Message Notes

SPIRITUAL RETREAT

Theme: “Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You”   Colossians 3:16

SESSION 5

P. CONCRETE PRACTICES
Colossians 3:18- 4:1

1. Family (Colossians 3:18-21)

a) Wives
Godly submission

b) Husbands
Loving concern

c) Children
Obedience that is well-pleasing to the Lord

d) Fathers (parents)
Do not provoke the children

2. Household/ Workplace (Colossians 3:22- 4:1)

a) Slaves

i) Obey in all things

ii) Not with eye-service as men-pleasers

iii) Sincerity of the heart

iv) Fearing God

v) Work to be done heartily as to the Lord and not to men

vi) Knowing that the Lord will reward (inheritance)

vii) Serving the Lord Christ

viii) But if there is wrong-doing, there will be punishment

b) Masters

i) Give what is just and fair

ii) Knowing that there is a Master (Lord) in heaven

Q. COMPASSION AND CONCERN
Colossians 4:2-6

1. In prayer (Colossians 4:2-3)

a) Giving attention

b) Perseverance

c) Vigilance (watchfulness)

d) Thanksgiving

e) Intercession

f) Special reference to the spread of the Gospel

i) An open door

ii) To make manifest the mystery of Christ

iii) To speak of the Lord

2. The Christian Walk (Colossians 4:5)

a) With reference to those in the world

b) To walk in wisdom

c) Redeeming the time

d) Speech

i) With grace

ii) With salt (“salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13)

iii) You know how you ought to answer each one (Cf. 1 Peter 3:15)

R. COMMENDATION OF FAITHFUL FELLOW WORKERS
Colossians 4:7-15

1. Tychichus (Colossians 4:7-8)

a) A beloved brother

b) Faithful minister

c) Fellow servant in the Lord

i) Sent by Paul

ii) To know the circumstances of the Colossians

iii) To comfort their hearts

2. Onesimus (Colossians 4:8)

a) A faithful brother

b) And beloved

c) He was from Colossae (Cf. Epistle to Philemon)

3. Aristarchus (Colossians 4:9)

a) A fellow prisoner

b) He sent greetings to the Colossians

4. Mark (Colossians 4:10)

a) Relative of Barnabas (tr. “cousin” here)

b) He is to be welcomed (Cf. Acts 15)

5. Jesus, called Justus (Colossians 4:11)

a) He and all of the above

b) Fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision- Jews)

c) They had proved to be a comfort to Paul

6. Epaphras (Colossians 4:12-13)

a) From Colossae

b) A bondservant of Christ

c) He sent greetings (Cf. Colossians 1:7-8)

d) Always labouring fervently for the Colossians in prayer

i) That they stand complete

ii) In all the will of God

e) Paul bears witness of his great zeal

i) For those in Colossae

ii) For those in Laodicea

iii) For those in Hierapolis

f) Luke (Colossians 4:14a)

i) He was with Paul

ii) He sent greetings

g) Demas (Colossians 4:14b)

i) He was also with Paul

ii) He also sent greetings

iii) In time, he forsook Paul (Cf. 2 Timothy 4:10)

iv) He had chosen the world (Cf. 2 Timothy 4:10)

S. CONCLUDING CHALLENGE
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:16-17

1. Appropriate Response (Personal)

a) Informed

b) Instructed

c) Impacted

d) Inspired

2. Appropriate Response (Church)

a) Body of Christ

b) Nourished and knit together
Grows with the increase that is from God (Colossians 2:19)