Hurray for the Church family! There’s an old song, “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God…” I like the song. It’s one of those songs where for a time some churches ended every service with it… I’d like to rewrite the song a bit ~~~ I am so glad I’m part of the crazy, whacked out, oddball, Church family. I’ve only known a church family. The Crouses were rather small since my father came from Maine and my mother was a Pasadena~Seattle person…so to me, the church family was family… I think of myself as growing up with several dozen grammas from scowling Clara, to eagle eye Ruth Hill, no nonsense Nora, and loving Arvilla…
I love the church family, not only SACC but the family that goes far beyond this congregation….One verse I absolutely love because it brings definition to the church family is Rom. 10:9, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Jesus is Lord and Jesus is Alive is the only test of faith ~ you believe and practice that truth and you are part of the family of God. We may have all sorts of disagreements on details of what the bible teaches, but if we agree Jesus is Lord and he is Alive then we are brothers and sisters in Christ. I am so glad I am part of the crazy, insane, odd ball family of God.
I love the church family, not only SACC but the family that goes far beyond this congregation….One verse I absolutely love because it brings definition to the church family is Rom. 10:9, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Jesus is Lord and Jesus is Alive is the only test of faith ~ you believe and practice that truth and you are part of the family of God. We may have all sorts of disagreements on details of what the bible teaches, but if we agree Jesus is Lord and he is Alive then we are brothers and sisters in Christ. I am so glad I am part of the crazy, insane, odd ball family of God.
Today we’re finishing Colossians… ends with a list of names, fellow members serving Christ… Family talk is sprinkled in these verses as Paul refers to several as brothers, he speaks of his friend, “one of you” is how he describes at least two of these folks. This is a celebration of the Church family. These people named by Paul serve as a testimony of the diversity of the Church family and how we are blessed by one another…
***Before I continue, last week I talked about giving you an opportunity to share ~ we’ll take as much as 10+ minutes, what do you appreciate about the church family…
It’s instructive to take a look at each of the people Paul mentions …
Tychicus: READ Col. 4:7-8. A much loved brother… faithful helper, who serves the Lord. The Lord is at the center, the purpose… Tychicus was a Gentile (Acts 20:4) who traveled with Paul at the close of his last missionary journey. Paul entrusted him to deliver letters to Ephesians, Colossians, and probably Philemon. He may have been sent to relieve Titus in Crete so that Titus could join Paul for a while (Titus 3:12). Later, as Paul faced the end of his life in prison in Rome, he sent Tychicus to Ephesus again, where he took over Timothy’s pastoral duties so Timothy could join Paul (2 Tim. 4:12, 21).
The Church family needs people that are in it together, working together for the common cause, willing to sacrifice, give, serve wherever they are needed.
Onesimus. The Onesimuses are some of my favorite folk in the church family. O accompanied Tychicus on this trip. READ Col. 4:9. O was a runaway slave whom Paul led to Christ during his house arrest in Rome. Paul was now sending him back to his master, Philemon. It is highly significant Paul doesn’t mention that fact in this public letter to the church. If it hadn’t been for the private correspondence to Philemon, which later became public, we would not know Onesimus was a runaway slave. Paul calls him “our faithful and much loved brother, who is one of you.” We’re all equal... if you love Christ, your background doesn’t matter… (I know a lot of secrets about many of you that others don’t need to know….) The most broken people are welcome among us… Over the years I have been amazed at some of the people who have sat together in the same pew, knowing their history with the other…
Aristarchus: Paul calls him, “my fellow prisoner” in Col. 4:10. In relation to Paul, the most notable event was standing alongside Paul when an angry mob in Ephesus grabbed Paul and Aristarchus and dragged them into the public square… (Acts 19:29). There will be some in your church family that you have significant experiences/history… there is something about depth. Some will be very good friends… Aristarchus traveled with Paul when he took the financial gift to the needy saints in Jerusalem (Acts 20:4). He began a journey with Paul from Caesarea to Rome (Acts 27:2), he may have gone through the shipwreck with Paul.
