A person who is looking to make disciples that follow Christ will do several things. In this passage of Colossians it makes clear that prayer for others and opportunities is vitally important.

What does it require of a ministry to do what they have been called to do? It starts looking at life with the eternal why. Why do exist? It is to follow Christ and call others to follow Christ.

This is the verse from which people get the Golden Rule. This is what Jesus had been working up to as a climax for His sermon. His followers were to live this out. This was not a standard, as many see it, of how to gain righteousness. It is the standard that believers should seek to display. They are to do good in all of their relationships as they try to point people to Christ. This is the greatest display of righteousness.

Enoch had a shortened life in comparison to those around him. However, God used him as example of faith that believes that God is and the rewarder of those that diligently seek him. His faith lays out how the just live by faith. They live this life in constant fellowship with God in preparation for constant fellowship with God in eternity.

Gospel citizenship requires the believer serve and soldier. Just as Paul suffered for gospel advance, the Philippian church needed to be united in the Spirit while focused on Christ. They were not to run when faced with opposition to their gospel citizenship. They needed to recognize that suffering for the gospel is normal.

Prayer had already been taught in the Sermon on the Mount. This section is not a repeat of the same information. Jesus emphasizes the relationship that believers have with God. Prayer helps a believer to relate to God. They build the relationship by going to God.

This message was part of the Easter Sonrise service. It reminds us of the prophesied death and victory of the Messiah.

This passage is about a disciple's relationship with unsaved people who live their lives with an animal-like passion. The believer has a responsibility to give the good news, but at certain times, the believer does not give the gospel with certain people. This does not mean that believers do not come back to that person at a later time with the gospel.

Abel's story is not long in Genesis, yet God chose him as the first example of living by faith. He worshipped God with a faith that saw Him as truly existing and rewarding those that diligently seek Him. Cain, his brother, worshipped by ritual and necessity. In the end Abel's testimony has spoken through the ages, though he died young.

Paul's circumstances could have dictated his life. However, He had a proper perspective of life and death. His life was about Christ, and to die was eternal gain. His life was important because of his impact on others, but if he was called glory, he would not be disappointed.