Our pastor does expository teaching of the Bible, verse by verse, chapter by chapter. It’s not quick study, but thorough, addressing the culture, historical setting, language, et al. To say he does it very well does not begin to capture his gift for making it interesting. ( I’ve never seen anyone sleeping during his message, and the young people - of whom we have many - pay rapt attention.) No one wants to miss what’s coming next. He’s not a showman nor a comedian. He just loves God’s Word.

We’ve just finished a months-long study of Daniel in the Old Testament and are beginning Colossians in the New Testament, both with relevance to what’s going on in the world today.

One of our pastor’s important attributes, imo, is that he does not soft pedal Scripture, what it says about man’s sinfulness against God and our need for salvation, but he still imparts the significance of the Bible, that Jesus loves us and provides forgiveness. The result is that congregants leave the service hopeful, not beaten about the head and shoulders, and encouraged to grow spiritually. Several newcomers have recently mentioned this to me. They were not used to being encouraged at church.

So now, we’re excited to learn more about Colossians. William Barclay’s commentary has this to say about the first few verses.

THE ESSENCE OF THE GOSPEL ( Colossians 1:2-8 continued)

Colossians 1:6-8 are a kind of summary of what the gospel is and does. Paul has much to say of the hope, to which the Colossians have already listened and which they have already accepted.

(i) The gospel is good news of God. Its message is of a God who is a Friend and Lover of the souls of men. First and foremost, the gospel sets us in a right relationship with God.

(ii) The gospel is truth. All previous religions could be entitled "guesses about God." The Christian gospel gives a man not guesses but certainties about God.

(iii) The gospel is universal. It is for all the world. It is not confined to any one race or nation, nor to any one class or condition. Very few things in this world are open to all men. A man's mental calibre decides the studies he can undertake. A man's social class decides the circle amidst which he will move. A man's material wealth determines the possessions he can amass. A man's particular gifts decide the things he can do. But the message of the gospel is open without exception to all men.

(iv) The gospel is productive. It bears fruit and increases. It is the plain fact of history and experience that the gospel has power to change individual men and the society in which men live. It can change the sinner into a good man and can slowly take the selfishness and the cruelty out of society so that all men may have the chance God would wish them to have.

(v) The gospel tells of grace. It is not so much the message of what God demands as of what he offers. It tells not so much of his demand from men as of his gift to men.

(vi) The gospel is humanly transmitted. It was Epaphras who brought it to the Colossians. There must be a human channel through which the gospel can come to men. And this is where we come in. The possession of the good news of the gospel involves the obligation to share it. That which is divinely given must be humanly passed on. Jesus Christ needs us to be the hands and feet and lips which will bring his gospel to those who have never heard it.

I hope this is an encouragement to someone who might be interested.