Summary

This message examines the biblical concept of waiting, centered on Proverbs 13:12: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

The pastor clarifies that waiting is not wasted time but a vital season for spiritual renewal and character formation, illustrated through biblical figures such as Abraham, David, and Joseph. These individuals received divine promises yet endured long stretches of hardship and uncertainty before fulfillment. The message highlights God’s presence in these waiting periods, shaping believers for their purpose, and cautions against forcing outcomes prematurely.

Ultimately, waiting is set within God’s broader redemptive story—from Eden to Christ’s return—assuring believers that their “Saturday” seasons of waiting will lead to a “Sunday” of fulfillment.

Knowledge Points

1. Understanding and Enduring Waiting

• The Meaning of “Hope Deferred”
  • The proverb “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” refers to waiting for the fulfillment of a hope you already hold, not losing hope itself.
  • Waiting is a challenging human experience, evident in daily life (e.g., traffic, lines) and spiritually (e.g., unanswered prayers).
  • Feeling weary or questioning the length of a wait is a normal human response and does not indicate a lack of faith.
• The Purpose of Waiting
  • Scripture teaches that waiting is not inactivity or wasted time.
  • From Isaiah: “Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,” signaling waiting as a season for renewal.
  • God is present in the waiting (“God is in your waiting”). The emphasis should be on seeking God during the wait, not fixating on its duration.
• The Hospital Analogy for Waiting
  • Life’s crises resemble a hospital with an emergency room, an operating room, and a waiting room.
  • The waiting room is especially difficult—time feels prolonged and uncertain.
  • Biblically, every level of crisis includes a “waiting room” dimension.
• The “Saturday” Season
  • The time between Jesus’s crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Sunday is a “Saturday” season.
  • For the disciples, Saturday—being a Sabbath—meant enforced stillness, deepening grief and uncertainty.
  • This represents times when we are not only waiting for answers but also constrained, unable to move forward.
  • In this period, disciples like Peter felt the promise had ended and were tempted to return to former ways (“Let’s go fishing”).
  • This shows how waiting can breed despair, yet Jesus remains present (“on the shore”), ready to provide what is needed.

2. Biblical Examples of Waiting and Faithfulness

• Abraham: Certainty of God’s Promise
  • God promised Abraham in Genesis 15 countless offspring, yet he and Sarah remained childless for decades.
  • Abraham held to the promise, looking “forward to a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:8–10).
  • The certainty of God’s promise is not measured by speed of fulfillment. Believers often wait for God’s promises to unfold.
• David: Anointed but Hunted
  • Anointed by Samuel to be king, David spent years as a fugitive, hiding from Saul.
  • This contrasts divine promise with the rugged reality of the journey.
  • When Saul entered the cave, David’s men urged him to kill Saul as a seemingly providential opportunity.
  • David refused, recalling Proverbs 14:12 (“There is a way that appears right, but in the end it leads to death”) and honoring Saul as “the Lord’s anointed.”
  • David’s refusal to rush ahead of God averted civil war and disaster. His wilderness years forged a selfless, steady leader, calm amid chaos.
• Joseph: From Betrayal to Forgiveness
  • Joseph was betrayed, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison.
  • After a long time, he rose to second-in-command in Egypt, saving many lives—including his brothers’—during famine.
  • Confronting his brothers, he acknowledged their intent yet focused on God’s purpose: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good… the saving of many lives.”
• The Israelites and Paul
  • Israel was delivered from Egypt with the promise of a new land, yet first endured a wilderness journey—living between liberation and inheritance.
  • Paul, once a persecutor, was transformed on the road to Damascus and became a leading apostle, showing God can rewrite any story.
• Martin Luther King Jr.
  • As a contemporary example, Martin Luther King Jr. articulated a future vision (“I have a dream”) far from realized at the time.
  • He envisioned a nation judging character over color, drawing on Amos’s justice.
  • Though he did not see full fulfillment, his journey continues to inspire progress.

3. Implications of Understanding the Waiting Process

• Avoiding Disillusionment
  • Recognizing waiting as part of God’s plan helps prevent disillusionment when suffering persists.
  • It corrects the unbiblical idea that faith erases tension or that “more faith” prevents trials. Jesus promised trouble in this world and declared He has overcome it.
  • Do not equate God’s delay with His absence. It is appropriate to ask “how long?” while seeking His presence in the present season.
• The Ultimate Fulfillment: The Tree of Life
  • “A longing fulfilled is a tree of life” points to ultimate restoration.
  • This tree connects back to Eden and forward to the new heaven and earth in Revelation.
  • God’s redemptive arc moves from “garden to glory”: the fall, promise of redemption, the cross, and the ultimate restoration with no more death or pain.
  • Our earthly “Saturday” seasons fit within this grand narrative—assured by the cross, awaiting the crown.

Assignments

• Reflect on personal “waiting seasons” and identify how to seek God’s presence and purpose within them rather than focusing only on duration.
• When tempted to “get ahead of God” or take control, practice pausing to discern whether the path that “appears right” aligns with God’s timing and character, as David did.
• In weakness or weariness from waiting, choose to trust God’s strength, remembering Paul’s teaching that “when we’re weak, that’s when we’re strong.”

COLOSSIANS 4:7–18 (NIV)

Theme: The Gospel in Circulation—Identity Proved through Community

✨ Verses 7–9 — The Reliable Messenger and the Restored Brother

Colossians 4:7–9 (NIV)

7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

Cross References

• Philemon 1:10 – “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.”
• Proverbs 25:13 – “Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him.”

Why We Struggle

We often view “ministry” as the work of the person on the stage, forgetting that the health of the church depends on “Tychicuses”—those who are simply faithful, reliable, and willing to carry the weight for others. We also struggle to forgive the “Onesimuses” of the world, holding people’s pasts against them.

Integrated Truth

The Gospel is not just a set of ideas; it is a network of relationships. Tychicus represents reliability, while Onesimus represents redemption. Onesimus was a runaway slave, yet Paul calls him a “faithful and dear brother.” The “New Humanity” from Colossians 3:11 is now walking into the room in the form of a former slave and a faithful servant.

Know This

• Faithfulness is the greatest ability you can offer.
• In Christ, your past does not disqualify you from being “dear and faithful.”

Response of the Believer

• Commit to being a person whose word and work can be trusted.
• Look at those with “messy” backgrounds through the lens of their new identity in Christ.
• Be an encourager of hearts, not just a reporter of facts.

✨ Verses 10–14 — The Diversity of the Team

Colossians 4:10–14 (NIV)

10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 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. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.

Cross References

• Acts 15:37–38 – (The original conflict between Paul and Mark).
• 2 Timothy 4:10 – “For Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me.”

Why We Struggle

We assume the early church was perfect. But this list contains a man who once deserted the mission (Mark), a man who would eventually abandon it (Demas), and people from vastly different cultural backgrounds (Jews and Gentiles).

