THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
© 2001 Dr. Roy Mason
Colossians 1:1-14
This morning we being a short series of messages entitled,
NO MATTER THE QUESTION:
Jesus is the Answer!
We will use the short book of Colossians as our source. This obscure city, located 100 miles east of the Ephesus had once been a thriving meeting point on the trade route, but passed into relative unimportance by the time Paul wrote this letter.
Perhaps the only reason the city is mentioned in the New Testament is because of the church that was there. Paul did not start the church, nor had he ever been there, but he has heard about the place. Are there some places in the world you would like to travel? Where are they? Why do you desire to go there? We have these desires because of what we have “heard about these places.” The words of others are powerfully persuasive in defining what others perceive about us. Can you think of a person you have never met personally, whom you have a strong opinion about?
It is important that we afford people with the opportunity to say good things about us and hear good things about us. The church at Colossae was wrought with problems in theology and philosophy but still Paul heard some good things about them. This morning, listen to Paul as he says, Thanks for the memories …”
THE PRELUDE (1-2)
A. The Authors
ü Paul- Apostle, Appointed, Anointed
ü Timothy – “brother” a learner, Paul was his mentor (Phil 2:3-4)
B. The Audience
ü What they are called?
Saints = those who were exclusively His
Faithful brethren = those who were secure and steadfast. Implies that some were not.
C. The Announcement
ü Grace to you and peace from God! This is all we need to say. (see Phil. 4: 11-13)
THE PRAISE
(3-8)
A. The Person of Praise (v3)
1. The only person who ever receives praise is the Lord Jesus.
B. The Pillars of the Praise (4-5)
2. The pillar of FAITH:
3. The pillar of LOVE:
4. The pillar of HOPE:
Faith and love are of little basis without the foundation of HOPE.
Þ For our past
Þ For our present
Þ For our future
C. The Power of Praise (5b-8)
ü The gospel must be heard
ü The gospel must be received
ü The gospel must be understood
ü The gospel must be shared
THE PRAYER
(9-14)
A. The Promise of Prayer
B. The Petition of Prayer
ü Knowledge and wisdom
C. The Purpose of the Prayer
ü To produce a worthy walk
ü To produce a pleasing lifestyle
ü To produce good works
ü To give us a greater knowledge of God
ü So we will be strong
ü So that we might honor God with our testimony of patience and endurance
CONCLUSION
Paul is bragging on all that he has heard about the faithful saints in the Colossian church. Verses 13-14 tell us why he as heard these things. They have been transferred from darkness to light; they have been redeemed and forgiven. Because of this they have been changed.
What do people hear about you? While it is true that sometimes some people say bad things about us, the problem is not in what they say, but often in why they are able to say it. Let’s ask God to give us the power, strength, wisdom, and determination to be the people of God in every area of our lives.
