Doing Life Together: Colossians 4.7-18 (ESV)

Today is our final message in Colossians, a letter to new believers.  It's about how we do the work we are called to do.  We don't always realize that Paul had a team of people around him in ministry.  Today we'll gain insight about Paul's team.  We're in the middle of basketball season.  Some teams have a superstar player that gets all the attention but we know it takes a team.  A team is only as good as how well they work together.  Paul tells us they were together in ministry.  Some of them were more out on the forefront speaking.  Others were behind the scenes.  Paul gives us insight on how to work together as a team to do what God has called us to do.  They were doing life together.  Paul was the first multi-staff church model.  We see different people doing different things as they do life together.  The first group Paul writes about is the pastors.

Pastors do life together.

 The word used here to refer to pastors in verses seven and nine is the word "brother." They affectionately called each other "brother."  This was my title in the first church I served in Alabama.  I was "Brother Scotty."  I've heard this term used here in Randolph County as well.  

                    ⁷Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 

As Paul refers to Tychicus he uses the same phrases he uses to refer to Timothy in his role as pastor.  Paul calls him, "beloved brother, faithful minister and fellow servant."  All of these are for someone who has a speaking role.  They will be speaking this letter to the churches, this letter and other things as well.  When we have a guest speaker, for example, they speak and afterwards we ask them questions we have.  Paul says Tychicus will be able to answer questions.  Paul and Tychicus were deeply involved in ministry together.
                    ⁹and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

 Onesimus was another pastor.  What's unique about him is he was a slave.  This is a difficult issue for us.  Onesimus was a freed slave and a pastor.  Imagine the tension!  He's a brother and a pastor and Paul says to listen to him.  This was a strong word.  Onesimus is one of Paul's team, not just a random person.  He maybe was even a member of their church.  Maybe Onesimus was sent out by that church and is returning to share with them.  I always enjoy times when I'm invited to speak at the church where I grew up.  We have that privilege here too.  Onesimus will bring Paul's message to them and Paul has given him that authority.  Paul presents these pastors and then turns to others.  These aren't people who will accompany the letter, but they extend greetings as well. 

Believers do life together.

These are the people who are behind the scenes that are a part of the ministry that's happening.  All of this is important because they were ALL IN for a reason.  That reason is the Gospel matters!  We need Jesus.  The world needs Jesus.
                    ¹⁰Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 
Aristarchus is the definition of being ALL IN!  He's in prison with Paul.  You can't get any more invested than Aristarchus.  He was arrested with Paul and has stayed with Paul.  He's there for the sake of the Gospel.  He's ALL IN.  Aristarchus was one of the treasurers who accompanied the money.  There was a major crisis in Jerusalem at the mother church, the sending church.  They took up an offering and Aristarchus was responsible for carrying the offering.  He was a good steward and was entrusted with financial resources.  The people you can trust with money, you can trust with just about anything.  Aristarchus was fully invested in what they were doing.  I can't help but think about Chuck here at First Baptist.  We trust him and he's invested.  he believes in the power of the Gospel.  You've been praying for his daughter and Chuck and Kim are both moved to know you're praying for them.  We are more than a business here, we are a family.  As we go through all of this, what Lindsey is facing, we see a glimpse of what Paul is talking about when Paul shares about his brothers and sisters.

