Sunday, September 6, 2026 · Cross Church Surprise

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September 6, 2026

This Week In Rooted and Ready series artwork

Ready for Leadership

Colossians 1:3-8; 4:12-13, 17 · Week 5

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He isalways wrestling for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills.

Colossians 4:12

The Big
Question

Will you be content simply to be reached, or raised up to reach others?

Start where we begin.

In the early 1990s a whole generation wanted to be like Mike. We wore the shoes, copied the moves, and lowered the hoop in the driveway. We imitate the people we admire.

Paul points to a leader most of us overlook. Epaphras wrote no book and preached to no crowds, yet the gospel reached a whole valley through him. He is worth imitating.

Move where the text takes us.

  1. Colossians 1:3-8

    Raised from within

    Paul thanks God for a church he had never visited. The gospel reached Colossae because Epaphras heard it, believed it, and carried it home. Paul calls him a dearly loved fellow servant and a faithful minister of Christ. God raised up a leader from inside the community.

  2. Colossians 4:12-13

    Laboring for others

    Paul gives three descriptions: a servant of Christ Jesus, always wrestling in prayer, working hard for you. Epaphras knew who he belonged to, who he prayed for, and who he was willing to work hard for. He labored so his people would stand mature and fully assured.

  3. Colossians 4:17

    Sent to multiply

    At the end of the letter another name appears. Paul tells Archippus to pay attention to the ministry he received in the Lord and to accomplish it. Archippus did not invent that ministry; he received it. The work did not stop with Epaphras, and that is multiplication.

Enduring Truth

The measure of a leader is not the crowd they gather, but theleaders they send.

Cross Church · Ready for Leadership · Colossians 1:3-8; 4:12-13, 17 Page 1 of 2

Ready for Leadership

Group Discussion & Response

Colossians 1:3-8; 4:12-13, 17

Talk talk it through.

  1. Who first told you about Jesus, and what did it cost them to labor for you? Take a minute and let each person name that person out loud.

  2. Epaphras was raised up from inside his own community. Where has God already placed you that you have been treating as an accident rather than an assignment?

  3. Paul says Epaphras was always wrestling in prayer so his people would stand mature. What would change this week if you prayed that way for one specific person?

  4. Paul told Archippus to pay attention to the ministry he had received. Who are you preparing to do what you do, and what is the next step in handing it off?

Do how we respond.

  1. Pray

    Say one name out loud before God this week. Ask Him to open that person's heart and to show you your part in reaching them.

  2. Praise

    Thank God for the ordinary, unnoticed people He used to bring the gospel to you. Name at least two of them in your prayer this week.

  3. Preach

    Read Colossians 1:3-8 and 4:12-17 slowly. Write down what Paul says Epaphras did, and mark the one line you most need to hear.

  4. Practice

    Bring one person alongside you in something you already do. Show them, explain why it matters, and give them a turn while you are still there.

Close in Prayer

Father, thank You for the people You used to bring the gospel to us. Thank You for the ones who prayed when we did not know it and labored when we could not repay them. Make us that kind of person. Show us who You have placed within our reach. Give us courage to labor for them and willingness to be sent. In Jesus' name, amen.

Notes & Reflection