Colossians Series: Jesus + Nothing

Today we continue a four week series exploring Paul and Timothy's letter to the church in Colossae. This letter is so packed full that we can't possibly cover everything in four sermons. So, to help us unpack Colossians together we are inviting you to join a reading plan that will help us read and reflect on a few verses of Colossians each day for the next few weeks. You can join the plan in your bible app here: https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/12772/together/18353317/invitation?source=share&token=JUi_A_YRfChhxGIcRWR1vg

Having the right focus and perspective
The apostle Paul is about to speak about how Christians should live out their life in Jesus. But first he makes sure that we have the right perspective.

Is the Christian life about a set of rules that we must keep for God to be pleased with us?

Put to death everything that doesn't belong in heaven
Since we are united with Jesus and our old life died when he died, Paul calls for Christians to put to death everything that is from our earthly selves. That is, to put to death all the behaviours and attitudes that don't belong united with Jesus because that is what we are, not so we can be.

A change of clothes
Paul describes the change in our lives when we are united with Jesus as being like changing our coat. Like taking off our old damaged, smelly, torn and ugly coat and putting on a new a beautiful coat that reflects the beauty of Jesus.

Putting on the new self in Jesus
Before describing what the new self that we put on in Jesus looks like, Paul makes sure that we understand that we do this because we already are chosen and dearly loved by God, not so that we can be. Because we are chosen and because we are loved and because we are united with Jesus our life will be transformed in beautiful ways.

How is your perspective?
Do you see the idea of life in Jesus as rules, religion, ticking the right boxes to get to heaven?

Or

Do you see life with Jesus as being chosen, dearly loved, seated in heaven united with Jesus? Because that is what we really are, and because that is true, we put off the old self and put on the new.

As our life groups gather this week, we have attached our reference verse and some questions to prompt a deeper discussion and search into this week's topic.

If you are not currently part of a life group, and would like to join a small group of like minded people in fellowship and connection during the week, please contact Nick on 0417472474 to register your interest.

Discussion Questions

Read through Colossians 3:1-17
1. Does this passage read to you like a list of rules and regulations for Christians or something else?
2. What in this passage might point to something more than simply a set of rules to follow?
3. What do you think Paul means when he says to set our hearts and minds on things above and not on things below?
4. What might it look like in practice to put to death the things Paul talks about?
5. How can we go about putting on the new self in Jesus that Paul talks about?
6. Read verse 16 again. What does this verse have to say about how we should function together as a church family?

Take some time to pray for one another

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