Integrated Truth

The “Pantry Audit” from chapter 3 results in a room where Mark (the failure) and Luke (the intellectual) can work together. We see Epaphras “wrestling” in prayer—reminding us that the hardest work for the church often happens on our knees, not in the spotlight.

Know This

• A “successful” ministry team includes people who have failed and been restored (Mark).
• Prayer is a form of “hard work” (v. 13).

Response of the Believer

• Offer “welcome” to those who have previously let you down.
• Shift from “saying prayers” to “wrestling in prayer” for your community.
• Recognize the value of your specific background (vocation, ethnicity) in the Kingdom.

✨ Verses 15–18 — Final Instructions and the Personal Mark

Colossians 4:15–18 (NIV)

15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 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. 17 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” 18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Cross References

• 2 Timothy 4:5 – “But you, keep your head in all situations… fulfill all the duties of your ministry.”
• Galatians 6:17 – “I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”

Why We Struggle

We are prone to “start” things but not “complete” them. Like Archippus, we get discouraged or distracted by the “chains” of life—our limitations, our suffering, or our boredom.

Integrated Truth

The letter ends with a call to action. Paul mentions his chains not for pity, but for perspective. If Paul can fulfill his ministry in a prison, Archippus can fulfill his in Colossae. The “Grace” he closes with is the fuel required to finish the race.

Know This

• Ministry is not finished until it is “completed.”
• Our limitations (chains) do not excuse us from our calling.

Response of the Believer

• Identify the task God has given you and resolve to “see to it” that it’s done.
• Open your home (like Nympha) for the sake of the Gospel.
• Let the reality of others’ sacrifices motivate your own endurance.

📘 THEOLOGICAL SUMMARY

Colossians 4:7–18 teaches that:

• The “New Self” is lived out in a tangible, messy, and diverse community.
• Redemption is practical (Onesimus) and reconciliation is possible (Mark).
• Labor for the Kingdom includes both physical presence (Tychicus) and spiritual wrestling (Epaphras).
• The “Pantry” is kept clean when we remain faithful to our specific assignments.

🧠 HEAD — What to Understand

• The Gospel travels through people, not just scrolls.
• Every believer has a specific “ministry received in the Lord.”

❤️ HEART — What to Feel

• Encouragement that failures (Mark) can become “faithful brothers.”
• Responsibility for the specific work God has put in your hands.

✋ HAND — What to Do

• Write an “encouragement” note to someone who is “working hard” behind the scenes.
• “Wrestle” in prayer for one specific person to “stand firm” this week.
• Finish a task you’ve been neglecting in your service to others.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Reliable people are the backbone of a healthy church.
2. Prayer is invisible labor with visible results.
3. Your “chains” are not a barrier to God’s grace; they are a platform for it.
4. See to it that you finish well.

Closing

The Big Idea: Their differences were the “Restocked Pantry.” When the Jewish traditionalist (Justus) worked with the Gentile doctor (Luke), and the Leader (Paul) worked with the former slave (Onesimus), they proved that “Christ is all, and is in all” (3:11). They weren’t strong despite their differences; they were strong because their differences were unified by one Lord.

Takeaway From Colossians

🧠 HEAD — The Takeaway

If you don’t have the theology of Chapters 1-2, you have no power for the practice of Chapters 3-4. But if you have the theology without the practice, you don’t have a witness.

❤️ HEART — The Feeling

The book leaves us feeling Secured (our life is hidden in Him) and Sent (we have a ministry to complete).

✋ HAND — The Action

Like Archippus, we are told: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord” (4:17).

Unpacking the “Trailer”: The People and Purpose of Colossians 4

This sermon closes an expository journey through Colossians by focusing on 4:7–18, the “credits” of the letter that are often skimmed or skipped. The pastor frames the passage as the “trailer” that reveals the living story behind the theology and practices already covered.

He contrasts Colossians 1–2 (the “lofty” theology: Jesus is fully God; reconciliation through Christ’s blood; believers are complete in Christ; Christ disarmed spiritual powers) with Colossians 3 (the practical response of the church to its position in Christ) and Chapter 4 (recently emphasizing gracious speech whose aim is to heal, not hurt).

He notes that many readers treat the closing list of names as incidental, but insists it is the message itself: a window into the people, conflicts, reconciliations, and redemptions through which the gospel becomes visible and embodied.

The Overlooked Significance of the Final Greetings

The pastor argues that the names and greetings in Colossians 4:7–18 function like the end credits of a film: most stand up and leave, yet those credits reveal who actually carried the story. He admits he has often overlooked these names and thereby missed “the rest of the story,” invoking Paul Harvey’s phrase to underscore the point.

The sermon’s thesis: the final greetings are not filler. They complete the letter’s arc by displaying how “complete in Christ” (Chapters 1–2) becomes lived witness (Chapters 3–4) among real people—people marked by past failures, present faithfulness, and ongoing restoration.

In this section, the pastor situates the close-reading of names within the broader structure of Colossians, showing how doctrine without practice leaves no witness, and how this concluding “trailer” invites the church to see theology incarnated in community.

The Cast of Characters: A Diverse Ministry Team

The greetings introduce a diverse, multi-role ministry team surrounding Paul while he is in prison:

• Tychicus and Onesimus (“bridge builders”): They serve as trusted mail couriers, traveling from Rome to Colossae with two letters—the communal letter to the Colossians and the personal letter to Philemon. Their role is not merely logistical; they embody reconciliation and new identity as they deliver the message.

• Epaphras (“prayer warrior”): The pastor of Colossae who originally sought Paul’s help when false teachings threatened the church. He is depicted as agonizing in prayer, laboring as an intercessor—empathetic, persistent, and deeply invested in the spiritual maturity of the believers.

• Luke (“specialist”): A physician who employs his professional training to care for the body of Christ in tangible ways. His secular skills are sanctified for ministry, highlighting that the team’s strengths span spiritual intercession and practical healing.

This cast exemplifies a ministry ecosystem where varied gifts—administrative reliability, intercessory depth, professional competence—converge to sustain the church.

Reconciliation and Redemption in the Early Church

The pastor spotlights two relationship arcs that reveal the gospel’s reconciling power in messy realities:

• Paul and Mark: Acts 15:37–38 recounts a sharp dispute—Mark abandoned a mission, Paul refused further partnership, and Barnabas (Mark’s relative) chose to continue with Mark, resulting in a ministry split.
• The Colossians 4 greetings reveal a reversal: Mark reappears during Paul’s imprisonment as a comforter, and Paul now endorses him. The text itself doesn’t narrate the process, but the outcome signals real reconciliation.
• The pastoral takeaway: the early church experienced discord; it was a “hot mess.” Yet God restores relationships that once seemed beyond repair.