Mark is mentioned here as well.  We have a lot of information about Mark but there's something new we learn here.  Barnabas stood up for Mark.  At one point there was a falling out between Mark and Paul.  Barnabas and Mark are cousins.  Barnabas stepped in and Paul and Mark parted ways.  They had a major disagreement.  It happens.  In life we have times when believers don't always get along.  Sometimes we don't agree on how to do things.  Paul mentions Mark here.  Maybe the church had heard about the disagreements?  Maybe people would have been standoffish around Mark?  Paul says to receive him.  Paul and Mark reconciled and so can we.  We will disagree.  It's ok.  There's hope in the Gospel.  We believe people need Jesus and we can work through difficult things.  Paul had to do this.  Paul and Mark were restored.  Life happens; there's grace and they're together again.  There are two more believers mentioned:  these are people who don't have speaking roles, but they're just as essential.
                    ¹²Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 
Epaphras is another person sent out by the church.   We do this model; we send out locally, nationally and all over the world.  Epaphras was sent out, a servant.  What stands out the most is that he was a prayer warrior even as he was serving in another place he was praying for them.  We love people who are on their knees before God for us.  Exodus 32 describes Moses as an intercessor like Epaphras.  He prays people will know the will of God, that they will stand mature and grow up in Christ and develop as believers.  They needed this progress as many were young believers.
                    ¹⁴Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 

 Luke is referred to as a physician.  Luke was important for this team and for the audience in Colossae and Laodicea.  In Laodicea there was a medical school and this school developed early pharmaceuticals that were important.  They developed a special eye salve that restored sight to many.  Medical people were highly valued in this region.  We know Paul and  this team endured physical torment.  Laodicea would have taken care of them. This is the same Laodicea that is written in the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Paul, Mark and Luke wrote the majority of the New Testament.  They were all serving together.  Imagine a meal with them as they talked about ministry together!  It's a blessing to us because this shows us there's many ways to serve.  

People in my role get a lot of attention.  There's so much more that goes into what we do as a church.  We have many on staff.  You contribute.  We have the impact we have because of you.  You serve.  Many are behind the scenes and Paul mentions these individuals.  Paul gives us an example of the kind of people who serve. The Gospel is not just for those who stand and layout the Gospel, the Good News.  We have all walked our own way away from God, we've all sinned.  God sent His Son into this world for us.  Jesus went to the cross for us.  Next Sunday we turn to the cross.  Jesus paid for our sin.  God raised Him from the dead. If we ask God to forgive us He will.  He can restore us.  That is the core message we believe and that we send forth.  It happens because of you.  Children and teens, maybe you're thinking about what you're going to do in your future?  I pray God will continue to give you dreams.  One guiding principle is to always be connected to the Gospel.  Some of you will be pastors, some missionaries, some in the medical profession and others in the financial sector.  All are important.  

Churches do life together.

Colossae and Laodicea had members that were in both churches.  They were closely related.  We are reminded ministry is not a competition.  We want all churches to succeed.  
                    ¹⁵Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. ¹⁶And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 

 Paul tells us two things:  They shared these messages together and these churches worked together.  In verse fifteen, there's a woman mentioned that you've probably never heard of.  There's many famous women of the Bible that we celebrate like Lydia, Sarah, Phoebe etc...  We name our children after them, but how many of you know of someone named Nympha?  Around five people per year are named Nympha; I checked.  Mentioning her can indicate she was a leader in the church.  The role of women in ministry over the years is beyond measure.  We have no idea how many times women have led and established and have given opportunities for churches to grow. The work of these churches  happened because people were ALL IN.  Laodicea is the same church that's mentioned in Revelation 3.  What's said to the church in Laodicea is also said to the church in Colossae.  This area had a need for evangelism and discipleship.  They had many people who had no idea who Jesus was.  The letter ends saying:

Do what God has called you to do.

                    ¹⁷And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

The word for ministry here is also the word for dream.  We're not told what ministry Archippus was called to do, but what a great word for us today.  When we give our lives to Christ He transforms us.  He gives us gifts and a calling.  Maybe you're working to determine your calling?  Many of you already know your calling; you have a ministry that you do.  We want you to be successful.  We want you to be part of what's happening here at First Baptist. Maybe some of you are wondering about becoming part of our church family?  Please reach out to us.  Just ask us how you can begin to follow Jesus.  You can pray to God that you believe He sent His Son for you.  You can express to God that want to give your life to Him.  Tell the Lord you want to follow Him.  Please reach out to us to ask how you can follow Jesus.

Sermon by Dr. Scotty Carpenter.  Sermon Notes by Jeni Martin Johnson.