The Jersey Swap

WELCOME; THANKS TO TINA, THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE.

We’re going to spend this year together finding out :

Believe in the Gospel.

What does it look like to follow God’s way? Take off the old, put on the new.

Together to push one another toward Jesus.

PRAY

Intro

Do we have any sports fans in the room? What are your favorite teams?

Saquon Barkley took off his Giants jersey to put on an Eagles one. Everything changed.

Context:

Written by Paul and His buddy Timothy. Older brother, younger brother.

Paul was the guy who used to kill people in the Church until Jesus saves Him on the road to Emmaus

Timothy is a younger guy who Paul helped to learn about the Gospel. Later, Paul wrote two letters to Timothy to help him continue to serve God after Paul died. He’s like a Father Figure

They’re writing this to a church in a city called Colossae. The Colossian church was struggling with a bunch of lies that people were spreading around their city and in their church. They were saying that God

Can’t be known - and if he can’t know us or love us, why do we need to live a certain way?

There are spirits who run the world

We are saved through physical discipline and self-denial. Goggins

In Col. 1-2 Paul and Timothy are writing colossians to help these believers & to correct these false things that people have been lying about. He starts the book by explaining how Christ is the MAIN THING of the Gospel.

Jalen Hurts always says to keep the main thing the main thing. Jesus is the main thing.

Then he continues by telling them what they’re now free of because they’re believers.

They’re no longer ruled by rules. They don’t have to understand all this wisdom and all this philosophy that people were preaching around them. They don’t HAVE to subscribe to things like evolution, transgenderism, furries, the gay movement, etc…they can simply subscribe to the Gospel.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Brings us to Chapter 3. Let’s read 3:1-14

New Living Translation Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Living the New Life

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

The result is already decided. We know who wins the game. (1-4)

Jesus is in heaven right now sitting beside the Father (2)

Our lives aren’t our own (3)

When Christ returns, our real life begins. (4) The Outcome is already decided - we will share in his glory v.4

So, how do we do that?

We take OFF our old behavior (5-11)

the big stuff: sex, passion, evil desire, coveting

the “little stuff”: anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk, lying.

there is no difference in the sight of God. It’s easy to focus on the big and forget the little. God equates them. Where do you fall short?

It’s a long list….it would be impossible to take off on our own.

Just like Saquon, it isn’t enough for us to take off the old jersey.

We Put ON new behavior (12-14)

He lists out the ways we overcome our old behavior and the behavior of the world - it’s all around love. 12

forgiven people forgive people - 13

doing these things allows us to live in the peace of Christ - 15

some of you struggle with anxiety or fear…this is the answer

some of you struggle with addiction…this is the answer

some of you aren’t believers…this is the answer

Jesus came, lived perfectly, died for us, rose again, and lives with the Father right now. He’s already won the game. He’s given us the playbook to follow so we can live in FREEDOM and PEACE.

We’re going to spend this year together finding out :

Believe in the Gospel.

What does it look like to follow God’s way? Take off the old, put on the new.

Together to push one another toward Jesus.