Moments in the life of a Pastor

Walking with God

Tag Archives: christianity


by Leave a comment

1. Taking Time to Give Thanks – Part 1

Colossians 1:1-8

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,and Timothy our brother, 2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our ]behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.”

HISTORY

Colosse was a city in the Roman province of Asia about 100 miles east of Ephesus in what is today the country of Turkey. During the 5th century it was an important trading center on the Lycus river but by New testament times trade had moved to neighboring cities and Colosse had declined to the status of a small town. In 61 AD it suffered a devastating earthquake, it was rebuilt only to be abandoned in the 8th century moving the town to a more suitable site 3 miles away. Luke tells us in Acts 19:10 that during Paul’s three-year stay in Ephesus on his third missionary journey, “all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord.” Most scholars believe that the church was founded by Paul’s fellow laborer Epaphras who heard Paul’s preaching and was saved and that Paul may not have visited the church himself in person.  This letter was probably requested by Epaphras to help with some problems that had cropped up in the church. This might surprise you – every church has problems! Why? Because every church has people.

OVERVIEW

There are several similarities between the book of Ephesians and Colossians. They were both written while Paul was in prison (notice his outward caring focus despite his critical circumstances). Ephesians reveals the “church of Christ” where Colossians reveals the “Christ of the Church” where Ephesians focuses on the body Colossians focuses on the head. Like the book of Ephesians, Colossians also divides neatly in half, with the first 2 chapters dealing with doctrine (what we believe) and the last 2 our behavior (how we will live out what we believe). There is a move from principles to practice, what we learn must be lived. It is not enough to simply embrace truth, at some point the truth we believe must embrace us.

First half reveals the rule of Christ, His supremacy, where the second is our response, submission to His rule. In a short 95 verses, Paul says three things to the church at Colosse:

  • Your Savior is Supreme – Chapter 1
  • Your Salvation is Simple – (Chapter 2) – Colosse was located at a major crossroads for travel from east to west, between Europe and Asia in the middle of where ideas and philosophies would intersect. Don’t worry about false philosophies, principalities (Angel worship) or perfection.
  • You are Saved for Service – Chapter 3-4

First half is about what Christ has done for us the second what Christ does through us. Paul’s purpose is to show that Christ is preeminent (first and foremost in everything) and a Christians life should reflect that priority.

THANKSGIVING

Paul starts out with thankfulness even though he is in prison. He doesn’t let his problems dictate his priorities. Instead of focusing on his trials he focuses on thanks, teaching us the truth about thanksgiving, it is not tied to our circumstances but to Christ. Our praise is a reflection of our priorities, and at the very start Paul’s priority is thankfulness. He makes his priority praise and thanksgiving saying we “always” give thanks and that thanks goes to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul is pointing to the Supremacy of Christ, “Our Lord Jesus Christ.” This triple name expresses the divinity, humanity, and sacrifice of the Savior. The title “Lord” refers to His deity. He is God and Lord of all. The name “Jesus” speaks of his incarnation, He was born into the human race and walked on this earth. “Christ” reminds us that He came as the sacrifice for our sins as the promised Messiah. 


by Leave a comment

35 Teaming Together – Part 3

Titus 3:8-15

8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned. 12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives. 15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

Which leads us to:

  1. Deal with division – 10-11

Paul tells us to be decisive with devise people. While these words are strong they are necessary because we need to protect our fellowship from being fractured. Jesus said that the defining characteristic a watching world should see in every Christian is that we “love one another” (John 13:35). Unfortunately today the church is more defined by its division than its love. What would happen if the church started working together instead of waring with one another? In the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians Paul deals with the importance of unity saying that there should be no divisions in the church. Divisiveness in the church is not just dangerous it is damaging and can be deadly. The word “divisive” means, “to choose for oneself.” This individual is determined to do whatever they want instead of following Gods will. Paul’s remedy for this rebellious heart is the same pill prescribed by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17. The purpose of these warnings is to be redemptive and restorative, this person is to be warned twice if necessary, with the hope that he will come back. If they don’t respond to restoration Paul says remove them, have nothing to do with them. We should not be timid with troublemakers that have turned from the truth. Confrontation is not comfortable, but we are not called to comfort we are called to obey Christ. Second Paul calls us to:  

  1. Cultivate a Heart of Hard work 
  2. Partner with people – 12  Don’t go it alone, loneranger

The phrase “do your best” is a command with a sense of urgency. He is asking Titus to do his utmost to come. To free him up Paul was planning to send one of two men to take over Titus tasks in Crete. Paul cared about people and Titus was probably warn down from the challenges of leading a church in a corrupt culture. So Paul calls him to come away and get refreshed. Sometimes we forget that pastors are people too. What Paul is doing is following the example set by Jesus who called his disciples to come away and get some rest after they were worn down and weary from ministering to people. Mark 6:31-32 we read that Jesus said “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile. 32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.” Its not wrong to rest, and this is not the only pastor Paul encouraged to come away, in 2 Timothy 4:21 he called Timothy to come and see him as well. Not only did Paul cared for people he loved to partner with people. Paul was not a lone ranger, in fact he mentions over 100 people by name in his letters. What about you, are you a team player, do you love people? Because according to Paul people are more important than programs. Paul does not tell the church to keep programs going but to keep friendships fresh. Sometimes churches can fall into the trap of loving their programs more than they love people. We need each other and not just important people but all people, Paul was friends with a doctor as well as a runaway slave. God uses notables and nobodies. It’s interesting that of the two men mentioned in Titus 3:12, one of them is well-known, and one is a mystery man. We don’t know anything about Artemas while Tychicus has a very impressive spiritual resume. 

Tychicus was a Courier who helped delivered Paul’s letters to some of the churches, he was Paul’s personal FedEx man. 

He was also a reporter, sharing with churches how Paul was doing as well as sharing with Paul how the church was going. 

He was an Encourager who built up other believers. Are you an encourager or discourager? Do you build others up or break them down? Do your words build trust or build walls? 

He was a Reliever, Scripture tells us that he went and gave Timothy a break in Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:12). Like a relief pitcher, he gave pastor Timothy a break. He wasn’t famous, but he was faithful. We need to team together because none of us have all the gifts on our own. Paul reminds us to not be lazy and not be lone rangers.