Philip Anthony Mitchell - Examine Your Entourage (01/25/2026)
Welcome and Introduction
If you’re here for the first time, you’re welcome. Or if you’re watching on podcast, we welcome you to Victory Church. And this is the final message in our series called Walk. We have been teaching through the New Testament letter of Colossians, and today I’m going to land the plane on this series.
Now if you’ve been following this series—if you’ve been reading the New Testament letter of Colossians—you know that the final verses are just a series of greetings. And it may seem insignificant. Why do we even talk about the greetings?
Like why would we even talk about the genealogy? I remember one time preaching a series through the Book of Ruth, and I closed out that series talking about—you know—why would Boaz show this Moabite woman so much favor? And why would he have such compassion on a foreigner?
And I remember sharing with the church during that series—some of you may have remembered this—and if you check the genealogy listed in the Gospels, it tells us something about Boaz: that his mother was Rahab, the prostitute—another foreigner.
Maybe when he had compassion for this woman who was working in this field—and although it’s just a series of greetings and it may seem not important—there are some principles in those greetings.
Examine Your Entourage
And we’re going to take—um—this is probably going to be the shortest message I’ve ever preached in Victory history. And I know you don’t believe me when I say that, but it is going to be the shortest message I have preached in Victory history.
Today we’re going to land the plane in our series. And I know you thought we would skip over this, but we’re just—I’m going to walk you through these greetings. I’m just going to give you some three things to consider from these greetings.
We’ll be in Colossians chapter 4 verses 7 through 18, and we’re going to land the plane on this series. And then I have something we’re going to do for you here this morning.
For all my note takers—because I know that this is a teaching house—for those of you who take notes, I’m going to title this very brief 17-minute 25-second talk: Examine Your Entourage. Examine your entourage. Examine your circle.
Prayer
Father, add a blessing to the teaching of this Word. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Thank you so much, brothers. I really appreciate you.
If you’ve been following this series, we have spent time walking through the New Testament letter of Colossians. We’ve talked about the case that Paul was making against false teaching. He made a case to elevate the deity and the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We talked about the false gospels that were being preached at Colossi, and Paul did everything he could to lead the church away from those false gospels—to help them to be awake, to be conscious about the teachings that were happening there.
We talked about the old man and the new man and various things. And then Paul closes the letter that he wrote to the church at Colossae with these words in chapter 4 verse 7.
Paul’s Greetings
Let’s do some work really quick. Tychicus—these are some names here like this is Milton—no—Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother and faithful minister and fellow servant of the Lord.
I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that has happened here.
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.
Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.
Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her home.
After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
Tell Archippus: See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.
And he finishes the letter with these words: I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
The Impact of Your Circle
Brothers and sisters, I want to make a case for this one statement. I want to say to you that there are few things that will have a greater impact on your life than the people that you run with.
Your inner circle will either sink you or it will propel you. And the impact of your inner circle cannot be understated. In words, you will never be greater than your closest confidants.
And if you show me your three closest friends, I will show you your future. And who you keep in your inner circle tells a lot about your character. It tells a lot about the kind of person you are.
It tells a lot about your values and what you hold dear to you. I know a lot about you by the close people that you keep around you. I know a lot about you by the people you call your best friends or your companions.
Okay, and I want to say to you a second time: There are few things that will have a greater impact on your life than the circle of the people you keep close to you.
Men in Paul’s Entourage
Now I want you to just consider—for example—I want you to notice the kind of men that Paul kept close to him. I want you to consider some of these men.
For example, consider some of the men in Paul’s entourage. Let’s take Tychicus, right? Let’s take Tychicus—this one brother right here. This brother would seem very unimportant, right, when we read about him in this text.
But the description is that he was a faithful minister and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is also known to have traveled to the city of Troas ahead of Paul to prepare the ministry that Paul was about to bring to that city.
