READ THE BIBLE SLOWLY AND STRATEGICALLY
Tychicus
will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved
brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. I have sent
him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to
encourage you. I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one
of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening
here. Aristarchus, who is in prison with
me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were
instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. Jesus (the one we
call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers
among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And
what a comfort they have been! Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a
servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for
you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are
following the whole will of God. I can assure you that he prays hard for you
and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved
doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. Please give my greetings to our
brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in
her house. After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at
Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to
them. And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord
gave you.” HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING PAUL. Remember my
chains. May God’s grace be with you. COLOSSIANS
4:7-18 NLT
EXTRACT GOD’S MAIN THOUGHT OR POINT
God expects all believers to serve as ministers
And say
to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you. COLOSSIANS
4:17 NLT
As a minister Jesus expects me to:
Serve him courageously
Tychicus & Aristarchus
When
the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he
said good-bye and left for Macedonia. While there, he encouraged the believers
in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, where he
stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he
discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return
through Macedonia. Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son
of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from
Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. ACTS 20:1-4 NLT
Serve him regardless
of my past
Onesimus
I
am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own
people… I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his
father in the faith while here in prison… Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to
you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us… It seems you lost
Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. PHILEMON 9, 10, 15 NLT
But—“When
God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the
righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our
sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. TITUS 3:4 NLT
Mark
Barnabas
agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since
John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in
their work. ACTS 15:37-38 NLT
As
you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. COLOSSIANS 4:10 NLT
Comfort hurting people
Justus
Jesus
(the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish
believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of
God. And what a comfort they have been! COLOSSIANS
4:11 NLT
Pray for my church
Ephapras
Epaphras,
a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his
greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and
perfect, COLOSSIANS 4:12 NLT
Surrender my talents and resources to his
service
Luke & Nympha
Luke,
the beloved doctor, sends his greetings COLOSSIANS
4:14 NLT
Please
give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and
the church that meets in her house. COLOSSIANS
4:15 NLT
APPLY IT TO MY LIFE
Will I
serve Jesus?
My life without
ministry will be miserable
For
we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do
the good things he planned for us long ago. EPHESIANS
2:10 NLT
My life serving God
will be incredible
That
is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No
eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no
mind has imagined what
God has prepared for those who love him.” 1
CORINTHIANS 2:9 NLT
LET
IT OUT
…choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods
your ancestors served… Or will it be the gods of (those)…in whose land you now
live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” JOSHUA 24:15 NLT