Sermons on Colossians 1:28-29

Colossians 1:28-29 Interpretation:

Transformative Journey: Growing Deeper in Christ (DUMC) offers a unique interpretation of Colossians 1:28-29 by framing it as a blueprint for discipleship, using the acronym MAKE (Make known Christ, Admonish/counsel, Knowledge/teaching to obey, Example/leadership) to break down Paul’s process of making disciples. The sermon emphasizes that the Greek word for “admonishing” is closely related to “counseling,” suggesting a two-way, healing relationship rather than mere instruction. It also draws a distinction between making disciples of oneself versus making disciples of Christ, warning against controlling or possessive models of discipleship. The analogy of apprenticeship is used to describe discipleship as a daily, practical, life-integrated process, not just classroom learning or program completion. The sermon further uses the metaphor of the law of gravity versus the law of helium to illustrate the difference between living by the flesh and living by the Spirit, connecting this to the “energy Christ so powerfully works in me” in verse 29.

The Transformative Power of the Gospel in Christ (The Shepherd's Church, Cary, NC) interprets Colossians 1:28-29 as a call to a gospel-centered mission that is not only worth dying for but also worth living and working for. The sermon highlights the phrase “with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” as a source of encouragement for Christian labor, emphasizing that the energy for ministry and mission is not self-generated but divinely supplied. The preacher uses the analogy of a newspaper route to illustrate the necessity of actively spreading the gospel, warning against the “warehouse Christianity” of hoarding good news without sharing it. The sermon also draws a parallel between Paul’s missionary efforts and modern missions, stressing that the goal is to “present everyone mature in Christ” by proclaiming who Jesus is and what he did, and that this is a global, reconciling message that transcends all cultural boundaries.

Proclaiming Christ Through Old Testament Narratives (Alistair Begg/Truth for Life) provides a notable interpretive insight by asserting that Colossians 1:28-29 is the “proper purpose of all Christian preaching”—to so proclaim Christ that, by God’s grace, hearers are profoundly affected and presented mature in Christ. The sermon does not limit this to New Testament exposition but insists that even Old Testament narratives must be preached with this goal, arguing that every text has a “road to Christ.” The preacher references the Greek for “mature” (teleios) as “complete” or “perfect,” and insists that preaching is not an end in itself but must aim at transformation, not just information. The analogy of Spurgeon’s “road to London” is used to illustrate the necessity of finding Christ in every text, and the sermon is structured around practical steps for achieving this in Old Testament preaching.

Proclaiming Christ: The Unchanging Mission of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) interprets Colossians 1:28-29 as a call to persistent, habitual ministry focused on maturing believers, not through flashy or dramatic means but through steady, doctrinal teaching and personal investment. Begg highlights the Greek present continuous tense in the passage, emphasizing ongoing, habitual action rather than quick, superficial results. He uses the analogy of children learning to ride a bike—removing the "training wheels"—to illustrate the process of moving believers toward maturity and independence in faith. He also draws a parallel between the pastor’s struggle and Paul’s, noting that the energy for this work comes not from the pastor himself but from God’s enabling power.

Stewardship in Pastoral Care: Guiding Souls to Christ (Alistair Begg) interprets Colossians 1:28-29 as the pastoral mandate to present every believer mature in Christ, emphasizing that the goal of pastoral care is not ownership but stewardship. The sermon frames the verse as a call to "unreserved obedience to Christ of every believer," and uses the metaphor of a pastor one day presenting his flock to Christ, having played a role in their maturity. This perspective shifts the focus from personal achievement or popularity to the spiritual progress of others, and highlights the necessity of both public and private ministry in nurturing maturity.

Experiencing the Fullness of Christ in Our Lives (SermonIndex.net) interprets Colossians 1:28-29 through the lens of "fullness" (pleroma), emphasizing that the goal of Paul's ministry is not mere external conformity or religious activity, but the believer's experience of the fullness of Christ himself. The sermon distinguishes between knowing about Christ and being "rooted and established in him," arguing that true maturity is measured by Christlikeness in every area of life. The preacher uses the analogy of a diamond—rare but real—to describe the experience of fullness in Christ, suggesting that while few attain it, it is nonetheless the biblical norm. The sermon also stresses that fullness is not found in traditions, denominations, or even Bible knowledge, but only in the person of Jesus Christ, and that the evidence of this fullness is a transformed life that looks like Jesus in thought, word, and deed.

Blameless Before Christ: A Journey of Faith (Desiring God) and "Presented Blameless: The Journey of Faith and Hope" (SermonIndex.net) both provide a detailed, parallel interpretation of Colossians 1:28-29, focusing on the repeated use of the word "present" (parist?mi in Greek) and the continuity of Paul's goal with Christ's own purpose. Both sermons highlight the interplay between divine action, human perseverance, and apostolic ministry, but what stands out is their exploration of why Paul emphasizes his own toil and suffering. They argue that Paul's suffering and labor are not merely his own, but are a present, flesh-and-blood embodiment of Christ's ongoing work for the church. This interpretation is illustrated by referencing Paul's statement about "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions," suggesting that the apostle's visible suffering makes Christ's invisible love and labor tangible to the church. The sermons also use the metaphor of a household plan (oikonomia) to describe Paul's stewardship in God's redemptive history, emphasizing the cosmic scope of the mystery now revealed: Christ in the Gentiles, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:28-29 Theological Themes:

Transformative Journey: Growing Deeper in Christ (DUMC) introduces the theme that true discipleship is not about programmatic or classroom learning but about daily apprenticeship to Christ, where the goal is Christlikeness, not just salvation or doctrinal knowledge. The sermon uniquely stresses that the “energy” in Colossians 1:29 is not human effort but the Spirit’s power, and that walking in the Spirit is the only way to overcome the “law of sin and death.” The use of microcell (small group) discipleship as a means of transformation is also a distinct application.

The Transformative Power of the Gospel in Christ (The Shepherd's Church, Cary, NC) adds the theme that the gospel is not only a message to be believed but a mission to be worked for, with the energy for this mission coming from Christ himself. The sermon applies this to global missions, reconciliation across cultures, and the ongoing work of the church, emphasizing that the gospel is “news worth living for” and that every believer is called to active participation in spreading and embodying this message.

Proclaiming Christ Through Old Testament Narratives (Alistair Begg/Truth for Life) presents the theological theme that the aim of all Christian preaching, including from the Old Testament, is to present everyone mature in Christ. The sermon insists that the Old Testament is essential for knowing Christ as the New Testament presents him, and that Christian hope, joy, and maturity are incomplete without the Old Testament’s witness to Christ. The preacher also highlights the necessity of transformation (not just information) as the true fruit of preaching.

Proclaiming Christ: The Unchanging Mission of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) introduces the theme that true Christian maturity is inseparable from doctrinal depth, arguing that the church’s overemphasis on pragmatic "how-to" teaching at the expense of foundational doctrine leaves believers vulnerable to deception and spiritual immaturity. He adds the facet that encouragement, unity in love, and complete understanding are interdependent, and that maturity is evidenced by the congregation’s ability to connect doctrine to daily discipleship.

Empowered by Christ: The Mystery of Unity (Desiring God) presents the distinct theological theme that all Christian striving and ministry must be done in conscious reliance on Christ’s power, not merely as a theological truth but as a practical, moment-by-moment dependence. The sermon uniquely ties this to the glory of God, arguing that only when believers serve in God’s strength does God receive the glory, as opposed to self-reliant effort which results in self-glorification.

Living by Faith: Embracing Future Grace (Desiring God) develops the theme of "future grace" as the ongoing, moment-by-moment provision of God’s power for sanctification. The preacher argues that faith is not just a past-tense event but a continual, active trust in God’s promises for the next moment, which severs the root of sin by offering a "superior satisfaction" in God over the fleeting pleasures of sin. This is a nuanced expansion of the doctrine of sanctification, emphasizing the psychological and spiritual dynamics of faith as the agent of holiness.

