READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l In this scripture passage Paul reminds us what it means to labour for the Church; not out of duty but from a place of deep devotion.
A. Labouring with Joy in The Midst of Suffering (v24)
Love transforms labour into joy. Paul, writing from prison, was willing to labour and even suffer indefatigably and joyfully for the Church. He knew that despite hardships and setbacks, every deed done for the Body of Christ was not in vain and was valuable in God’s eyes.
When Paul spoke of filling up in his flesh what is still lacking in Christ’s afflictions, he was not implying that there is anything still lacking. Christ has totally paid the price upon the cross and the work is complete. Afflictions refer to the pressures of life that Paul endured, of which he suffered more than most. But his sufferings gave courage to other believers to face their own persecutions. Paul was committed to take the Gospel to the gentiles and he paid a big price for his faithfulness. Often, we would like to escape suffering, but Paul counted it all pure joy. We are all called to serve Christ sacrificially as part of our discipleship journey. The Church has a role to be the hands and feet of Jesus to God’s people and it can never succeed without our sacrificial service.
Where is God calling me to labour for the Church? Remember we follow a suffering Saviour! 1 Peter 4:3 tells us to rejoice as we participate in the sufferings of Christ so that we may be overjoyed when God’s glory is revealed.
B. Labouring with A Steward’s Mindset (v25)
Paul was entrusted with a sacred commission to take the Gospel to the gentiles and twice he refers to himself as a servant of the Gospel (v23) and a servant of the Church. (v24, 25)
Every believer is a steward, entrusted with opportunities, gifts and people. Let us ask God what He wants us to do with what He has given us.
C. Labouring to Reveal the Mystery of Christ (v26-27)
The content of the mystery is singular and it is Christ himself! It is Christ in us, the hope of glory! Most people need at least 5 or 6 encounters with Christ before they make the decision to accept Him. Our role is to help others see the light of Christ shining through their lives like light streaming through a stained-glass window, even the broken pieces.
D. Labouring with Purpose and Mission (v 28-29)
Paul’s two-fold mission was to make the Word of God fully known (v25) and the people of God fully mature (v28). Many people may feel frustrated because they are not clear about their sense of purpose and mission. Our challenge is to ensure that Jesus reigns supreme in our lives and that we understand our mission and how we can fulfill it. This requires us to have a personal mission statement. Paul’s personal mission statement is stated in v 28-29. Paul’s mission was to fully dispense God’s truth to lead every Christian to spiritual maturity. To this end he strenuously contended with all the extraordinary energy Christ gave him.
We have a big mission ahead of us to bring people to Christ and ensure that they grow as disciples. This requires much perseverance and the strength must come from Christ. We cannot do everything but we must do something. We must find out what God requires us to do and then do it with God’s empowering. When we toil at a God given task we receive God given energy. The work of salvation is all of Christ and none of me but in order to live out our sacred mission it must be all of Christ and all of me.
(Sermon notes by Frances Lim)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Study Scripture
- How does Paul describe his mission as a servant of the gospel and the church (v25)?
- According to verse 28, what is the ultimate goal of Paul’s labor and proclamation?
- Recall Sermon
- What point or illustration from the sermon stood out to you most? Why?
- Was there anything in the message that challenged or surprised you about what it means to labour for the church?
- Relate Personally
- When have you felt joy or purpose in serving the church, even when it was hard?.
- How does the idea of Christ working powerfully in you change the way you see your service?
- Commit to Action
- What is one specific way you can labour more faithfully for your church community this month?
- What practical step will you take this week to rely more on Christ’s power as you serve?
