Colossians 4:7-18 | Workers for the Kingdom of God SERMON FROM OCT. 31ST, 2022 - REFORMATION SUNDAY Joe Stout Our Text this morning comes from the book of Colossians chapter 4 verses 7 through 18. These are the very words of God.

Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.

Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

Pray with me.

Gracious God. You have given us all we need for life and holiness in this book. We ask that Your Spirit would bless the preaching of Your revealed Word this morning. Cause our hearts to be transformed for Christ’s glory and cause our local community to be reformed into the likeness of King Jesus as His kingdom goes forth within our midst. We ask this in His name. Amen!

Before Alex Guiness became forever known as Obi-Wan Kenobi of Star Wars he was Colonel Nicholson in the historical drama, Bridge on the River Kwai. In this film adaptation of the book by the same name, Colonel Nicholson, a British prisoner of war, is forced to work in a labor camp building a railroad bridge for the Japanese. Nicholson is a man of high honor, spirit and standards and he expects nothing less from his own men. After an initial battle of wills between himself and leader of the POW Camp, Colonel Saito, he is let out of solitary confinement. He finds that his men in the camp are in disarray. They have been doing all they can to sabotage and slow down the construction of the bridge. They have been doing shoddy work and as a result their own discipline has suffered into the same shoddy disrepair. They resemble a rabble rather than a regiment. Every man doing what is right in his own eyes with no order, no discipline, and no joy. Over the course of the story, Colonel Nicholson inspires the troops to band together and build a better bridge for the Japanese than they could have built themselves. He encourages his men to see that the war won’t last forever and that when the British inevitably win, they will inherit the very bridge they are building. A bridge he says that will ”… teach these barbarians a lesson in Western methods and efficiency that will put them to shame.” Nicholson believes in the victory of the kingdom of the Brits and therefore understands that momentary setbacks such as being a prisoner of war don’t change his marching orders. He is still called to extend the glories of the british empire unto the ends of the earth.

Colonel Nicholson is a microcosm of the true reality that is present in t