The Type of Church You Want to Join - Part 1

While imprisoned in Rome, Paul penned the epistle to the church of Colossae. He was thankful for the people and Epaphras, their pastor. Paul described the kind of people that they were: true, faith-demonstrating, loving, Gospel-driven believers. Can God and others say these things about you? 

1. It was a church full of true believers living by faith. (Colossians 1:4)
- They weren’t mere professors of Christ; they were possessors of Christ.
- These believers placed their faith in Christ alone. They had no trust in themselves. 
- These believers lived out their faith. Saving faith always proves itself in a changed life. (2 Corinthians 5:17; John 8:31)

2. It was a church full of true believers loving one another. (Colossians 1:4, 8)
- There is no prejudice in the church. (1 John 2:10; 1 John 3:14-15; John 13:34-35)
- This is the kind of love that Christ has. (1 Corinthians 13)
- Nothing in the church is more important than love.
- The greatest hindrance of the love of saints is our love of self.

3. It was a church full of true believers focused on the hope of the Gospel. (Colossians 1:5-6)
- People need hope! The Gospel gives hope! Christ gives hope! (Romans 5:1-2; 1 Peter 1:3-5)
- The Gospel wasn’t meant for a particular group of people. It was meant for everyone.
- This church was sharing the hope of the Gospel. They were bearing fruit and growing. 

4. It was a church led by a faithful pastor. (Colossians 1:7)