So he was a man that Paul trusted—watch—to go ahead of him and to make sure things were straight for his arrival. How many people do you have in your life you can trust to get things done for you before you get there?
He was—watch—dependable, right? He was dependable. He was also the person that—watch—hand-delivered the letter of Ephesians to the people at Ephesus.
So when we read the letter of Ephesians, he was the person that took that letter from Paul in prison and hand-delivered that letter. He had to travel on foot and by boat to bring that letter to the people of Ephesus. He was—watch—dependable.
He was also sent to the island of Crete—which is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea. When we did the series through the letter of Titus, he was the one who took that letter and hand-delivered that letter to Titus on the island of Crete.
Okay, let’s take this other brother—Onesimus, right? Some of you who’ve ever read the New Testament letter of Philemon—you would have bumped into this brother, right?
This brother was a former slave to a man named Philemon who broke away from his master, right? He bumps into Paul in a city—he hears Paul preaching the gospel—he gets converted to Christianity under Paul.
Paul brings him into his fold—he disciples him personally. Paul will go so far as to call him even a son. Writes the letter to Philemon—puts it in this brother’s hand—and sends this brother with this letter to Philemon.
Okay, this brother was also called Paul’s own heart. And tradition says—scholars believe—he became a bishop in the city of Ephesus.
Aristarchus and Mark
Aristarchus—what about this brother right here? I love this brother. He was scrappy. He was like the thug that if you get into trouble—he’d be the first one to pick up a bottle on the street.
You know people like that, right? But you kind of lose your salvation for just a second. Yeah—anybody got people like that in your life?
Somebody said Rhonda—Rhonda from Philly, right? Rhonda leads our prayer team. I know if I was on the street and somebody ran up on me—I know Rhonda gonna have my back.
Rhonda would lose her whole salvation and be on the news: Our pastor gets into scuffle—female Rhonda jumps in—she was seen pulling out razors from her mouth and slicing people across their face—she’s serving two to four years now in prison—like and starts a brand new prison ministry in downtown Atlanta, right?
That’s Aristarchus, right? He traveled with Paul on his third missionary journey, right? He was with Paul in the riot that broke out in Ephesus in Acts chapter 19.
So when Paul was preaching in the city of Ephesus about their idols—and the riot breaks out—and they try to come at Paul—Aristarchus was right there when Paul was about to get beat down, right?
In fact, if you read the letter carefully—where is Aristarchus right now? He’s sitting in prison with Paul. He traveled with him to Rome—and he didn’t just let Paul go through that by himself—man, he served time with his brother.
I mean—do they just rapture out or you be on your own? No—he served time with Paul. He said man, if you’re gonna be in chains for the gospel—I’m sitting here with you in chains for the gospel.
Man, I need an Aristarchus on my team.
What about Mark, right? Here’s a man that needs no introduction, right? This is John Mark—whose mother was Mary—a very influential woman. She was the woman who had the very large home in Jerusalem where they had the upper room—where the prayer meeting happened that gave birth to the church.
Yeah—remember this prayer meeting? It was John Mark. He also traveled with Paul on a missionary journey—halfway through—for some reason we don’t know—he abandoned Paul and he left with Barnabas, right?
And him and Paul had a beef—and they separated for some time. Now I’m not sure how long they were separated—but if we read the New Testament—we know at some time—watch this word—because we don’t do this good in the Christian church—they—watch—they reconciled, right?
No—there wasn’t immature people that like to gossip and hold grudges forever and pride—no—they realized—and at some point in time they—watch—they reconciled to each other.
What else do we know about Mark? Mark was also going to do what? To write the Gospel that bears his name. This dude was a no-nonsense follower of Jesus, right?
Justus and Epaphras
What about Justus—a Jewish servant who was with the Lord? And then Paul says that all these men we just mentioned—these were the only Jews that were with him.
That means these men had to shed their ethnic identity to take on the identity of Christ, right? They chose—watch—they chose Jesus over their ethnic affiliation.
