Sermon Title: A Christ Centered Church
Colossians Chapter 3 - Chapter 4.6
Review:
⁃ Paul under house arrest in Rome
⁃ Given an update on the church
⁃ They are dealing with false teachers
⁃ The sufficiency of Christ and the gospel
⁃ Paul’s ministry
⁃ Be free from legalism
We are concluding the study of Colossians with what it means to live a Christ centered life and be part of a Christ centered church.
Paul reminds the church in Colossae what the bottom line is.
Colossians 3:1-4 (LSB)
1 Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you died and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory.
Sin that is against our own body / life. - The sin of self.
Colossians 3:5-7 (LSB)
5 Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
Sin that is directed towards others. - The sin of community.
Colossians 3:8-11 (LSB)
8 But now you also, lay them all aside: wrath, anger, malice, slander, [and] abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you put off the old man with its [evil] practices, 10 and have put on the new man who is being renewed to a full knowledge according to the image of the One who created him– 11 [a renewal] in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, [and] freeman, but Christ is all and in all.
Paul now transitions to give an encouragement of how we are to continue to live. We are to grow in Christ likeness which will cover these traits.
Colossians 3:12-17 (LSB)
12 So, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, [and] patience; 13 bearing with one another, and graciously forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord graciously forgave you, so also should you. 14 Above all these things [put on] love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms [and] hymns [and] spiritual songs, singing with gratefulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:18-25 (LSB)
18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart. 22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but with integrity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Serve the Lord Christ. 25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
Colossians 4:2-6 (LSB)
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been bound, 4 that I may make it manifest in the way I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, redeeming the time. 6 Let your words always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should answer each person.
Application:
Taking Off:
Sensuality - “sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed.”
Evil Attitudes - “anger, rage, malice.”
Evil Speech - “slander, filthy language.”
Deception - “do not lie to each other.”
Why must we put these things off?
Because we have:
- A new self “which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
- New relationships—“Here there is no Greek or Jew … but Christ is all, and is in all.”
Putting On:
A Spirit filled Attitude – “heart of compassion”, “kindness”, “humility”, “gentleness”, “and patience”
Spirit filled speech – “words with grace, seasoned with salt”
A Spirit filled community – “bearing with one another”, “forgiving each other”
Love – “A binding a uniting love”
Life Group Questions:
Get to know you question
What did you do over the summer break? Take some time to catch up on things that happened this summer.
What is your understanding of a church community? What is your role in the church community?
How is God working in your life right now?
Why is commitment important for a church community?