Aristarchus, along with Justus and Mark, are the only Jewish believers with Paul (Col. 4:11)…. ~ Paul used to be big in the Jewish world, to the point of killing Christians, and now he is surrounded by gentiles and just a few Jews…. The Church family is a lot of fun when you realize there are many people not like you…
Mark: a cousin of Barnabas (Paul’s mentor when he was a young Christian). READ Col. 4:10. It’s encouraging to see Mark on Paul’s team. Mark had deserted Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:13). When Barnabas later insisted on giving Mark another chance, it led to a split between Barnabus and Paul. Paul was opposed to taking a deserter (Acts 15:36-41). Twelve years later, Paul tells the Colossians to welcome Mark without reservation. The Church family must have grace for one another, always ready to reconcile, trust again… When there is division there is heartache, but when relationships are healed it is an incredible sense of amazement…
Jesus, called Justus: Colossians 4:11 is all we know about him. It’s more than ok that we don’t really deeply know everybody in the same church family…
Epaphras: We met him in Col. 1:7-8. He was likely converted and discipled during Paul’s extended stay in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-10). He returned to his home town of Colossae and likely planted the church, as well as in Laodicea and Hierapolis. When problems with false teachers arose, Epaphras went to Rome to get counsel from Paul, who calls him (Col. 4:12), “a servant of Jesus Christ,” and commends him for his prayers and concern for these three churches.
Epaphras is a prayer warrior… oh how the church needs many such people… READ Col. 4:12. The importance of prayer… this also brings to mind that great purpose of the church stated back in Col. 1:28. READ. The Church family cares has to want the best for one another and that means growing / maturing in faith…
Luke: “The beloved physician”: it is here we learn Luke was a doctor. he was a Gentile, Luke was the only Gentile author in the New Testament, responsible for the two part book of Luke – Acts. He accompanied Paul on some of his missionary journeys, including his shipwreck on the way to Rome. He was the only worker with Paul near the end of his second imprisonment as he faced execution (2 Tim. 4:11). Educated Luke and a runaway slave in the same church family, both servants of the Lord Jesus Christ…
Demas is notable for quite a different reason, a sad reason really. Paul says nothing to commend Demas, unlike most of the others. Why? Let’s read between the lines: in Philemon 24, written just before Colossians, Paul calls him a fellow worker. Here he says nothing. Later, in 2 Tim. 4:10, Paul reports sadly, “Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” Perhaps Paul sensed Demas’s disloyalty already. Demas is a reminder that tension between people in the same church family is a reality… The Church family does not mean everyone is on the same page and are best friends…
Nympha hosts a church in her house which is amazing…a gracious accomplished woman ~ room in the church to break stereotypes and standard roles…
Col. 4:16 makes it clear Paul wants every local church to be impacted by fellow churches. READ. Note: the letter to Laodicia could well be what we call Ephesians… I have always thrived to have friends with Christians beyond the local church…I loved recently going to Leona Bos’s memorial service, looking at the sea of primarily Dutch people and being reminded that I love them and they seem to accept me… they even laughed at some of my jokes! I delight in telling the world that Advent Christians do not have a corner on the market of faith….
Early on when I was a young pastor, I was asked to serve as the pastor for a short time in the Pasadena AC Church as I was finishing school. Not many people, but I was proud and thought I was something… One day I visited Ethyl S., probably 95 at that time…. The craziest thing happened when I walked into her house. She had the tv turned on to TBN. I found myself jealous of the tv preacher. I thought I could teach Ethyl everything she needed to know… But I quickly heard the voice of God whisper in my ear, “Carl, don’t be stupid.” I’m so glad (for the most part) I’ve gotten over such crazy thoughts… God doesn’t need to whisper in my ear more than once a day to not be stupid…
The church family consists of men and women from different racial and economic backgrounds. Barriers are broken down. People are used according to their gifts and availability. A runaway slave and a doctor. Love it. Everyone is closer to some than to others… This list shows us that Paul’s monumental pronouncement in Colossians 3:11 is not just talk, but is lived. READ. That’s the church family. Because of the gospel, we’re all one in Christ.