• Onesimus and Philemon: Onesimus had run from Philemon’s household; under Roman norms, his life could be endangered. At the public reading, he stands beside Tychicus as a “dearly beloved brother,” while Philemon—an influential leader in that same church—holds Paul’s personal appeal urging him to receive Onesimus not as a slave but as a brother in Christ.
• Paul acknowledges the offense and even offers to repay any debt, pressing Philemon toward love, forgiveness, and new dignity grounded in Christ’s lordship.
• The pastor clarifies the historical nuances of servitude in the Roman world (often debt-based, with eventual paths to freedom) without endorsing later chattel slavery.
• He notes that Philemon apparently accepted the appeal, allowing the letter to be circulated—hence its presence in the New Testament—demonstrating grace over rights and power.

Additional threads include Nympha’s hospitality—opening her house for the church—and Archippus’s exhortation: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” Paul’s closing, “I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains,” anchors these appeals in his own costly faithfulness.

His example shows he did not ask for the chains to be removed, but for an open door where he was, challenging believers who start but struggle to finish amid limitations, sufferings, and distractions.

The Living Story: Theology in Action

When the Colossian letter is read aloud, the room is filled not only with doctrine but with living testimonies embodied by the very messengers present. Onesimus, formerly a runaway, is publicly named as a brother; Philemon, seated among the congregation, holds Paul’s separate letter that calls for a response consistent with Christ’s supremacy.

In that moment, theology confronts real wounds and concrete decisions. The supremacy of Christ is no longer abstract—it reshapes relationships and challenges power dynamics. Paul refuses to command compliance; instead, he appeals to Philemon’s conscience in Christ, offering to settle debts and directing him toward grace, forgiveness, and a recognition of Onesimus’s new identity.

The gospel thus moves from proclamation to practiced reconciliation, revealing its cost and its transformative power within the gathered church.

Key Takeaways for the Modern Believer

The sermon crystallizes several applications:

• Diversity as strength: The ministry team includes Jews and Gentiles (e.g., Luke), leaders and servants (e.g., Nympha, Onesimus), specialists and intercessors. Their differences form a mosaic in which “Christ is all and is in all” (Colossians 3:11).

• Doctrine fuels practice: Without the theology of Chapters 1–2—Christ’s supremacy, the believer’s completeness—the practices of Chapters 3–4 lack power. With theology but without practice, witness is compromised.

• Gracious speech as healing: Chapter 4’s call to grace in words is restorative, aiming to heal rather than harm.

• Finish the ministry given: Archippus’s charge applies broadly—complete what the Lord has entrusted. The book leaves believers both secure (“our life is hidden in him”) and sent to live out their faith in tangible, relational ways.

• Grace over power: The Philemon episode models aligning authority and rights under Jesus’s lordship, choosing reconciliation, forgiveness, and dignifying others in Christ.

Summary

On 2026-02-01, the Pastor delivered a sermon/lecture centered on Colossians 4:2–6, emphasizing living the gospel within everyday life (“the daily grind”). The message urged devoted prayer, spiritual alertness, thankfulness, mission-focused living, and grace-filled speech.

Through a personal grocery-store anecdote of helping an older woman find her car, the Pastor illustrated intentional kindness and attentiveness to “open doors.” Paul’s example from prison—asking not for rescue but for opportunities to proclaim Christ—was used to challenge listeners to prioritize prayer, wisdom, and gracious conversation.

Additional scriptural references (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18–20; Luke 21:36; Ephesians 4; Matthew 5) supported themes of continual prayer, alertness, preserving influence (“salt”), and edifying speech. Practical applications included starting each day with a short watchful and thankful prayer, asking for open doors, speaking truth with grace, and aligning daily words with witness.

Knowledge Points

1. Devoted Prayer and Spiritual Alertness (Colossians 4:2–4)

• Devotion to Prayer
  • Colossians 4:2 commands believers to “Devote yourself to prayer,” making it a life priority rather than a sporadic reaction. The Pastor highlighted that prayer should be watchful (alert to God’s work and circumstances) and thankful (acknowledging God’s provision and presence).
  • Paul distinguishes between praying for personal needs (v.2) and interceding for others, including leaders (v.3), modeling communal intercession.
• Open Doors for the Message, Not Rescue
  • From prison, Paul asks for “open a door for the message,” not for release from chains. This reframes believers’ prayers from reactive, self-focused requests to mission-oriented petitions, seeking opportunities to proclaim “the mystery of Christ.”
  • The Pastor underscored that God can use us in our current conditions; “better” is often a byproduct of being used in mission, not a prerequisite.
• Clarity in Proclamation
  • Paul requests, “pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should” (v.4), acknowledging human distractions—chains, anger, innocence—can cloud focus. The Bible’s portrayal of Paul’s humanity invites reliance on the Holy Spirit for clarity and strength (“I can do all things through Christ” was alluded to).
  • Prayer is participation in God’s mission, not passivity; every open door begins with carefulness, watchfulness, and thankfulness.

2. The Daily Grind: Intentional Kindness and Missional Living

• Grocery-Store Anecdote as Illustration
  • The Pastor described helping an older woman who was disoriented in a parking lot, using her key fob’s emergency button to locate the car, escorting her safely through traffic, assisting with groceries, and returning the cart. This intentional act exemplified not “missing moments” and being missionally engaged in ordinary life.
  • Key takeaways: people often appear self-sufficient but may be disoriented; intentional engagement can turn everyday scenarios into “open doors.”
• Mission Over Self-Preoccupation
  • We can be numb or coast on autopilot due to noise and urgency, missing precious moments. The call is to be spiritually alert, gospel-focused, and grace-filled in homes, workplaces, and public spaces.
  • Shift from “vessel vs. victim” mindset: see oneself as a vessel God uses amid current circumstances; many supposed “issues” may be “noise” once mission focus is adopted.

3. Wisdom, Urgency, and Making the Most of Opportunities (Colossians 4:5)

• Be Wise Toward Outsiders
  • “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity” (v.5). Wisdom includes prioritizing what matters most and being strategic and intentional in conversations and actions.
  • The Pastor contrasted a common workplace phrase “sense of urgency” with a misinterpretation: urgency does not mean “do more faster,” but “do less better.” Prioritization ensures effective focus.
• Practical Prioritization Example
  • A well/winterization scenario: if pipes aren’t winterized, thawing can cause leaks in the yard; hence winterization takes priority over other preparations. Likewise, believers must identify and act on the most important matters rather than attempt multitasking.
  • Multitasking myth: psychologists show that multitasking is rapid task-switching; increased tasks mean faster mind shifts and reduced focus. The Pastor advocated one-thing-at-a-time for clarity and effectiveness.

