Lake Region Bible Church | Sermons
THE GOSPEL, GODLY LIVING, AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD (Colossians 4:2-6 ● Message #9/9) 04-25-10
INTRODUCTION. 1. Sermon Series Highlights: ● Evangelism and Discipleship: Following Jesus is the foundation out of which our gospel witness rises. As we follow Jesus, this dictates how we think, what we do with our lives, how we treat people, where we choose to live, what we spend our money on, etc., all of which creates opportunities for gospel witness. With that, such opportunities often arise within the context of relationships we have with people (as we “bring them to Jesus” and as they ask us about the reason for the hope we have). ● Knowing the Gospel (it’s message & power): The gospel is the sum teaching of the entire Bible (including conversion & discipleship). It is the unifying theology and mission of the church, and through our faithfulness in living and preaching the gospel, we find God’s power at work in and thru us. ● Embrace the Gospel we Preach: Before we preach the gospel to the lost, we must be embracing the way of the cross ourselves. With that, we are to boldly proclaim God’s love for the world, and His command that all people everywhere repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead when He returns in power and great glory. ● The Gospel and the Kingdom of God: Living for the gospel is not about making America a Christian nation. Rather, as pilgrims living in a world in which is not our home, we are called to be missionaries and missional churches who proclaim the good news of the kingdom to a lost world through the power of the Holy Spirit, while we live as the people of God awaiting the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! 2. Paul’s letter to the Colossians: written around 61 A.D. to a church of relatively new converts in the city of Colosse (modern day Turkey). This church was started by Epaphras who was a convert of Paul’s, from his 3rd missionary journey (c.54 A.D.). Paul writes to assure his concern for them, to proclaim the supremacy of Jesus Christ, to refute false doctrines, to teach about godly living, and he also asks for their prayers concerning his mission. COLOSSIANS 4:2-6. 1. CONTINUE steadfastly in prayer: until the 2nd Coming of Christ (vs2-4). 2. DEPEND on the Holy Spirit. 3. PROCLAIM the greatness of Jesus Christ and His Cross (note: I refer to the "wordless" book as an example, but mistakenly call it the "colorless" book. Sorry! --Pastor Marcus). 4. PARTNER with global missions as a missional church. 5. LIVE for the Gospel: through the trials of life and as the church (vs5-6).