Almost all of the people in this list are described as servants of Christ… That should tell us about our church family, bound together as servants of Christ…Paul doesn’t say they are serving him, but Christ. Paul establishes this principle back in Col. 3:24 when he boldly states, “It is the Lord you are serving.”
The Church family is broad and big… let’s celebrate this church, as well as our Christian brothers and sisters in the community and well beyond. Let’s learn from one another, people of all backgrounds…. Deep relationships with some, restored relationships with others… Bound together through prayer and service of Christ Jesus. Amen.
***Before I continue, last week I talked about giving you an opportunity to share ~ we’ll take as much as 10+ minutes, what do you appreciate about the church family…
It’s instructive to take a look at each of the people Paul mentions …
Tychicus: READ Col. 4:7-8. A much loved brother… faithful helper, who serves the Lord. The Lord is at the center, the purpose… Tychicus was a Gentile (Acts 20:4) who traveled with Paul at the close of his last missionary journey. Paul entrusted him to deliver letters to Ephesians, Colossians, and probably Philemon. He may have been sent to relieve Titus in Crete so that Titus could join Paul for a while (Titus 3:12). Later, as Paul faced the end of his life in prison in Rome, he sent Tychicus to Ephesus again, where he took over Timothy’s pastoral duties so Timothy could join Paul (2 Tim. 4:12, 21).
The Church family needs people that are in it together, working together for the common cause, willing to sacrifice, give, serve wherever they are needed.
Onesimus. The Onesimuses are some of my favorite folk in the church family. O accompanied Tychicus on this trip. READ Col. 4:9. O was a runaway slave whom Paul led to Christ during his house arrest in Rome. Paul was now sending him back to his master, Philemon. It is highly significant Paul doesn’t mention that fact in this public letter to the church. If it hadn’t been for the private correspondence to Philemon, which later became public, we would not know Onesimus was a runaway slave. Paul calls him “our faithful and much loved brother, who is one of you.” We’re all equal... if you love Christ, your background doesn’t matter… (I know a lot of secrets about many of you that others don’t need to know….) The most broken people are welcome among us… Over the years I have been amazed at some of the people who have sat together in the same pew, knowing their history with the other…
Aristarchus: Paul calls him, “my fellow prisoner” in Col. 4:10. In relation to Paul, the most notable event was standing alongside Paul when an angry mob in Ephesus grabbed Paul and Aristarchus and dragged them into the public square… (Acts 19:29). There will be some in your church family that you have significant experiences/history… there is something about depth. Some will be very good friends… Aristarchus traveled with Paul when he took the financial gift to the needy saints in Jerusalem (Acts 20:4). He began a journey with Paul from Caesarea to Rome (Acts 27:2), he may have gone through the shipwreck with Paul.
Aristarchus, along with Justus and Mark, are the only Jewish believers with Paul (Col. 4:11)…. ~ Paul used to be big in the Jewish world, to the point of killing Christians, and now he is surrounded by gentiles and just a few Jews…. The Church family is a lot of fun when you realize there are many people not like you…
Mark: a cousin of Barnabas (Paul’s mentor when he was a young Christian). READ Col. 4:10. It’s encouraging to see Mark on Paul’s team. Mark had deserted Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:13). When Barnabas later insisted on giving Mark another chance, it led to a split between Barnabus and Paul. Paul was opposed to taking a deserter (Acts 15:36-41). Twelve years later, Paul tells the Colossians to welcome Mark without reservation. The Church family must have grace for one another, always ready to reconcile, trust again… When there is division there is heartache, but when relationships are healed it is an incredible sense of amazement…
Jesus, called Justus: Colossians 4:11 is all we know about him. It’s more than ok that we don’t really deeply know everybody in the same church family…
Epaphras: We met him in Col. 1:7-8. He was likely converted and discipled during Paul’s extended stay in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-10). He returned to his home town of Colossae and likely planted the church, as well as in Laodicea and Hierapolis. When problems with false teachers arose, Epaphras went to Rome to get counsel from Paul, who calls him (Col. 4:12), “a servant of Jesus Christ,” and commends him for his prayers and concern for these three churches.
