Paul’s Relationship to the Church

Colossians 1:24ff

Part 4

Paul Suffered for the church

His REAL suffering was not surprising…

Look at the beginning Acts 9:16…for I will show him

how much he must

suffer for My name’s

sake.

[23] Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near

death. [24] Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. [25] Three times I was beaten

with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; [26] on

frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from

Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; [27] in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and

thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. [28] And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me

of my anxiety for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28 ESV)

Paul Suffered for the church

His REAL suffering was not surprising…

Look at the beginning Acts 9:16

The middle 2 Cor.11:23-28

Paul Suffered for the church

His REAL suffering was not surprising…

Look at the beginning Acts 9:16The middle 2 Cor.11:23-28And life at the end 2 Tim.4:6-7

[6] For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. [7] I have fought

the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Paul Rejoiced in his Suffering

He kept a good attitude…

[40] and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them

not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted

worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. [42] And every day, in the temple and from

house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

(Acts 5:40-42 ESV)

He kept a good attitude like others before him

[40] and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them

not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted

worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. [42] And every day, in the temple and from

house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

(Acts 5:40-42 ESV)

He kept a good attitude like others before him

Philippians 1:3-4

I thank my God in all my

remembrance of you, always

offering prayer with joy in my

every prayer for you all…

Paul Rejoiced in his Suffering

He kept a good attitude…Phil.1:3-4-in prison

Philippians 1:17-18

[17] The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking

to afflict me in my imprisonment. [18] What then? Only that in every

way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I

rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice

Paul Rejoiced in his Suffering

He kept a good attitude…Phil.1:3-4-in prison

Phil.1:18-w/enemies

Philippians 3:8

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the

surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I

have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but

rubbish in order that I may gain Christ…

Paul Rejoiced in his Suffering

He kept a good attitude…Phil.1:3-4-in prison

Phil.1:18-w/enemiesPhil.3:8-looking

back

What was his goal that encouraged this?

1 Peter 3:18[18] For Christ also

suffered once for sins, the

righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us

to God…

Colossians 1:28-29And we proclaim Him,

admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom that we may present every man complete in Christ. And

for this purpose also I labor…..

Paul’s goal was the same goal that Christ had

Paul Ministered to the church… how???

2 Cor. 11:28-29 - Was concerned for all

1 Cor. 5:3-5 - Led them in hard decisions

2 Cor. 12:21 - Mourned over their impenitence

2 Cor. 13:10 - Was severe in his rebuke…but

2 Cor. 12:19 - Built them up with his teaching

Gal. 3:3 - Reminded, Eph. 1:15-16 -commended, and

Acts 20:27 - Kept back nothing!

His ministry was to preach the word..

1:26 - The message hidden, now revealed

1:27 - Focused on Jesus Christ1:28 - In every way possible…

proclaiming, admonishing, teachingto present every man complete in Christ

1:29 - using God’s power fully

What’s the point?

What is MY attitude toward the church?

Am I keeping a good attitude?

Am I willing to suffer?

Am I willing to serve?

Am I laboring in the word? Or, am I just hanging

on the fringes?