Don’t we wish some of our politicians in Washington would do that—that they would choose country over their party? How much better off would we be if they chose country over party?
How much better would the church be if we chose Jesus over our opinions—Jesus over our doctrines—Jesus over your feelings—well they hurt me—I don’t want to forgive—but what does the Word say, right?
I hear leaning on my amen corner over there—I got the best-looking amen corner in the building.
What about this next man—Epaphras? What about this brother right here? This brother Epaphras was a non-believer, right? The apostle Paul is preaching in the city of Ephesus—he spends three years there.
Church history tells us that Epaphras was in the crowd when Paul was preaching the gospel. He hears Paul preaching the gospel—he receives Jesus as his Savior—watch what he does next.
He doesn’t just sit on the gospel—he takes the gospel—he travels to the city of Colossi—and that thing is burning inside him—and he had heard the message of Jesus—he had heard about this Man that was resurrected from the dead.
He had heard about this Man who healed—miracles—he had heard about this Man that people called the Way—people called Savior. He doesn’t just sit on the gospel—something is—watch—burning inside of him, right?
So he takes that message he heard—he doesn’t sit on it, right? He’s not on his social media just tweeting about nonsense—he propagates the gospel.
So he travels to the city of Colossi—he begins to preach the gospel—he—watch—he plants the church at Colossae.
This letter that we read in church—Paul had never visited this church—he had never seen these people face to face—it was Epaphras who planted that church—preached to that church—guided that church.
He was the man responsible for the church at Colossae. Heard the gospel—planted a church. What are you doing with the gospel?
Heard the gospel—planted the church. What are you doing with the gospel? Some of us won’t even give for the gospel—won’t even share the gospel—won’t even invite someone to church to hear the gospel.
This man heard the gospel and planted a church. What are you doing with the gospel that you have received?
Salvation has not come to you to put you on a pedestal—has come to you to be an ambassador now for the Lord Jesus Christ. And you don’t have to say amen—but this is good gospel truth whether you like it or not, right?
I like that brother.
Luke and Paul’s Team
And what about this next brother—Luke? Another man who needs no introduction—a beloved physician. And I like Luke—you know why? Because Luke never left Paul’s side.
You ever met someone that never left your side—that is a blessing to you, right? Traveled with him on all of his missionary journeys. It was Luke who recorded the book of Acts—the first 30 years of the church.
It was Luke who also wrote the book that bears his name. What do we see in Paul’s team? We see some ferocious godly men who were serious about the gospel—serious about the spread of the gospel—serious about being servants of Jesus.
We see Paul surrounded himself with men who were serious about the cause that was on their life—men who were serious about making sacrifice for the greater good.
Look at his team, right? Look at the kind of men that Paul placed around him—men who were strong—men who were sacrificial—men who were serious about the gospel.
Three Qualities of Companions
And I just want to leave you with three things that I want to pull out of this text about the type of companions we should place around us.
Now I’m not just talking about loose friends—I’m not just talking about acquaintances—I’m not just talking about people we know on social media—but I’m talking about those people we keep close to us—our mentors—and the people or the men and women in our lives we say these are my closest friends—these are my companions—these are the people that are closer to my heart than any other people.
I want to give you three things that identified all these men. I hope you can find these three things in the circle of people that you are with right now. And if you can’t—you may need to re-evaluate or examine your entourage.
Number one: There should be companions who comfort you. Companions who comfort you.
You need people in your life that when you’re going through—how they know how to pray—they know how to listen, right? They know how to be present, right? They know how to put their arms around you if you’re hurt.
And if the people around you can’t help you when you’re hurting—you need to evaluate your close friends, right?
If you have people in your life that when you’re going through—they can’t be any source of comfort to you—you need to evaluate who you call your close friends.
If you have mentors and companions you keep close to you—and they can’t offer any comfort for you when you’re going through—you need to really examine your entourage.
