Sermon Outline:

Put to death what is earthly

Put off the clothing of your old life

Put on Christ as your new identity

Family Discussion Questions:

Why are Christians supposed to act differently?

What are some actions which Christians should not do?

What is the most important thing about a person?

In what ways is the wrath of God a motivation for us to put away sin?

How is sexual sin a rejection of the character of God?

What is meant by earthly?

Verse 11 speaks of identities; how is this verse a helpful correction to the beliefs of our current culture about sexual and gender identity? How about racism?

How does knowledge in verse 10 play a role in our transformation?

What does it mean to be renewed after the image of our creator?

How does lying a rejection of the character of God?

When is it anger appropriate and how should it be dealt with?

How is verse 7 a comfort to a Christian?

What hope does verse 11 give to struggling Christians?

How do these verse help us to unders

tand the reason for the cross of Christ?

Complementary Old Testament Passage:Psalm 31

Sermon Outline:

In Christ you died to man-made religion

In Christ you were raised, so seek the things above

When Christ appears, then you will appear with him in glory

Family Discussion Questions:

Where is Jesus now and what is he doing?

How does Jesus death help us?

How does Jesus resurrection help us?

How does Jesus ascension to heaven help us?

How will Jesus return to earth help us?

Why can food and ceremonies not get us to heaven?

Why can food and ceremonies not help us to stop sinning?

Why dont Christians have to try to get ourselves to heaven?

What are the basic elements of manmade religion, and how does being a Christian put those to

death for us?

Why does manmade religion not help with stopping sin?

What does it mean to set our minds on things that are above?

What does it mean that our lives are hidden with Christ in God?

What are ways that Christians adopt the basic elements of manmade religion?

How does Christs current residence (in heaven) help us not to be tempted to use manmade

religious practices?

How does Christs return help us not to be tempted to use manmade religious practices?

Complementary Old Testement Passage:

Ezekiel 13:1-7

Sermon Outline:1. God wont condemn you for loving Christ more than His shadow2. Do not let inflated religious practices disqualify you3. Remain connected to the Head and the body for healthy growthFamily Discussion Questions:1. What were some of the special food and celebration rules in the Old Testament?2. Why do we not follow these anymore since Jesus came?3. What does God think of an ordinary life?4. What does God want us to do in order to learn and grow as Christians?5. Even if we dont go back to Old Testament ceremonial laws, what are ways that we can show that we prefer them?6. Is it wrong to judge people?7. Explain how the Old ceremonial laws are the shadow and Christ is the substance8. Does God promise visions to His people?9. What are people missing who teach that visions and supernatural occurrences ought to be expected and desired?10. Why should we reject the idea that God prefers it when we are not enjoying good food and drink and other physical pleasures?11. Why do anti-natural religious practices produce inflated growth? Why is this dangerous?12. How does clinging to Christ produce real solid growth? Why might we prefer the inflated growth?13. What are the benefits of true growth which is actually from God?

Sermon Outline:1. When you were at your worst, you received all of Christ2. The Laws ability to condemn a Christian is cancelled by Christ3. Satan and his hosts were already disarmed by Christ at the crossFamily Discussion Questions:1. How does the Bible describe someone who is not yet a Christian?2. How close does the Bible tell us that a Christian is to Jesus?3. How many of your sins were forgiven when you first trusted in Jesus? (Some? The past? The present? The future? All?)4. Can the 10 commandments convince God to send a Christian to hell?5. How did Jesus dying on the cross cancel our punishment?6. What is the main way that Satan attacks a Christian?7. Why is a Christian still required to keep Gods law?8. How does remembering the sorry state we were in when we were saved - increase our confidence in Christ now?9. If Satan is disarmed, how can he still do harm to a Christian?10. How do all of these things help us to rest in the truth that we do not need more commands, promises and instructions from God - beyond that which He gave to the church through the Apostles in the first century?

Sermon Outline:

Thankfully continue in Christ

Do not be taken captive

Anti-captivity armour

Family Discussion Questions:

What can you say thank you to God for?

What is special about Jesus that gives us reason to say thank you to him for saving us?

Why should we not stop trusting in Jesus?

Does God ever change?

What does baptism mean?

What did Jesus death do for us?

What did Jesus resurrection from the dead do for us?

How does thankfulness help us to persevere in Christ?

Why is new teaching called captivity? Do we always think of it that way?

How does remembering the fullness of Christ guard us from captivity?

How does the true understanding of circumcision guard us from captivity?

How does the true understanding of baptism guard us from captivity?

What is meant by philosophy and empty deceit?

What does human tradition and elemental spirits of the world mean?

