We have all heard the phrase, “That man is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good.” It means that someone can become so spiritual in their view of the world that they fail to address real-world needs and situations. In our study of Colossians, we have been exhorted to, “…seek the things that are above, where Christ is…not things that are on earth.” Such commands could lead one to believe that Christians are to have no regard for earthly needs. Nevertheless, Paul quickly dispels any such thinking. As we pick up our study at Colossians 3:18-4:1 we will see that having a heavenly perspective will influence all of our earthly relationships. Christians are to be so heavenly minded that they are of the most earthy good.

see a man in fatigues, we know that he is in the Army. When we see a woman in a white coat, with a stethoscope we know she is a doctor. When we watch a football game, we can distinguish between teams because they wear different colors. Ministers wear robes, nurses wear scrubs, and police officers wear blue. Each uniform communicates something different about the person who wears it. This week we will pick up our study in Colossians 3:12-17. Here we will see that Paul calls us to put on the new self. Like a uniform that communicates who we are, we are called to be clothed in those practices that define us as Christians. Those practices that identify us as a part of Christ’s Kingdom. Reading: Colossians 3:12-17, Deuteronomy 7:6-7, Romans 13:12-14 and Westminster Confession of Faith 16.

Puritan John Owen once wrote, “Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.” This week we will return to our study Colossians picking up at Colossians 3:5-11. In these verses the Apostle Paul encourages us to, “put to death… what is earthly in you.” For much of this letter Paul has argued that worldly regulations have no power to keep us from sin. Nevertheless, sin is to be killed. It is to be mortified. The Lord has commanded the holiness of his people. Yet holiness does not come about through sin maintenance; hedging in behaviors through programs and regulations. Rather holiness comes through dying to sin and living to Christ. Those who have been joined to Christ through faith have been empowered by their union to put to death sinful earthly behaviors. Reading: Colossians 3:5-17, James 1:14-15, Matthew 15:18 and Westminster Confession of Faith 13.

Five-hundred years ago a German Monk nailed ninety-five points for debate upon a church door. While Martin Luther only expected a lively discussion, the Lord used this act to ignite the fires of revival, the Protestant Reformation. At the heart of this revival was a recovery of the doctrine of justification by faith alone. We are not saved by faith plus works as the Roman Church was teaching but rather salvation comes only by the grace of God through faith alone in Christ alone. Reading: 1 John 4:10, Romans 3:21-31 and Westminster Confession of Faith 11 and 14.

Union with Christ is short hand for describing the relationship that Christians have with their savior. It means that we have been so joined to Christ that we have a new identity, that we have been forgiven and that we have spiritual life that all flows from our Savior. As a result of this union, whatever Christ does, affects us. If He dies, we die. If He lives, we live. If He is blessed, we are blessed. If He has been raised, we too will be raised. Everything that Jesus does has a direct effect on the life of a Christian. This week, we will conclude our three-week study of union with Christ as found in Colossians 3:1-4. Our focus will be our union with Christ in His future work, namely our union with Christ at His second coming. Reading: Colossians 3:1-4, 1 John 3:1-3, Ephesians 5:27 and Westminster Confession of Faith 32.2-3.

We do not often speak of the session of Christ. We speak of His incarnation, His death, His resurrection, and His ascension. Yet those have all taken place in the past. What is Jesus Christ doing right now? The theological term for what Christ is doing right now is session. Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God ruling this world with all power, bringing all competing authorities under His rule. This week, we will continue our three-week study of union with Christ as found in Colossians 3:1-4. Our focus will be our union with Christ in his present work, namely our union with Christ in his session. Reading: Colossians 3:1-4, Psalm 110:1, Ephesians 2:4-6 and Westminster Larger Catechism #82, #83.

Puritan John Preston once commented that, “To be in Christ is the ground of all salvation.” It is from our union with Christ that every aspect of salvation flows. Our election, calling, regeneration, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification all flow from being joined to Christ by God’s grace. This week, we will begin a three week study of union with Christ as found in Colossians 3:1-4. Here the Apostle Paul explains to the Colossian church that they are to set their minds on the reality of their union with Christ in His past, present, and future work of salvation. We will begin by exploring how our union with Christ in His past work is to orient our lives in the present. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Colossians 3:1-4, Romans 6:5-14 and Westminster Larger Catechism 66-69

Culture shock is a disorienting feeling that comes when you suddenly move to a place with unfamiliar rules and customs. Everything that you assumed was just the normal way of doing things has changed. People speak, eat, play, and think differently than you. It is difficult to give up your old ways. It is hard to adapt to a new cultural environment. This week, we continue our study of Colossians picking up at Colossians 2:20-23. Here the Apostle Paul explains to the Colossian church that they are acting as though they have culture shock. They are failing to adapt to their new life in Christ. Even though they have been freed from the old ways of sin, they continue to submit themselves to man-made regulations. Paul, nevertheless, reminds them that they have died to this old way of life and have been raised to new life in Christ. Reading: Colossians 2:16-23, Isaiah 29:13, Romans 6:5-14 and Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 20.

Whose voice(s) do you listen to in your life? Is it a spouse? Is it a parent? Maybe it’s a friend or even better, a pastor! What kind of power do they have in your life? More importantly do they lead you towards Christ or away from him? As we continue our study in Colossians, we look at Colossians 2:16-19, where the Apostle Paul is challenging the voices the Colossians have been listening to. Voices that have led them away from the truth of the gospel to a false one. We’ll see how Christ is both the substance of the Christian faith (not legalism) and the source of growth in the Christian life (not mysticism). Reading: Colossians 2:16-19, Hebrews 10:1-10, Ephesians 4:11-16 and Westminster Shorter Catechism #33, #36.

Have you ever been trapped? Maybe when you were a child you got your head stuck in the banister. Or, as an adult you have been locked in a room by accident or stuck in traffic for hours. It is a rather helpless feeling to be trapped. To know that unless someone comes to rescue you, you have no hope of freedom. This week we will continue our study of Colossians focusing on Colossians 2:13-15. Here the Apostle Paul explains that we are trapped, but that Christ has come to save us from all our captors by His life, death and resurrection.