2/25/2017 Rejoice in the Midst of Suffering - Sermon Outline on Colossians 1:24-29

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Rejoice in the Midst of Suffering

By John David Wright

Filed under Expository Sermon Outlines, Sermon Outlines - Church of Christ

Sermons
INTRODUCTION:
1. Open your Bible please toColossians 1:24-29.
2. InColossians 1:24-29Paul continues to amaze his readers
when he speaks of rejoicing in his sufferings.
3. Most people think of many reasons to complain when they
experience sufferings.
4. Paul, earlier in life had been beaten and stoned due to
hisfaithfulness to Christ.

5. Paul, as he wrote the letter to those of Colossae was in

prison in Rome.
6. Lets discuss things that Paul says inColossians 1:24-
29that help us to understand why Paul would rejoice in
his sufferings.
DISCUSSION:
I. FIRST, COLOSSIANS 1:24A TEACHES THAT PAUL REJOICED IN
HIS SUFFERINGS FOR THOSE OF THE CHURCH AT COLOSSAE!
1. At the time of the writing of the epistle to those
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of Colossae Paul was a prisoner in

chains.Colossians 1:24asays, I now rejoice in my
sufferings for you.
1) Because Paul insisted that the Gentiles should be
received into the church without circumcision the
Jews persecuted him and pressed the case against
him with such bitterness that he was finally sent
to Rome and was placed in prison for three years.
2) This was a reason that Paul could say to those of
Colossae that thesuffering was for you.
However Pauls suffering wasnt just for those of
Colossae.
2. Paul rejoiced in his sufferings because he realized
he was benefiting multitudes of Gentile Christians
by providing an example of joy and faithfulness that
he hoped would challenge them to be faithful and
suffer with joy.
II. SECOND, COLOSSIANS 1:24B TEACHES THAT PAUL REJOICED IN
HIS SUFFERING BECAUSE THE SUFFERING THAT EACH CHRISTIAN
ENCOUNTERS COMPLIMENTS AND HONORS THE SUFFERING THAT
CHRIST HAS ALREADY WENT THROUGH!
1.Colossians 1:24a&b says,I now rejoice in my
sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is
lacking in the afflictions of Christ.
1) In the b part of verse 24 Paul, in saying that he
was willing tofill up in his flesh what is
lacking in the afflictions of Christis referring
to his willingness to physically suffer as long as
he was in his physical body.
2) Paul is teaching that his suffering and the
suffering that others encounter in their fleshly
body for the cause of Christ benefits the cause of
Christ and it benefits the church of Christ.
2. When Paul refers towhat is lacking in the
afflictions of ChristPaul is not teaching that
Christ needed to suffer more than He has already
suffered.
1) Paul is teaching that the work of the church and
the growth of the church must go on and as
faithful Christians carry this work forward they
are going to encounter affliction and sufferings.
2) As Christians faithfully encounter these
afflictions they do so in a way that Christ would
do if He were on earth in the flesh.
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3) Christians that remain faithful like Paul in the

midst of afflictions compliment and honor Christ
for the afflictions that Christ encountered.
4) Paul is teaching that encountering afflictions
for the cause of Christ and His church is not a
penalty, but a blessing.
3. Turn to1 Peter 2:19-24.1 Peter 2:19-24teaches
that one is to be commended when they remain
faithful, as Christ did, when we suffer for being a
follower of Christ.1 Peter 2:19-24says,19 For
this is commendable, if because of conscience toward
God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For
what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your
faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good
and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is
commendable before God. 21 For to this you were
called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving
us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22
Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His
mouth; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile
in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten,
but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the
tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for
righteousnessby whose stripes you were healed.
4. Turn toMatthew 5:10-12. InMatthew 5:10-12Jesus
teaches that the happy person will be the one who
remains faithful and honors Christ in the midst of
their afflictions.Matthew 5:10-12says,10 Blessed
are those who are persecuted for righteousness
sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you,
and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My
sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great
is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the
prophets who were before you.Jesus is teaching
that we can be happy and look forward to heaven when
we learn to rejoice in the midst of suffering.
5. Do like Paul expresses himself inColossians 1:24a&b,
determine that, since Christ is not here on earth to
encounter any afflictions, you will allow your
fleshy self to encounter any afflictions necessary
to make sure you carry on Christs work of reaching
the lost and strengthening those that are already
saved.
III. THIRD, COLOSSIANS 1:24C TEACHES THAT CHRISTIANS ARE TO
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UNDERSTAND THAT THE SPIRITUAL BODY OF CHRIST IS THE

