Colossians 3:16-17 - Lay Duties: Teaching, Admonishment, and Thanks

Colossians 3:16-17 - 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Message: Lay Duties: Teaching, Admonishment, and Thanks

Time: Paul penned this letter to the Colossian church in AD 60-61 during his first imprisonment in Rome after the church was under attack and denigrating the deity of Christ. He penned it before visiting the church. Christ was and is the visible image of the invisible God, containing within Himself the fullness of Deity. 

What the Lord is Saying: As I was finishing up my senior year at Baylor University in 1989 and 1990, I honestly wondered if there was a call for me to go into full-time ministry. I really enjoyed the Bible teaching of Tommy Nelson from Denton Bible Church and I even made a personal visit to the seminary he attended in Dallas - Dallas Theological Seminary. I seriously wondered if this would be my vocation. But as I prayed about it, I sensed the Lord was leading me not into full time ministry, but instead to be an active lay person, working and yet active in ministry. To this day, I still wonder if anyone should be in full-time ministry as a vocation or whether everyone should be working in some capacity. Over the years, I see a tendency among non-paid church staff to watch the paid staff do most of the work of the church. But, my guess is that even if this happened, there would still be a tendency to watch a small number do the work of the church. And yet, I can't help but think that the model found in the Old Testament of priests set aside is not the model of the New Testament and beyond. 

But the reality is the church body is made up of people with different responsibilities. I have studied in the previous two lessons the responsibilities of elders and also deacons. And so this lesson provides words that can be applied to those in the Body. Chapters 3 and 4 of Colossians are laid out as verses that respond to the sufficiency of Christ in all things and thereby the practice of the believer and in these verses how the believer is to put on the new man. 

Colossians 3 says to "seek the things above" (v. 1), "set your mind on things above" (v. 2), "your earthly body is dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed" (v. 5), "put aside anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech" (v. 8), "do not lie to one another" (v. 9), "put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (v. 12), "bear with one another, forgive one another" (v. 13), "love" (v.14), "let peace of Christ rule in you" (v. 15), "let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you - teach, admonish, sing, with thankfulness" (v. 16), "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Jesus to God the Father" (v. 17). And then what follows is specific direction to wives, husbands, and children. 

Here in these verses we see a responsibility we have to shed the old life and the sins that entangled us. But also to put on the new life and all that comes with it. And then more specifically, what this passage of Scripture is emphasizing today is: 

(1) let the Word of Christ dwell within you. As I am doing right now, we need to do as we gather and that is to dwell on the Word of Christ. Each of us can through our lives and our words teach one another. Teaching is not reserved to only some. I notice this in our Sunday school class as the teacher leads us and often asks questions of us. In the answers from the class, we can receive encouragement and teaching from one another. 

(2) It also says to admonish which means to warn or reprimand. We need to watch out for one another. A friend and I have been doing this lately, encouraging one another in our lives and some of the dangers of life that often occur. There are temptations all around us to get off the path of truth and onto the path of sin. We must stay clear. And we can do this through our singing with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Let the word of God not only speak but sing. Scripture can be sung to one another. 

(3) sing with thankfulness. I am continually reminded of the need to be thankful. I was with a friend yesterday and we were sitting and thinking. Each of us are in our mid-50s. We have raised kids and all the kids are out of the house. And the reality is we have a lot to be thankful for. It is good to stop always and lift up our voices to thank God for his provision and how He has carried us through so much in this life. We are not done, but God has done so much. 

Summary: Each person in the church puts on the new person in Christ to learn God's word, teaching, admonishing and giving thanks. 

Promise: Let us seek to give thanks to God in all things, remembering that He works all things for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). 

Prayer: O God, you are good. You are true. You are right. I thank you for making me new. And for showing me continually what needs to be old about me - what needs to be in my past - namely sins that should not be known by me. Help me continually to do good. I want to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. I want to bear with one another and come alongside one another to forgive one another. Help me to love, really love people the way you love. I pray Christ for your peace to rule in me. I ask that your Word Lord would richly dwell in me. Help me to teach others and to be taught. I want to sing your songs lifting high those words of hymns and Psalms. Be glorified in everything I do and in everything I say. 