Paul said that he had men around him who were a comfort to him. And my brothers and sisters—life will happen for you—but when life comes for you—can you turn left and right—and who would you find there?
If you look left and right in pain—and can’t find anyone with anything of value to say—or they don’t have ears to listen—they can’t get a prayer through—have no words of wisdom or counsel to offer you—you may need to evaluate your entourage.
Okay, number two: Companions should be companions who challenge you, right?
For all of you who love keeping yes-men around you, right? You love keeping people around you who coddle you and your sin—if anybody tells you about yourself—you get offended.
You don’t want to keep friends that will tell you: Sister, you shouldn’t be doing this. Brother, you shouldn’t be doing this. You shouldn’t have talked to your wife that way. You shouldn’t talk to your husband that way.
Man, it’s time for you to come off of this thing. When you’re gonna start being faithful in this area of your life?
If our closest companions just wink at our sin—we need to evaluate our entourage.
I need people around me that love me enough to tell me my attitude stinks today. I need people around me to tell me man, you need to change in this area of your life.
If you only keep people around you who turn a blind eye at your sin—and if you only keep people around you that don’t care enough about your—watch—offend you with truth—you need to examine your entourage.
One of the greatest blessings you ever have is having someone in your life who loves you enough to tell you the truth. They challenge you—they push you out of comfort zones—they tell you you’ve been in this place too long.
They tell you you can do better—they tell you they see more in you—they keep tapping you and challenge you. When you get around them—they challenge you to come up higher in areas of your life.
If you’re hanging out with people and they never challenge you to come up higher—then you’ve been running with pigeons. You need to start flying with eagles.
I don’t have time to be squawking with pigeons. Look—I got a call on my life—I got an assignment to finish—I got a wife and children—I’m trying to be a better husband—I’m trying to be a better leader—I’m trying to be a better father—I’m trying to be a better pastor.
And if all you do is wink at my sin—or you don’t love me enough to challenge me—you can be my associate but you can’t be my close companion.
I need people in my life that love me enough to look me in my eye and say you know what—you can do better in this area.
Now you’re not gonna say amen because you don’t like friends like that, right? You don’t like people to step on your toes—and you don’t like to be offended.
I know people—you don’t want to be confronted about anything—if someone confronts you—you take that harshly—you think it’s something personal.
Listen—if no one is confronting you—I would be worried. If people really love you—they will challenge you. Your closest companions—
Paul challenged them and said tell that brother right there to be faithful to the work that Jesus gave him. That’s what Paul said.
And since Paul was the type of man that told people follow me as I follow Christ—then he would expect all his companions to be doing the same—challenging the people around them to be faithful to the work of Jesus.
Companions Who Co-Labor
And then this last one—see this is the shortest message I’ve ever preached—you need companions who will co-labor with you.
You need companions who will comfort you—you need companions who will challenge you—it’s all in the text—you need companions who will co-labor with you.
Let me ask you a question: Are you running with people that have different values from you? What are your values?
I want people in my life—in my core circle—who have the same convictions that I have. I’m not gonna spend time with men that hate their wife.
I’m not gonna make my closest friend men that hate their families. I’m not gonna have pastor friends in my life that are not faithful to their call at their church, right?
I want to have men in my life that I can co-labor with—that we can—watch—get in the trenches with—we can get dirty together—we can roll up our sleeves and go after some demons—get people set free, right?
We can preach this glorious gospel together—we can spread this glorious gospel together.
I want people in my life that—listen—when hell comes—we can stand together and say that we have a mission—that we’re gonna do this thing together for the glory of Jesus.
I don’t have time for lazy companions, right? So I want companions in my life that we can labor together—we can work together—we can build together.
I want people in my life who are self-sacrificial—I want people giving over for gospel ministry—I want people who are missional in nature—I want people who are outwardly focused.
