“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” – Colossians 1:28
Colossians 1:28 has always been a favorite verse of mine; one that has shaped me for several years now. There are three parts to the verse: 1) What we do in ministry; 2) How we do it; and 3) Why we do it. Though Paul is speaking of his own personal ministry, it certainly has implications for any ministry within the local church.
First, ministry is primarily about the proclamation of the glories of Christ. All of discipleship, all of worship on Sunday mornings, all of our Sunday school classrooms, and community groups, and weekday gatherings, and weekend seminars—all of this is about proclaiming the excellencies of Christ.
Second, we proclaim Christ especially by warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom. Later in the book, Paul uses this phrase to describe what is looks like for the Word of Christ to dwell in us richly (Col 3:16). In other words, in ministry, we make the word of Christ fully known through our teaching and warning (Col 1:25). And this is brought to everyone—and he means everyone—with all wisdom, the very wisdom that is found in Christ (Col 2:3).
Third, we do this for a reason—that everyone might be found mature in Christ. We want people to be like Christ. We want the image of Christ (Col 1:15), who is preeminent before all things (Col 1:18), to fill up his people, so that we might see and enjoy the very glory of Christ we proclaim (Col 1:27).
May God do this at Bethlehem College & Seminary and may every student entering this Fall be conformed into this wonderful image of Christ.
Lance Kramer Director of Degree Completion Program
Prayer Requests:
1. Please pray that Christ be proclaimed through our students, faculty, and administration as we gear up for the Fall.
2. Please pray that Bethlehem College & Seminary would continue to be a place that disciples students into maturity in Christ.
3. Please pray that our financial needs would be met during the lean summer months.
4. Please pray that God would give our incoming students places to live, jobs to work at, and hearts ready to study these excellencies of Christ.