CHURCH!
1.Colossians 1:24says,I [Paul] now rejoice in my
sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is
lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of
His [Christs] body, which is the church.
2. The persecutions Christ bore were for the sake of
the church (Christs spiritual body); the
persecutions Paul bore were likewise for the sake of
Christs body (the church).
1) The relationship between Christ and Christs
church is illustrated by calling the church the
body of Christ.
2) As the head and the body of a living person are
to function together, so Christ and his church are
to function together.
3) Both Christ and Christs church are important.
3. A large majority of people teach that Christ is
important toward ones salvation but, sadly, they
also teach that the church is not important toward
ones salvation.
4. Turn toEphesians 1:22&23.Ephesians 1:22&23teach
three reasons why that the church, as well as
Christ, is important for mans salvation.Ephesians
1:22&23says,22 And He put all things under His
feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the
church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him
who fills all in all.
1) #1, The church is important toward ones
salvation, as well as Christ, because Christ
spiritual body and the church are the same.
2) #2, the church is important toward ones
salvation, as well as Christ, because the Holy
Spirit inspired Paul to write that the church has
Christ for its head! This is teaching that all the
church thinks and does must come from its head,
who is Christ.
3) #3, the church is important toward ones
salvation, as well as Christ, because the later
part ofEphesians 1:23teaches that the church has
the responsibility of doing what Christ wants done
to represent Him since he is not here on earth.
a. This is the meaning of the phrase, the
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(referring to the church, is the) fullness of

him [Christ] that fills all in all.
b. In other words while Christ is in heaven the
church is commanded to fully and completely do
what Christ would do if He were here on earth.
5. There are many more passages in the New Testament
that teach that the spiritual body of Christ is the
church and that the church is important toward ones
salvation, but these passages should be adequate for
now.
IV. FOURTH, COLOSSIANS 1:25-29 TEACH THAT PAUL WAS MADE A
MINISTER TO FULFILL A RESPONSIBILITY OF PREACHING THE
GOSPEL TO THE GENTILES.
1.Colossians 1:25says,of which I became a minister
according to the stewardship from God which was
given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God.
1) The word stewardship is translated
dispensation in the OKJV.
2) Both of these words, in the context, refer to
Pauls responsibility as a minster to correctly
and faithfully preach Gods word to the Gentiles.
2. Turn toActs 26:15-18.Acts 26:15-18contain
instructions the Lord gave Paul about the Lords
plans for Paul to teach and preach to the Gentile
world.Acts 26:15-18says,15 So I said, Who are
You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for
I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you
a minister and a witness both of the things which
you have seen and of the things which I will yet
reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish
people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now
send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn
them from darkness to light, and from the power of
Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of
sins and an inheritance among those who are
sanctified by faith in Me.'
3. Turn back toColossians 1:26&27.Colossians
1:26&27explains that Pauls message had been a
mystery, that is his message had not been explained
through the previous years, but now Paul would put
forth a diligent effort in explaining the mystery as
a missionary.
1) Dont misunderstand, Peter went to the Gentile
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Cornelius, first, but Paul speeded up the process

after he became a missionary.
2) The mystery explained, was simply that the
Gentiles now had opportunity to be saved and be
Gods children.
3) Salvation was no longer just for the Jews only.
Since Christs death on the cross salvation was
for people of all nations, if they would but obey
the gospel.
4)Colossians 1:26&27says,26 the mystery which
has been hidden from ages and from generations,
but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To
them God willed to make known what are
theriches of the glory of this mystery among
the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory.
4. Look closely at the last phrase in verse 27,which
is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
1) Christ within man is the only way to receive the
hope of glory, which refers to converted man
receiving heaven.
2) How does Christ get in man and how do we get in
Christ, who is the hope of glory, which is the
hope of heaven? We will answer that in a few
moments.
5. Look now atColossians 1:28.Colossians 1:28teaches
that Pauls goal or aim was to preach, warn and
teach every person possible the wise teaching of
Christ and try hard to bring them to spiritual
perfection or spiritual maturity.Colossians
1:28says,Him we preach, warning every man and
teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may
present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
1) The Greek word that is translated by the English
word perfect, as it is used in the New Testament
is not referring to a Christian being sinless.
2) The word perfect refers to one who is
spiritually mature and endeavoring to live
faithful as best as one possibly can, in their
living the Christian life.
6. Like Paul, each New Testament Christian should try
to live and be as spiritually mature as possible and
also have as their goal and aim to warn and teach
all other people to do the same.
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7. Look now atColossians 1:29.Colossians 1:29teaches

that Paul and all Christians should understand that
as they labor and strive to help everyone else that
they possibly can, that God and Christ will be
working with them.Colossians 1:29says,To this end
I also labor, striving according to His working
which works in me mightily.
1) Labor means toiling to the point of weariness and
exhaustion. Striving is an athletic term from
which has derived the word agonizing.
2) Paul was intense in his work for the cause of
Christ. His work did not end when he converted
someone; he continued to help him or her grow unto
Christian maturity. As Paul worked and labored
Christ and God provided Paul strength.
3) Turn toPhilippians 4:13.Philippians 4:13,
likeColossians 1:29teaches that as Paul labored
and strove to help others that He did not do it by
himself; Christ aided Paul.Philippians
4:13says,I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me.
4) Turn toEphesians 1:19&20. InEphesians
1:19&20Paul, likewise teaches that God mightily
works in a Christian and provides power equal to
what God provided when He raised Christ from the
dead.Ephesians 1:19&20says,19 and what is the
exceeding greatness of His power toward us who
believe, according to the working of His mighty
power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised
Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand
in the heavenly places.
CONCLUSION:
1. If you havent been working with other Christians to try
and help them grow and mature, we encourage you to do
your best to start helping in a more diligent manner.
2. God will give us the strength and power to do our best if
we will put forth the energy that we have.
3. If you personally havent taken advantage of growing and
maturing in a personal way you may want to come forward
and let us pray with you, that you will work harder
toward spiritual growth.
4. Whatever your need might be, please come as we stand and
sing!

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