Markers- pt 1- speaking and singing truth

How does following Jesus make us different? How is a church different from a club or Greek or civic organization? What do we DO that identifies us a follower of Jesus?

James writes to the early church in James 2- over and over again- that faith just in word is not real. Faith produces deeds.

And when we look in the New Testament, after the resurrection, we see some patterns in the life of the early believers that transcend cultures and generations. They are seen not just in the Bible, but across the history of all the followers of Jesus.

So as we come into the dead of summer, the teaching team wanted to take a few weeks to dive into these practices. So we can be reminded, or challenged, or encouraged to continue to develop our faith in action, and not just in words.

So turn with me to Colossians 3:16-17.

In 2 verses, Paul captures for this church a set of actions that remind everyone who they are are and what they should be about.

Verse 16 starts with a command

“Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly…”

This is not a suggestion or a call to the super spiritual. This is read to the church at large. We need to be people who are saturated in the Word.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Freedom of the Word of God (3:16–17)

The Colossians were to look back to the words of Christ, not within or ahead to the words Christ would speak. This phrase is best understood as the word about Christ. The community was constantly to recognize the reason for its existence by a continual concern for the gospel message and its implications in the congregation. While some understand this to refer to the indwelling of the word in the individual life, the text moves to a corporate expression in the modifying statements

(Story of my own struggles with consistent personal study and how I built the habits)

The most important thing you can do to begin fulfilling this calling is to simply start.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Freedom of the Word of God (3:16–17)

The entire context points to the freedom of the word to determine the actions, motivations, and decisions of the group. It, like the peace of God, becomes a measure of church life. Before every activity, the church should answer two questions: Is the peace of Christ present in the congregation at this point? and Is this consistent with, and will it promote knowledge of, the word of Christ

I do not like when we let the comparison game of what someone else does keep us from launching our own journey with the Word. Everyone is different and especially today, we have SO many ways to consume the Word

digital Bibles

scripture memory apps

audio bibles

Visual videos on YouTube

and probably some methods I am not even aware of

We also have numerous ways to record our thoughts and reflections and journey.

What we cannot do is nothing.

Practical step 1: Start small and start somewhere

Practical step 2: Get someone to keep you accountable

Now here is the next thing. We are studying for our own edification, but also for the sake of fulfilling the next command

“…teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom…”

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Freedom of the Word of God (3:16–17)

Paul encouraged them to express their corporate worship in real wisdom, which centers in and promotes Christ. Thus as they grew in their understanding of spiritual truth, they were to encourage others in the context of real wisdom

I have now lost some of you LOL

We see words like this and so many of us immediately disqualify ourselves.

Excuses run the gamut

“I don’t talk in front of people”

“I am not smart”

“I do not know enough”

“What if I make a mistake”

on and on and on

So let me try and set your mind at ease.

This command was to the whole church. The whole church is not giving a sermon or devotional or study.

This is about teaching in our context as we go. In other words, relationships.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Freedom of the Word of God (3:16–17)

Teaching is the orderly arrangement of truth and effective communication of it. Teaching is mentioned as a spiritual gift in Paul’s writings (

And it starts with those we are in closest proximity to. Husbands and wives. Parents and kids. Friends and neighbors. Nothing formal. Nothing even organized. Just seizing moments as they come, because we are paying attention to what God is doing.

And here is what is really awesome, you are already doing a lot of this, if you are in any human relationship. The question just becomes, as I am dwelling more on the Word, where do I see it connecting to people and circumstances in my life?

Simple.

Practical step 3: Connect what you are discussing or teaching with the Word

Same for the second half of the command. Admonishing.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Freedom of the Word of God (3:16–17)

Admonishing has the element of strong encouragement. It is generally practical and moral, rather than abstract or theological. It is the way teaching is reinforced in the lives of the hearers. Such orderly arrangement of truth and strong practical encouragement are to be done in wisdom

This is correcting error and encouraging one another to put the Word into practice.

And some of y’all just perked up LOL

Isn’t it funny how we are told to do something positive and we can’t do it, but someone tells us to start “fixing” people and we are all in?

We see flaws in everyone, but ourselves, so we need to be ready to not just dispense the correction but receive it as well.

And note the caveat- “in all wisdom”

Translation- don’t be a jerk.

Be wise in not just your correction but in how you approach it. And if someone is not receptive, don’t give up but change your approach.

Practical step 4: Correct others kindly and redemptively

Practical step 5: Receive correction in way you would want to be received

Paul is not done with his commands. He has another that is related to how we speak or in this case sing

“…singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…”

Christians are people who sing. Period.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Freedom of the Word of God (3:16–17)

Singing effectively teaches and encourages. In 3:16, the pastoral function Paul claimed for himself in 1:28 is broadened to include the entire congregation and the medium of music. Few activities have such ability to teach, prompt recall, and encourage, and they have always been a vital part of Christianity

And that goes double for those of us who cannot carry a tune.

There are so many benefits to singing

memorization of truth

emotional expression of what Jesus has done for us

worship to the God of the universe

a demonstration of our passion for Jesus to a watching world

There is also a difference between performance and worship.

There is nothing wrong with someone performing in most cases, but as the Church, worship is not a performance

(Spirit v the Kick Drum- Rich Mullins story

You might have heard the story told by the late Rich Mullins. A man in attendance at one of his concerts told Mullins afterward that he had really felt the Spirit on one particular song, especially right before the last chorus.

“That wasn’t the Spirit,” said Mullins. “That was where the kick drum came in.”)

And worship is not for sale or for purposes other than the glorification of God

Once again, nothing wrong with a performance, but just because songs are being sung that people consider to be “religious” does not make it worship.

What should we sing?

Truth.

In the same way that we should teach and admonish and learn truth, we should sing truth as well.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Freedom of the Word of God (3:16–17)

The medium of music, therefore, must remain secondary to the message it conveys. Music is legitimate only when it is a medium pointing beyond itself to the exhorting and encouraging of other believers and the evangelization of unbelievers.

I love strong lyrics and songs that are well constructed, but if you have to bend the truth to make the “lyrics” work, then it isn’t worship.

Theology has to inform worship, not just emotion.

(Danny and my convos about worship songs)

And worship comes from a heart of thankfulness to God (last part of verse)

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Freedom of the Word of God (3:16–17)

Those who sing do so because they have felt the transforming power of God in their own lives, and they sing with an awareness of that grace.

Practical step 6: Sing loud and often

What does all of this lead to?

Well verse 17 makes it clear, it changes how we approach our lives.

We become people whose actions are focused on a singular audience- Jesus.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Freedom of the Word of God (3:16–17)

The division parallels both the rabbinic concern about behavior matching confession and the Pauline concern of consistency of commitment. The two realms of speech and action encompass every area of life. A truly Christian commitment incorporates them both.

We live for an audience of One.

That may see simple, but the implications are DEEP. How does this singular consideration change everything about our lives?

marriage

parenting

work

school

finances

friendships

neighborhoods

….

We are all guided by something. As followers of Jesus, we have the privilege of knowing the Ultimate audience. And having Him guide and shape our lives.

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Freedom of the Word of God (3:16–17)

Living in accord with his name means “in harmony with his revealed will, in subjection to his authority, in dependence on his power

Practical Step 7: Audience of One