How to Help Your Family
Sermon: How to Help Your Family
Series: As For Me and My House
Text: Col 3:12-17 May 27, 2007 AM
Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV) 12 "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
INTRODUCTION
When you go to a doctor, he asks you questions
So that he can help you
This moring I have a few questions for you
JOKE: A big, burly man visited the pastor's home and asked to see the minister's wife, a woman well known for her charitable impulses.
"Madam," he said in a broken voice, "I wish to draw your attention to the terrible plight of a poor family in this district. The father is dead, the mother is too ill to work, and the nine children are starving. They are about to be turned into the cold, empty streets unless someone pays their rent, which amounts to $400."
"How terrible!" exclaimed the preacher's wife. "May I ask who you are?"
The sympathetic visitor applied his handkerchief to his eyes. "I'm the landlord," he sobbed.
JOKE: Cousin Sara was concerned, she had not spent enough time with her family, and now her grandfather was in a nursing home. She determined to visit him once a week.
Every Saturday morning she would show up to visit and to munch on the peanuts he kept in a bowl by his chair.
After a few weeks she came in with a can of peanuts and gave them too him. She said, “I felt bad, I had been eating all your peanuts, so I brought you these.”
The old man responded, "Oh, those aren’t the kind I Like, but since I got these false teeth, all I could do was suck the chocolate off of them anyhow. I just put the leftovers in that bowl."
I. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?
Colossians 3:12 (NIV) 12 "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
Vs 12 Therefore - Because we have a new nature, new life in Christ, Because the old things, immorality, lust, anger, rage, etc have gone, and because there is now no division for we are all on in Christ...Therefore...
Chosen People
Holy -Set Apart
Dearly loved
Clothe yourselves - Like the priest going into the Holy of Holies
Like a new garment - Some baptist ceremonies - A new suit of clothes. Then he describes the garments
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
Romans 13:14 (NIV) 14 "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. "
Galatians 3:27 (NIV) 27 "for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."
ILL: “What Not To Wear”
II. WHAT ARE YOU BEARING?
Colossians 3:13 (NIV) 13 "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Vs 13Bear with - Holding back is the reall connotation, control your anger, control your hurt,
Forgive Whatever! No limits to whatever! Look what the Lord did for you
Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV) 2 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
III. HOW ARE YOU CARING?
Colossians 3:14 (NIV) 14 "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Vs 14 Love over all- let that be the overarching characteristic
Binds - Like a glue, like a rope
Perfect unity - Perfect means no flaws, no cracks
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV) 4 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 "It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 "It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."
John 13:34 (NIV) 34 "“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
Romans 12:10 (NIV) 10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."
1 Peter 1:22 (NIV) 22 "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."
IV. WHAT ARE YOU SHARING?
Colossians 3:15-16 (NIV) 15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
VS 15 Peace of Christ - (Search Peace of Christ)
Peace with God - Salvation
Peace From God = Unity
Peace of God - Outward signs of the inward work of the Spirit
Let it Rule - It is a decision - you have the choice
Because - we are one!
Be Thankful!
A. SERENITY
Romans 12:18 (NIV) 18 "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
B. SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 1:13 (NIV) 13 "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,"
VS 16 Let the Word of Christ - again volition, word of Christ - Word of Salvation, Word, the BIBLE
Dwell richly - Let it makes its home, not an unwanted guest, but a welcome family member!
Teach and admonish - Share the faith in every way you can
Encourage, Correct, instruct
C. SINGING
Psalm 13:6 (NIV) 6 "I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me."
Singing ... with gratitude - Second time, Thankfulness!
Ephesians 5:19 (NIV) 19 "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,"
V. WHAT ARE YOU DARING?
Colossians 3:17 (NIV) 17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
VS 17 - Whatever you do - All inclusive again
Do it in Jesus name - Remember whom you serve
Thanks again - Second time in this short passage!
Psalm 138:3 (NIV) 3 "When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted."