Today's passage challenges us to look at suffering for the glory of God in a positive light. While Christ's afflictions of life and suffering torture and death had been completed, that does not mean that all suffering and affliction is done. Some of the sufferings will continue to go on in the Church, not because Jesus' work was incomplete, but because we continue to have impacts of man's rebellion--sin and the fallen world--that will remain in this life. Jesus warned of this (Matthew 24.9, John 16.33), but Peter also taught that such suffering, when it is not just punishment for evil but unjust punishment for following God, is something God sees as gracious because we are following Jesus' example (1 Peter 2.19-21). Pouring out what God has gifted you with on behalf of the church will push us in ways uncomfortable to our flesh, but building one another up and encouraging each other to faithfully follow God's command to share His Gospel with others is why He gave us such gifts in the first place. One such gift for all believers is the very knowledge of the Gospel, and that is combined with other gifts and fruits of the Spirit. This will challenge, grow, and mature us as believers and as a body. May the word of God show us the wisdom of following Jesus' example and strengthen us to hold each other accountable in putting our faith into action to reach the world Christ Jesus died and rose again to save.

[Colossians 1.24-29]

1.24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ Why is Paul suffering? [v. 24]

+ Why did God make Paul a minister? [v. 25]

+ What is the mystery hidden for the ages that now the saints/Christians know? [vv. 26-27]

+ What should we do with this knowledge? [v. 28]

+ How should we work on behalf of fellow believers? [vv. 28-29]

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Who are the Christians who are pouring into you to help you mature in your own faith?

+ Who are the Christians you are pouring into to help mature in their faith?

+ If you don't have named individuals identified for both of these questions, ask your Community Group Leader how to get started. If you are not in a Community Group, please reach out to an Elder/Pastor.

+ When you are pouring out in these relationships, how can you view hardships that ensue as an object of rejoicing?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?