4. Gracious Conversation and Preserving Influence (Colossians 4:6)

• Full of Grace, Seasoned with Salt
  • “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Grace-filled speech means nourishing, digestible words that preserve and edify rather than harm.
  • Salt context: in biblical times, salt preserved food (e.g., meat), not merely flavored it. As “salt of the earth” (Matthew 5), believers preserve goodness in society and influence homes, workplaces, schools, and public domains.
• Edifying Speech and Truth with Grace
  • Ephesians 4 was cited: avoid unwholesome talk; speak what builds others up according to need. Truth spoken without grace is “a hammer” that harms rather than heals; God models patience and unmerited favor, expecting believers to mirror that in tone and delivery.
  • Peter’s exhortation: be ready to give an answer for the hope within (1 Peter implied), rooted in lived witness rather than proselytizing. People look for lived truth before listening to spoken truth.

5. Prayer as Oxygen: Quiet Intercession and Alignment

• Quiet Place of Intercession
  • The gospel’s clarity often begins in a quiet place of intercession. Create deliberate times to “steal away and be still,” following Jesus’ model of withdrawing to pray amidst busyness.
  • Intercession includes praying for family, coworkers, and leaders—echoing Paul’s “pray for us.”
• Align Daily Words with Witness
  • Daily speech should align with gospel witness; gratitude arises from God inviting believers into partnership, recalling God walking with Adam and Eve and covenant faithfulness (promise-keeping).
  • Compassion for those outside the faith: avoid aggressive proselytizing; live out faith so that open doors emerge naturally through observed hope.

6. Practical Applications and Daily Rhythms

• Start Each Day with Watchful and Thankful Prayer
  • Begin with a short prayer that asks: What needs do I see? What has God done? Be thankful for needs God can meet and for His past acts, setting the day’s tone.
• Ask for Open Doors and Readiness
  • Pray for opportunities to witness and readiness to seize them, even amid personal constraints or “chains.”
• Speak with Grace, Not Just Truth
  • Let love guide tone; prioritize healing over winning arguments or having the final say. Truth must heal, which requires gracious delivery.
• Integration in a Noisy World
  • Christian life is not passive; be prayerful, watchful, intentional. Kindness and wisdom in hurried contexts become visible light in the world.

Assignments

• 1. Read Colossians 4:2–6 and identify specific “open doors” in your daily routine where you can practice devoted prayer, wisdom, and grace-filled speech.
• 2. Establish a daily quiet-time practice (even 5–10 minutes) focused on watchful and thankful prayer; include intercession for family, coworkers, and community leaders.
• 3. Conduct one intentional act of kindness this week (e.g., assisting someone in a public setting), reflecting spiritual alertness and mission focus; journal the experience and any “open doors” that emerged.
• 4. Review your recent conversations for tone and impact; rewrite a truth you need to share with someone, ensuring it is “full of grace” and “seasoned with salt.”
• 5. Memorize 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 6:18–20, and Matthew 5:13; reflect on how continual prayer, alertness, and being “salt” shape your daily grind.
• 6. Identify one area where multitasking undermines your focus; choose to “do less better” by prioritizing a single, most important task aligned with mission.

An Expository Study of Colossians 3:18–25 (NIV)

Introduction: The Invisible Interior Design

We spend a significant amount of time and money on the “interiors” of our lives. We renovate our homes to make them more inviting, and we carefully curate our digital spaces to look peaceful and organized. But often, if we were to look at the “interior design” of our souls or the atmosphere of our households, we would find a stark contrast: clutter, tension, and mismatched priorities.

In Colossians 3, the Apostle Paul isn’t interested in superficial “curb appeal.” He is performing a structural renovation. He begins by showing us the “New Self”—a wardrobe of grace that changes how we feel about ourselves. But then, he does something radical: he walks that new identity right through the front door of our homes.

Paul insists that if the peace of Christ is “ruling” in your heart on Sunday morning, it must also be “ruling” in your marriage on Monday night, in your parenting on Tuesday afternoon, and at your desk on Wednesday morning. Today, we explore how the gospel moves from a private, internal feeling to a public, household reality.

I. The Order of the Home

Colossians 3:18–21 > “Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”

Cross References

• Ephesians 5:21 – “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
• 1 Peter 3:7 – “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect…”

Why We Struggle

The word “submission” is often misunderstood as an issue of value rather than function, leading to resistance. Conversely, husbands often struggle to love sacrificially, falling into “harshness” when their ego is bruised. In the parent-child relationship, the struggle is often a battle of wills: children desire premature independence, and parents can easily cross the line from discipline to provocation.

Know This

Paul is not baptizing the cultural norms of his day; he is transforming them. In a Roman culture where the father (the paterfamilias) had absolute, even life-and-death power, Paul gives him responsibilities. Notice the phrase “as is fitting in the Lord.” Every relationship in the household is now viewed through the lens of Christ. We act a certain way not because the other person is perfect, but because our behavior is an offering to God.

II. The Heart of Service

Colossians 3:22–25 > “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.”

Cross References

• 1 Corinthians 7:22 – “For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.”
• Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Why We Struggle

We struggle with “eye-service”—the temptation to work hard only when the boss is watching. In our modern workplace, we often feel like “just a number,” leading to cynicism, laziness, or a “quiet quitting” mentality. We find it difficult to see our daily labor as having any eternal significance.

Know This

While the Roman institution of slavery was vastly different and more pervasive than modern employment, the principle applies: Christ is your true Boss. When you work, you aren’t just earning a paycheck; you are “serving the Lord Christ.” This dignifies even the most menial task. Furthermore, Paul reminds both the worker and the master that God is a just judge who shows no favoritism.

Summary Application

HEAD – What to Understand

Understand that the “New Self” (vv. 12-17) is best tested in the “New Household” (vv. 18-25). Theology that doesn’t reach your kitchen table or your office desk is not true biblical theology. God cares deeply about how authority is exercised and how submission is offered.

HEART – What to Feel

Feel the freedom of working for a Master who is always kind and always sees your effort. You don’t have to “curry favor” with people through manipulation or “people-pleasing” because you already have the “inheritance” (v. 24) secured in Christ.

HAND – What to Do

Choose the environment where you spend the most time (home or work). Identify one way you have been “working for human masters” or acting out of “harshness.” This week, perform one task or have one conversation with the conscious thought: “I am doing this for Jesus, not for them.”

Key Takeaways

• The “Fitting” Fit: Authority and submission are “fitted” for the believer to bring order and peace, mirroring Christ’s relationship with the Church.
• Discouragement is a Danger: Paul warns fathers not to “embitter” children. We must lead in a way that encourages rather than crushes the spirit of those under our care.
• Work as Worship: Secular work is a myth for the Christian. Every deed is a spiritual act when done “in the name of the Lord.”
• The Ultimate Reward: Our primary motivation isn’t an earthly promotion or a happy spouse, but the “reward of the inheritance” from Christ.

