Filling Up What Is Lacking

In one paragraph

Pastor Carl preached from Colossians 1:21-29, working through one of the more difficult verses in the chapter: Paul's claim that he is "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions." The sermon asked what that phrase means, and what it asks of ordinary believers. The answer he arrived at has less to do with suffering itself and more to do with the willingness to carry the gospel forward into...

Read together

1. Colossians 1:15 Christ as the image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation
2. Colossians 1:16 all things created through him and for him
3. Colossians 1:17 he is before all things and in him all things hold together
4. Colossians 1:18 he is the head of the body, the church, firstborn from the dead
5. Colossians 1:19-20 all fullness of God pleased to dwell in him, making peace by the blood of his cross
6. Colossians 1:21-22 Christians once alienated and hostile, now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death
7. Colossians 1:22-23 presented holy and blameless, if you continue stable and steadfast in the faith
8. Colossians 1:23 the gospel proclaimed in all creation, of which Paul became a minister
9. Colossians 1:24 Paul rejoicing in sufferings, filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of the church
10. Colossians 1:25-26 Paul a minister by stewardship from God, the mystery hidden for ages now revealed to the saints
11. Colossians 1:27 the mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory
12. Colossians 1:28-29 proclaiming Christ, warning and teaching everyone to present everyone mature, toiling with all Christ's energy
13. Philippians 2:30 Epaphroditus risking his life to complete what was lacking in their service to Paul
14. 1 Peter 4:12-16 do not be surprised at fiery trial, rejoice in sharing Christ's sufferings, if insulted for Christ's name you are blessed
15. Ephesians 1:19-20 read before a song, the incredible greatness of God's power for believers, the same power that raised Christ from the dead
16. Colossians 4:6 let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, closing benediction

Talk about it

1. Pastor Carl talked about Paul saying 'I rejoice in my sufferings' and described that as 'a great place to live life where you don't notice how bad it is.' What makes that kind of rejoicing possible, and what does it look like in ordinary life?
2. Paul writes that he is 'filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions' for the sake of the church. Pastor Carl said what is lacking is simply that not everyone has heard, or seen someone living it out. Where in your own life are you in a position to fill that gap for someone?
3. Pastor Carl walked through the sociology class story, where a professor tried to undermine faith by pointing out that most people believe what their parents believed. How did you personally come to own your faith rather than just inherit it, and what helped that happen?
4. Pastor Carl named several people in the congregation, from Martin Murphy in Awana to Ed at the bus barn, as examples of people filling up what is lacking through their particular stewardship. What stewardship has God placed on you, and what does suffering in that role look like for you?
5. First Peter 4 came up with the warning not to suffer as a jerk but to suffer for righteousness. How do you tell the difference in your own life between suffering that is genuinely for Christ and suffering that is just the consequence of your own behavior?