READ THE BIBLE
SLOWLY AND STRATEGICALLY
I am glad when I suffer for you in my
body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his
body, the church. God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by
proclaiming his entire message to you. This message was kept secret for
centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people.
For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you
Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you
assurance of sharing his glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning
everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to
present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work
and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.
I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at
Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. I want
them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to
have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is
Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. COLOSSIANS 1:24-2:3 NLT
EXTRACT GOD’S MAIN THOUGHT OR POINT
…Fill up what is lacking in Christ’s suffering. COLOSSIANS
1:24 ESV
…Because he (Epaphrodites) came close to death for the work of Christ,
risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me. PHILIPPIANS 2:30 HOLMAN
APPLY IT TO MY LIFE
God has given me the responsibility of
serving his church. COLOSSIANS 1:24 NLT
I must deny
myself.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after
me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” MATTHEW 16:24-25 ESV
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many. MARK 10:45 ESV
I must love
people.
So we tell others about
Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has
given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to
Christ. COLOSSIANS 1:28 NLT
Proclaim
Jesus: In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not
counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of
reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal
through us. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:19-20 ESV
Warn: Faithful are the
wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. PROVERBS 27:6 ESV
Teach: …teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. COLOSSIANS 1:28 NLT
… and for many other
believers who have never met me personally.
COLOSSIANS 2:1 NLT
I must invest
in the next generation.
And what you have heard from me in the presence of many
witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 TIMOTHY 2:2 ESV
To complete his ministry, God has given me himself.
I want them to have
complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ
himself. In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. COLOSSIANS
2:2-3 NLT
And this is the secret:
Christ lives in you. COLOSSIANS 1:27 NLT
All wisdom is in Jesus and all of Jesus is in me.
LET IT OUT