The “New Self” Litmus Test: What This Passage Is and Is Not

To ensure we don’t misapply Paul’s instructions, we must distinguish between the cultural shadows and the kingdom substance. Use this list to clarify the heart of the message for your congregation.

---

What the Takeaways ARE

• The Gospel is “Down-to-Earth”: The primary takeaway is that theology is meant to be lived. If your faith doesn’t change your tone of voice at the dinner table or your work ethic in the office, you haven’t fully “put on” Christ.
• A New Motivation: We do not serve, love, or obey to earn God’s favor, but because we are already “chosen, holy, and dearly loved” (v. 12). The “why” is the Lord, not the person in front of us.
• Dignity in Every Role: Paul takes the lowest social classes of the ancient world (slaves and children) and tells them their daily tasks have cosmic significance. Every person is an ambassador of the King.
• The End of “Selective Christianity”: Following Jesus means giving Him the “umpire’s whistle” (v. 15) in every room of our lives—the bedroom, the boardroom, and the sanctuary.

---

What the Takeaways ARE NOT

• NOT a License for Abuse: Paul’s call for submission is never a “blank check” for husbands or parents to be tyrannical. He explicitly forbids “harshness” and “embittering” others. Authority in Christ’s kingdom is for the protection and growth of others, not for self-service.
• NOT Social Stagnation: Paul isn’t saying, “Stay in your social class and never seek change.” He is saying, “Regardless of your current circumstances, you can serve Christ now.”
• NOT a Moral Checklist: This isn’t a “to-do” list for the “Old Self” to try harder. It is a description of how the “New Self” naturally breathes. If you try to do these things without “sinking into” Christ first, you will burn out.
• NOT “People Pleasing”: Verse 22 is clear: we don’t work just to curry favor with “earthly masters.” We aren’t seeking the applause of men; we are seeking the “Well done” of our Father.

Instructor: Pastor Page

📝 Summary

This lecture offers a thorough analysis of Colossians 3:18-25, a passage often viewed as controversial. The pastor underscores the vital need for historical and biblical context to rightly understand instructions to wives, husbands, children, and servants.

The central message is that Christian theology must be lived out practically, reshaping relationships at home and in the workplace. The lecture reframes submission and love as mutual cooperation and sacrificial care, all measured by God’s standard.

Ultimately, all actions and relationships should be carried out to serve and honor the Lord, not to gain human approval, recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every person as God’s chosen and loved people.

🔖 Key Points

1. Contextual Understanding of Colossians 3:18-25

• Controversial Nature of the Text
  • Colossians 3:18-25 is among the more confronting passages in the New Testament.
  • Its wording can feel offensive today, causing some to bristle.
• The Importance of Context
  • Context is essential for reading the Bible to grasp its intent and impact.
  • Verses 18-25 must be read after Colossians 3:5-17, which teaches putting on a new identity in Christ; the instructions assume this new identity.
• Historical Context: Paterfamilias
  • Written in an era dominated by the “paterfamilias,” where the male head of household held absolute authority.
  • Women, children, and servants were treated as property; the paterfamilias even had power over a newborn’s life.
  • Addressing wives, children, and slaves directly was revolutionary, recognizing their dignity and personhood.
• Understanding “Slaves” in Context
  • “Slaves” here refers to bondservants, not chattel slavery as in U.S. history.
  • Bondservants voluntarily entered service to repay debt or for provision; KJV translates as “servant.”
  • This distinction prevents misreading, though the text was historically misused to oppress.

2. Household Relationships (The Transformed Household)

• Wives: Submission as Fitting in the Lord
  • “Wives, submit to your husbands” is challenging for many.
  • The qualifier “as is fitting in the Lord” is the standard.
  • No submission to ungodly, immoral, or abusive demands; this places responsibility on husbands to lead godly lives.
  • Submission is not blind obedience but collaborative partnership—conversation, cooperation, and shared responsibility.
• Husbands: Sacrificial Love
  • Husbands must “love your wives and do not be harsh.”
  • The love commanded is sacrificial (agape-like), mirroring Christ’s self-giving.
  • Counters the cultural tendency for men to equate toughness with lack of kindness.
  • Submission and sacrifice together form mutual, cooperative harmony.
• Children: Obedience Pleasing to the Lord
  • “Children, obey your parents in everything” because “this pleases the Lord.”
  • Assumes a biblical, non-abusive structure with roles and hierarchy that honor the child’s identity in God’s image.
• Importance of Conversation in the Home
  • Candid, confessional conversations are essential for resolving issues.
  • Success is being able to converse without escalating into arguments.
  • Men are encouraged to initiate dialogue—ask questions, be a “commentator” to foster communication.
  • Relationships are ongoing work—a lifestyle of mutual care, not a one-off contract.

3. Work and Service

• Serving the Lord, Not Earthly Masters
  • Servants are to obey earthly masters with sincerity and reverence for the Lord, not only for eye-service.
  • Applies to modern workplaces, even under difficult or harsh managers.
  • Focus on the work itself as service to the Lord; God is the true boss and judge.
  • Work ethic flows from giving God glory for His gifts.
• Maintaining Identity at Work
  • Basing self-worth on a manager’s perception can erode identity.
  • Managers are human, with their own challenges and distractions.
  • Stay focused on your purpose, the value of your work, and who ultimately deserves the glory.
• Agency and Moving On
  • This is not a call to complacency or permanence in bad situations.
  • You have agency—keep your eyes open and move to a better role if needed. You’re not stuck unless you choose to be.

4. Core Theological Principles and Takeaways

• Theology Must Be Lived Out
  • The “new self” is proven by a transformed household and work life.
  • If faith doesn’t change your tone at dinner or behavior at the office, it isn’t truly received biblical theology.
• Motivation for Action: Already Loved
  • We serve, love, and obey not to earn favor but because we are already “chosen, holy, and dearly loved.” This is our “why.”
• Dignity in Every Role
  • No person is property; each is an “ambassador of the king.”
  • Be careful not to treat people as property intellectually or emotionally—don’t devalue their perspectives, interests, or quirks.
• Strength in Humility
  • Humility is strength, giving consistency and control over responses.
  • God grants agency and authority to be still and find peace through humility.
• What This Theology Is NOT
  • Not a license for abuse: Submission never permits tyranny. Authority in Christ’s kingdom protects and nurtures others.
  • Not social stagnation: It doesn’t require complacency or forbids seeking better circumstances.
  • Not a moral checklist: The “new self” is living and sensitive; actions must flow from genuine care, not box-checking.
  • Not about people-pleasing: We work to please the Lord, aiming for His “well done,” not human applause.