Hebrews 13:17 - Lay Duties: Obedience

Hebrews 13:17 - Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for they would be unprofitable for you. 

Message: Lay Duties: Obedience

Time: Hebrews was written to a group of Christians who had suffered in the past and were now threatened with even more suffering. They'd done well years ago, but the author of Hebrews feared that they might now turn away from Christ to avoid further persecution. The opinions on the author of Hebrews has varied.

What the Lord is Saying: After a quick read of chapter 13, it reads like a summary of encouragement to people that they need to remember to do: show hospitality to strangers (v.2), remember prisoners (v. 3), hold marriage in high view (v. 4), be free from the love of money (v. 5), imitate those who led you (v. 7), do not be carried away by strange teachings (v.9), through Jesus, continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God (v.15), don't neglect doing good (v. 16), and finally obey your leaders (v. 17). 

In verse 7 are the words Remember those who led you...imitate and now here is versus 17 is more - obey your leaders, and submit. The leaders are they who keep watch over your souls. The idea here is not simply to listen, but be ready to comply with their wishes and requests. And as we submit something happens to our leaders. It says that have joy and not grief. The greatest joy and encouragement we can give to our leaders is by doing what they ask. Boy, this is hard. It takes me out of my comfort zone because I only want to do what is comfortable. 

I admit a struggle with this at times and I think in the Church we are often quick in these latter days to offer our opinions on whether we should submit or not. Even in the reading today from Tabletalk, most of the lesson speaks of how we need to only be submitting to leaders that are preaching the word of God correctly and we have no obligation over those who do not do this. For me, this speaks to our times and the constant commentary we have on life. We would rather talk about people than be obedient to them. 

It reminds me of Proverbs 16:27 -- "A worthless man digs up evil while his words are a scorching fire." The Living Bible translates this as "Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece." Perhaps this is a different lesson, but we are too quick to disagree. It seems in our idleness we are quicker to grumble and complain. The idea in this verse is we dig up evil. We look too hard for something that may not clearly be there. 

But the encouragement from all of these verses in Hebrews including verse 7 and 17 is to remember to do these things. I even catch myself doing this. I received an email this past week stating that we need to do a good job as men to serve the women in our church by helping with oil changes. And my first thought is maybe God has something else for me to do. Rather than responding to the call, I wonder if I could do something else. Again, why is my first thought not to jump at it? But rather to wonder if I should. 

Summary: Submit to God-honoring leaders in a way that makes them glad to their jobs. 

Promise: It is easy to gripe and complain about our church leaders, but it is much harder to submit to them as God calls us to do. 

Prayer: O Lord, help me to be one that obeys first rather than does commentary first. Help me to be a person of obedience to my leaders, not simply when I agree with them and their stances. Help me to not grumble. Lord, keep encouraging me in these words to go the extra mile. 

I Timothy 3:8-13 - The Vocation of Deacon

I Timothy 3:8-13 - Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 

Message: The Vocation of Deacon

Time: Paul is writing to a young pastor in Timothy. He is writing to Timothy in about AD 63, who is serving the church in Ephesus. He is writing about church leadership and organizing the church. Paul gives practical and pastoral advice. 

What the Lord is Saying: Deacon is the English translation of the Greek word diakonos, which was given to servants of various kinds in the ancient world. 

Acts 6:1-6 is another passage that seems to describe deacons: Now at this time while the disciples were increasing [in number], a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic (non-Palestinian Jews who normally spoke Greek) [Jews] against the [native] Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily service [of food]. And the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. But select among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte (a Gentile convert to Judaism) from Antioch. And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. 

These passage speaks of service that needs to occur - widows needing food. The Word of God is needed but we must not neglect those that are in need. It is the elders that care for spiritual needs and deacons care for physical needs. 

There has been debate as to whether these passages permit women to also participate and serve in these roles. The passage in I Timothy calls attention to women. Perhaps here, in acts of service, the focus should be people that are reputable and honest and will not use the office to seek out selfish gains. We are to be focused on serving and meeting people's needs. And so in doing that function the people serving need to have dignity. They are not people that say one thing and do another (double-tongued). They are not be addicted to win or food. They are to watch their speech and not be gossips. 