Explain the paradox of walking and being rooted

Sermon Outline:

1.Gods completed Word unites the church in love2.Pursue full Assurance in Christ3.All of Gods treasures are hidden in Christ4.Grounded, not gullible

Family Discussion Questions:

1.How can we make sure we are not tricked by lies about God?2.When was the bible completed?3.How dis Jesus do so that we can besurewe are saved?4.How do we know which books should be in the bible?5.Do we need new messages from God because Paul (and the other Apostles) did not know us?6.Should we listen to teaching about God that doesnt come from the Bible?7.How can a person be sure that their sins are forgiven?8.How does the authority of the Bible knit the church together in love?9.What is assurance of salvation?10.How does a united and loving church help believers to have assurance of salvation?11.What does it mean that the riches of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ?12.How does the completed salvation in Christ and the completed Bible prevent us from being deluded from plausible arguments?13.What happens if we feel we need to consider every teaching that isnt found in Scripture?14.What are ways which the church mistakenly seeks wisdom outside of Gods Word?15.Are you sure you are saved?

Sermon Outline:

Christ made sure that the Word of God would be complete when the church was established

The Word of God is made complete with Christ in us, the hope of glory

Presenting the church mature in Christ by proclaiming Christ

Family Discussion Questions:

How did Jesus suffer for the church?

How did the Apostles suffer to get the Gospel to the church and world?

How did the Old Testament promise Jesus?

What is the main thing the Church is supposed to do?

Why should the church teach only things about God that are in the Bible?

Why would nothing need to be added to the Bible now?

What is the danger in using different methods than what the Bible gives?

What is the danger in seeking a different goal for ministry than the Bible gives?

Why does Paul say Christ in you instead of what he would normally say, The Holy Spirit in you?

Why would Paul connect the word hope when he speaks of glory? What does this protect us from?

What does it mean to be mature in Christ?

What are some different (false) goals of ministry?

What were the requirements to be called an Apostle and why can there be none now?

What are some of the riches of the glory of Christ that the church now shares? Will share?

Complementary Old Testament Reading:

Psalm 84

Sermon outline:

1.Apart from Christ all humans are in a state of war with God2.Christ has reconciled the church in his body by his death3.Reconciliation to God is only for those who faith remains in the one unchanging Gospel

Family Discussion Questions:

1. Are people born as Gods children or his enemies?2. How do people show that they are Gods enemies?3. What did Jesus do for us so that we could no longer be Gods enemies?4. What is the Gospel of Jesus?5. Are there more than one true Gospels?6. Will a person who really trusts in Jesus ever stop trusting in Him?7. How does a person and a church help people to keep trusting in Jesus?8. How does the sin of Adam affect his offspring?9. What does this passage say was the purpose of Christ reconciling us to God?10.What approach to studying and discipleship does Scripture prescribe for stability and steadfastness?11.What would you say to a person who says that they want to avoid deeper study into the scripture because they want to havechild-like faith?12.What does catholic mean?13.How does this passage protect the church from ideas about the Gospel that are new in Church history?14.How should the stability of the Gospel be soothing to our souls?15.How should the truth that Christ has reconciled us to God impact our hearts? Our behaviour?

Sermon Outline:

1. Jesus is the only head of the church, his body2. Jesus is the firstborn from the dead3. In Christ is the fulness of God4. Christ reconciles all things to himself by the blood of his cross

Family Discussion Questions:

1. Who is the head of the church?2. Why is it good that God says the church is the body of Jesus?3. Is Jesus only part of God, or is the whole of God in Jesus?4. What does it mean to be reconciled with God?5. What would happen to us if Jesus did not reconcile us to God?6. How did Jesus reconcile the church with his blood on the cross?7. What are ways that people treat someone (or more than one person) other than Jesus as the head of the church?8. How is the doctrine of union with Christ expressed in marriage?9. How can Paul say that through Christ all things are reconciled to God when there will be many demons and people in hell?10. Why is it important to note that that God is the one who makes peace with us not the other way around?11. How is the fact that Christ made peace by the blood of his cross often ignored and rejected in Christianity today?12. How is Christ the firstborn form the dead when there were people raised from the dead before he was?13. How does this part of the Bible guard us from following people who say that there is more to know about God than can be found in Christ and his Word?14. Why is being reconciled to God the sweetest thing in all creation?

Sermon Outline:

1. Jesus is the image of the invisible God2. Jesus is the rightful heir of all creation3. All things were made by Jesus4. All things were made for Jesus5. Jesus holds all things together

Family Discussion Questions:

1.What does it mean that God is invisible?2. In the Bible firstborn doesnt just mean oldest - what else does it mean?3. What are some invisible things Jesus made?4. Is there anything that is made that was not made by Jesus?5. What are the implications of the fact that all things were made for Jesus?6. What are some ways that the world ignores that all things were made by and for Jesus?7. Why is it good to remember that Jesus didnt just make all things but that he continues to hold all things together?8. How does this passage protect us from people who tell us that Jesus and His Word are not enough to really know God well?9. How does this passage protect us from agreeing with what other authorities tell us is good and evil?10. How can be be both satisfied in Christ and desiring and striving to know Him more?