“Slavery, Prayer, Community” August 18, 2019; SAPC, Denton; Colossians 4; Richard B. Culp
Colossians 4:7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant[b] in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are[c] and that he may encourage your hearts; 9 he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him. 11 And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. 13 For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.”
18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
Introduction: To finish our sermon series on Galatians and Colossians, we read the finish to Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
Move 1: Paul and slavery.
a. This last chapter begins with a verse one, which is probably more connected to the household code section.
1. This is when Paul writes about how people are to be connected to one another and treat one another in light of the freedom we have in Christ and the realization that we are all one in Christ.
2. Paul trying to sort through relationships in light of their being new creations.
3. It impacts every relationship; husband and wife; parent and child; slave and master.
4. Paul does not call for an end to slavery (although he seems to do that in his letter to Onesimus about Philemon), but he reimagines the relationship between slave and master as modeled after the relationship between God and Christian.
b. Here’s the rub - historically, over the centuries when Christians argued that slavery was biblical and mandated from God, Paul’s letters would be a place they would turn to support their argument.
1. The biblical text being used to support slavery.
2. Not the first or last time Scripture is used to support ideas that do not seem to be of God.
3. This, of course, presents a challenge to us as we approach Scripture.
b. How do we take pre-enlightenment writing from a very different context and understand it as the Word of God that speaks to us today?
1. We can study the text, fo course.
2. If we look at the original Greek to study the phrase, “treat your slaves justly and fairly,” we would discover that Paul is using language that ties treatment of slaves to the newly defined relationships we have as brothers and sisters in Christ.
3. While Paul does not go so far as to call for an end to slavery, he is actually advocating for a new relationship between slave and master, one that models itself on how Christ relates to us.
4. But, more than biblical study, we must interpret biblical texts in light of the God whom we have met in the person of Jesus Christ.
5. When we believe we have discovered the biblical truth, does it reveal the God we now in Jesus Christ.
6. Nothing easy about interpreting Scripture.
5. There is nothing easy about being a new creation, either, but the same type of criteria can be used.
7. Does how we understand we are to act as a new creation reflect the God we know in Jesus Christ. If yes, full steam ahead. If not, reimagine how you might act.
Move 2: Paul reminds us of the importance of prayer to interpreting Scripture and being new creations.
a. You may remember that as we began our study of Galatians earlier in the summer, we read how Paul prays for those to whom he is writing.
1. Prayer is essential to how we learn to be followers of Christ.
2. Most important prayer in the worship service?
3. Okay, not really fair to suggest one prayer is more important than another, but I would at least say there is no more important prayer than the Prayer for Illumination which we pray before we hear the Scripture read, sung, and proclaimed.
4. I personally like it because then I can
5. sermon prep by miltybc • August 17, 2019
here’s a poem that grew out of my preparation.
sermon prep
what can I say
what should I say
can I say that
I don’t know
what to say
say that again
don’t say that
what did you say
that’s been said
far too often
nothing to say
say something
what can I say (http://donteatalone.com/sermon-prep/)
what should I say
can I say that
I don’t know
what to say
say that again
don’t say that
what did you say
that’s been said
far too often
nothing to say
say something
what can I say (http://donteatalone.com/sermon-prep/)
5. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit and prayerful discernment can we discover what God desires of us.
b. not easy being a new creation.
1. We need people praying for us.
2. We need to be praying for God’s guidance.
3. To live into our calling as new creations can only be done by the power of prayer.
Move 3: Finally, it’s a people thing.
a. Paul almost sounds like he is doing some name dropping.
1. Maybe he is in a way.
2. Writing to people he does not know and has never met.
3. Trying to make some connections with them.
4. “you may not know me, but you know so-and-so, whom you know, like and respect. So because of them, give me a shot.”
b. paul needs people in his life.
1. to survive his own imprisonment and persevere, he needs people like Aristarchus. A companion in prison with him. Someone with whom he can share his struggles. Likewise, we need people in the trenches with us, sharing in our struggles.
2. To carry his message to others, Paul needs someone like Mark. How often in life do we need someone to be our messenger.
3. To continue to teach what Paul has shared with them.
4. Paul needs a community in his life.
5. We need a community in our lives.
c. It’s a people thing.
1. Not new to Paul.
2. God creates the world and then quickly calls Adam and Eve into being.
3. God is a god of relationships.
4. God calls us to be in relationships.
5. To interpret Scripture and figure it out, we need to be in conversations with others.
6. To be new creations, we need the community to help shape us, form us, correct us.
Conclusion: Paul finishes the letter with “Grace be with you.”
The grace of God we discover in the biblical texts be with you.
the grace of God we discover most fully in the person of Jesus Christ be with you.
the grace of God that calls us to be new creations be with you.
The life-giving, life-saving grace of God be with you. Amen.
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