I served as a deacon early on in the church, as a young Christian. Perhaps I was not ready for this role. And perhaps I took it as being set apart and distinct rather as one that was truly committed to service. I have often had the notion that the deacons need to be about serving the Body and attending to the needs of those in the church. 

Summary: Deacons play a vital role in making sure people's basic needs are met. 

Promise: The People of God need to be supportive of deacons and giving to funds so that they can pass them onto the Body. 

Prayer: O Lord, help me to understand how to serve people and help me Lord to get more involved in service, in taking the time to meet people's needs that are in the church. Lord, help me to be supportive of those that are assisting people and serving people. 

I Timothy 3:1-7 - The Vocation of Elder

I Timothy 3:1-7 - It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control of all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?); and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 

Message: The Vocation of Elder

Time: Paul is writing to a young pastor in Timothy. He is writing to Timothy in about AD 63, who is serving the church in Ephesus. He is writing about church leadership and organizing the church. Paul gives practical and pastoral advice. 

What the Lord is Saying: For the reformers, all lawful work was a way for God to be glorified. And while no calling is greater than another, there remains different callings and different responsibilities and different requirements for those that are called. Two offices are recognized in the new Testament: Elders/Bishops and Deacons. Both are served by men only. For Elders/Bishops/Overseer, some churches distinguish between ruling elders that govern, others elders that teach. The translation today is overseer. 

I Timothy 3 describes the qualifications.  

As I read these verses, it seems these roles are restricted to males. But I recognize that in our churches today, and more noticeably in the last 20 years, these roles are often being held by women. In our society, the role of women has also changed and there is great equality put forth in our work places and work life to present the idea that these headship roles are interchangeable between men and women. I admit struggling with this. Perhaps because the Baptist church, where I have been mostly involved, does not allow this plurality. Even driving around town yesterday getting lunch, my wife and I drove by a church - Christian church, disciples of Christ, with a woman on the marquee as the minister of that church. 

It is a difficult concept or doctrine I think in our church lives. I think overall we give way to any form as long as it is reaching people for the gospel (the function of the church). And we see fruit that comes forth and so we believe therefore that because of the fruit, it must be okay or be allowed. Our Sunday school teacher brought up this at times in class, but perhaps he was speaking of coming against traditions such as Sunday only church versus Saturday, or dressing in jeans at church versus suits. So perhaps there are traditions that can be altered, but does this mean everything is to be altered. 

As I was sharing truth with someone at work last week, they brought up a problem they saw as a female in hearing that the Bible said that wives must be submissive to men. Or as she said must serve man. And yet I mentioned to her the great responsibility of the man - to love the wife. And I also mentioned, well, shouldn't two different sexes have two different roles. Otherwise, why are we made different. 

In any case, I Timothy 5:17 says, "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching." Thus, a role of an elder could be to preach and teach. And in our previous lesson from I Peter 5:1-3 it mentions that elders "shepherd the flock, exercising oversight."

Summary: Elders/Bishops/Overseers has specific qualifications/requirements - they are men set apart from society for a specific role of shepherding the flock which may include preaching and teaching. 

Promise: For the church members, God has placed elders as authority over us and we are to follow their direction and pray for them to govern the church wisely. 

Prayer: Lord, leadership in our churches can be a difficult subject. It is a hard one for me and I admit not being comfortable with the way the world or our different churches are allowing both sexes to be involved in these leadership and preaching roles. But Lord, I also want to submit to You always and ask that You be glorified. So help me Lord in this. Guide me and guide churches. For our elders and overseers and bishops, may we honor them. Help me Lord to not be so critical of their work. I think I often get more caught up in how they are leading rather than who they are. Meaning, they have met the criteria so help me to trust them more.  Thank you for the lesson of Your Word. 

