Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Title: The Gospel Needs You!

Introduction

Text:

Main Idea:

Introduction

Attention (Why should they listen to you?)

Uncle Sam - (Show picture of Uncle Sam)

According to Time Magazine...

(Show picture of Uncle Sam)

World War I produced one of the most memorable images in American history: the U.S. Army recruiting poster that depicts a commanding Uncle Sam pointing his finger at the viewer and urging young men to enlist in the war effort.

Painted by noted U.S. illustrator James Montgomery Flagg, the image first appeared on the cover of the July 6, 1916, issue of Leslie’s Weekly magazine with the title “What Are You Doing for Preparedness?”

The U.S. would not declare war on Germany until April of the next year, but the storm signals were clear.

The image was later adapted by the U.S. Army for the poster with the new, unforgettable call to action.

More than 4 million copies of it were printed between 1917 and 1918.

https://time.com/4725856/uncle-sam-poster-history/

https://time.com/4725856/uncle-sam-poster-history/

Just like the USA needed soldiers, So the Gospel needs people (this is God’s way) to move it through the world.

You are those people!

What do the hearers need to know?

You must understand that God uses people, ordinary people to deliver and extraordinary message to all who need to hear it!

You must understand that God uses people, ordinary people to deliver and extraordinary message to all who need to hear it!

Main Textual Idea: In Paul’s final verses, he greets a list of dear friends in the ministry.

Some we know more about than others.

But the fact is, God used every one of them to move the gospel from, as says...

You will be my witnesses!

You means people!

You means them and you means YOU!!

This is what I want you to see this morning!

Not just a simple wrap up to a beautiful and challenging letter, but that the wrap up itself if beautiful and challenging!

God has chosen to use people to move His Word throughout His World.

And I want you to see and understand clearly that...

Main Idea: The Gospel is Constantly on the Move Through People!

Sometimes we are guilty of thinking that it is only through the super-polished, type A, Bible school trained people that God uses to do the work of the ministry thus propelling His gospel throughout the world.

Wrong!

I’m sure you’ve hear this before...

"Don’t be afraid to try, Amateurs built the ark - Professionals built the Titanic.”

Does God use professionals?

Of course He does.

But he doesn’t ONLY use professionals!

In fact, who did Jesus call to be his Apostles?

It wasn’t the professional religious people of that day, it was the working class regular folk.

And what we see in the end of his letter to the church at Colossae is a final greeting to a wide spectrum of believers all doing the work of the ministry!

Take a look at the first group...

Body (Satisfaction)

1.

The Gospel Moves Through Different People

Lead in...This gospel distribution thing is not a one man show!

Explanation - I’m going to walk through the list of people Paul mentions to see if there is anything we can learn...

Illustration -

Argumentation -

Application -

Review - The Gospel is Constantly on the Move Through People!

Tychicus: Pauls says that this guy is “Our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow servant (bond-servant/slave)

From Asia Minor ()

Traveled with Paul at the end of the third Missionary Journey

Delivered the letters of Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon.

It is possible he was sent to relieve Titus in so the Titus could join up with Paul for a bit ()

He covered for Timothy as well when Paul sent for Timothy at the end of Paul’s Life (, )

Being associated with Paul was not an easy thing!

Paul had many enemies and so, consequently did he!

And he had to travel much for the Apostle.

This was a difficult task in that day.

He was willing to serve the Lord, regardless the cost!

Onesimus: He went with Tychicus on this journey to deliver the letters...

He was a runaway slave that ended up finding Paul in Rome and converting to Christ!

Now Paul was sending him back to Colossae where, by the way, his owner lived.

His name was Philemon.

Notice Paul doesn’t bring this up in this letter.

He keeps that between Philemon, Onesimus and himself.

What does he bring up?

That his “our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.”

No focus on his past, just who he is in Christ!

No matter your past.

If you repent and follow Christ, He can and will use you!

Aristarchus: (vs.

10a) “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you”

From Macedonia and one of Paul’s traveling companions ()

Originally from Thessalonica ()

Risked his life in the riot in Ephesus ()

Sailed to Rome and went through the shipwreck with Paul ()

Fellow prisoner - either willingly incarcerated to encourage Paul or was arrested for the same thing as Paul - preaching the Gospel!

This man was one of Paul’s greatest helpers in the ministry.

Mark:

AKA John Mark

Writer of the second Gospel - He wrote it on Peter’s behalf

It is possible that Peter lead Mark to faith in Christ ().

His mother kept her house open for the believers in Acts ().

John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas, the man that traveled with Paul on his first missionary journey ()

When you read the story in Acts you will see that it didn’t go so well.

In fact, for some reason during the trip, the going got rough and Mark got going!

In other words, John Mark left Paul and Barnabas high and dry.

So, when it came to the next missions journey, Barnabas wanted Mark to come and give it another try, but Paul would have none of it!

In fact, their disagreement was so great that they split up and Paul went without Barnabas or Mark!

Wow!

Mark

There is a good end to this story, first of all, he is back with Paul in Rome!

Second, at the end of Paul’s ministry, when he is back in prison, he calls for Mark again.

Look at what Paul says about this man.

That is high praise coming from Paul...

Maybe you have failed in ministry - Don’t despair !