Concluding Sermon on Colossians Sermon Series on 27DEc 2015 by Rev Dr Ng Swee Ming

1. SSMC
SUNGAI WAY-SUBANG
METHODIST
C H U R C H
REV DR NG SWEE MING 27 DEC 2015
“TAKING STOCK – ENDING WELL together”
Col 4:7-18

2. What’s New !

3. What’s New !

5. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS

6. And we pray this in order that
you may live a life worthy of the Lord
and may please him in every way:
bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God.…

7. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS

9. “Taking Stock – Ending Well together” Col 4:7-18
7 Tychicus will tell you all the news
about me. He is a dear brother, a
faithful minister and fellow servant
in the Lord.
8 I am sending him to you for the
express purpose that you may know
about our circumstances and that he
may encourage your hearts.

10. “Taking Stock – Ending Well together” Col 4:7-18
Paul’s description of Tychicus :
 a dear brother
 a faithful minister
 fellow servant in the Lord
Tychicus in Acts & the Epistles …
 Travelling companion …
 Courier for Paul’s letters …
 Pastoral appointments- Ephesus & ?Crete
A trusted companion to share ….
 news …
 circumstances …
 Ministry …

11. “Taking Stock – Ending Well together” Col 4:7-18
9 He is coming with Onesimus, our
faithful and dear brother, who is one of
you. They will tell you everything that is
happening here.
our faithful &
dear brother,
who is one of you…

12. “Taking Stock – Ending Well together” Col 4:7-18
Onesimus : “Profitable / Useful”
 Runaway slave of Philemon
 Met Paul in Rome, converted
Philem 12: “…who is my very heart.”
Philem 15-16 “…Perhaps the reason
he was separated from you for a
little while was that you might
have him back for good—
no longer as a slave, but better
than a slave, as a dear brother.”

13. “Taking Stock – Ending Well together” Col 4:7-18
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.)
11 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.

14.  Tychicus & Onesimus joins Aristarchus, John
Mark, Jesus Justus & Dr Luke.
 All stayed with Paul in his hours of need…
 “fellow workers” ; “a comfort…”
 A very illustrious group :
 Dr Luke – wrote the Gospel of Luke & the Acts of
the Apostles
 John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark
“Taking Stock – Ending Well together” Col 4:7-18
1. The
FAITHFUL

15. “Taking Stock – Ending Well together” Col 4:7-18
The Faithful eg John Mark :
 Background – Barnabas / Mary / Peter / Church, …
 1st Missions : with Barnabas & Paul
 But ‘deserted’ them half-way - ?? reason
 2nd Missions : Paul objected strongly to John
 Intervening years ….
 Col 4:10 – in Rome with Paul …
 2 Tim 4:11 “Get Mark and bring him with you,
because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”
Quote :
It’s not how you start that’s important;
it’s how you finish…

16. “Taking Stock – Ending Well together” Col 4:7-18
12 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.
13 I vouch for him that he is working hard
for you and for those at Laodicea and
Hierapolis.
2. The PRAYERFUL

17. “Taking Stock – Ending Well together” Col 4:7-18
The PRAYERFUL - Epaphras
Saved thru Paul's ministry in Ephesus …
Home-town : Colossae
founded Colossae Church (possibly also
Laodicea & Hierapolis)
Travels 1500 km to Rome for answers …
‘wrestling’ / ‘struggling’ / ‘laboring
earnestly’ in prayer for …
a true prayer warrior, intercessor…
Philem 23 “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner
in Christ Jesus…”

18. “Taking Stock – Ending Well
together” Col 4:7-18
14 Our dear friend
Luke, the doctor,
and Demas send
greetings.
Demas – the FALLEN
 3 times in Paul's letters
Philem 24 : "Demas... my
fellow laborer" ass. with Mark,
Aristarchus & Luke.
Col 4:14 Simply "Demas” – no
description
2 Tim 4:10 "For Demas hath
forsaken me, having loved this
present world”
Cf - 1 John 2:16
Q: Did he return ??
1 John 2:16 For
everything in the
world--the lust of
the flesh, the lust of
the eyes, and the
pride of life--comes
not from the Father
but from the world.

19. Olympics Torch Rally

20. Starting Well is
OPTIONAL…
Finishing Well is
FUNDAMENTAL
in this
RACE OF LIFE
BUT

21. “Taking Stock – Ending Well together” Col 4:7-18
CONCLUSION :
15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and
to Nympha and the church in her house.
16 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.
17 Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the
work you have received in the Lord."
18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.
Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

22. “Taking Stock – Ending Well together” Col 4:7-18
CONCLUSION :
16 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.
The early church …
read ‘letters’ outloud for all to hear …
Paul’s Charge to Timothy in 1 Tim 4:13
“… devote yourself to the public reading of
Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.”

23. “Taking Stock – Ending Well together” Col 4:7-18

24. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS

25. And we pray this in order that
you may live a life worthy of the Lord
and may please him in every way:
bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God.…

26. 1.LIVING WORTHILY
as a DISCIPLE
2.LIVING FRUITFULLY
as a FAMILY
3.LIVING POWERFULLY
as a CHURCH

27. So for 2015 ....
application...
 STOP DOING DG
 STOP EVANGELISING
 STOP ATTENDING

28. For DGs :
1. stop doing dg
START SHARING LIFE
 Share your joys & victories ...
 Share your struggles and defeats ...
 Pray for one another
 Beyond that pray for others ...
 Look beyond your own DG...
 Inquire of the Lord ....

