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Review: 

• We conclude today our series Established- Holding on to Gospel Hope.
  
  
• Last week, from Colossians 4:2-6, we were called to pray for those who have been sent (global partners), and to pray for and speak Jesus to those who God has placed in our lives that need Jesus.

Read Colossians 4:7-18

Pray

What does your name mean? 

• Not the definition of your name (mine: peaceful waterfall), but what do people think when they hear your name?
  • Tony Hunt the PSU RB [Pic] 4^th all-time rusher PSU (Saquon is #2)
  • The five other Tony Hunt’s in PA

• What reputation does your name carry?
  
  
• What stories might come to their mind about you?
  
  
• Would they identify you as a follower of Jesus, or merely religious?

Our names are given definition every day. 

Names are extremely important to God.

• He gives names and changes names.
  • Jesus- God saves
  • Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of many).
  • Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter (rock) to reflect his purpose in the church. Certainly, gave him confidence to go forward.

• Change of name can serve to open doors.
  • Saul (Hebrew name) to Paul (Roman version of the same name).
  • Called to the Gentiles.
  • Reputation as Saul not so good for the church.

• God can give power to a name.

Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”

• We are charged to live according to Jesus’ name.

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Names that tell us a story. Colossians 4:7-18 [Not glazing over any part of the scripture]

• Tychicus (fortunate) (7)
  • Part of the delegation that brought gifts from the Gentile churches to the church of Jerusalem.
  • Faithful minister and servant.
  • Sent to Colossae to give update about Paul and the church in Rome.

• Onesimus (useful) (9)
  • Faithful and dear brother.
  • Sent to Colossae to give update about Paul and the church in Rome.
  • A runaway slave from Colossae. Risky return and likely carrying on this journey the personal letter to Philemon his master.

• Aristarchus (10)
  • A fellow prisoner.
  • A Thessalonian.
  • A fellow Jew who provides comfort to Paul. (11)

• Mark (10)
  • The cousin of Barnabas.
  • Bailed on Paul on an earlier journey that caused a rift with Barnabas.
  • Private instructions had already been given on how to receive him.
  • Writer of the gospel of Mark and key figure in God’s work with Paul.
  • A fellow Jew who provides comfort to Paul. (11)

• Justus (11)
  • Jesus (Hebrew name) perhaps similar story to Paul’s name change.
  • A fellow Jew who provides comfort to Paul. (11)

• Epaphras (12)
  • A Colossian who was likely the founder of the Colossian church.
  • Sent by the Colossian church to serve Paul’s needs and partner with him for the Gospel.
  • Prays hard for his family and friends back home to stay faithful to Jesus.
  • Including the nearby churches of Laodicea and Hierapolis. (13)
  • Sent as a missionary to join Paul, yet he stilled prayed for his sending church.

• Luke (14)
  • The doctor!
  • Writer of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts.

• Demas (14)
  • In good favor now, but bails on the cause.
  • Cared too much about the love of the world. 2 Timothy 4:10
  • Became a divisive figure that harmed the church.

• Nympha (15)
  • Hosted in her home the church in Laodicea near to Colossae.
  • One of many women that Paul credits for advancing the Gospel.

• Archippus (17)
  • The successor to Epaphras in leading the Colossian church.
  • Could be the son of Philemon.
  • Charged to keep going strong in ministry.

• Paul (18)
  • Personal letter written by his own hand.
  • Remember his chains—a validation to persevere by one who knows.
  • Grace extended.

Building championship football team of church leadership!

• Three biblical writers representing 16 of the 27 books of the NT.
  
  
• Successful leadership of a church planting movement in Asia Minor, Greece, and Italy, covering the Northern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean.
  
  
• You have a re-signed high performer.
  
  
• You have one who became bad for the locker room and was released.

Jesus’ Name is above all names.

• By His name alone can one be saved and have peace with God.

Romans 10:13 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

• If you become a follower of Jesus, you bear His name.

1 Peter 4:16 “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

• His reputation is connected to yours.
  
  
• There is power in Jesus’ name.
  • To cast out demons and heal the sick.
  • In that, there is a lesson to learn in honoring the name of Jesus. Acts 19:13-17

• He calls you by name. (Zacchaeus) Luke 19:5-6

Is your name written in His book?

• The Lambs Book of Life is already written with names in it.

Revelation 13:8 “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.”

• The Lambs Book of Life lists those who are declared the children of God, thus they will spend eternity with the Lamb.

Revelation 21:27 “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

• We should care more about our names being written in that book than any accomplishment here on earth.

Luke 10:16-20 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” ¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” ¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 

Building the meaning of your name.

1. Surrender to Jesus as your Lord.
   • To realize your name being written in His Book of Life.
   • His name becomes yours—Christian.

2. Choose to live each day in Jesus’ name.
   • That your reputation gives a clear picture not a distortion of who Jesus truly is.

3. Create a guiding vision statement of what you want your name to mean.
   • A vision that is submitted to God’s mission and purpose for your life.

Benediction: We have been studying Colossians which is full of instructions for establishing our life in Christ for the now.  This gives us hope because the story of Christ in our life establishes our name forever in the Lambs Book of Life.