I Peter 5:1-3 - New Covenant Ordained Ministry

I Peter 5:1-3 - Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God, and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 

Message: New Covenant Ordained Ministry

Time: Peter wrote to a group of people that probably included Jews and Christians at the time of probably AD 64, as the persecution of Christians by Nero was ramping up. It is thought Peter spent his final years in Rome. Peter calls people to root themselves in the perseverance and presence of Christ.

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is the only mediator between us and our Creator (I Timothy 2:5 - For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, man Christ Jesus.) There are not classes of believers, but instead all believers offer holy and acceptable service to the Lord whether the calling is full-time ministry or working in a secular context. 

Yet, we still set apart people those for leadership in the church. Like today, elders are set aside to care for and shepherd the flock. Other texts will name other leaders such as deacons (I Timothy 3:8-13). Leaders are not however more important than non-leaders of the Church. There is not greater holiness in these leaders of the church. Those with least valuable gifts and callings are as vital to those with a more recognized and public role (I Corinthians 12). 

• The same God works all things in all persons (6).
• All the members of the body, though they are many, are one body (12). 
• The body is not one member, but many (14).
• Foot, hand, ear, eye - not any is less a part of the body (15, 16)
• One cannot say, I have no need for you (21).
• Even those that seem to be weaker are necessary (22). 
• Those less honorable, have more honor (23).
• No division, but all care the same for one another (25)
• If one suffers, all suffer. If one honored, all rejoice. (26)

Summary: Elders and deacons are set apart for specific roles. But those who are not set apart for these roles still are essential members of the church. All are vital, equally. 

Promise: Do not think you are invaluable because you are not called to the leadership roles of the church. All are valid and significant. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to understand my role. Thank you for calling me to be of the laity of the church and showing me how I can still be of service to you in an impactful way. Keep giving me understanding and enlarge my ministries. Help me to be impacted and for many others to be impacted by Your work in their life. At my current church, help me to serve and give me and my wife understanding of our roles in this body and how we are to serve. I pray that people feel cared for and heard. Help me to learn better to listen and encourage. Thank you for the peace that is only found in You. 

I Peter 2:9 - God's Royal Priesthood

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of Him, who has called you of darkness into His marvelous light. 

Message: God's Royal Priesthood

Time: Peter wrote to a group of people that probably included Jews and Christians at the time of probably AD 64, as the persecution of Christians by Nero was ramping up. It is thought Peter spent his final years in Rome. Peter calls people to root themselves in the perseverance and presence of Christ. 

What the Lord is Saying: The last 2 lessons have emphasized the principle of having a mediator. The old covenant had a priest, a person designated by God to be the mediator between God and man for the purpose of offering sacrifices and atoning for sin and entering the Holiest of Holies. But then in Christ, God provided atonement for all sin through the One that was fully man and yet equal with God. 

But, is it necessary to have these two distinct groups still - those that are deemed ordinary Christians while others are truly Spiritual Christians? There are distinctions for people have different roles, but another thing that happened 500 years ago in 1517 was this move to think of people at the same level spiritual, no matter their vocation. Thus, a laypersons service to God is equal to a ministers service to God. A layperson has the same access to God as a minister. 

The phrase that has come to describe this is "the priesthood of all believers" and is rooted in I Peter 2:9. 

I Peter 2:9 is a quote from Exodus 19:6 which states, "...and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." This text is part of what we refer to now as the Mosaic Covenant. It is a conditional covenant which followed the unconditional Abrahamic covenant. That covenant established God's blessing on His people. The Mosaic covenant is God's expectation for His people. Works follows blessing is an important distinction. The Mosaic covenant established the Law of God, judgments and the governance of Law so that people knew how to approach God. The Abrahamic Covenant established that God will make Israel a great nation and would bless them and make them great to all the families of the earth. 

I Peter starts as a message in verse "to those who reside as aliens." Peter is speaking to all people set apart for the service of God - Jew and Gentile. And it is to these people that are attributed now the role of priests. We are all a royal priesthood. We are "choice and precious in the sight of God" in verse 4. And "built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood" in verse 5. And then culminates in verse 9 as "a chosen race." Chosen from all the peoples of the earth (Amos 3:2). 