Epaphras is a prayer warrior… oh how the church needs many such people… READ Col. 4:12. The importance of prayer… this also brings to mind that great purpose of the church stated back in Col. 1:28. READ. The Church family cares has to want the best for one another and that means growing / maturing in faith…
Luke: “The beloved physician”: it is here we learn Luke was a doctor. he was a Gentile, Luke was the only Gentile author in the New Testament, responsible for the two part book of Luke – Acts. He accompanied Paul on some of his missionary journeys, including his shipwreck on the way to Rome. He was the only worker with Paul near the end of his second imprisonment as he faced execution (2 Tim. 4:11). Educated Luke and a runaway slave in the same church family, both servants of the Lord Jesus Christ…
Demas is notable for quite a different reason, a sad reason really. Paul says nothing to commend Demas, unlike most of the others. Why? Let’s read between the lines: in Philemon 24, written just before Colossians, Paul calls him a fellow worker. Here he says nothing. Later, in 2 Tim. 4:10, Paul reports sadly, “Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” Perhaps Paul sensed Demas’s disloyalty already. Demas is a reminder that tension between people in the same church family is a reality… The Church family does not mean everyone is on the same page and are best friends…
Nympha hosts a church in her house which is amazing…a gracious accomplished woman ~ room in the church to break stereotypes and standard roles…
Col. 4:16 makes it clear Paul wants every local church to be impacted by fellow churches. READ. Note: the letter to Laodicia could well be what we call Ephesians… I have always thrived to have friends with Christians beyond the local church…I loved recently going to Leona Bos’s memorial service, looking at the sea of primarily Dutch people and being reminded that I love them and they seem to accept me… they even laughed at some of my jokes! I delight in telling the world that Advent Christians do not have a corner on the market of faith….
Early on when I was a young pastor, I was asked to serve as the pastor for a short time in the Pasadena AC Church as I was finishing school. Not many people, but I was proud and thought I was something… One day I visited Ethyl S., probably 95 at that time…. The craziest thing happened when I walked into her house. She had the tv turned on to TBN. I found myself jealous of the tv preacher. I thought I could teach Ethyl everything she needed to know… But I quickly heard the voice of God whisper in my ear, “Carl, don’t be stupid.” I’m so glad (for the most part) I’ve gotten over such crazy thoughts… God doesn’t need to whisper in my ear more than once a day to not be stupid…
The church family consists of men and women from different racial and economic backgrounds. Barriers are broken down. People are used according to their gifts and availability. A runaway slave and a doctor. Love it. Everyone is closer to some than to others… This list shows us that Paul’s monumental pronouncement in Colossians 3:11 is not just talk, but is lived. READ. That’s the church family. Because of the gospel, we’re all one in Christ.
Almost all of the people in this list are described as servants of Christ… That should tell us about our church family, bound together as servants of Christ…Paul doesn’t say they are serving him, but Christ. Paul establishes this principle back in Col. 3:24 when he boldly states, “It is the Lord you are serving.”
The Church family is broad and big… let’s celebrate this church, as well as our Christian brothers and sisters in the community and well beyond. Let’s learn from one another, people of all backgrounds…. Deep relationships with some, restored relationships with others… Bound together through prayer and service of Christ Jesus. Amen.
RSS Feed