📚 Assignments

• 1. Reflect on whether your theology is being lived out practically at home and at work.
• 2. If you are a husband, initiate conversations with your spouse this week.
• 3. If issues arise at home, pursue a candid, grace-filled conversation aimed at mutual understanding rather than winning.
• 4. Reassess your work motivation: Are you seeking your manager’s approval or serving the Lord through your work?
• 5. Practice humility to govern your responses in difficult moments, remembering the God-given agency to “be still.”
• 6. Examine whether you can be more sensitive in interactions, acting from genuine care rather than obligation.

We live in an age obsessed with “branding” and “curation.” Whether it is the clothes we wear, the aesthetics of our social media profiles, or the professional persona we project, we spend an enormous amount of energy trying to tell the world who we are. Yet, despite all this self-expression, we often feel more fragmented than ever. We have a “work self,” a “home self,” and a “Sunday self.”

The Apostle Paul writes to the Colossians to tell them that the Christian life isn’t about curating a persona; it’s about a complete wardrobe change of the soul. He uses the imagery of “putting on” clothes to describe a life that is no longer defined by our past, our anxieties, or our social status, but by the singular identity of being “in Christ.”

---

Historical Context: Paul’s Concern for Colossae

When Paul wrote this letter from a Roman prison, the young church in Colossae was under pressure from what scholars call the “Colossian Heresy.”¹

This was a blend of legalism, mysticism, and early Gnosticism.

Paul’s primary concerns were:

1. Syncratism: The believers were trying to mix the Gospel with “shadows”—strange philosophies, angel worship, and rigid dietary laws. Paul wanted them to know that Christ is sufficient.
2. Social Division: Colossae was a melting pot of Greeks, Jews, Romans, and Phrygians. In a world defined by rigid class and ethnic boundaries, Paul was concerned that the church would replicate the world’s divisions.
3. Ethical Drift: Living in a pagan culture, the temptation to revert to “the old self” (v. 9)—characterized by anger, malice, and impurity—was constant.

---

Just as the Colossians were tempted to look for fulfillment in philosophy and rules, we are tempted to look for it in productivity and politics. Paul’s message remains a radical disruption: If Christ is everything, then everything we do—from our inner thoughts to our outward actions—must be re-clothed in His character.

---

The Wardrobe of the New Self

The Message: Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)

---

I. The Christian’s Identity & Inner Garments

Colossians 3:12–13 > “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Cross References

• Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
• 1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…”

Why We Struggle

We often try to “fix” our behavior before we understand our identity. It is difficult to be patient or kind when we feel overlooked or unloved. Furthermore, the world teaches us to protect our rights and hold grudges as a form of self-defense, making forgiveness feel like a sign of weakness.

Know This

Your behavior flows from your position. You are chosen, holy, and dearly loved. These aren’t just nice adjectives; they are your new status in Christ. We do not forgive because the other person deserves it; we forgive because we are living out of the “overflow” of the forgiveness we have already received from the Lord.

---

II. The Binding Power of Love and Peace

Colossians 3:14–15 > “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Cross References

• 1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
• Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Why We Struggle

We tend to treat virtues like a checklist rather than a unified lifestyle. Without love, “kindness” can become condescending and “humility” can become self-pity. Additionally, we often let our anxieties or the chaos of our circumstances “rule” our hearts instead of Christ’s peace.

Know This

Love is the “belt” or “outer garment” that holds every other virtue in place. Without it, the Christian life unravels. The word “rule” (v. 15) carries the idea of an umpire. When there is a conflict in your heart or your church, let the peace of Christ be the final judge that decides your reaction.

---

III. The Indwelling Word and the Life of Worship

Colossians 3:16–17 > “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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.”

Cross References

• Psalm 119:11 – “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Why We Struggle

We often relegate “the Word” to a Sunday morning sermon or a 5-minute devotion. We also tend to divide our lives into “sacred” (church) and “secular” (work/home). This fragmentation makes it hard to see how a spreadsheet, a diaper change, or a commute can be an act of worship.

Know This

The Word of God is meant to “dwell” (to live and make a home) in us. When we are saturated with Scripture, our natural response is song and gratitude. Verse 17 provides the ultimate “litmus test” for the Christian: If you cannot do it in the name of Jesus, you shouldn’t be doing it at all.

---

Summary Application

HEAD – What to Understand

Understand that the Christian life is an “exchange.” We have taken off the old self and must now intentionally “put on” the character of Christ. This is not legalism; it is the natural expression of being God’s chosen and loved child.

HEART – What to Feel

Feel the security of being “dearly loved.” When your heart is anchored in the fact that God has already accepted you, the pressure to perform for others fades, and genuine gratitude begins to take root.

HAND – What to Do

Identify one “garment” (compassion, kindness, humility, etc.) that you have been leaving in the closet. Practice one specific act this week that expresses that virtue, doing it explicitly in the name of the Lord Jesus.

---

Key Takeaways

• Identity Precedes Activity: You act like a child of God because you are a child of God.
• Forgiveness is a Mandate: We are conduits of grace, not just consumers of it.
• The Umpire of Peace: Let Christ’s peace settle the disputes in your mind and your relationships.
• Total Integration: There is no part of a believer’s life—work, play, or rest—that falls outside the Lordship of Jesus.

---

Close

Colossians 3:12–13 > “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

📝 Summary This lecture, rooted in Colossians 3:12-17, underscores that a Christian’s identity in Christ must anchor their behavior. It contrasts the world’s fixation on branding and titles with the ultimate identity of “Christian”—chosen, holy, and dearly loved by God. The core metaphor is “putting on new clothes,” exchanging old, self-made personas for Christlike virtues: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. The talk addresses common struggles—blending faith with other philosophies, social divisions, and ethical temptations—showing these are longstanding issues and that God’s unchanging nature provides stability. Believers are urged to let the peace of Christ rule their hearts like an “umpire” in life’s decisions and to practice consistent gratitude, fostering a life of grace and peace rather than problems and chaos.