Stewardship in Pastoral Care: Guiding Souls to Christ (Alistair Begg) adds the theme that pastoral care is fundamentally about stewardship, not ownership, and that the pastor’s role is to facilitate the spiritual progress of every believer, regardless of personal recognition or attachment. The sermon also introduces the idea that every casual conversation is an opportunity for spiritual growth, and that the ultimate goal is to "present" believers to Christ as mature, which reframes all pastoral activity as eschatologically significant.

Wrestling in Prayer: A Spiritual Battle (Desiring God) introduces the theme of Christian striving as both agonizing effort and Spirit-empowered labor, challenging the notion that prayer and ministry are either solely human effort or passive reliance on God. The sermon uniquely frames the Christian life as a paradoxical combination of strenuous exertion and utter dependence, where faith is not the absence of struggle but the means by which Christ's power is accessed in the midst of struggle. The use of athletic and warfare metaphors deepens the theological understanding of sanctification as both discipline and battle, with the ultimate victory belonging to Christ who works in and through the believer.

Experiencing the Fullness of Christ in Our Lives (SermonIndex.net) presents the theme of "fullness in Christ" as the true measure of Christian maturity, arguing that the goal of the church is not simply to produce moral or religious people, but to see every believer transformed into the likeness of Christ by being filled with his Spirit. The sermon adds the distinctive angle that fullness is not a corporate or institutional reality, but a deeply personal, relational experience with Jesus himself, and that the evidence of this fullness is a life that radiates Christ's character in every context. The preacher also challenges the reduction of the gospel to mere forgiveness, insisting that the good news is the indwelling, empowering presence of Christ that produces visible fruit.

Blameless Before Christ: A Journey of Faith (Desiring God) and "Presented Blameless: The Journey of Faith and Hope" (SermonIndex.net) both develop the theme of apostolic suffering as a means by which Christ's ongoing ministry is made visible to the church. They argue that Paul's toil and afflictions are not an addendum to Christ's work, but a necessary, embodied continuation that makes the love and sacrifice of Christ tangible to believers. This theme is further nuanced by the idea that the church's perseverance and maturity are the result of a complex interplay between Christ's finished work, God's sustaining power, the believer's steadfastness, and the minister's sacrificial labor.

Colossians 1:28-29 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Transformative Journey: Growing Deeper in Christ (DUMC) provides a brief historical insight by noting that the “mystery” of Christ in you (Colossians 1:27) was not revealed to Old Testament figures like Abraham, David, or Moses, but is now revealed to the saints, emphasizing the radical newness of the gospel’s indwelling Christ.

The Transformative Power of the Gospel in Christ (The Shepherd's Church, Cary, NC) gives contextual background on the Colossian church, noting that it was likely founded by Epaphras as an extension of the Ephesian mission, and that the Colossians were struggling with syncretistic and fear-based religious practices, which Paul addresses by emphasizing the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ.

Proclaiming Christ Through Old Testament Narratives (Alistair Begg/Truth for Life) offers a detailed historical context for the use of the word “gospel” in the Roman Empire, explaining that it was originally a term for victorious news spread after a military victory, and that Paul’s use of the term in Colossians would have resonated as a proclamation of Christ’s victory over all powers. The sermon also discusses the context of Old Testament narratives, such as the story of Ahaziah in 2 Kings, and how these stories fit into the larger biblical narrative leading to Christ.

Proclaiming Christ: The Unchanging Mission of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) provides historical context by referencing the Greek present continuous tense in Colossians 1:28, explaining that Paul’s language indicates ongoing, habitual ministry rather than one-time or dramatic interventions. Begg also alludes to the cultural expectations of both Jews and Greeks in Paul’s time—Jews seeking signs and Greeks seeking wisdom—and how Paul deliberately subverted these expectations by focusing solely on Christ crucified, thus situating the passage within the broader context of first-century ministry challenges.

