Q: What is the largest living thing in the world?

Height : 275 ft,Girth : 25 ft, Vol. : 52,513 cu ftEst. age : 2,700yrs

Giant Sequoia311’

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS

Colossians

I. Chp 1 : DOCTRINE

CHRIST'S SUPREMACY & SUFFICIENCY DECLARED

1. 1:1-8 Lessons in Discipleship 1

1st : FAITH in Christ2nd : LOVE for the brethren3rd : HOPE in heaven

2. 1:9-14 Lessons in Discipleship IIImportance of Prayer Building Deep in Christ Sub-Structure Structure Superstructure

sermon series on Colossians

3. Col 1:15-23

The SUPREMACY & SUFFICIENCY of CHRIST

v15-17 The Supremacy of Christ in CREATION

v18-20 The Sufficiency of Christ in Re-CREATION

Conclusion :

v21 Our Past Alienation

v22 Our Present Reconciliation

v23 Our Future Glorification

Col 1:24-29

24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—

26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.

27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Col 1:24-29 God had a PLAN from eternity ….

a blueprint for His Church… God’s PLAN involves ‘people’ … All People – both Jews & Gentiles … also called Saints …

or Disciples …

God’s BLUEPRINT FOR DISCIPLESHIP…

Col 1:26-29 Blueprint for Discipleship

26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.

27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Blueprint for Discipleship26 the mystery that has been kept hidden

for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.

27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Q: Who is the ‘them’ in v27 ?Q: Who are ‘the saints’ ?Q: What is this ‘MYSTERY’ ?

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘why’It’s the reason - why we disciple people…

- why we practice discipleship…God must choose to reveal ….

Otherwise we will never / cannot know …What then is this ‘MYSTERY’ ?

Last Christmas, 2014…

‘CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY’ Looking back : Christ Came… Now : Have Hope because Christ Came… Looking forward : to God’s Glory

because Christ came & dwell within us …

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘why’

‘CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY’

Ref v27 AMP

“which is Christ within (you) and among you, the Hope of (realizing the) glory.”

The mystery is about …

God’s dwelling place

not a physical building

BUT a COMMUNITY where God’s Glory resides

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘why’

Q: What is this ‘Glory’ ?Ref : John 17:22

‘I have given them the glory that you gave me, …’

‘that they may be one as we are one…’

to be like the TRINITY

dwelling in UNITY

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘why’Q: When did this happen ?Ref John 17:5

‘And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.’before the world began …. before creation…before time …

Q: What was God doing before creation / time ?* God’s eternal purpose & existent

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘why’Our Understanding of God ….Ref Deut 6:4 “Hear, O Israel:

The Lord our God, the Lord is one….”

Our God is ONE ….Monotheistic Religions ….Islam, Judaism & ChristianityThe difference …One God in three Persons … Triune God

* ‘God is Love’…

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘why’Our God is a Triune God - TRINITYRef John 14:10 ‘I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me…’‘Mutual indwelling’Living in Unity, Love, Acceptance, Honor,

Serving, Submitting, Encouraging….Practicing all the “‘good’ one another's ”Living in a LOVING COMMUNITYThis is GOD’S GLORY

*Three Volunteers…

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘why’

God wanted to share this GLORY …with His highest order of creation – man

Gen 1:26 "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,

* Another Three VolunteersGod made man in His image to share this GLORY …God came to dwell in them, with them and among

them … this is GOD’s COMMUNITY …

this is DISCIPLESHIP …But because of sin….

this glory / relationship with God is lost…

God’s GloryThis is the MYSTERY…Christ within you & among you …that’s God’s Hope = our Hope …that’s God’s Glory = our Glory …

God’s Hope/Glory is seen & experienced when… his people are in COMMUNITY…living in ‘UNITY’ & practicing the ‘ONE-ANOTHER’ lifestyle….

Ref John 17:23 “I in them and you in me…May they be brought to complete unity… to let the world know that you sent me…”

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘why’

Blueprint for Discipleship

: ‘Why’ to ‘How’

Early New Testament Church ….Acts 2:44-47 “All the believers were together and

had everything in common… they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together… broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God ...”

Acts 5:42 “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”

The Church started as a COMMUNITY…

God’s Glory

The Church started as a COMMUNITY of men and women centering on the living Christ.

Then the church moved to Greece, where it became a PHILOSOPHY.

Then it moved to Rome, where it became an INSTITUTION.

Next it moved to Europe where it became a TRADITION, and…

Finally it moved to America where it became an ENTERPRISE.

