Colossians 1:18

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Colossians 11-8
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Colossians 11-8
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of
God, and Timothy our brother, 2 to the holy and
faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse Grace and
peace to you from God our Father.
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(No Transcript)
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Colossians 11-8
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we
have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of
the love you have for all the saints 5 the faith
and love that spring from the hope that is stored
up for you in heaven and that you have already
heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6
that has come to you . . .
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Colossians 11-8
. . . All over the world this gospel is bearing
fruit and growing, just as it has been doing
among you since the day you heard it and
understood Gods grace in all its truth. 7 You
learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow
servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on
our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love
in the Spirit.
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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread
. . . All over the world this gospel is bearing
fruit and growing, just as it has been doing
among you since the day you heard it and
understood Gods grace in all its truth. 7 You
learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow
servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on
our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love
in the Spirit.
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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
• WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE GOSPELS POWER TO SPREAD?

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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
• Euangelion means good message.

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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
• Euangelion means good message.
• A gospel is the announcement of an event that
  has changed the course of history a summons to
  align oneself with this event.

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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

Whereas the Providence which has guided our
whole existence and which has shown such care and
liberality, has brought our life to the peak of
perfection in giving to us Augustus Caesar . . .
and who, being sent to us and to our descendants
as a savior, has put an end to war and has set
all things in order . . .
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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

. . . and whereas . . . the birthday of the god
(Caesar Augustus) has been for the whole world
the beginning of the gospel (euangelion)
concerning him, therefore, let all reckon a new
era beginning from the date of his
birth. Announcement from a provincial assembly
in Asia Minor, 9 BC
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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

I remind you of the gospel I preached to you . .
. Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures . . . (1 Corinthians 151,3)
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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

I remind you of the gospel I preached to you . .
. Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures . . . (1 Corinthians 151,3)
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who
believes (in it). (Romans 116)
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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE GOSPELS POWER TO SPREAD?

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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE GOSPELS POWER TO SPREAD?
• The gospel spreads through the people who are
  being transformed by it

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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE GOSPELS POWER TO SPREAD?
• The gospel spreads through the people who are
  being transformed by it

. . . we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and of the love you have for all the saintsthat
springs from the hope that is stored up for you
in heaven and that you have already heard about
in the word of truth, the gospel . . . (15,6)
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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE GOSPELS POWER TO SPREAD?
• The key is continuing to grow in your
  understanding appreciation of the gospel!

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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE GOSPELS POWER TO SPREAD?
• The key is continuing to grow in your
  understanding appreciation of the gospel!

. . . this gospel is bearing fruit and growing,
just as it has been doing among you since the day
you heard it and understood Gods grace in all
its truth. (16)See also 19,23,28 22,3,6,7
31,2,16)
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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE GOSPELS POWER TO SPREAD?
• The key is continuing to grow in your
  understanding appreciation of the gospel!

(Christians often say) that evangelism is one
poor beggar telling another poor beggar where to
find bread. This is a wonderful definition,
(but I want to) add something to this insight.
Evangelism is . . . one hungry beggar eagerly
eating the bread and being changed by it, and
then (inviting) other poor beggars to eat of the
same bread. C. John Miller, A Faith Worth
Sharing (Phillipsburg, New Jersey Presbyterian
Reformed Publishing, 1999), p. 98.
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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE GOSPELS POWER TO SPREAD?

GOSPEL
BIRTH
DEATH
CONVERSION
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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE GOSPELS POWER TO SPREAD?

SOMETHING ELSE
GOSPEL
BIRTH
DEATH
CONVERSION
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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE GOSPELS POWER TO SPREAD?

SOMETHING ELSE
GOSPEL
BIRTH
DEATH
CONVERSION
SPIRITUAL STALENESS
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Colossians 11-8The Power of the Gospel to Spread

• WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE GOSPELS POWER TO SPREAD?

G O S P E L
GOSPEL
BIRTH
DEATH
CONVERSION
SPIRITUAL ATTRACTIVENESS