort Wrestle in prayer Witness Share spiritual resources Help people to serve Remember your leaders Help people to serve Vs. 17 The Colossians had to make sure that Archippus completed the work that he was supposed to complete We must serve God in such a way that others in the church will be encouraged to complete their tasks for the Lord
WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO - SERVING GOD AND EACH OTHER Lessons we can learn about how we can relate to members of the Church through the lifestyle of Paul s associates Greet Encourage Welcome Comfort Wrestle in prayer Witness Share spiritual resources Help people to serve Remember your leaders Vs. 18 Remember your leaders Paul reminded the Colossians to remember (his) chains We must keep the vision and lives of our spiritual leaders as we serve in the church