🔖 Key Points

1. Identity in Christ “Whose You Are” Matters More Than “Who You Are”
   • The world prizes branding and titles, but the most vital title for a believer is “Christian.”
   • Don’t let your title or station define you; let Christ’s presence in you shape your response to life.
   • Knowing you belong to God frames the truth that all things work together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
   • This shifts the emphasis from what we do to what Christ does in us. Seeing Yourself as God Sees You
   • The lecture repeatedly highlights God’s view of believers as “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved” (Colossians 3:12).
   • This identity rests not on our actions but on our position before God, secured by the finished work of the cross.
   • It’s more important to grasp how God sees you than how you see yourself or how others see you.
   • We often struggle because we try to fix behavior before understanding our identity in Christ; behavior should flow from position. The Weight of “Therefore” in Colossians 3
   • “Therefore” in verse 12 signals a conclusion based on prior truths:
     1. You have been raised with Christ (Colossians 3:1).
     2. You have put off the old self and put on the new (Colossians 3:9-10).
     3. All human barriers have been broken, freeing believers from former chains.
   • “Therefore” is a call to live worthy of this new identity and calling.
2. Christian Living and Conduct Putting On Christlike Virtues
   • Believers are commanded to “clothe” themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
   • These traits aren’t a menu; they’re an integrated set that must be worn together for balance.
   • Over all, “put on love,” the belt that binds them in perfect unity. Practicing Forgiveness
   • In response to our identity, we must “bear with each other and forgive one another” if there’s a grievance.
   • Our standard for forgiving others is how the Lord has forgiven us.
   • The world urges protecting rights and holding grudges, but security in Christ enables extending grace and mercy. Letting the Peace of Christ Rule
   • Verse 15 calls believers to “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” “Let” indicates a choice.
   • This peace is God’s plan for those called to peace as one body.
   • Christ’s peace should act as an “umpire,” giving the final say. If peace is missing, wait before acting. The Practice of Being Still
   • When overwhelmed, rushed, or facing chaos, slow down and be still.
   • Stillness brings clarity, perspective, and space for the Holy Spirit to work.
   • Jesus modeled this by withdrawing to pray when crowds pressed in.
3. God’s Role in Transformation Christ’s Sufficiency
   • The Colossians tried mixing the gospel with other philosophies—angel worship, rigid dietary laws.
   • Paul’s still-relevant message: Christ is sufficient. Don’t exhaust yourself adding “good” but distracting extras to the gospel. God as the “Alterator”
   • Like altering clothes, God fashions and perfects our lives.
   • What seems “nice but not usable” can become “suitable and presentable” in God’s hands.
   • Present yourself to Him, trusting the Designer who knows the needed alterations. God’s Unchanging Nature
   • The Colossians’ struggles—social division, ethical temptations—mirror today’s, affirming “there’s nothing new under the sun.”
   • In a changing world, God is constant—“the same yesterday, today, and forever” (immutable)—providing stability and strength. ❓ Questions

• [Insert Question/Confusion]

📚 Action Items

• When overwhelmed or rushed, practice being still—take a quiet moment for clarity and to invite the Holy Spirit’s work.
• Choose to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart; use it as an “umpire” guiding decisions and responses.
• Reflect on your identity as “chosen, holy, and dearly loved” by God; speak this truth to yourself, especially in self-doubt.
• Practice kindness toward yourself and others—not conditionally, but as a disposition flowing from your identity in Christ.
• Intentionally forgive others based on how Christ has forgiven you.
• Meditate on Colossians 3 virtues (compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience) and “clothe” yourself with them as an integrated whole, bound by love.

If you’ve ever forgotten a bag of potatoes in the back of a dark pantry, you know that time doesn’t make them better—it makes them toxic. At first, there’s just a faint, earthy musk. But eventually, the rot sets in. The smell becomes an all-encompassing stench that leeches into everything else in the kitchen. You can’t just shut the door and hope it goes away; the longer they stay, the more they liquefy and ruin the shelves they sit on. To save the pantry, you have to reach into the dark, grab the mess, and throw it completely out of the house.

Paul tells us that things like greed, malice, and slander are the ‘rotten potatoes’ of the soul. We think we can just ignore them or hide them behind a closed door, but they are actively decaying our character and our community. Verse 5 doesn’t say ‘rearrange’ the earthly nature; it says ‘put it to death.’ It’s time to clear the pantry.

Christ is the center, the circumference, and the very air we breathe. It is an invitation to stop managing our old selves and start inhabiting the new humanity God is crafting within us.

NOTE: This is the “Therefore” based upon Colossians 3:1-4

Colossians 3:1-4 NIV Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

The Message

COLOSSIANS 3:5–11 (NIV)Theme: The Great Exchange—Stripping the Old to Embody the New

Verses 5–7 —The Execution of the Old NatureColossians 3:5–7 (NIV)

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

Cross References

• Romans 8:13 – “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”
• 1 Corinthians 6:11 – “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified…”

Why We Struggle We often try to “manage” our shadow side rather than eliminate its influence. We treat toxic habits as minor flaws rather than destructive forces that compete for the throne of our hearts.

Integrated Truth Because we are raised with Christ (v. 1), we have the authority to execute the habits that no longer fit our new identity. Killing the “earthly nature” isn’t legalism; it’s clearing out the rot to make room for the life God intended.

Know This

• You cannot negotiate with what is meant to be executed.
• Greed is not just a habit; it is a displacement of God (idolatry).

Response of the Believer

• Identify specific “earthly” patterns and name them honestly.
• Refuse to entertain desires that contradict your new life.
• Walk in gratitude for the “past tense” of your former lifestyle.

Verse 8 — Stripping Away Social Sins Colossians 3:8 (NIV)

8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Cross References

• James 1:21 – “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent…”
• Ephesians 4:31 – “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander…”

Why We Struggle While we might avoid “big” sins, we often tolerate “respectable” sins like simmering anger or sharp words. We underestimate how much our speech affects our spiritual health and our community.

Integrated Truth The “clothing” of our character must match our new spirit. Slander and malice are like wearing dirty rags over a tuxedo; they are fundamentally incompatible with who you have become in Christ.

Know This

• The tongue reveals the state of the heart.
• Spiritual maturity is visible in how we handle conflict and conversation.

Response of the Believer

• Audit your speech for traces of malice or “filthy language.”
• Choose silence over slander.
• Invite the Holy Spirit to cool the “rage” before it reaches your lips.

Verses 9–10 — The Process of Restoration Colossians 3:9–10 (NIV)

9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Cross References

• Genesis 1:27 – “So God created mankind in his own image…”
• 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “…are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.”

Why We Struggle We find it hard to be authentic. We hide our true selves behind lies because we fear the “new self” isn’t enough, or we get frustrated that the “renewal” process takes time.

Integrated Truth Transformation is both a “done deal” (you have put on the new self) and an ongoing process (which is being renewed). We are being restored to the original “Image of God” that was marred by the fall.

Know This

• Honesty is the baseline for Christian community.
• Growth is the restoration of God’s original design for your life.

Response of the Believer

• Commit to total transparency with fellow believers.
• View life as a classroom where you are learning to look like Jesus.
• Trust the Creator to finish the work of renewal in you.

Verse 11 — The New Humanity Colossians 3:11 (NIV)

11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Cross References

• Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Gentile… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
• Ephesians 2:14 – “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one…”

Why We Struggle Humanity is prone to tribalism. We use race, social status, and religious background to build walls of superiority or exclusion, even within the church.

Integrated Truth In the “New Self” economy, Christ is the only metric that matters. He is the ultimate equalizer and unifier. When Christ is “all,” our secondary differences lose their power to divide.

Know This

• The Gospel is the death of elitism and the birth of true community.
• If Christ is in your brother or sister, they are your equal.

Response of the Believer

• Actively dismantle prejudices based on status or background.
• Seek unity with those who are culturally different from you.
• Center every relationship on the shared presence of Christ.