It is said of the Church …

Blueprint for Discipleship : ‘Why to How’

God’s Glory

v28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ….

v28 ESV Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ….

Proclaim Christ …Warning EVERYONE …Teaching EVERYONE …Presenting EVERYONE …perfect / mature / complete in Christ …

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘HOW’

Jesus’ Model of Discipleship :COMMUNITY of TWELVE…SMALLER inner group of THREE…Sometimes ONE-on-ONE…

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘HOW’

Survey by Dr. Carl Horton, Fuller Theological Seminary on the DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERS ….The research showed that : Big meetings pulpit preaching or teaching… Formal classes & courses… Discipleship in small groups… Discipleship & mentoring one-on-one…

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘HOW’

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God’s Glory

Matt 28:18-20 Great Commission“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore GO and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations,…”God’s People are COMMANDED to GO ….and MAKE DISCIPLES…Disciples are made, not born …Making Disciples involves work, hard work ...

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘HOW’

God’s GloryMatt 28:18-20 Great Commission“baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the

Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Baptism : outward act….to immerse, submerge, overwhelm …

in the name of the TRINITY…. Baptized into a Community, a Church Family…Discipleship happens in Community…

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘HOW’

God’s GloryMatt 28:18-20v20 and teaching them to obey everything I have

commanded you. after Baptism : teach = DISCIPLEgoal of discipling : obediencethe “Commandments” … Q: How many commandments are there ? Jewish : Old Testament : Greatest Commandments : New Commandment :

Blueprint for Discipleship– the ‘HOW’

61310 2 (Matt 22:36-40) 1 (John 13:34)

God’s GloryGod’s Blueprint for Discipleship to have communities …loving community - like the Trinity – in ‘Unity’ & enjoying the ‘Glory’to practice & enjoy “one-another” …

Matt 28:20 “… And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Col 1:29 “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”

Only possible because of …God’s presence …God’s empowerment …

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘HOW’

Col 1:26-29 Blueprint for Discipleship

26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.

27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Col 1:24

v24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

Cost to Discipleship : SUFFERING

Ref: Luke 9:231 Peter 2:21, 4:12-13Heb 11

Quote : “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘WHAT’

Col 1:24

v24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

Sufficiency of Christ’s Sacrifice : Heb 9:28, 1 Peter 3:18

‘lacking’ : Gk ‘husterema’

Ref Phil 2:25-30 Epaphroditus …

V30 “because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was LACKING in your service toward me.”

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘WHAT’

Col 1:25

v25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—

Servant : Steward, Minister …Disciples of Christ are COMMISSIONed …

• To serve• To be servants

Blueprint for Discipleship – the ‘WHO’

Q: What is the largest living thing in the world?

Height : 275 ft,Girth : 25 ft, Vol. : 52,513 cu ftEst. age : 2,700yrs

Q: How deep on an average are the roots of a Giant Sequoia tree ?

1. 3 feet

2. 10 feet

3. 30 feet

4. 100 feet

5. 300 feet

Eccl 4:10

If one falls down, his friend can help him up.

But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

APPLICATION :

Christians = Disciples

Disciples in Community

Commanded to MAKE DISCIPLES …

Are we ‘Making Disciples’ ?

Ps Eddy Leo, Abbalove Ministry Indonesia spoke at LEAD2015 Conf …

Goal of Discipling 12 individuals over a lifetime starting with our own children …

Intentional Discipling …

Q: Are you a Christian ?Q: Are you a Disciple ?Q: Are you in a “Community” ?SSMC - Discipleship Group?DGs is where you will experience …“One-Anotherness” ….Learning & growing

together …Reaching out … touching

lives … • Love one another

• Be devoted to one another

• Honor one another

• Accept one another

APPLICATION : Blueprint for Discipleship

APPLICATION : Blueprint for Discipleship

If you are new to SSMC ….

If you are worshipping with us regularly ….

Invite you to join one of our Discipleship Groups :

PJ, KL & Shah Alam

2 daytime midweek groups & hoping to start another one …

1 Sun weekend group …

Rest meet on midweek nights most Fridays ….

Age-wise : 3 young adults, 1 seniors, rest mixed …

DG Sunday 2nd August 2015…

APPLICATION : Blueprint for Discipleship

If you want to be a Christian / Disciple ….

Be a good Disciple of Jesus Christ …

Know WHY … the mystery …

Know HOW … in community …

Know WHAT … cost to consider …

Know WHO … as a servant …

Take up the challenge of Discipling 12 persons in your lifetime starting with your children….

Do It In A Loving COMMUNITY.