Sunday's Message - Rooted in Service (Colossians 1:24–2:5)

In the series, Rooted in Christ: A Journey through Colossians, we're journeying through Paul's letter to the Colossians, discovering how to plant our lives firmly in Christ—the one who holds all things together. In seven services, we’ll explore how we might become rooted in his grace and love as we live our lives. We’ll cover the following:

• Rooted in Prayer (Colossians 1:1-14) - June 15
• Rooted in Peace (Colossians 1:15-23) - June 22
• Rooted in Service (Colossians 1:24–2:5) - July 6
• Rooted in Faith (Colossians 2:6-19) - July 13
• Rooted in Freedom (Colossians 2:20 – 3:11) - July 20
• Rooted in Fellowship (Colossians 3:12 – 4:1) - July 27
• Rooted in Witness (Colossians 4:2-18) - August 3

On Sunday, July 6, we continued the series by looking at Colossians 1:24–2:5 and discussed how our faith can be rooted in service. Below is the podcast and text of the sermon. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).  You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page.

Well, here we are, still in the glow of the fourth, and in light of that, personally I’m thankful for three things. First, I feel fortunate to live in a country that was grounded in some principles which literally changed the world and yet that also has shown the insight and courage to change as standards of justice and equality and compassion continue to evolve. And second, I feel lucky to have experienced southern West Virginia baked beans with, count them, three different kinds of beans. And third, I’m extremely grateful that, while Debbie and I were out on Friday evening, the neighborhood fireworks weren’t so loud that Beth Hawk had to send me a text saying that she had Coco Chanel who somehow escaped, again. Now, in light of Independence Day, for those three things, I’m truly thankful.

Of course, when you’re talking about the 4th of July, we all know why the day is important. You see, 249 years ago, the Declaration of Independence was signed. And you know, it’s interesting, if you think about what Thomas Jefferson wrote and what the Committee of Five edited and what the Continental Congress passed, it really provided the basis for what our country would become. I mean, it certainly established our reason for fighting. As it reads,

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. [The Declaration of Independence]

Now that was the reason for separating from the mother country. And as to the anticipated results, well, that’s also in the document. 

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States... [The Declaration of Independence]

Now, according to what they wrote, this was the rationale for the American Revolution.

And I’ll tell you, I think it’s really interesting that I believe we can see this same sort of thing going on in Paul’s letter to the Colossians, as he described his sense of service. You see, based on what he wrote, he understood the reason for his work and anticipated the results. And that’s going to be our focus this morning. You see, having already talked about prayer and peace, during this message we’re going to use what Paul wrote as a way to become servants in our world  just like he was in his. As a matter of fact, using Colossians 1:24 through 2:5 as a guide, we’re going to consider the two ways I’ve already mentioned, that I think might enable us to become more firmly rooted in genuine Christian service. 

For example, first, I believe we can become rooted in service by understanding the reason we’re here, in other words, by understanding why we’ve been called to serve God by serving others.

And I’ll tell you, I think that was certainly the case with Paul. I mean, just listen to what he wrote to the Colossians:

I am glad I can suffer for you. I am pleased also that in my own body I can continue the suffering of Christ for his body, the church. God’s plan was to make me a servant of his church and to send me to preach his complete message to you. For ages and ages this message was kept secret from everyone, but now it has been explained to God’s people. God did this because he wanted you Gentiles to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God’s glory.

We announce the message about Christ, and we use all our wisdom to warn and teach everyone, so all of Christ’s followers will grow and become mature. This is why I work so hard and use the mighty power he gives me. [Colossians 1:24-29, CEV]

Now that’s what Paul wrote. And in it, I think it’s obvious that he understood his goal. You see, even though he knew that he might have to suffer, he also knew that God had made him a servant and sent him to preach God’s message to this particular church, a Gentile congregation that didn’t have a clue about this messiah business. Therefore, his goal was to share this knowledge, this insight, this truth, something he could do by simply announcing the message about Christ so that Colossians might grow and mature. You see, Paul understood the reason for his service. 