Empowered by Christ: The Mystery of Unity (Desiring God) offers cultural and historical insight by unpacking the metaphors of manual laborers, athletes, and soldiers, which would have been familiar to Paul’s audience. The sermon explains that Paul’s use of these images in describing his ministry would have resonated with the Greco-Roman world’s appreciation for physical endurance, discipline, and struggle, thereby making the spiritual application more vivid and compelling for his original readers.

Wrestling in Prayer: A Spiritual Battle (Desiring God) provides historical context by explaining the athletic and military connotations of the Greek word agonizomai, noting its use in reference to athletes who train with discipline and soldiers who fight with weapons. The sermon also references the cultural reality of first-century athletes and the rigorous self-control required, as well as the Roman context of literal combat, to illuminate Paul's metaphorical language.

Blameless Before Christ: A Journey of Faith (Desiring God) and "Presented Blameless: The Journey of Faith and Hope" (SermonIndex.net) both offer historical insights into the concept of "stewardship" (oikonomia), explaining its meaning as a household plan or the administration of a household in the Greco-Roman world. They also highlight the radical nature of the mystery revealed in Christ: that Gentiles, previously considered outsiders, are now full heirs of God's promises, which was a source of significant conflict and astonishment in the early church. The sermons reference the cultural shock of a Jewish Messiah indwelling "catfish-eating, uncircumcised, Sabbath-ignoring" Gentiles, underscoring the revolutionary inclusivity of the gospel.

Colossians 1:28-29 Cross-References in the Bible:

Transformative Journey: Growing Deeper in Christ (DUMC) references Galatians 5 (the fruit of the Spirit versus the works of the flesh), Romans 7 and 8 (the law of sin and death versus the law of the Spirit of life), and Matthew 28 (the Great Commission’s call to teach obedience), using these passages to expand on the process of discipleship and the means of overcoming sin through the Spirit.

The Transformative Power of the Gospel in Christ (The Shepherd's Church, Cary, NC) cross-references John’s Gospel (the unrecorded deeds of Jesus), Romans 10 (“how shall they hear without a preacher?”), and John 20-21 (the global scope of Jesus’ work), using these to reinforce the universality and urgency of the gospel mission.

Proclaiming Christ Through Old Testament Narratives (Alistair Begg/Truth for Life) references 1 Timothy 1:5 (the aim of sound teaching is love from a pure heart), Romans 15:4, 13 (the Old Testament as the source of Christian hope), and Romans 1 (the world’s rebellion and need for Christ), showing how these passages support the necessity of preaching Christ from all of Scripture.

Proclaiming Christ: The Unchanging Mission of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) references several passages to expand on Colossians 1:28-29: Ephesians 4:15 ("speaking the truth in love") to emphasize the integration of truth and love in Christian maturity; Philippians 2:1 ("if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ") to highlight the source of encouragement; Ephesians 6:21 and Colossians 4:8 (mentions of Tychicus) to illustrate the importance of encouragement within the body; and Romans 8:28 ("in all things God works for the good of those who love him") to underscore the doctrinal foundation for practical Christian living. He also uses the metaphor of military orderliness from Colossians 2:5 and references the parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-27) to stress the importance of doctrinal foundations.

Empowered by Christ: The Mystery of Unity (Desiring God) draws on 1 Corinthians 15:10 ("I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me") and Philippians 2:12-13 ("work out your own salvation...for it is God who works in you") to support the idea of divine empowerment in human effort. The sermon also references Colossians 4:12 (Epaphras "struggling in prayer") to illustrate the practical outworking of this principle, Galatians 3:5 ("does he who supplies the Spirit to you...do so by works of the law or by hearing with faith?") to connect faith and divine power, and 1 Peter 4:11 ("whoever serves, let him serve by the strength that God supplies") to ground the argument that God’s glory is at stake in the source of our strength.

