A New Mindset: How being raised with Christ changes your life

Scripture Reading

Opening Prayer

Introduction

If/then statements

Negative to Positive transition

Negative - don’t be swayed by false teachers

Positive - Be made new in Christ

Division I

I. A new mindset for a new self (1-4)

Colossians 3:1–2 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

The Condition: If you have been raised with Christ

The Result:

I. A new mindset for a new self (1-4)

Seek the things that are above

Set your mind on things that are above

“Things that are above” namely, the head of the body, Jesus the Christ

Seek them?

Read, discuss, meditate

Set your mind on them?

Photo filters

Old filter

Young filter

Mind filters

Political

American

Ethnic

Christ is to influence your outlook on all of life

Colossians 3:3–4 ESV

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

The Reason: Because you are a new self who is found in Christ

Old hymn “He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock”

Paul follows this with a hope in the final and future hope of the returning Christ

In some ways, today’s text is one of the more practical in Scripture. It plainly applies what we just talked about in a now familiar “put off” and “put on” list of personal practices. We will begin looking at these practices under our second heading of the day...

Division II

II. The practices of the “old self” and how to get rid of them (5-11)

Colossians 3:5–11 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Let’s begin with the list

The practices of the “old self”

sexual immorality

impurity

passion (lust)

evil desire

covetousness, which is idolatry

anger

wrath

malice

slander

obscene talk from your mouth

Lying

-. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away:

So what do we do about this list and other practices of the “old self” or flesh?

Obviously we just read we “put them away” but what does that mean?

Pests

How do you get rid of pests?

Large?

Small?

Inside?

Outside?

The first step is always to identify them.

List of “old self” practices

Next, you do what vs. 5 says

Colossians 3:5 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

You take practical steps

Confess and pray

Get help

Pray more

Set up boundaries

Division III

III. The practices of the “new self” and how to cultivate them (12-17)

Colossians 3:12–17 ESV

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Practices of “New Self”

Compassion

Kindness

Humility

Meekness

Patience

Bearing with one another

Forgiving each other

Love

let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts

Thankfulness

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

Have wisdom

Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs

do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus

These practices all revolve around thankfulness to God for what He has done by redeeming you.

How do you cultivate these things?

Identify them

You take practical steps

Confess and pray

Get help

Pray more

Set up opportunities to practice