What is our sacrifice? Ourselves. Romans 12:1 - "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual services of worship." We proclaim His excellence, each of us, all of us. All of our lives are a service to Him: as neighbors, in our vocations, in our families. All Christians are alike. 

Summary: There is no distinction among believers. We are all a chosen race and all set apart as priests to proclaim the excellence of Him. 

Promise: No matter what you are called to do in life, God honors your service when you seek to love Him and other people through your work. 

Prayer: O Lord, as I read your word more and more, I see consistency and a God that has never changed. You have called people to be yours and we are all to serve you in the same way. Thank you for choosing. I pray that my life is a praise to You and is a life that does proclaim You. I pray that it is acceptable to You. I believe it is, not because of me, but because of Christ and His work in life and on the cross. What makes me acceptable to you is not my deeds but the forgiveness of my sin and then in response I live for You. Give me that strength and help me to continue to live for You each day I am on this earth. 

1 Timothy 2:5-6 - Christ Our Mediator

I Timothy 2:5-6 - For there is one God, [and] one mediator also between God and men, [the] man of Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony [borne] at the proper time. 

Message: Christ the Mediator

Time: Paul is writing to a young pastor in Timothy. He is writing to Timothy in about AD 63, who is serving the church in Ephesus. He is writing about church leadership and organizing the church. Paul gives practical and pastoral advice. 

What the Lord is Saying: I didn't realize this lesson would be on Christ the mediator as I was studying the last lesson because in that lesson I was noticing that the priests of the Old Covenant (Old Testament) were the mediator for God's chosen people. God had ordained the priests to be the mediators between their sin and atonement. They were the one's to offer the sacrifices on behalf of the people. I feel like I have known this, but perhaps in that lesson it came together more clearly in my mind. 

And so now I come to this lesson and this passage from Paul to Timothy. In my bible, this passage is in the section of Paul giving charge of conduct and action concerning public worship. The passage starts in the first verse by Paul stating that "Prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men." In essence he is telling the people of God, the church, that they are to mediators for one another through the act of prayer. And so prayer is a way for each person to be a mediator between men and God. We pray because verse 4 states that "God our savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." And what is this truth? Verse 5 and 6 - "the man Christ Jesus." This is why Paul preaches and this is why we must pray. 

A mediator is a go-between who can represent the interests of both parties. The old covenant priests served as mediators offering sacrifices for our transgressions. But sins were not taken away, simply blotted out. These sacrifices had to be repeated. Hebrews 10:3-4 states, "But in those [sacrifices] there is a reminder of sins year by year, for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats tot take away sins." Honestly, I am not sure why God set it up this way, starting with a temporary fix that would lead to a permanent fix of man's sins. In many ways, both speak of the same message - God providing the way to atone for sin. And both remind us that man cannot be the atoner of sin. Both reinforce that God provides atonement; man does not work for atonement. 

Paul remarks in this passage that Christ Jesus is a man. He is emphasizing his manhood. And yet we remember Paul's words to the Philippians. Philippians 2:6 says, He (Jesus) existed in the form of God...taking the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men. He existed in the form of God but became like men. And like a man he died and God highly exalted Him so that every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord. So let's never forget, he is God and he is like man. 

Christ is the only mediator. In the old covenant, people were chosen and the chosen had their sins passed over. In the new covenant, the chosen have faith. Christ as mediator is offered to people by their faith in Him. 

Summary: The priests of the old covenant provided a temporary atonement for sin. Christ, one time is the ransom for all. And now man is a mediator for people through prayer.  

Promise: Christ is the all-sufficient Mediator, and we can approach God in humble confidence when we go through Him to the Father. 

Prayer: God, thank you for your perfect message and your complete message. As I speak to others in other faith systems, it is surprising that they must feel like this truth needs to be more. This truth is everything. You are the Holy God and in your Holiness and perfect way provide the only way for man to be truly saved - through the mediator Christ. Thank you for this message of mediator, showing me the priest of old, showing me Jesus and then also showing me myself as I am a mediator in my prayers between you and others. It reminds me to be focused on this in my life and how I need to continue in this endeavor and never give up on offering prayers for others.