Living by Faith: Embracing Future Grace (Desiring God) references Colossians 1:28-29 directly, as well as Hebrews 11:1 ("faith is the assurance of things hoped for"), 1 Peter 4:11 (serving by the strength God supplies), Matthew 5 (rejoicing in persecution for a future reward), 2 Corinthians 4:17 (momentary affliction producing eternal glory), Hebrews 12:14 (holiness without which no one will see the Lord), James 2:17 (faith without works is dead), Galatians 6:8-9 (sowing to the Spirit and reaping eternal life), 1 John 2:4 and 3:14 (obedience and love as evidence of new birth), Romans 3:28 and 5:1 (justification by faith), 1 Thessalonians 1:3 and 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (work of faith), Acts 26:18 (sanctified by faith), Galatians 5:6 (faith working through love), 1 Corinthians 15:10 (grace as the power for work), 2 Corinthians 9:8 and 12:9 (grace abounding for every good work and sufficient in weakness). These references are used to build a comprehensive biblical theology of faith, grace, and sanctification as they relate to Colossians 1:28-29.

Stewardship in Pastoral Care: Guiding Souls to Christ (Alistair Begg) references Colossians 1:28-29 as the core pastoral mandate, and also alludes to Acts 20 (Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders and his declaration of proclaiming the whole counsel of God), Ephesians 4 (equipping the saints for works of service), and 1 Peter 5 (shepherding the flock). The sermon also references 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (admonishing and esteeming leaders), 1 John 2 (fatherly love), and Isaiah 40 (the shepherd image of Christ), using these passages to flesh out the biblical vision of pastoral care and maturity.

Wrestling in Prayer: A Spiritual Battle (Desiring God) references several passages to expand on Colossians 1:28-29: Colossians 4:12 (Epaphroditus wrestling in prayer), 1 Timothy 6:12 ("fight the good fight of faith" using the same Greek word), 1 Corinthians 9:25 (athletes exercising self-control), John 18:36 (Jesus' kingdom not of this world, with "fighting" as agonizomai), and Ephesians 6:12 (spiritual warfare against principalities and powers). Each reference is used to illustrate different facets of Christian struggle—prayer as wrestling, the fight of faith, the discipline of an athlete, the reality of spiritual warfare, and the need for divine empowerment.

Experiencing the Fullness of Christ in Our Lives (SermonIndex.net) cross-references Ephesians 4:11-13 (the purpose of church leadership is to equip believers for maturity), 2 Peter 1:3-5 (divine power for life and godliness through knowledge of Christ), Luke 4:21 (fulfillment of scripture in Christ), Matthew 5:17 (Christ fulfilling the law), Romans 8:1-4 (the righteous requirements of the law fulfilled in us), Colossians 1:9-11 (Paul's prayer for fullness and fruitfulness), Philippians 1:11 (being filled with the fruit of righteousness), Ephesians 3:14-19 (prayer for strength and fullness), and John 15 (fullness of joy in Christ). These references are woven together to support the argument that fullness in Christ is the goal and evidence of true Christian life.

Blameless Before Christ: A Journey of Faith (Desiring God) and "Presented Blameless: The Journey of Faith and Hope" (SermonIndex.net) both reference Colossians 1:22-23 (the goal of being presented blameless), Ephesians 3:8-10 (the cosmic scope of God's plan), Ephesians 3:4-6 (the mystery of Gentile inclusion), 2 Timothy 4:10 (Demas deserting Paul for love of the world), and Philippians 2:29-30 (Epaphroditus "filling up what is lacking"). These passages are used to show the continuity of Paul's purpose, the danger of shifting hope, the cosmic dimensions of the gospel, and the practical outworking of apostolic suffering.

Colossians 1:28-29 Christian References outside the Bible:

Proclaiming Christ Through Old Testament Narratives (Alistair Begg/Truth for Life) explicitly references Graeme Goldsworthy, commending his books “Gospel and Kingdom” and “According to Plan” as the most straightforward and helpful guides to seeing the parts of the Bible in light of the whole, that is, in the light of Jesus and his gospel. The preacher credits Goldsworthy with shaping his understanding of biblical theology and the necessity of finding the road to Christ in every text. The sermon also retells the famous Spurgeon anecdote about every text having a “road to London” (i.e., to Christ), using it as a guiding metaphor for Christ-centered preaching.

