Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 24 January 2021

Texts: Colossians 1

Subject: “Bringing forth fruit”

INTRODUCTION

1. Initial teachings about fruit-bearing

a) By John the Baptiser (Matthew 3)

b) By the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7; Luke 6)

i) Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13; Luke 8)

ii) Cursing of the Fig Tree (Matthew 21)

2. Further teaching in the Epistles

a) Fruit related to the Gospel (Colossians 1)

b) Fruit related to the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5)

THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

1. Preached by the Apostles

a) Peter

b) Paul

c) Non-apostles

2. Comment of Paul concerning the Colossian Church

a) Heard of your faith in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:4a)

b) And of your love for all the saints (Colossians 1:4b)

3. The Gospel described

a) The hope which is laid up for you in heaven (Colossians 1:5a)

b) The word of the truth of the Gospel (Colossians 1:5b)

c) The grace of God in truth (Colossians 1:6c)

4. The Gospel preached 

a) In Colossae

b) In all the world

5. Fruit bearing

a) Observations:

i) And is bringing forth fruit

ii) As it is also among you

iii) Since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth (Colossians 1:6)

b) The word of the Gospel

i) It is able to cause fruit to arise

ii) Able to cause fruit to abound

A MORE SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE FRUIT OF THE GOSPEL

1. Love (Colossians 1:4)

a) Love is indeed a fruit

b) It is a special work of God

i) The unloving becomes loving

ii) The selfish becomes selfless

iii) The self-centered becomes other-centered

2. For all the saints (Colossians 1:4)

a) There is love for God

b) Love for God’s word

c) Love for all the saints

i) Love for others

ii) Love for fellow-believers

iii) There would be genuine concern for others

iv) This is a new work that God will do in our heart

3. Love in the Spirit (Colossians 1:8)

a) This identifies further this fruit of love

b) It is a special work of the Spirit of God 

A GREATER DESCRIPTION OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

 (Galatians 5:22-23)

1. Love

2. Joy

3. Peace

4. Longsuffering

5. Kindness

6. Goodness

7. Faithfulness

8. Gentleness

9. Self-control