Message Notes for March 16, 2025

Series: Colossians – The Power of Christ in You

Title: The Purpose and Cost of Discipleship

God has a plan for our lives that empowers us to a transformed life on this earth and an eternal inheritance in heaven. 

The purpose of discipleship is to present Christians mature in Christ and knowledgeable of God’s wisdom and treasures.

Part three: 

Colossians 1:24-2:5 ESV  Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, ²⁵ of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ²⁷ To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. ²⁹ For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, ² that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ⁵ For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

∙ Paul’s goal: to make the word of God fully known.

∙ Making God fully known to others has a cost.

∙ The cost is how we steward Jesus’ commission in our lives.

∙ God’s mystery is not a puzzle, but rather wonder and awe of His love, grace and power for us.

∙ There is struggle when you have the desire to set people free.

∙ Tap into the hidden treasures available for you.

Family/Group Study Notes for the week of March 16, 2025

Series: The Power of Christ in You

Title: The Purpose and Cost of Discipleship

• Share with others in your family or group how someone has gone out of their way, sacrificed or even denied themselves or suffered for your benefit.  How did that make you feel?  How did you show appreciation?  Why did they do it?  
• Read together with your family/group Colossians 1:24-2:5. Write down individually the words or phrases that stand out to you.  Share with others what you highlighted and why. 
• Who introduced you to Jesus and helped you grow in faith?  In what ways are you helping others know Jesus?  Why did Paul say that he was suffering and afflicted for their sake?  What kind of suffering or affliction do you think that was?  Have you ever been so concerned about someone’s wellbeing that it caused you emotional trauma?  Why?  What did you want for that person?  What did those feelings cause you to do to help them get through it?  Paul sees these people struggling in faith and it causes him to suffer for the sake of helping them know Jesus more fully.  Who needs you to experience that kind of love and passion for them to know Christ?
•  What does Paul mean by “Christ in you, the hope of glory”?  What difference does it mean for Christ to be in you rather than just knowing Him? 
• How is God’s word a treasure chest of wisdom and knowledge for you? Are there particular phrases or wisdom pearls that guide your life?  How have other Christians dropped pearls of wisdom and knowledge into your life? What are they?
• In vs. 29, Paul speaks of the energy of Christ in him.  How have you needed Jesus’ power and strength in your life?  
• In vs. 2:4, Paul warns them not to be held captive or deceived by plausible arguments of their culture and other religions.  What are the challenges and deceptions that our culture gives to our Christian Walk?  What do we need to be cautious of?  
• Gather and pray with each other that Jesus will live powerfully in you and your heart and outreach for the lost will increase.