Monday, February 14, 2011

Being Faithful in Keeping Christ First

My Pastor concluded his "Christ First" series from Colossians.  The key verses for his series were:
  • "And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy" (Colossians1:18)
  • "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."(Colossians 1:27)

In the sermon, he gave interesting nicknames for those listed in 4:7-18 (with some good related tips):  Tychichus - Quick Study Intern (find mentors), Onesimus - Redeemed Runaway (find place to serve), Aristarchus - Second Fiddle (put aside pride), Mark - Recovered Quitter (take advantage of second chances), Justus - Motivated Misfit (be willing to change as needed for the cause of Christ), Epaphras - Entrepreneur (take difficulties and turn them around as opportunities for God), Luke - Loyal Luke (be able to be counted on), Demas - Costly Casualty (don't get lost in the world), Nympha - Hospitable Hostess (use whatever gifts you have), Archippus - Impulsive Minister (serving faithfully with background like being privileged son of Philemon), and Paul - Wounded Winner  (faithfulness even in chains).

And he concluded with what FAITHFULNESS to Jesus Christ means:
  • Giving when you feel like keeping
  • Praying for others when you need prayer
  • Getting up when you have stumbled badly
  • Courage to stay when others run away
  • Suffering patiently when you can't understand why
  • Working when you can't see immediate results
  • Finishing when pleasures beckon you to leave your post
  • Remaining warm-hearted to others when the world is cold to you
  • Looking for opportunities when life stinks
His final closing verse was:
"This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."  (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)

This sermon, being on faithfulnes, is close to my heart and is in keeping with my life verse.

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