Proclaiming Christ: The Unchanging Mission of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) explicitly references Sinclair Ferguson’s book "Devoted to God’s Church," commending it for its insights on the centrality of the local church in the Christian life. Begg notes that Ferguson challenges the notion of church involvement as an addendum to life, instead placing it at the heart of Christian existence, even above physical family concerns. This recommendation is presented as a practical outworking of the themes in Colossians 1:28-29, reinforcing the importance of church-centered maturity.

Blameless Before Christ: A Journey of Faith (Desiring God) and "Presented Blameless: The Journey of Faith and Hope" (SermonIndex.net) both include a personal reference to John Piper, with the preacher expressing affection and gratitude for the apostle Paul as a "very close friend" who "saves me day after day." While not a formal citation of a theologian or author, this personal testimony serves to humanize the biblical text and model a relational approach to scripture.

Colossians 1:28-29 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Transformative Journey: Growing Deeper in Christ (DUMC) uses the analogy of the law of gravity versus the law of helium to illustrate the difference between living by the flesh and living by the Spirit. The preacher explains that just as a balloon filled with air will fall due to gravity, but a balloon filled with helium will rise because a new law is at work, so too the Christian can only overcome the law of sin and death by being filled with the Spirit, not by self-effort. This vivid, scientific metaphor is used to make the spiritual principle tangible and memorable.

The Transformative Power of the Gospel in Christ (The Shepherd's Church, Cary, NC) uses the analogy of a newspaper route to illustrate the importance of actively spreading the gospel. The preacher recounts his experience as a paperboy, describing the process of picking up newspapers at a warehouse, the fear of encountering a coyote, and the temptation to dump the papers instead of delivering them. He uses this story to warn against “warehouse Christianity,” where the good news is hoarded but not shared, and to encourage believers to actively “run the route” and spread the gospel. The sermon also references sports fandom (specifically the celebration of a Chiefs’ victory) as an analogy for the joy and urgency with which the gospel should be proclaimed, contrasting the fleeting excitement of sports victories with the eternal significance of Christ’s victory.

Proclaiming Christ: The Unchanging Mission of the Gospel (Alistair Begg) uses several detailed secular analogies: he compares the process of maturing believers to children learning to ride a bike, emphasizing the removal of "training wheels" as a metaphor for spiritual growth and independence. He also employs the imagery of military boot camp, describing the sergeant major’s demand for order and unquestioning commitment to "standing orders" as a parallel to church unity and discipline. The illustration of old army veterans sharing tattered photographs in McDonald’s is used to show how deep bonds are formed not by shared interests but by shared submission to a higher purpose, drawing a parallel to unity in the church. Additionally, he tells a story about children being deceived in a marketplace, using it as a metaphor for the need for doctrinal discernment to avoid being misled by "fine sounding arguments."

Stewardship in Pastoral Care: Guiding Souls to Christ (Alistair Begg) uses the analogy of exercise partners to illustrate encouragement in pastoral care, noting that just as one benefits from exercising with someone slightly more advanced, so believers are nudged toward maturity by those who encourage and exhort them. He also recounts the story behind the hymn "Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary," which originated from a hospital visit to an illiterate Russian sailor, using it to illustrate the importance of presenting the gospel in every pastoral encounter, regardless of circumstances or language barriers.

Wrestling in Prayer: A Spiritual Battle (Desiring God) uses the vivid secular analogy of an athlete pushing a boulder out of the way to describe the strenuous effort of Christian ministry and prayer. The sermon also employs the metaphor of a "wartime walkie-talkie" to depict prayer as urgent communication with "heavenly headquarters" during spiritual battle, likening the Christian's need for divine intervention to a soldier calling in air support under enemy fire. These analogies draw on common experiences of physical exertion and military conflict to make the spiritual realities of Colossians 1:28-29 tangible and relatable.