THEOLOGICAL SUMMARY

Colossians 3:5–11 teaches that:

• The Christian life requires a “strip and equip” mentality—discarding the old to embrace the new.
• Holiness involves both private purity (v. 5) and public integrity (v. 8).
• Transformation is a journey of being restored to the Image of God.
• The Gospel creates a new humanity where social and ethnic barriers are abolished.

What to Understand

• Sin is fundamentally “idolatry”—replacing God with self-desire.
• Transformation is an ongoing “renewal in knowledge.”
• Your new identity is corporate; it binds you to the whole body of Christ.

What to Feel

• Resolve to deal with sin decisively rather than passively.
• Humility regarding your past and your need for daily renewal.
• Inclusivity toward all members of God’s family.

What to Do

• “Kill” a specific habit this week that belongs to the “earthly nature.”
• Correct a lie or a piece of slander with the truth and an apology.
• Intentionally engage with someone outside your “social circle” in your community.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• You cannot live the new life while wearing the old nature.
• What you say reveals who you are becoming.
• Renewal is the path back to the Image of God.
• Christ is the only identity that truly defines us.

As we stand at the edge of a new year, many people carry a quiet question in their hearts — a question we don’t always say out loud:

“Am I enough?”

We measure ourselves by how the year went, by what we accomplished or failed to accomplish, by how others see us, and sometimes by how we see ourselves on our hardest days.

But before Paul ever talks about how believers should live, he reminds us of something even more foundational:

• our worth is already settled.

In Colossians 3, Paul doesn’t begin with pressure, performance, or promises to do better.

• He begins with identity.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ…”

That single statement tells us that the believer’s value is no longer defined by the world’s standards or by our past.

• Our lives are hidden with Christ in God — secure, protected, and deeply valued.

And when our worth is settled in Christ, something powerful happens:

• we are finally free.
• Free from striving to prove ourselves.
• Free from being limited by others’ expectations.
• Free to live fully into the gifts and calling God has placed within us.

This passage does not pull us away from life — it releases us to live it well, with confidence now and hope for the day we will see Christ face to face.

So today, as we look toward the new year, we’re not asking, “How can I become more valuable?”

We’re asking a better question:

• “How do I live — now that my worth is secure in Christ?”

---

📖 COLOSSIANS 3:1–4 (NIV)

Theme: Freedom to live fully now, anchored in eternity

---

Verse 1 — A Risen Identity That Frees Our Focus

Colossians 3:1 (NIV)

1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Cross References (Written Out)

• Ephesians 2:6 – “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”
• Galatians 1:10 – “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?”

Why We Struggle

We often live as though our worth and direction must be validated by the world. Approval, comparison, and expectations quietly shape our focus and limit our confidence.

Integrated Truth

Because we are already raised with Christ, we are no longer bound to the world’s definitions of success or failure. Our focus is freed from external pressure and redirected toward Christ’s reign.

Know This

A risen identity releases us from chasing validation. When Christ reigns over us, the world no longer rules us.

Response of the Believer

• Refuse to let worldly expectations dictate direction.
• Set affection on Christ, not comparison.
• Live confidently from who you are in Him.

---

Verse 2 — A Renewed Mind That Releases Potential

Colossians 3:2 (NIV)

2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Cross References

• Romans 12:2 – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
• Isaiah 55:8–9 – “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts…’ declares the LORD.”

Why We Struggle

Earthly thinking narrows our vision. Fear, scarcity, and self-doubt shape what we believe is possible.

Integrated Truth

When our minds are set on Christ, we are freed from small thinking. A heavenly mindset expands our understanding of what God can do in us and through us.

Know This

The mind anchored in Christ is no longer confined by earthly limitations.

Response of the Believer

• Replace limiting thoughts with God’s truth.
• Think beyond fear and toward calling.
• Allow Scripture to reshape expectations for life and ministry.
• Genesis 18:14 — “Is anything too hard for the LORD?”

---

Verse 3 — A Hidden Life That Secures Identity and Freedom

Colossians 3:3 (NIV)

3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Cross References

• Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live…”
• Romans 8:1 – “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Why We Struggle

We still allow past failures, present struggles, or others’ opinions to define us, which restrains confidence and obedience.

Integrated Truth

Because our lives are hidden with Christ, we are secure. This security frees us to step forward boldly, without fear of condemnation or rejection.

Know This

Security in Christ produces courage in life. A hidden life is not restricted — it is protected.

Response of the Believer

• Live boldly from a settled identity.
• Refuse labels that Christ has already removed.
• Step into God’s calling without fear of exposure or failure.

Everything we store on earth can be stolen — but our worth is stored in heaven, hidden with Christ, beyond the reach of any thief.

---

Verse 4 — Future Glory That Gives Present Purpose

Colossians 3:4 (NIV)

4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Cross References

• 1 John 3:2 – “When Christ appears, we shall be like him…”
• Romans 8:18 – “The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Why We Struggle

We allow temporary setbacks to overshadow eternal promises, shrinking our vision and diminishing hope.

Integrated Truth

Future glory does not distract us from today — it empowers us to live fully today. Knowing how the story ends frees us to invest our lives wisely now.

Know This

Eternal hope does not minimize today’s life — it maximizes its meaning.

Response of the Believer

• Live purposefully in the present with eternity in view.
• Use your gifts boldly, knowing glory is ahead.
• Walk confidently toward Christ, who defines both now and forever.

---

📘 THEOLOGICAL SUMMARY

Colossians 3:1–4 teaches that:

• Believers share in Christ’s resurrection life
• Identity in Christ frees us from worldly pressure
• Security in Christ releases us to live fully now
• Future glory shapes present purpose

This passage does not call believers to retreat from life, but to engage it freely, grounded in Christ and confident in eternity.

---

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Resurrection identity frees us from worldly pressure.
2. A heavenly mindset unlocks God-given potential.
3. Security in Christ releases courage.
4. Future glory empowers present purpose.
5. We are free to live fully now — and forever with Christ.

Closing

---

One Core Truth

Because my life is hidden with Christ, my worth is secure — and I am free to live fully.

---

Three Anchoring Takeaways

1. My worth is already settled in Christ

I do not need the next year to prove my value. I have been raised with Christ. My life is hidden in Him.

Worth is not something I earn — it is something I receive.

---

2. I am free from the world’s pressure to define me

I don’t have to live by comparison, approval, or fear of failure. Earthly voices no longer get the final word over my life.

What Christ says about me matters more than what the world expects from me.

---

3. I am free to live fully now, with eternity in view

Heavenly perspective does not shrink life — it expands it. I can walk confidently in God’s gifts and purposes today, knowing my future is secure.

I live fully now because my future is already certain.

“As you step into the new year, don’t carry pressure — carry truth. Your worth is secure in Christ. You are free to live fully now, and forever with Him.”