Now I’m not just talking about loose friends—I don’t expect this from my loose friends—I’m talking about my closest companions—my Kenny’s—my Elder Milton’s—my Eric’s—Brian Dooley—my pastor friend in Charlotte—Ron Simmons—my pastor friend in Florida—my brother Brandon Clack in Memphis.
I’m talking about men that I run with who are ferocious godly men—who love their families—they love their children—they love their callings—they love their church—they will give their lives for the calling of God.
I want to run with people who want to co-labor for the greater good of the gospel—watch—and we’re not competing with each other for what Jesus is doing, right?
Notice Paul says when y’all done with that letter—take it and go read it to them other two churches, right?
And my brothers and I—we share ideas with each other—we pray for one another. In fact, I was on my knees praying for all my pastor friends this morning—I prayed for Brandon Clack this morning—I prayed for Ron Simmons this morning—I prayed for my pastor—I prayed for Brian Dooley this morning—I prayed for the men that I run with.
I pray for them because I want to—I want to surround myself with men that I can co-labor with—that when I feel tired—they pick me up and we keep running—and when they get tired—I pick them up and we keep running.
But we have a core commitment to each other—watch—we together we’re gonna burst the tape of this finish line together—and stumble into the loving arms of our Savior together.
And we’re gonna look over our shoulder and look at each other and say Jesus—look at all the people that heard the gospel—that we all arrived here together.
Our lives are about more than just Sunday morning services—we’re giving our lives for the spread of the gospel.
I want my closest companions to be men who can comfort me—and women—people who can challenge me—people that I can co-labor with.
If you can’t find this with your closest companions—then I want to invite you to examine your entourage.
Final Challenge and Prayer
Let me ask you a question: Who is in your circle? Who are your closest friends?
When you look left and look right—I know those are the Alliance sisters—but do they share the same convictions as you?
I know those are your line brothers—but do they share the same convictions as you?
I know you said this is my dog—this is my girl—this is my roadie or whatever you want to call them—do they share the same convictions as you?
If you was going through—how could one of them pray for you? Do they believe in the same God you believe in?
I’m not talking about surface—I’m talking about your closest companions—could they pray? Do they have the same convictions?
When y’all come together—what are your conversations like? Do y’all spend time just gossiping and slandering and tearing people down? Are they negative and cynical?
Or do—when y’all come together—is it uplifting—and is Jesus ever mentioned? Do they ever challenge you?
What are your conversations like when you come together? I can tell you when Elder Milton and I come together—or if I get around Kenny—I can tell you what’s happening in our conversations.
What are the conversations like with your closest companions? What are your values?
I’m not talking about loose friends—I’m talking about your closest companions—what do y’all talk about when you are alone? What kind of stuff is coming out?
How would they challenge? Are you any better today because of your closest companions?
If they can’t comfort you—if they’re not challenging you—and if they can’t co-labor with you—if they don’t share your values—if they’re not pushing your life forward—if you can’t lean on them—if you can’t find any value in them—if they don’t look like the ferocious beasts that Paul surrounded himself with—they can be associates and they can be friends—but your closest companions—you need to examine your entourage very carefully.
Because the people you keep closest to you will have the greatest impact on your life. They will either sink you or they will propel you. It’s your choice. Examine the entourage.
Now I’ve known them for a long time—is your loyalty to Jesus or is your loyalty to that person? They did this for me—seasons change and relationships change.
Your closest people will either sink you or they will propel you. Are you any better today because of your entourage? If not—you need to examine your closest companions.
Let’s pray.
Father, thank you for an opportunity to share this Word with these men and women. I thank you, Father, for the wisdom of your examples you have left for us in Scripture. Thank you, Father, for the examples you have left for us in Scriptures.
And now, Father, I pray for every person under the sound of my voice—every person watching and listening on podcast. We all have people in our lives—mentors—friends—line sisters and brothers—partners—confidants—our dogs—our sisters—we all have them in our lives.