29. ‘2. stop “doing evangelism”
a. JUST START LOVING PEOPLE
Love your family members
Love your neighbors
Love your colleagues
Love your enemies
b. START PRAYING for People daily

30. Personally :
• Ask God for “Holy Happenings” in your life ...
 Family
 Community
 Work
• For those with families ...
 Start Weekly Family Devotions
 Make time to Talk about life issues...
 Talk about what’s happening in the
country, the world ...
 Take an interest in your children’s life :
friends, interest, studies ...

31. 3. stop attending ...
START PARTICIPATING...
 Sunday Celebration...
 Prayer Gatherings...
 24/7 Prayer for our Nation...
 Missions – Community, Local & International
 Reading thru’ the Bible

32. So for 2015 ....
 stop doing dg
 START SHARING LIFE
 stop doing evangelizing
 START LOVING PEOPLE
 stop attending
 START PARTICIPATING

33. General Outline of Colossians
I. Chp 1 : DOCTRINE
Christ's Supremacy & Sufficiency DECLARED
II. Chp 2 : DANGER
Christ's Supremacy & Sufficiency DEFENDED
III. Chps 3-4 : DUTY
Christ's Supremacy & Sufficiency DISPLAYED

34. Colossians
Chp 1 : DOCTRINE
CHRIST'S SUPREMACY & SUFFICIENCY DECLARED
Sermon 1. 1:1-8 Lessons in Discipleship 1
1st : FAITH in Christ
2nd : LOVE for the brethren
3rd : HOPE in heaven
Sermon 2. 1:9-14 Lessons in Discipleship II
Importance of Prayer
 Building Deep in Christ
 Sub-Structure
 Structure
 Superstructure

35. Sermon 3. Col 1:15-23
The SUPREMACY & SUFFICIENCY of CHRIST
v15-17 The Supremacy of Christ in CREATION
v18-20 The Sufficiency of Christ in Re-CREATION
Conclusion :
 v21 Our Past Alienation
 v22 Our Present Reconciliation
 v23 Our Future Glorification

36. Sermon 4. Col 1:24-29
God’s Blueprint for Discipleship
1. Know WHY … the mystery …
‘Christ in you, the Hope of Glory’
2. Know HOW … in loving communities…
3. Know WHAT … cost to consider …
4. Know WHO … as a servant …
Conclusion :
MAKING DISCIPLE
LOVING COMMUNITY.

37. Sermon 5. Col 2:1-7
Rooted & Built Up In Christ
1. Looking Within :
ENCOURAGED IN HEART
2. Looking Around :
UNITED IN LOVE
3. Looking Above :
FAITH IN CHRIST
4. Looking Below :
ROOTED & BUILT UP IN CHRIST

38. Sermon 5. Col 2:1-7
Rooted & Built Up In Christ
1. Looking Within :
ENCOURAGED IN HEART
2. Looking Around :
UNITED IN LOVE
3. Looking Above :
FAITH IN CHRIST
4. Looking Below :
ROOTED & BUILT UP IN CHRIST

39. Sermon 6. Col 2:8-15
COMPLETE in CHRIST 1
1. Be Aware of ‘Christ +’
2. Be Complete in Christ
3. Be Alive with Christ
1. Know CHRIST
2. Know who you are in CHRIST
3. Stand & speak for Righteousness,
Justice & Truth …
Sermon 7. Col 2:16-23
COMPLETE in CHRIST 2

40. Sermon 8. Col 3:1-11
LIVING for JESUS
GENERAL PRINCIPLES to
LIVE for JESUS Now
1. Seek the Heavenly
2. Slay the Earthly
 Put to death …
 Take off …
3. Strengthen the Christly
 Put on …

41. Sermon 9. Col 3:12-17
Properly ATTIRED for ETERNITY
GENERAL PRINCIPLES to PREPARE for ETERNITY
We Are …
Chosen …
Holy (Set Apart) …
Loved …
THEREFORE
‘Put On’ the…
CHARACTER OF CHRIST
PEACE OF CHRIST
WORD OF CHRIST
NAME OF CHRIST
and BE THANKFUL, BE GRATEFUL ….
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42. Sermon 10 Col 3:18-4:1
Relationship is Key
SPECIFIC PRINCIPLES to KEY AREAS of life…
 MARITAL RELATIONSHIP
 PARENTAL / FAMILY RELATIONSHIP
 ‘WORKPLACE’ RELATIONSHIP
RULES without RELATIONSHIPS
leads to
TRUTH without RELATIONSHIPS
leads to
DISCIPLINE without RELATIONSHIPS
leads to , &
REBELLION
REJECTION
RESENTMENTBITTERNESSANGER

43. Sermon 11. Col 4:2-6
The POWER of MY LIFE
1. MY PRAYER LIFE
2. MY TALK
3. MY WALK

44. Rick Husband Columbia Space
Shuttle
(Jan 16 to Feb 1, 2003)

45. 50 meters run

47. Starting Well is
OPTIONAL…
Finishing Well is
FUNDAMENTAL in this
Race of Eternal Life
B U T
To FINISH WELL in LIFE,
We Must Finish Each Of Life’s Chapter Well
I do not know what ‘Chapter’ in Life you are at …..
As 2016 draws to a close …
Let’s FINISH THIS CHAPTER WELL ….