Working for Christ

This is a passage instructing first century slaves and masters how to live out the gospel in their work. Modern readers are often distracted by the mention of slaves, but we shouldn't miss the principles embedded in this passage that reshape the way we approach our own work in the world.

Gospel-shaped Homes

This passage continues to unpack the life-changing implications of being united to Christ, this time focusing on marriage and families.

Clothes that Fit

This passage continues to unpack the life-changing implications of being united to Christ. Like a new set of clothes, we are to put on those characteristics that best fit with who we are in Christ.

This passage is a call to get rid of anything that doesn't fit with who you are in Christ; it's a call to kill sin. This sermon looks at the reason to kill, the things to kill and the power to kill sin.

What defines who you are? Your achievements?… past mistakes?… political leanings?… upbringing? For the believer who is united to Christ, a radical change has taken place in how your life is defined. Who you are is now bound up with Christ himself. This passage is a call to work this new reality into our minds so that it reshapes the way we live.

Since being in Christ is all you need to be right with God and to grow in the faith, we need to be on guard against any thinking or approach that undermines this fact. This passage alerts us to the danger of self-appointed umpires who seek to disqualify believers who don’t follow their rules.

It's easy to get distracted, become stuck or remain stagnant in our walk with Christ. But as this passage reveals, such problems may actually indicate that you have been taken been captive by deceptive views that are contrary to the gospel. The answer is to realise how complete you are in Christ.

This passage calls us to recognise how spiritually rich we are in Christ. He is a treasure trove of wisdom and knowledge, and we are invited in to know him more. This will be a safe guard against false teaching.

The Apostle Paul describes his own role as a minister of the gospel, showing what authentic ministry looks like. This reshapes our own expectations for ministry, both as recipients and as workers in the ministry of the gospel.

This passage is a wonderful summary of the gospel message to show us the sufficiency of salvation in Christ. It presents our predicament in sin, the solution God provides, and the condition that must be met.