Holy Spirit, would you give us the wisdom today to carefully examine our entourage? Would you give us the wisdom to know where to properly categorize the people that are in our lives?
Will you help us to be wise and discerning about the people we keep closest to our hearts? And will you give us the courage to make adjustments with the people that are in our lives?
Would you remind us that we have been chosen and called for a purpose that is much greater? And will you help us, God, to properly align our friendships with our values according to the callings that you’ve placed on our lives?
Would you remind us that time is running out—and that a day is coming where every single one of us will give an account for the lives we have lived in this body?
Would you help us today to stop making excuses for keeping people that we know the season has come for them to be cut off? And would you give us the strength to rearrange people who are too close—we shouldn’t have that level of access.
Would you give us the wisdom to carefully examine those we call quote unquote spiritual fathers—quote unquote pastors—those who may be abusing us, God?
Lord, would you give us wisdom to look at those we call friends? And would you help us to not—watch—compromise for the sake of keeping a relationship? It is not worth my calling.
Lord, I pray for every man and woman in this room—and the one listening on podcast—and our friends will either sink us or propel us.
And I pray, Father, this day—not only would we examine our entourage—but you would by your divine providence begin to bring into our lives the right mentors.
Oh yes—I feel this in my spirit, Father—there are people in this room who have been crying out—they’ve been lonely—they’ve been desiring to be better—yes—I feel that—they’ve been desiring to grow—and no one has taken interest in them.
God, I pray, God—after this day—you would begin providentially to bring into their lives the right mentors—the right relationships—the right people, God—in the name of Jesus.
And I pray, God—Lord—they will begin to slowly surround themselves with ferocious serious men and women of faith.
The Scripture teaches to have friends at a distance—let us be wise with our closest companions. Show us our Peter, James, and John.
I pray we prosper as we don’t compromise in this area. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
And now, Father, I pray for every person under the sound of my voice—every person watching and listening on podcast. We all have people in our lives—mentors—friends—line sisters and brothers—partners—confidants—our dogs—our sisters—we all have them in our lives.
Holy Spirit, would you give us the wisdom today to carefully examine our entourage? Would you give us the wisdom to know where to properly categorize the people that are in our lives?
Will you help us to be wise and discerning about the people we keep closest to our hearts? And will you give us the courage to make adjustments with the people that are in our lives?
Would you remind us that we have been chosen and called for a purpose that is much greater? And will you help us, God, to properly align our friendships with our values according to the callings that you’ve placed on our lives?
Would you remind us that time is running out—and that a day is coming where every single one of us will give an account for the lives we have lived in this body?
Would you help us today to stop making excuses for keeping people that we know the season has come for them to be cut off? And would you give us the strength to rearrange people who are too close—we shouldn’t have that level of access.
Would you give us the wisdom to carefully examine those we call quote unquote spiritual fathers—quote unquote pastors—those who may be abusing us, God?
Lord, would you give us wisdom to look at those we call friends? And would you help us to not—watch—compromise for the sake of keeping a relationship? It is not worth my calling.
Lord, I pray for every man and woman in this room—and the one listening on podcast—and our friends will either sink us or propel us.
And I pray, Father, this day—not only would we examine our entourage—but you would by your divine providence begin to bring into our lives the right mentors.
Oh yes—I feel this in my spirit, Father—there are people in this room who have been crying out—they’ve been lonely—they’ve been desiring to be better—yes—I feel that—they’ve been desiring to grow—and no one has taken interest in them.
God, I pray, God—after this day—you would begin providentially to bring into their lives the right mentors—the right relationships—the right people, God—in the name of Jesus.
And I pray, God—Lord—they will begin to slowly surround themselves with ferocious serious men and women of faith.
The Scripture teaches to have friends at a distance—let us be wise with our closest companions. Show us our Peter, James, and John.
I pray we prosper as we don’t compromise in this area. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
And hallelujah—receive that Word.