VIDEO
Not Just “The End of a Letter”
This sermon was given on 7/27/25 at Pax Christian Church.
SPEAKER
Brian Lucas is one of the Co-Lead Pastors at Pax Christian Church.
SERMON SERIES
This sermon series is “Colossians”
NOTES
Find the full notes below on this page, or in the YouVersion Bible App.
NOTES:
Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here. My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
THIS IS NOT JUST A RANDOM PERSONAL NOTE TO PEOPLE WE DON’T KNOW. THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF LIFE IN THE CHURCH, WITH A FEW REDEMPTION STORIES BAKED IN.
Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.
TYCHICUS: Messenger of Paul Acts 20:4 2 Timothy 4:12 Titus 3:12
He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow workeralso to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your homeGrace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayersbecause I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to doyet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesusthat I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back foreverno longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
PHILEMON: Escaped slave; converted Christian; returning brother in the LORD.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masterssince you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)
ARISTARCHUS: Companion of Paul’s and fellow prisoner Acts 19:29 (arrested with Paul) Acts 20:4 Acts 27:2
MARK: Gospel author; follower of Peter; reconciled helper to Paul.
“The repeated and unanimous testimony of the early Church describes Mark’s Gospel as an accurate record of Peter’s teaching, captured faithfully by Mark acting as Peter’s scribe. Papias, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, Eusebius, and Tertullian attribute the Gospel to Mark, and Mark is also described as the author in the Muratorian Fragment and the Anti-Marcionite Prologues.”
Mark’s Gospel comes from Peter
Here’s a link to a great article detailing some of the earliest testaments to Mark’s gospel being a collection of teachings from Peter (or Peter’s memoir): https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/is-marks-gospel-an-early-memoir-of-the-apostle-peter/
When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”
When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.
From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with thembut Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.
Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.
You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalfand who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.
LUKE: Doctor; Gospel author (and Acts)
DEMAS: companion of Paul; abandons him later
Do your best to come to me quicklyfor Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
NYMPHA: female host (pastor?) of a house church
After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
THESE LETTERS ARE FOR THE CHURCHES. AND FOR US.
Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home
I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
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