And I’ll tell you something, so can we, so can we as we’re living in a world in which almost everybody knows the name but often are clueless about what Jesus actually taught and where many claim the label but are ignorant about what living as a Christian really involves. You see, as disciples, the body of Christ, united and inspired by God’s Holy Spirit, we can understand our goal: to share with the entire world what it means to follow the one who said that “God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die” [John 3:16, CEV] and who said that “You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. So I command you to love each other” [John 15:16-17, CEV] and who said to his disciples, “If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me and for the good news, you will save it.” [Mark 8:34b-35, CEV] Now that’s what Jesus taught, and I’m telling you, sharing it, man, that’s our goal, something that we can actually do by simply putting into practice those two commands that he said summarized all the others, when “Jesus answered, “The most important one says: ‘People of Israel, you have only one Lord and God. You must love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.’ The second most important commandment says: ‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is more important than these.” [Mark 12:29-31, CEV] You see, we can share God’s wonderful and glorious message through the words we use and the works we do and the attitude we show. This is our reason for being here, something that we can understand. And that’s one way we can become rooted in service. 

And second, we can also anticipate the results we’re going to see. In other words, we can choose to push aside all the stuff that can distract us so that we can look forward to what’s going to happen as a result of the goals we’ve set and the execution we’ve accomplished. You see, as we’re living the reason we’ve been called, we can choose to look forward to the results that are coming.

And you know, I think that’s exactly what Paul did. I mean, after telling the Colossians all about the reasons he was serving the Lord, this was what he wrote:

I want you to know what a struggle I am going through for you, for God’s people at Laodicea, and for all of those followers who have never met me. I do it to encourage them. Then as their hearts are joined together in love, they will be wonderfully blessed with complete understanding. And they will truly know Christ. Not only is he the key to God’s mystery, but all wisdom and knowledge are hidden away in him. I tell you these things to keep you from being fooled by fancy talk. Even though I am not with you, I keep thinking about you. I am glad to know that you are living as you should and your faith in Christ is strong. [Colossians 2:1-5, CEV]

In other words, Paul seemed crystal clear about both the costs and benefits of his service. I mean, on one hand, he knew that it would be a struggle, in fact, as he wrote in the first passage we read, it might also involve some very real suffering. On the other hand, though, he knew that it was going to be worth it, because as he encouraged them, he believed they’d join together in love. And as he shared with them, he expected their wisdom and knowledge to expand. In other words, as Paul claimed and lived the reason he’d been called, he was confident that Colossian life would improve and that Colossian faith would become strong. You see, I think those were results Paul anticipated.

And I’m telling you right here and now, I think we can do the same ourselves. You see, as we accept the reason God has called us together as his body and as we claim the goal to share the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit within a world that becoming more and more divided and crude and callous and as we decide to demonstrate through words and work and attitude that this world is wrong because our God is right, I believe we’re going to see this same world begin to change. Of course, it’s not going to be easy nor free; but then, nothing of real value is. I mean, let’s get real, there’s going to be costs when we stand up for what’s right but not popular. But the benefits, good night nurse, the benefits of sharing and living the gospel, they’re going to be magnificent. You see, when we have the courage and confidence to do this kind of thing, we’re going to see change. For example, rather than allowing themselves to become splintered, with a focus on God, I believe people will start coming together in order to achieve something far greater than themselves. And instead of chasing all kinds of spiritual sounding nonsense, with a knowledge of Christ, folks are going to know exactly what Jesus taught and exactly how he challenged us to live. You see, when we decide to accept the reason we’ve been called and really live it, the lives of those who hear and see and feel, man, they’re going to get better and what’s more, their ability to trust will become strong. I’m telling you, this is going to happen when we anticipate the results of our willingness to take up the cross and to follow Christ. And that’s another way we can become rooted in service. 

And you know, when you think about it, that’s really what happened after July 4, 1776. I mean, after signing The Declaration of Independence, with all its reasons and results, the war was won and the world was turned upside down. And now, we can live in a country that rests on founding principles of justice and equality and compassion but that also has the courage to grow and mature. And if we’re lucky, in this country, we’ll have the chance to share a trifecta of baked beans. And we all have the inalienable right to have pets that are terrified of all kinds of fireworks. God bless America. Long may she wave. 

And you know, I think the same kind of thing happened to the Apostle Paul after he put down the reasons he had and the results he expected in the Colossian church. And you know, brothers and sisters, it can also happen to us. You see, we can understand the reason we’re here, and I’m talking about the goals we have and work we’ve been given. And we can also anticipate the results we can see, you know, when we act on those reasons, taking both the costs and the benefits seriously. In other words, following the example of Paul, right here and right now, we can become rooted in service.